Redneck Riviera turns upscale | USA | Travel | Toronto Sun

Redneck Riviera turns upscale | USA | Travel | Toronto Sun: "GULF SHORES, Ala. -- This is the other Gulf coast.

It's not as well known as its neighbour on the west side of the Florida peninsula but it does have its rival's main attractions: Miles and miles of beautiful beaches.

And it has something Florida's western seashore doesn't have: A feast for the history buff, for one of the pivotal battles of the U.S. Civil War was fought here.

Alabama's Gulf coast used to be called the Redneck Riviera, harking back to a time when it was the getaway for budget-conscious -- and, dare we say it , less-sophisticated -- vacationers from Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Arkansas. But in recent years it has gone upscale, and posh hotels and condo developments are setting new standards."