Alabama vs. South Carolina beaches
 

Our family of 6 adults and 5 kids is planning a vacation for next summer. In the past we have visited Hilton Head, The Outer Banks and Kiawah Island and have loved all the trips. We are thinking about trying a new part of the country for next summer and have heard good things about the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach areas of Alabama. Knowing nothing about the area I began to do some research and was amazed at how affordable it is to rent an oceanfront home along that part of the Gulf. Has anyone been to both parts of the country who could give me some comparisons? How are the beaches different? What's the water like? How do the regions differ? Any input would be greatly appreciated!

I've visited the Outer Banks, Kiawah and Hilton Head, and also done a family reunion week at Ft. Morgan, Alabama, which is just west of Gulf Shores. We went to Alabama in May.

The beaches are very different from one another. For starters, the Gulf of Mexico is generally much calmer than the Atlantic Ocean; there are rarely big waves or undertow. The water takes on a greenish hue (hence the moniker "Emerald Coast"), can be quite clear, especially as you get further away from the Mississippi Delta, and is bordered by miles of sugar white sand. Gulf Shores (and Fort Morgan) are located on a barrier island not unlike the Outer Banks, but because of the relatively calmer sea, are not as imperiled and fragile. There is only one tide a day, and it is barely noticeable. The bottom slopes gently. This is a great beach for kids (our group had 4 of them, all under the age of 5).

When we went to Alabama in May, it was low season, though the weather was damn near perfect (high of 82 during the day, sunny, no humidity, cooler nights).

The nearest "town" was Gulf Shores, and it was a 15 mile drive, on a 2-lane road, to get there for major grocery shopping and restaurant choices. Gulf Shores is a lot like Kitty Hawk or Nags Head -- lots of restaurants, putt putt golf, souvenir shops. For activities beyond the beach, some of our group visited Pensacola and Mobile, and my husband and I ended our trip with a weekend at the Ritz Carlton in New Orleans, which is a 4 hour drive away.

This is very much the Deep South -- more like the South Carolina beaches than like the Outer Banks. However, you will not find that groomed perfection and saturation of golf courses as you find in SC. And, it is much cheaper than the Carolina beaches. We had an enormous, well-equipped, high end house -- right on the Gulf -- for our group of 13 for under $2,500 (this was 2 years ago).

Living in the mid-Atlantic, and being beach and tennis fanatics, we find ourselves heading down to SC regularly, but I would happily go back to Ft. Morgan.

Callaloo hit the nail on the head. I live in Gulf Shores and can't imagine ever moving again. I lived in Southeastern VA before I came here and there is no comparison, especially price-wise. Come down here and you will return again and again.

I'm from South Carolina, so you can call me biased if you want to, but I just don't see much comparison between Alabama/Gulf beaches and SC/Atlantic beaches. I currently live in Tampa, FL, and I have been to many of the Gulf beaches in this area and I am not impressed. Yes, the water is calm, but to me its like a giant, tepid, polluted bathtub. The Gulf really isn't very clean--those currents that Callaloo spoke of serve a purpose: they flush the beach areas out and keep the water cleaner. (I know that here in Tampa, the city occasionally ships untreated wastewater out off the coast and dumps it).

I've never been to the Alabama beaches, but I can't imagine them comparing to the SC beaches. SC is a huge vacation destination (#2 behind Florida) and that has to tell you something. Yes, its more expensive than AL, but you get what you pay for.

I suggest going to Litchfield or Garden City in SC. Skip Myrtle Beach... go there for a daytrip to appease the kids. Let me know if you want more of my insight.

I haven't been to the Gulf Shores beach area, but just 40 miles east (FL Panhandle) are the best beaches in America for sand quality (Grayton, Destin etc). Beaches down by Tampa are very different from the Panhandle beaches.
The South Carolina beaches have darker, grainier sand and much colder water.
For pure sand and water qualities, the Grayton/Destin area is definitely better than the SC beaches IMO.
Look at most beach polls and you'll find similar results.

Sorry plimpton but the ocean water in South Carolina is about the same temp that it is in the gulf June-September and that would be mid to upper 80s. You forget how close we are to the Gulf Stream with heats up our ocean water.

Odd, but two Tampa area beaches, Caladesi Island State Park and Ft Desoto State Park <i>regularly</i> end up near the top of Dr. Beach's list of best beaches in the United States, robertw. You'd think he'd know better than to rate polluted beaches in his top 5--after all, he is professor of Environmental Studies and director of FIU's Laboratory for Coastal Research! Ft. Desoto is #2 this year, Caladesi is #5.

The dumping you spoke of was highly treated, not untreated water, and done only this summer on an emergency basis to prevent a catastrophic spill of untreated water from a breached dike at Piney Point into Tampa Bay had we had either a hurricane or tropical storm on top of all this summer's rain. It was dumped slowly (by the state, not city) 125 miles offshore in water depths of 650 ft, and over an area of 19,500 sq miles, approved and monitored by the EPA and FDEP.

