30 Best Things to do on the Redneck Riviera

Last updated: September 9th, 2024 | Originally published: September 9, 2024

Things to do on the Redneck Riviera Alabama beaches

Redneck Riviera is the beloved misnomer given to the most beautiful stretch of beaches in America. In this article we’re going to discuss the 30 Best Things to Do on the Redneck Riviera.

To be clear… while we’re using the term Redneck Riviera for generalities sake, we say it with respect and appreciation for rednecks everywhere. God bless our nation’s rednecks. Also worth mentioning is, houses on Ono Island and Miramar Beach average over $3M.

It’s fun to say “Redneck Riviera,” but it’s ridiculous to attach any wealth-lacking stereotype to the region.

The Redneck Riviera begins in Alabama at Dauphin Island and concludes in Panama City, Florida, a stretch of over 160 miles.

Our list of major towns include: Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Pensacola Beach, Fort Walton, Destin, the 30-A Highway, and Panama City. Here is a Redneck Riviera MAP.

Each of these towns provide similar beach experiences with handsome blue water and soft, sandy beaches. The 98 Highway connects the entire region.

The general ocean vibe in Florida is better than it is in Alabama, but the crowds are bigger, too. If you want help deciding which shore to select for your next tropical vacation, check out our article, Florida vs. Alabama.

Ultimately, you’re going to have a good time wherever you settle your holiday. Each town has it’s upside depending upon what you want. There are things to do all along the Redneck Riviera and the beaches are pretty great in every place. Just like Parker Lewis, you can’t lose here.

We hope you enjoy learning about all these amazing places! Thanks for reading!

Must Do: Things to Do on the Redneck Riviera

1. Drive the 30-A Highway

Between Destin and Panama City is a perfect stretch of highway known as the 30-A. Along this road you will find some of the nicest beaches in the United States, posh beach towns, and a pair of beautiful state parks.

The 30-A is one of those places that live in your memory forever — an absolute must-do on the Redneck Riviera. Learn more with our article, 30A Beaches and Town s.

2. Miramar Beach

This is our favorite beach in the continental USA and therefore the best of the Redneck Riviera Beaches. The underwater topography around Destin keeps the quartzite sand fluffy and free of shells. And for whatever reason the water is impossibly turquoise.

The only downside is the beach is private. Camping on the Gulf ($125/night), has a heroic beachfront plot for RV owners.

3. Grayton Beach State Park

This might be the other best beach in the continental United States. The sand and water are as good as it gets and the coastline rambles like a Grateful Dead medley. If you’re willing to walk a little ways you can have some heavenly real estate all to yourself.

We prefer Grayton Beach State Park to the other nearby parks because of the 30A location, expansive setting, and plentiful parking close to the shore.

4. National Naval Aviation Museum

The National Naval Aviation Museum is the world’s largest Naval Aviation museum and one of the most-visited museums in the state of Florida. The museum houses over 150 restored aircrafts representing the Navy, Marine, and Coast Guard in a 350,000 sq. ft. facility.

BE SURE TO: Bring a passport or passport-enhanced driver’s license if you do not have a military ID. The Naval Aviation Museum is on a Military Base and they make no exceptions.

5. Fort Morgan

One of our favorite places to visit in Alabama is Fort Morgan. Since 1834 Fort Morgan has stood as the guardian of Mobile Bay, seeing significant action in the Civil War. It also sits on a beach and has some majestic resident herons.

Spend a few hours exploring the tunnels and manning the turrets, damn the torpedoes.

6. St. Andrew’s State Park

St. Andrews in Panama City is widely considered one of the best things to do on the Redneck Riviera. The breakwater creates a calm bay at one end of the beach — perfect for snorkeling and fishing — and the rest of the shore is active with rolling waves.

The gulf coast beach is double-tiered, with an elevated sandy bluff above and a thin strip of sand below. If you want to sit with your feet in the surf, be sure to arrive early, as real estate is limited.

7. Flora-Bama

Flora-Bama is a quintessential, undisputed Alabama Redneck Riviera music venue in The South, made even more famous by musicians like Kenny Chesney and Jimmy Buffett.

If you’re a music lover they have multiple stages showcasing local musicians all throughout the day. Seven days a week you’ll find the Flora-Bama crawling with good-timers eating fried shrimp and hanging on the sweet sounds. Be sure to visit this notorious haunt.

The Redneck Riviera has a crazy, drunken uncle further down the state. Check out the 10 Best things to Do in Key West before you get back to more important things.

8. Town of Seaside

If you’re driving the 30A Highway you’re going to visit the town of Seaside. This is the most obvious place to stop along the road, a picture-perfect holiday setting with wood framed cottages and wide bike lanes.

