Dauphin Island, Alabama

Be on the lookout for a dolphin's fin cutting through the glassy waters of this barrier island three miles south of Mobile Bay in the Gulf of Mexico. First, you'll have to traverse a three-mile-long bridge to get to its white sands and vibrant, Gulf sunsets. Local accommodations include beachfront rentals and popular pastel resort condominiums. When you need to nurse that sunburn, spend a day exploring life under the water at the aquarium, in the air at the Audubon Bird Sanctuary, or from the past at the Indian Shell Mound Park.