I am new to this site, but have seen some great ideas and responses to others, so I decided to see if i could get some help from here to.
We are planning a family trip (mom, dad, husband, and 3yr old) May 31-June 6. My 3yr old wants to go to the beach. What beach is close enough to drive to and NOT GALVESTON, I cant stand that beach. We had thought about Biloxi, mostly because my mom can get free rooms at the Grand, but is that really a good place to visit and take a pre-schooler? We have no desire to visit zoo's or aquariums, or museums while on vacation, mostly it is about the beach and sand. If anyone has any ideas that would be great.

The beach at Biloxi is better than Galveston. The beaches improve as you move east. Destin is only another couple hours from Biloxi and if a good beach is your destination, it's worth the drive.

I lived in Dallas for a time. The Florida panhandle beaches were a popular destination.

If it's all about the beach and the sand, I'd go to Pensacola Beach, FL. It's a long drive, but would be worth it if you want good beach and sand.

Agree with stumpworks and starrs that Florida Panhandle beaches are far superior to Biloxi. The beach along the Mississippi coast is basically man-made, whereas the Florida beaches are natural.

I've never been to Padre Island so don't know what it is like (except I believe it is not as nice as Florida, either) - it's better than Galveston, though. I also know people who used to go to Port Aransas - but again, I think Florida has better beaches.

We used to live in Dallas and would take our beach vacations in Destin. Our son still lives there and that's where he goes as well, with his 4 and 2 year olds. It is a gorgeous beach, the water is warm and generally pretty calm. He has driven the entire distance (coming home) in one day once. That's hard. My MIL lived midway between Dallas and Destin when we were doing it so we'd spend a night with her. Our son normally stops in Mobile going over, making it an easy drive into Destin the 2nd day.

The beaches in the Panhandle are so incredible it's really worth the drive. We now live in San Antonio. Can you believe we've never been to the Texas Gulf coast...ever? After all our FL beaches (we lived there as well) I just can't bring myself to do it.

If you think the Florida Panhandle Beaches are just too far, then Gulf Shores Alabama is a little closer. I've got friends that go with their extended family every Memorial Day week. We always go to Panama City Beach or Destin. We drive from Oklahoma City and have done the drive in one day many times. It's a hard, long, day but from Dallas area it's three hours shorter!

Well, the gulf beaches are not looking like a very good idea considering the oil spill, anyone have any other ideas?

Padre Island then

The national seashore at Padre Island is much nicer than Galveston beach. There is a staffed ranger station with good exhibits, gift shop, well maintained public showers and a small convenience type store where you can pick up ice cream, sodas, sunblock, etc. There are no hotels or other buildings on the national seashore.

South Padre Island has good beachfront hotels, but the island is very built up.

Branson

woops should have posted on you other thread

Head to South Padre or Destin. If you are going to spend the time and money, those are the places for the best beaches along the Gulf Coast.

I'd say South Padre as Destin may be impacted by the oil spill. They say with the currents that Texas won't get anything from the spill at this point.