Gulf info

[bluebait]

Was wanting to take the family on a Vacation to the Gulf. We will be driving from Missouri. Wife and 10 yr. old son would like some beach time, I would like to do some fishing and pig out on sea food!!! LOL Also wouldn't mind seeing New Orleans and Venice. I was told any time is a good time as long as its not during Martigra... Any ideals or recommendations on where and when to go would be appreciated!!!
Thanks

[Reb]

When are you going? For the next few weeks, most of the gulf coast area will be covered up with spring breakers. For the fishing and food, my choice would be Venice. And you can't beat Nawlins for the food. For beaches, fishing and good piggin' out, we generally went to the Gulfport MS area, or the Port Aransas/Rockport area of the TX gulf. As summer gets going, almost everywhere will be crowded. There are also some very good possibilities further east in Al or the FL panhandle. Good hunting and have fun.

[Quickrelease]

Gulf Shores or Orange Beach,ALabama! Great beaches and resturants.Hands down!!

[artcarney_agr]

Venice is a haul from New Orleans, especially with a family in the car and there is not much there once you arrive.

Lent is underway, so right now seafood prices are a bit high in Louisiana. Best to go sometime after Easter as those cajuns are craving land meat like steak instead of seafood once Lent is almost over with, meaning the bottom drops out of the seafood market....I too like to pig out on seafood New Orleans is a must see! I think of it more as a long weekend getaway than a long vaction trip though. A couple days is all I ever care for. I've also been there a couple of times for Mardi Gras, and it is crazy! Being shoulder to shoulder though in the streets can wear on you though, and really test your patience....but then you see some boobies and it's all worth it!

But for a great family trip requiring beaches, I'd recommend St. George Island. The wife and kids can play on the beach, ride bikes, whatever.....all the while you can sit in a lawn chair on the beach with a rod and catch all the whiting, sand trout, and pompano you can stand. I vacationed there for a week, and it was awesome! A few locals set up a mobile fish market with their catch of the day - fresh shrimp and grouper was my favorite, and they also had really cheap bait as well. If you're not into cooking, there's a few local dive joints with awesome fresh oysters and other good seafood as well. Oysters are king in that area - seemed like every local had an oyster boat.

http://seestgeorgeisland.com/

We stayed at a rental condo through these people:
http://collinsvacationrentals.com/

[ZXJones]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Quickrelease &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Gulf Shores or Orange Beach,ALabama! Great beaches and resturants.Hands down!! </td></tr></table>

[lablazin]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Quickrelease &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Gulf Shores or Orange Beach,ALabama! Great beaches and resturants.Hands down!! </td></tr></table>

[billius]

Another vote for Gulf Shores/Orange beach area. The best time to go is in May. Spring breakers are gone and lodging rates are fairly reasonable. Very small crowds that time of year. After that, it is just plain crazy down there, way too many people. There are many restaurants to chose from. I lived down there for four years. We ate in many of those places. All of them are pretty good. None of them are outstanding however.

[blackram]

Fort Walton Beach/Destin/Pensacola prettiest beaches around

[Bada$$Bullet]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by blackram &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Fort Walton Beach/Destin/Pensacola prettiest beaches around</td></tr></table>

[iron banks]

No love for NOLA Plenty to do with the family here. Aquarium, insectarium. WW2 museum just as starters. NOLA has much better food and seafood then the beaches. If you want split the time between the two areas that would be good. Venice is a fishing meca, not a family destination though unless they want to fish. I have been everywhere suggested multiple times. All good but I would pick NOLA other than in July/Aug/Sept. If that is the time frame then the beaches.

[LSU24]

Gulf Shores is overrated. Nothing but overpriced highrise condo's, and all the resturants I have been to there were not very good. Plus it's overcrowded, and don't expect to get into any of those resturants without waiting 1-2 hours.

[billius]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by LSU24 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Gulf Shores is overrated. Nothing but overpriced highrise condo's, and all the resturants I have been to there were not very good. Plus it's overcrowded, and don't expect to get into any of those resturants without waiting 1-2 hours. </td></tr></table>

If you go in the summer...the above is true. If you go in May, or October-November...that is not true. I lived about 15 miles north of the beach at Gulf Shores for those four horrid years. In the summer, we never went farther south than Foley. Way too many people down there.

[catfishjn69]

I go to Gulf Shores every April (my MIL has a place in Lillian) and it is awesome. the beach isnt crowded water is a little cold. Restaraunts are easy to get into. usually go out on a fishing charter out of zekes marina and catch enough fish for the week. Have Wolf Bay Lodge cook half of it and cook the other half later in the week. I usually go watch the Blue Angels practice at Pensecola Naval Air Station. spend a day going to historical sites and the rest ofthe time is spent with a good Buzz on and eating my share of seafood!!!

[Alinal]

My family likes Cape San Blas, Florida. Sugar white sand and crystal clear water. About 20 miles from Apalachicola and its world-famous oysters, but also plenty of shrimp, scallops and fish. If you go in July, you can snorkel for your own scallops in St. Joe Bay. One word of caution, this part of Florida is called "The Forgotten Coast" and for good reason...there's virtually no night life...just a very relaxing beach vacation with great seafood. We use VRBO.com to rent a beach house. P.S. Check out the Indian Pass Raw Bar...looks a little rough from the outside, but well worth a visit.

[bluebait]

Whats the drive like from New Orleans to Gulf Shores or Orange Beach? I would hate to drive that far and not see New O. for the first time. Skip the drive to Venice and do the beachs...

[Derek B]

I grew up a few blocks from the beach in Gulfport. We always went to gulf shores of the FL panhandle for beaches, but honestly Gulfport/Biloxi are more fun IMO. The seafood you get in those areas is CRAP frozen from China. The putt putt courses are nice, but that's about it unless you want to get roasted on the beach.

[Derek B]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by bluebait &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Whats the drive like from New Orleans to Gulf Shores or Orange Beach? I would hate to drive that far and not see New O. for the first time. Skip the drive to Venice and do the beachs...</td></tr></table>

New Orleans to Gulf Shores will run you about 4.5 hours. Our beaches in Gulfport/Biloxi are clean but the water isn't clear blue/green like in Al and FL

[Nowater2shallow]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by blackram &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Fort Walton Beach/Destin/Pensacola prettiest beaches around</td></tr></table>

great place spend my three days off for easter there

[barchief]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Derek B &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">

New Orleans to Gulf Shores will run you about 4.5 hours. Our beaches in Gulfport/Biloxi are clean but the water isn't clear blue/green like in Al and FL</td></tr></table>

closer to 3.5 on I-10 if there is no traffic. 4.5 to Destin.

[mark-o]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Quickrelease &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Gulf Shores or Orange Beach,ALabama! Great beaches and resturants.Hands down!! </td></tr></table> Fun and food at it's best!