Roughly a six hour drive from my home in North Alabama, Gulf Shores is a lovely Alabama Beach! Its…read moreless than 10 miles from Orange Beach. I've stayed in Orange Beach numerous times and enjoyed restaurants and Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores! Gulf State Park has numerous trails that make for a great hike or numerous durations and lengths! Sea-N-Suds is one of my favorite restaurants to enjoy in Gulf Shores since it's right on the Gulf (meaning it's deck extends over the Gulf waters a bit) and they have delicious oysters and Royal Reds!! I also enjoyed a round of golf with my sorority sister and her husband at Gulf Shores Golf Club! It's a nice, friendly golf course! Like Orange Beach, Gulf Shores beaches are really bright white, clean, and beautiful with silky sand! Gulf Shores beaches are renowned for being family friendly and parking is cheap for the beaches free for residents and 2-4 dollars for non-residents depending on where you part. Also, Gulf Shores beaches do have lifeguards provided seasonally from March to October. That's a nice feature since the Gulf rip tides are a real thing, ya'll! If you haven't visited Gulf Shores Beaches, do it! As Yelper Chris W., notes, it's more economical to stay in Gulf Shores proper vice Orange Beach and Destin. Get your beach on!

My last 5 year old review focused on the summer concerts, it's time for an update!…read more I am seven years into my retirement at the all-around best beach I've ever had the pleasure to sink my toes in, and I have literally been to hundreds! First of all, let me tell you a bit about the Gulf Shores beaches themselves. There is thirty-two miles of pristine, sugar-white beaches here. Unlike anywhere else, this sand is unique because it is made of quartz, formed over millions of years from the Appalachian Mountains, which gives it that brilliant color and lets it stay cool even in the heat of the summer. With over 8 million visitors each year, this community really thrives on its tourism base. What I absolutely cherish is that when I go down there in the morning, the sands look absolutely pristine, meaning there is no trash, no clutter, no mess. They smooth it out, comb it, and groom it every single day. If anybody leaves behind a chair, toy, or tent, it is picked up and donated every day. Gulf Shores really lives up to that motto of being a small town with a big beach because the calendar is packed with world-class events. Kicking off with the Hangout Music Festival in May, the white sands turn into the ultimate summer kick-off. We also love the lively Ballyhoo Festival, and the Annual National Shrimp Festival in October brings hundreds of thousands of people to the coast for four days of seafood, art, and music. Of course, you can't talk about this area without talking about the incredible food scene, especially the fresh, local seafood right off the boats. Whether you're buying it fresh to cook at home or enjoying it at a local waterfront spot, the quality of our regional fishing is just unbelievable. Getting to enjoy iconic local catches like red snapper, grouper, flounder, and speckled trout, or seasonal favorites like tripletail and triggerfish. And the shrimp, oh yeah, fresh shrimp is fantastic and with the added benefit of our local deep-water delicious royal reds, it's a big part of what makes living here so wonderful for me. Now, while I'm talking about a truly special place in my heart, it is this town's unparalleled commitment to conservation and preservation. Specifically dear are my two absolute favorite animals, the sea turtle and the manatee. From the dedicated Share the Beach efforts that monitor the annual sea turtle nesting season from the time they lay their eggs until the babies hatch, to all the practices and the marine conservation for the manatees, or the floaty potatoes or sea cows as some people call them, this is truly a sanctuary for these gentle giants. I annually adopt Bama who winters in Crystal River, FL but comes back here every year :-) I still vividly remember my first steps on my first sandy beach in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I was really, really young. From the beaches of my home in Los Angeles to over a decade living in Cape Cod, all those experiences, including my many sandy beaches throughout the Caribbean, from coast to coast in Mexico, the Mediterranean, and Central America, it has been an amazing journey. I now find myself in a place that I call home in many ways, just as magical as many of those moments were over these sixty-plus years throughout my life. Bottom line: Whether you are just visiting for the week or lucky enough to call this place home, the way the small-town charm blends with these expansive, pristine shores makes it the ultimate beach destination. It is the perfect blend of warmth, beauty, and almost endless possibilities, and I am proud to say this is my little slice of paradise.

