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As Florida hotels begin to fill up for March and April as Spring Breakers prepare to flock the Sunshine State’s Caribbean-like shores, Alabama makes for a great alternative with Gulf Shores leading the way.

With the popular beach town’s airport now beginning to offer commercial flights for the first time ever, it’s expected many travelers will take advantage to avoid Florida’s crowds, but this will surely create more crowds here as well.

The good news is Alabama’s coastline is among the most underrated in the nation with other idyllic hideaways such as Orange Beach and Fairhope hidden in plain sight.

Venturing a little deeper on the flip side of Mobile Bay lies a gleaming white-sand island, undoubtedly Alabama’s top hidden gem for your next beach vacation.

Alabama‘s ‘Sunset Capital’

The barrier island of Dauphin Island, not to be confused with how my niece pronounces “dolphin”, lies a few miles south of Mobile Bay along the Gulf of…America?

This scenic spot consists mostly of locals who wave goodbye to the hordes of vacationers in Gulf Shores in favor of this secret slice of paradise lined with bright white sand beaches along crystal blue waters crashing ashore.

According to Southern Living, Dauphin Island is the ‘Sunset Capital’ of Alabama. Whether it be lounging along Dauphin Island Public Beach, mingling with locals at the Dauphin Marina, or booking a boat tour, one thing you can’t miss is witnessing this cozy town of 2,000 residents illuminate orange come sundown.

The island reaches peak levels of visitors during summer, so spring is an excellent time to visit with splendid temps between 68 – 81 °F from March to May.

Wide-Open Beaches & Waterfront Cottages

Given how Dauphin Island is a beautiful well-kept secret, the results are wide open spaces from the “action” of town to the far-end West End Beach, where visitors will find bright white sugary sand.

Just south of the island is yet another remote retreat, Pelican Peninsula, holding a near-perfect 4.8 Google rating, where one recent visitor hinted, “A must visit early in the morning is the best”.

But the most popular of the island is the aforementioned Dauphin Island Public Beach and the easiest to reach.

The town’s often overlooked parks shouldn’t be missed either, whether it’s the staggering oak trees of Cadillac Square or tranquil kayaking explorations of Aloe Bay.

While you may find towering ritzy condos in Gulf Shores, Dauphin Island is more about down-home charm with plentiful cozy stays along the beach.

You’ll find numerous cottages and bed & breakfasts along the Gulf, such as Whale of a Tale, Inn at Dauphin Island, and Dauphin Island Harbor House.

The food scene is nothing to sleep on either with incredible seafood selections anchoring extensive menus — all authentic Mom n’ Pop style eateries like Pirate’s Bar & Grill; no eyesore chains in sight.

Dauphin Island’s Fascinating Historical Attractions

The South comes with the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to its deeply-rooted history.

Yes, some areas proudly boast Rebel Flags, while other delightful towns couldn’t be more welcoming, and that’s the category Dauphin Island belongs.

People couldn’t be more welcoming and seem to truly love their hidden beach town and proudly showcase some fascinating historical attractions ranging from archaeological sites to significant Civil War sites.

Fort Gaines is open to the public and offers sweeping views of the bay and Gulf. Guests can book an insightful tour of the well-preserved grounds of one of the most important sites of the Battle of Mobile Bay, where you can still see original cannons, tunnels, living quarters, and various remnants housed in the museum.

Another cool spot and unlike any other in the region is Indian Shell Mound Park. This archaeological site is home to prehistoric shell mounds, ancient trees, and some of the best hikes of Dauphin Island.

This indigenous site served Native communities centuries ago and still holds up today with leftover mounds of oyster shells to get a glimpse into the past of former ways of life.

Sam Sears

Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 30 countries and written over 400 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.

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Last Updated 1 min ago

Cancun may have the all-inclusive hotels, Puerto Vallarta the golden sand beaches, and there’s truly no beating Cabo’s wellness tourism scene, but this season, it’s Veracruz that’s stealing the limelight in Mexico as one of the country’s fastest-growing destinations.