We consider this gorgeous little town the single best place to anchor your vacation (if you can afford it), and easily one of the best things to do on the Redneck Riviera.

Should Do: Things to Do on the Redneck Riviera

9. Topsail Hill Reserve State Park

The three-miles of quartz-white sand and aquamarine waters in Topsail Hill Preserve State park are as good as anywhere else on the Redneck Riviera (and less crowded).

The downside is you have to walk 20 minutes, wait for a tram, or ride your bike down a giant hill to get to this perfect gulf coast beach. Its worth it, but its honestly a pain in the butt.

10. Henderson Beach State Park

Henderson Beach State Park is a public use beach in the middle of the Destin strip. At $6 a carload this is an incredible value for a world-class, Florida panhandle beach.

While it lakes the upscale private feel of somewhere like Miramar, the sand and water get no better at any of the other Redneck Riviera Beaches.

11. Cotton Bayou Beach

There are a handful of wonderful Redneck Riviera Beaches near the town of Orange Beach, Alabama, and our favorite of the group was Cotton Bayou Beach.

The setting is superior with easy access from the parking lot and all the fixings of a top-rated beach town within minutes. If you want to visit an Alabama beach, this is the one.

12. Gulf State Park

Gulf State Park is on the short list of best state parks in the USA and definitely one of the best things to do on the Redneck Riviera.

The park includes 6,000 acres of Alabama Gulf Coast and is home to nine unique ecosystems. There are three lakes for fishing, and miles of hiking and biking trails. And best of all, there are beaches!

13. Destin History of Fishing Museum

We found this small museum near downtown Destin highly interesting.

The town was initiated in 1835 when a fisherman named Leonard Destin found a world-class fishing hole and told a few people about it. The rest is, as they say, history.

Much has changed over the years and it is fascinating drama.

14. Okaloosa Island

Fort Walton is a panhandle beach town eight miles west of Destin. At the edge of Ft. Walton is a public beach/restaurant complex called Okaloosa Island.

Home to 3 miles of sugar sand and emerald green water, this is the most active gulf coast beach in the Destin area. Great for boogie boarding and even better for checking out co-eds.

15. Indian Mounds Temple Museum

The Indian Temple Mounds Museum is a historical site in Fort Walton. Ancient Indian Mounds were constructed by deliberately heaping soil, rock, or other materials onto natural land surfaces. The mounds first arrived about in the US around 4,000 BC. The museum houses over 1,000 ancient artifacts.

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16. Perdido Key

If you run a stretch of shore 35 miles in a straight line you shouldn’t expect to find many differences from one beach to the next. Therefore, judging beaches is kind of stupid.

Yet nonetheless, here we are, judging Redneck Riviera beaches.

The vibe and location are better than most of the Alabama Beaches, but the sand and water color will always lag behind the Florida Panhandle Beaches.

17. Fort Pickens

Fort Pickens is one of four military forts designed to protect Pensacola in the 1800s. Located on on the Gulf Islands National Seashore, Fort Pickens is accessible by foot and boat and is open year-round from sunrise to sunset.

If you like military relics, this is one of the best things to do on the Redneck Riviera.

18. Seville Historic District

The Seville Historic District began in the mid-1700’s when the British took West Florida and laid out the street system and town square. The Spanish conquered the area a few decades later. They kept the layout but changed the names from British to Spanish. The British street map and Spanish names remain in use today.

This is a gorgeous little community with charming architecture — a perfect place for an afternoon walkabout and lunch in a neighborhood restaurant, like Hub Stacey’s. If you like beautiful neighborhoods, the Seville Historic District is one of the best things to do in Pensacola this weekend.

19. Palafox Street

It would be a shame to come to Pensacola Beach and not indulge the historic downtown shopping strip known as Palafox Street.

The five blocks between Garden Street and Main are the best part, where the covered walkways and hanging floral baskets create a southern elegance.

20. Leonard Destin Park

Leonard Destin Park is a family park on the site of Leonard Destin’s original homestead. Just a couple of minutes from the Harbor Boardwalk you will find an impressive, state-of-the-art children’s playground with water access and views of Crab Island.

Most folk don’t know the park is here — its one of the secret things to do on the Redneck Riviera.

21. Cerulean Park in Watercolor

Watercolor is a charming little town full of monied, earthy types that forsook city living for a beachier lifestyle.

The architecture is something to behold. We recommend getting lost in the neighborhoods where you’ll surely come across Cerulean Park with its fountains and flowers.

