Of course, you will have plenty of opportunities to swim in the Gulf, but there is much more.įishing is one of the most popular sports at Gulf Islands National Seashore - shore fishing, pier fishing, deep-sea fishing, crabbing, it’s all waiting for you. We’re talking about the Gulf of Mexico, friends, with an abundance of water-related fun waiting for you in its blue-green waters. In Florida, in addition to the trails at Naval Live Oaks mentioned earlier, you can visit salt marshes on the 0.25-mile Perdido Key Discovery Trail, the sand pines of the Woodland Nature Trail at Fort Barrancas, and hike 7.5 miles of the 1,500-mile-long Florida Trail at Fort Pickens or 7 miles of the trail along the beach in Santa Rosa County. Or hike and explore the narrow sand Horn and Petit Bois islands (the latter are only accessible by boat. In Mississippi, enjoy views of the wildlife and the dark and mysterious Davis Bayou at the park of the same name on the easy 0.5-mile-long Nature Trail or 0.25-mile CCC Spur Trail. Speaking of hiking, you have many options to explore the islands on foot. This is also where the live oaks, one of the hardest woods, were used to build the interior hulls of naval warships, including the USS Constitution. In addition to the forts, you can hike one of the 7.5 miles of easy walking trails at the Naval Live Oaks Nature Preserve that were once used by Andrew Jackson and his troops in the War of 1812. Fort Massachusetts is located 12 miles off the Mississippi coast on Ship Island and is only accessible by boat - either your own private boat or by taking the 1-hour cruise on the Ship Island Ferry. Fort Pickens is an incredible 11-mile drive down the island on Pickens Road with the blue waters of the Gulf and Pensacola Bay on each side of the highway. Today, you can visit three of these forts - Fort Barrancas and Fort Pickens in Pensacola and Fort Massachusetts on Ship Island in Mississippi.įort Barrancas is located on Naval Air Station Pensacola, and the U.S.

Later, these forts were taken over by the Confederate army during the Civil War, where they saw some fierce battles. These massive stone structures with 4-foot-thick and 20-foot-tall walls were virtually impenetrable and armed to the hilt with canons aimed toward the Gulf. Gulf Coast, the federal government began erecting what are known as Third System Forts.

Following the War of 1812, in which British forces attempted to reclaim the U.S.

The barrier islands that protect the mainland were also used to protect the country from foreign invasion. In the marshes and wetlands, monarch butterflies burst into color using the islands as a landing strip of their 3,000-mile migration and alligators roam in the marsh waters. And of the six known species of sea turtles, six return each year to nest on the island’s sunny shores, including the loggerhead, green, Kemp’s, leatherback, and hawk bill. The islands’ beaches play host to many species of animals like the ghost crab that camouflages itself into the sand and hermit crabs that scurry about carrying their homes on their back. Inland in the woodlands and marshes, the sound of Killdeer shrieking “kill deer” can be heard from the brush while bald eagles and osprey soar high overhead. On the beaches, Black Skimmers and Brown Pelicans sail only inches above the ocean surf, searching for their next meal while Snowy and Piping Plover scurry along the water’s edge. Gulf Islands National Seashore is a bird watcher’s paradise with over 300 species of birds found here. The islands help protect the mainland from erosion caused by the Gulf’s ferocious hurricanes and tropical storms while at the same time providing you with incredible adventure.Īlong the islands, the park service has established a series of 12 sites for you to explore: In Mississippi: Add to that a good dose of history and lots of outdoor recreational activities and you have the perfect vacation getaway.Įstablished by Congress in 1971 and managed by the National Park Service (NPS), the Gulf Islands National Seashore is a 160-mile stretch of Gulf Coast barrier islands from Fort Walton Beach, Florida, to Cat Island, Mississippi. Artist and conservationist Robert Wyland once said, “The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination, and brings eternal joy to the soul.” And that’s what draws millions of visitors each year to the Gulf Islands National Seashore - the crashing turquoise ocean, the most beautiful white beaches you will find anywhere, incredible flora and fauna, and fertile marshes.

Gulf islands national seashore photos