Located on the Gulf Coast, it was formerly one of the most popular beach getaways in the country before slowly fading into the background, as the Mexican Caribbean and the Pacific resort hubs soared in popularity, but it’s now making an unlikely comeback.

As stated by Iván Martínez Olvera, Veracruz has broken a series of tourism records this year, with a 100% increase in the number of visitors, and an even-more impressive 470% growth in regional tourism investment and development.

Figures aside, this means tourists are flocking back to Veracruz after years of just blatantly ignoring it, and it’s time we looked into the reasons why.

Veracruz Is One Of The Cultural Capitals Of Mexico!

First of all, it may have something to do with the fact that Veracruz is one of the most culturally-significant cities in the country, as it is Mexico’s oldest and largest port, founded as early as the 16th century by the Spanish.

It has an architectural wealth to rival Mexico City and Merida, with a landmark-packed historic center playing host to grand plazas, left virtually untouched since the Europeans first settled the area, beautiful churches and pedestrian-friendly lanes.

Think the monumental Castle of San Juan de Ulúa, a European-style fortress guarding the entrance to the harbor, the Municipal Palace, dating as far back as the year 1608, or the historical Venustiano Carranza Lighthouse, a neoclassical building with a palatial design.

The whitewashed Cathedral of Veracruz, finished in 1731, is yet another of Veracruz’ top attractions, distinguished by its five naves, richly-decorated cupola, clad in tiles extracted from Puebla, a fellow colonial gem of Mexico, and a crystal candelabra-lit interior.

Sandy Beaches For Miles On End…

Aside from the obvious historical value, Veracruz straddles the bright-blue Gulf of Mexico, with the local malecón (the popular Mexican word for boardwalk) stretching for several long miles from the colonial center, all the way into the fringe areas of town.

It offers breathtaking ocean vistas, and the taco and tamales stalls, souvenir shops, and laid-back restaurants make it an incredibly lively area to stroll day and night, and if it’s unspoiled beaches you’re looking for, look no further than these:

• Playa de Chachalacas, a peaceful sandy strip hugged by the warm waters of the Gulf, with tall dunes and limited development along the shoreline
• Costa Esmeralda, an off-path beach strip lined with tall palm trees, with beachfront stays starting at a shockingly-cheap $52
• Playa Martí, a short drive from the city center, with clean sand and serene waters, often preferred by families with small children
• Playa Mocambo, one of the best-equipped beaches near Veracruz, boasting a wide range of amenities, from spas to camping areas to tourist-friendly restaurants
• Isla Sacrificios, an islet lying just off the city harbor surrounded by a colorful coral reef, with a handful of white-sand beaches

How Actually Cheap Is Veracruz To Visit?

If you’re wondering how much cheaper Veracruz is compared to other Mexican beach hotspots, we don’t have an exact average to present you, but we can say it’s for sure on the more economical side, especially when paired with Cancun:

It’s not yet been converted into a resort haven for Americans and other gringos arriving from abroad, and the majority of the clientele remains Mexican families escaping the overpriced, jam-packed Caribbean and Pacific coasts, so prices tend to reflect the local purchasing power.

Out of the seven 5-star hotels listed on Booking.com, Gran Hotel Diligencias on the Veracruz boardwalk is the most affordable this season, with double room rates set at $64, while the pool-featuring, beach-facing Camino Real Veracruz is a moderately-priced $129.

The most expensive option is Grand Fiesta Americana Veracruz, where a king-size deluxe room will set you back by $212 per night: with 2 pools, 3 restaurants, a fitness center, poolside bar, private beach access, and airport shuttle included, it’s the closest one to a Cancun-style stay.

Nonstop flights to trendy Veracruz are available from 2 U.S. airports this winter, Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston Intercontinental, respectively with American Eagle and United Airlines, with one-way fares averaging $249 for the former and $317 for the latter.

When it comes to safety, the Gulf city is among the least-dangerous destinations south of the border, officially ranking as a Level 2 destination in the U.S. State Department Advisory, on a par with Cancun and Los Cabos, and having ‘moderate’ levels of crime as seen on Numbeo.

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.

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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com

Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.