Colorful homes line the street in Galveston, Texas. Photo: Courtesy of Mariah Tyler Often overlooked for the East or West Coast, America's "Third Coast" has never been the first—nor the second—place that comes to mind for a stateside beach vacation, but times are changing and Texas's Gulf Coast is calling. The state is home to 3,359 miles of shoreline along the Gulf of Mexico, and from Sabine Pass to Boca Chica, it's giving travelers more and more reasons to visit.