Not that this is a selling point, but water does not stagnate there either. The Gulf has a powerful loop current, around then out and up the east coast, and sections of the Panhandle from Pensacola to Panama City have had at least 15 drowning deaths this year as a result of tourists getting caught in rip tides. :(

I've lived in Tampa for the past 7 years, but when we lived in Dallas, we vacationed each summer for over a decade in the Destin area of the Panhandle, so I'm familiar with and love the beaches in both areas. According to what I've heard, Gulf Shores beaches are as pretty. Panhandle sand is even whiter and finer-grained than it is here, and the water color even more beautiful, almost turquoise colored, but this sand quality is gorgeous and the water is as well. Panhandle beaches are the prettiest I've seen outside of the Caribbean for water clarity and sand and water color.

Prior to this move we lived in Savannah where we swam the Tybee Island and HH beaches regularly and vacationed a couple of times in Kiawah. None of those can hold a candle to these beaches IMO; not in water color or clarity, not in sand color or texture, unless it's bike riding on the sand you are after, or running/walking--then absolutely, they are tops because of the hard packed sand.

Having spent many vacations going to the Alabama gulf coast, I would highly recommend it over the South Carolina beaches. I would recommend a condo or house in Orange Beach. It's just a couple of miles east of Gulf Shores and the water at that end seems to be a little better. The further you go west toward Fort Morgan and Mobile the water seems to be less clear. The sand there is a fine white sand and the water a clear emerald color. Have fun!

National Oceanographic Data Center info on water temperatures for Jun-Jul-Aug:

Myrtle Beach: 77-80-81
Charleston: 79-80-82

Pensacola: 84-85-86

Key West: 86-87-87


The Panhandle beach water is quite a bit warmer than the Atlantic beaches.

Sorry! Key West isn't in the Panhandle.

Your figures are not accurate. Our water temps are 84 degrees by the middle of June. Look at a satellite map of the Gulf Stream during the summer.

Ummmm....no, Key West is not in the Panhandle. Pensacola is.
I put the KW numbers in there to show how close the water temps in KW and the Panhandle are.
And how much cooler the SC temps are.

Argue if you wish with the validity of the #'s, but they're available from numerous data bases on the web.

I'll add my vote to those who say Gulf Shores is a great place to vacation! Our family went there in 2002. Beautiful, uncrowded beaches with soft, white sand. Haven't been to the S.C. beaches, so I can't do a direct comparison, but I don't think you would regret the Alabama choice.

Granted I have not spent as much time on the Gulf but I much prefer the Coast. The Gulf to me was dirty &amp; I do like some waves &amp; tides when I'm at the beach. As far as the drownings go, just as any other vacation people need to educate themselves on their destination. I also like cooler water temps, not bath water especially in the summer. So, we do NC coast in the summer &amp; Amelia Island in fall/winter.

From an Ohio native, if you are cost conscious try the islands between Wilmington &amp; Myrtle. Long, Holden, Ocean Isle, Sunset. They are much cheaper than any of the places you indicated you have been previous.

Uh yeah plimpton, SC ocean temps are ice cold. Again, sorry, I live on the coast between Charleston and Hilton Head. My big toe stays in the water year round. The water is warmer than the upper 70's in June. Look at the satellite photos of the gulf stream in the summer. Our water is a little warmer than northern Florida due to the Gulf Stream.

I'm guessing you spend a lot of time on the coast of SC? Thought so.

This is obviously a raw nerve topic for you, GoTravel.
I'll be sure to let the National Oceanographic Center know that you think their data is wrong. I'm sure they've made some mistake with their equipment that your big toe was able to detect.
Makes no difference to me which is warmer, I'm only answering the question which was asked.

But, since you've pressed the issue, I'll provide further evidence.

South Carolina State Climatology Office water temp in Myrtle Beach, June: 77

Myrtlebeach.com June water temp: 77
Carolinianinfo.com June water temp in MB: 77

Myrtle Beach vacation broker website:
Water temp for June: 78

The flaw in your reasoning is demonstrated by this satellite photo:
http://oceancurrents.rsmas.miami.edu...7576-plus3.jpg

The water AT THE BEACH in South Carolina is not as warm as the Gulf Stream water 20-40 miles offshore. Yes, the GS carries balmy warm water up north past Virginia, but the warm water is out in the ocean. Notice that the beachfront water is much cooler.

I guess some people have a little too much time on their hands. In the summer months BOTH will be plenty warm. Is it really an issue ?

Having been to both places in both June and July, Gulf Shores water temps are markedly higher - it may be seven degrees difference officially, but it feels like at least ten.

Well Hello again Mr. D!