TRAVEL: Categorizing the Emerald Coast

Most New Orleanians spend at least one weekend on the Gulf Coast during the summer months, and this special section of the Creole Tomato evaluates and rates many popular summer destinations for quality, value, style and the touches of home.

Our travel writers have established a rating system of five categories.

Pensacola Beach

Category: 4

On the famous white shores of Santa Rosa Island, one finds fewer amenities, but can discover comfort in the low key quality of the action on the beach. PB sustained severe damage during hurricanes Erin, Opal, Ivan and Dennis.

Rosemary Beach

Category: 1

East of Sandestin, Rosemary Beach has become a destination for destination weddings, Disneyesque condos and town squares. RB has limited devastation, but constant new construction gives the appearance of destruction.

Ono Island

Category: 2

The exclusive Ono Island off the coast of Gulf Shores, Alabama is a popular resort destination for moneyed New Orleanians. It sustained only minor wind damage in Hurricane Lily.

Gulfport/Biloxi

Category: 4

These adjacent Mississippi Gulf Coast towns boast casinos, quality seafood restaurants, and the historic home of Confederacy President Jefferson Davis. Both Gulfport and Biloxi suffered extreme damage from Hurricane Katrina.

Bay Saint Louis

Category: 5

This Category 5 winner is a quaint town that is separated slightly from the Gulf by the bay of the same name. It is the proud home of antique shops, St. Stanilslaus, a crab festival and a competitive yacht club. Famous for its mossy oaks, antebellum homes and peaceful way of life, BSL took the direct hit from Katrina. It was essentially leveled.