Found next to the town of Seaside on the 30-A Highway,

22. The Gulf

Orange Beach’s preeminent, family-friendly restaurant is The Gulf. Located on a premium plot of shore at Perdido Pass, The Gulf was artfully constructed from blue shipping containers.

The vibe is fantastic with seating whimsically tossed around a backyard beach-party –It is the envy of all other Redneck Riviera restaurants.

As an added bonus the prices are reasonable and the food is delicious (menu).

Could Do: Things to Do on the Redneck Riviera

23. Dauphin Island

Flora-Bama, Dauphin Island, Fort Morgan, Pensacola — Redneck Riviera Alabama

If the beaches of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, Alabama aren’t enough for you, take a ferry ride across Mobile Bay and explore even more beaches on Dauphin Island.

While you’re there you can also check out the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Fort Gaines, and the Audubon Bird Sanctuary.

Related Article: A Complete Guide to the Emerald Coast of Flori da.

24. Alabama Point

We found this active beach with boat-wake waves to be one of the best Redneck Riviera beaches. There’s a lot of beauty in these surrounding areas, especially the Perdido Pass Bridge (in the background), which lends views of Robinson Island and Terry Cove.

The Gulf restaurant is across the channel from where you’re sitting — be sure to eat there!

25. Pensacola Beach

Pensacola Beach is a beautiful place to relax and get yourself wet. There is plenty of parking by the “beach ball water tower”. You’ll know it when you see it.

While this a popular activity in Pensacola, it is a crowded tourist beach. If that’s your setting of choice then enjoy to your heart’s contentment.

Let it be known that if you drive a few minutes West on Fort Pickens Road, you’ll be in the Gulf Islands National Seashore and the crowd will thin out. There are a couple of designated parking lots, one of which is very large.

26. Norriego Point

Norriego Point is a sandy prominence that helps form the mouth of Destin Harbor.

A row of small bays protected by jetties on the east side of Norriego Point are the perfect place for families to swim and watch the ships go by.

If you want to stay in Destin AND avoid the crowds, this might be the best of the Redneck Riviera Beaches. Keep in mind, you’re gonna work for that solitude. It’s about a fifteen minute hoof to the protected bays on the inlet side of the point.

27. Veteran’s Memorial Park

This little park was the biggest little surprise thing we did in Pensacola. Also known as Admiral Mason Park (map), the Veteran’s Memorial Park is an intimate memorial garden beside a man-made lake. All major US Wars are represented with ornate statues, placards, flags, and decor.

28. Doc’s Seafood Shack

Doc’s Seafood claims to have the best fried shrimp in the civilized world. And We Believe!

Along with The Gulf, this is one of the classic restaurants on the Alabama Coast. The ambiance is cool, the staff is friendly, they teach you how to make tartar sauce (who does that?), and the fried shrimp were bonkers good.

29. Pier Park

Pier Park is the biggest shopping center on the Florida panhandle. An outdoor mall of ridiculous proportions can yield most anything a beachgoer could want. Overpriced tourist food? That’s easy. 100% cotton t-shirts with local prints? Made on demand. Hit up The Yard for killer milkshakes.

30. The Wharf

Every beach town has a mega-shopping complex with arcades, candy stores, etc., and this is the Orange Beach version. While not quite up to Pier Park standards, The Wharf does their best to recreate something touristy and typical.

The Wharf is a diminutive, two-story commerce center with a large movie theater and a Ferris Wheel. The facility is charming and a pleasant assortment of stores are represented.

An Honest Conclusion for Things to do on the Redneck Riviera

When we think of the places or regions we consider to be “must-see” around the United States, the Redneck Riviera belongs in the top tier. The Redneck Riviera belongs in the same breath as Southern Utah, Downtown Charleston, Sedona, and Mount Rainier.

There are no better beaches in the United states; no finer sand and no bluer water (not counting Hawaii). If you’re into military history, ancient peoples, and chill beach towns, then all the better.

If you’re looking for absolute best place to anchor your vacation, Destin, Florida and the nearby town of Miramar are the creme de la creme. The sand gets no whiter and the shade of turquoise in the water is irresistible.

We recommend you do yourselves a favor and forget about Southern California, South Florida, the Caribbean, Mexico, and the like. Book your next tropical getaway to the Redneck Riviera, especially the Emerald Coast of Florida, and you won’t regret it.

Thank you for stopping by our website! We are the Hoffmann family, a full-time RV family that has split residence in Seattle, Washington and San Antonio, Texas. We have special needs children that we homeschool, and work travel assignments for the Veteran Affairs Hospital. If you would like to learn more about us, check out our Start Here and Biography pages.