You must not be in the south or the midwest. Panama City has been a Spring Break desination for college students for fifty years at least. I went to school in the southern Appalachians of NC, and it was actually the closest beach, odd as that sounds.
No one talks about Gulf Coast beaches in the northeast, unless it’s retirees headed for Clearwater.
My preference is more toward the roar of the surf, more primal and sort of wild, a place with the beauty that comes from the clashing of natural elements. Within a day’s drive that would be Hatteras Island and the OBX in general, which have gorgeous world class beaches too, just not at all in the same way as the FL panhandle and AL.
The Gulf is more placid by comparison. Normal surf isn’t going to bowl you over, lol. In the right locales, the water actually is clearer, quite warm if that’s your taste, and aqua blue with sugar white sand. Visually it’s like a postcard from the tropics and many love that.
OK, that's probably the reason. I like to boogie board and want to try surfing. But there's a lot to be said for white sand beaches and warm, clear waters.
Yeah, I'm from Massachusetts, and we never hear anything about the Gulf here. It's either OBX or Florida. Don't hear much about NJ beaches either.