8 Best Gulf of Mexico Boating Destinations
Last Updated on September 20, 2024 by Boatsetter Team
The Gulf of Mexico is a big place but when you talk about boating, all eyes settle on the West Coast of Florida that is known for its warm waters, sandy beaches and in some places, waterfront party towns. Here are some of the best arguments to rent a boat from peer-to-peer sharing services like Boatsetter, and experience the 1300-mile Florida portion of the Gulf of Mexico from the deck of a boat or yacht that’s yours for the day or the weekend.
Destin
Destin is on the Emerald Coast in the Florida Panhandle, known for its calm waters and stunning beaches. It’s also the fishing capital often called the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village” due to its proximity to the continental shelf where you can fish for marlin, tuna and red snapper just a few miles out. If hanging at the sandbar sounds like fun, visit Crab Island famous for its social scene or explore the Intercoastal Waterway with its quiet inlets and plentiful wildlife. Finally, grab an ice cream cone on the Destin Harbor Boardwalk or ride your bike around town.
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Pensacola
Halfway between Destin, Florida and Mobile, Alabama, you’ll find Pensacola also in the Panhandle. History buffs love this part of boating paradise for its National Naval Aviation Museum, the Naval Air Station, Big Lagoon State Park and Fort Pickens. Local cuisine is served up at Quietwater Beach Boardwalk or go swimming and kayaking at Pensacola Beach on the barrier island of Santa Rosa.
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Apalachicola
Known as “Oyster Town”, Apalachicola is as seafood center and produces 90% of Florida’s oysters. This unspoiled landscape includes salt marshes, barrier islands and estuaries and offers secluded coves and a low-key atmosphere. It’s known for excellent fishing for tarpon, redfish, and flounder, and it entices boaters to come to visit the Cape St. George Lighthouse as well as historic fishing shacks. Apalachicola is “Old Florida” at its finest.
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Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is an enormous if shallow body of water packed with boating highlights. This mix of urban and natural attractions has something for everyone. Nice beaches can be found at Egmont Key State Park with its 1858 lighthouse or head to the Tampa downtown waterfront which is always busy with edgy eateries, marinas, boat parades and live entertainment. For a bit of history, make your way to Fort De Soto at the mouth of Tampa Bay or visit the Dali museum in bustling downtown St. Petersburg.
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Sarasota
Farther down the coast is Sarasota with a vibrant waterfront and an active arts scene. Beachcombing is a must on the many sandbars or dock-n-dine at one of the fun tiki bars. With a boat, you can explore nearby islands including Casey Key, Siesta Key and Lido Key or watch for manatees and dolphins at this warm weather year-round destination.
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Fort Myers
Fort Myers pulls it all together from vibrant waterfront River District eateries to easy access to the Gulf, and from barrier islands to lush waterways perfect for kayakers and paddleboarders. Must-see destinations include Matanzas Pass Preserve in Fort Myers Beach and Bowditch State Park for great hiking trails. Whether you’re into wakeboarding, barhopping or beachcombing, you’ll be able to get to everything by boat in this tidy part of the state.
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Captiva & Sanibel Islands
Hollywood-worthy white beaches and turquoise waters are what Captiva and Sanibel are all about. These barrier islands outside of Fort Myers are perfect whether you tie up at a marina, spend the day at a sandbar or go fishing offshore. The snorkeling on the reef is great and the shopping is colorful in the tiny towns. After a hard day of shell collecting, kick your feet up with a cocktail and some live music while watching the sunset and you’ll never want to leave.
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Florida Keys
No discussion of the Gulf Coast of Florida would be complete without the mention of the 125-mile chain of keys and islands that stretch south of Miami toward Cuba. The snorkeling is renown, the fishing is off the hook, and historic Key West with Ernest Hemmingway’s house and street festivals are not-to-be-missed.
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Whether you tap into Boatsetter to rent a pontoon boat for the afternoon or charter a sportfisher for the weekend, you’ll soon learn why the best way to experience the Gulf Coast of Florida is from the deck of a boat.
About us
Boatsetter is the leading online marketplace for boat rentals and on-water experiences. Download the Boatsetter app (App Store | Google Play) and follow us on Instagram.
Zuzana Prochazka is an award-winning freelance journalist and photographer with regular contributions to more than a dozen sailing and powerboating magazines and online publications including Southern Boating, SEA, Latitudes & Attitudes and SAIL. She is SAIL magazines Charter Editor and the Executive Director of Boating Writers International. Zuzana serves as judge for SAIL’s Best Boats awards and for Europe’s Best of Boats in Berlin.
A USCG 100 Ton Master, Zuzana founded and manages a flotilla charter organization called Zescapes that takes guests adventure sailing at destinations worldwide.
Zuzana has lived in Europe, Africa and the United States and has traveled extensively in South America, the islands of the South Pacific and Mexico.