This small beach area is found at the intersection of Highway 182 and Highway 161. Nestled between…read moresome of the most popular condominiums in the area. There's one wooden boardwalk that is approximately 100 feet long & then only another 100 feeto the shoreline. When you reach the end of the boardwalk, you are greeted by a large wooden turtle with a large wooden toy box. The turtle reads got a toy, leave a toy, need a toy, take a toy. So, if you forget sand pails, shovels, & other random tools for occupying the kids, it's there so they can create sand castle cities or to bury you in the sand for fun pics, very cool! Me & my honey go here regularly and find it normally less crowded than most other other beach access areas plus there's free parking, restrooms with showers and they have concessions like snow cones during the summer season. If you look to the right, you can see the beach for miles and miles if you look to the left you see the pier attached to the Four Seasons of Romar Beach.  One of the perks of staying at the hotel is having access to the pier for an even better view of the gulf wildlife that flies by or swims in water. The view is expansive, heck we could see the fireworks on July 4th all the way over in Florida and miles east past the big beach in Gulf Shores, majestic!! Restaurants nearby, for walking, include Cotton's (but they typically don't open until 4pm), Gilbey's Seafood & Steak.. There is also a Starbucks and Dairy Queen nearby if you are looking for something a little quicker. Bottom line: It's a nice piece of beach with most ammenities you need. Love it!!

What a treasure for hikers in the state of Florida. There are miles and miles of well maintained…read moretrails with multiple parking spots along the way. Some trails are concrete while others are wooden boardwalks so you are walking above the swamps. There are benches along the way and on one trail a playground with slides and a fort like structure. There are also bathrooms in some areas. Obviously it is Florida so all flat terrain. Some of the trails take you to the beach and others around a beautiful lake and campground. There were people around every time we hiked so felt pretty secure. There is also a resturant along the way but we did not make it there. Trails are for walkers and bikers so be cautious of the bicycles but almost all rides were courteous. I highly recommend taking a stroll or a bike ride in the park. There are bike rentals at the state park and if you stay there bikes are included.

This is the infamous field where I won a state championship with my travel team! I even scored a PK…read moreto send us to the final. This event was particularly rewarding because we were such underdogs. What took place on this field was one of the happiest moments of my travel soccer career. There were lots of lows but this was definitely a high!

Amazing nice clean park for kids. So much to play, slide and swing on. Great place to get the…read morelittle energy out on vacation that's free.make sure you walk down to the water. We saw Dolphins swimming around during our visit.

We loved visiting Gulf Shores, AL for our reunion. It is a cute touristy beachy town…read more We visited during the off season and it was so peaceful. The locals were kind and welcoming. We stayed at The Pearl on Gulf Shores Pkwy. Fabulous. Planning ahead is important here to maximize your resources. The food is generally great, the area is clean and a joy to visit. We enjoyed the views and the museums. You will not be disappointed. So much to do. Helicopter rides, fishing trips, boating, restaurants, premier movie theaters, and great shopping at Tangier Outlet Mall. #ThankYouTuesday

Soft sugar sand beaches…read more Beautiful water Public beaches well maintained. The only downside to recommending it is that it will encourage more tourists. Love the small town feel.

