South of Galveston in Brazoria County, Surfside Beach is well worth the trip if you're looking for a clean beach and soft sand. The water here is actually blue, oil rigs are but a dot in the distance and there are minimal sea creatures and seaweed in the way of enjoying the ocean — and along the Gulf Coast, all of those perks aren't necessarily easy to find all at once. The beach, surrounded by colorful vacation homes on stilts, is dog- and even car-friendly: If you've got four-wheel drive, you can park along a designated area of the beach and spend the day tailgating.