Relish the sights along a peaceful water side view secluded distant from tourist crowded beach…read morehustle & bustle Offering a peaceful relaxing pace for enjoying sunsets & fun activities ranging from fishing, swimming other recreational activities & a dock for enjoying bird watching & sunsets along the waterside. Each day dusk till Dawn locals & tourists alike gather enjoying their day's activities starting with watching a sunrise rise above the water from the docks beach side or comfort within their cars. Convenient parking is limited so early arrival is suggested unless parking farther away & enjoying a brisk walk is your desire. Fishermen are prevalent along sandbanks opening their day's casting lines anticipating catching sand or speckled trout & other species including redfish flounder & Spanish mackerel. Salinity levels attributed via the Gulf flowing in breeds great conditions offering diverse catches. Abundant sandbanks & shallow depths makes finding that special spot. Anglers visiting will find disappointment dock fishing here offering no opportunities for a catch as fish have no interest within that spot & looking down into clear waters it is evident. It is rare observation docks offer good fishing opportunities. Stick with the shore or distant banks. Swimmers & water recreationalists enjoy shallow water devoid from undertows & deep depths offering least anxietal thoughts of common dangers found within the Gulf. From my observations kayaking seems favored most amongst water recreationalists outside of swimming. Distant from fisherman & swimmers upbank an observation dock is available offering bird watching enthusiasts anticipating to spot gulls, terns,brown pelicans & other shore birds. An illustrated sign for bird identification is posted for non enthusiasts wishing to identify birds sighted. Coin-op binoculars are absent so I recommend anyone wishing for up close views to bring binoculars & keep their cameras handy. Who knows? Maybe you might sight a non native or least common birds here. For additional resources go to Alabama Birding trails site & download their coastal birding trails pdf. Happy Watching. day enjoyed by all until tomorrow's fun filled with new & consistent visitors alike. Be sure to like on FB & tell a friend https://m.facebook.com/littlelagoonpass/

The Little Lagoon Pass Park is a great spot for taking in the sites and accessing the beach. The…read moreLittle Lagoon Pass is located three miles west of Highway 59 on West Beach Boulevard (Highway 182). There's restrooms, a fishing pier, an outdoor shower, and water fountain on site. Paid parking is located on the northeast side of the Lee Callaway Bridge. The cost to park is $5 for up to four hours or $10 all day but, as it is with all the city and state park and beach areas that have paid parking, residents with window stickers park free. What's you'll find here is a protected beach on the north side of the pass that is popular with local beachers and fishermen and a nice spot on those days when the surf on the Gulf is too rough or currents are dangerous. Lagoon Pass is a shallow waterway connecting Little Lagoon to the Gulf and is in regular need of dredging. There seems to be a floating dredging barge there quite often. On the southern end if the pass is the Gulf of Mexico with a very nice stretch of the white powdery sand with lifeguards on duty. You can park and cross the street to this area or you can walk by the pass under the bridge. Bottom line: The area is well maintained and is normally less crowded than many of the other beaches. http://facebook.com/littlelagoonpass/

Plein Air painting event at The Lodge, Gulf State Park…read more... Hoping this will be an annual event, as the art community convened a plein air event, bringing together artists with the inspiration of Gulf State Park's many habitats. The result was a large number of paintings which were for purchase at the closing reception at the end of the week. The weather was mild, the food and drink at The Lodge was yummy (I had the steak and eggs for brunch), and it was so cool to watch the artists paint live.

Absolutely phenomenal park!!! I am blown away! Gorgeous landscape, beautiful sunsets, the flora and…read morefauna have me in awe. 28 miles of trails for biking and walking. I've spotted alligators, blue heron, turtles, lizards.. very cool! All the campsite hosts are friendly and our check-in was very easy and we were also greeted with welcoming service. We chose campsite number 479 right next to Mission Lake and the pedestrian bridge that takes you to the ocean. This campground is so clean, beautiful, and offers multiple bathrooms with showers and restrooms. The bathrooms are clean and the showers have enough space to shower and change. Each campsite I've seen has a dump station and water, which has come in handy. There's also Wi-Fi! There's also a restaurant on the campgrounds and tomorrow night we are going to listen to live music and have a few drinks. I've truly loved my stay here and would highly recommend it to anyone! We were only going to stay for four nights but we extended it to a week because we are having such a great time.

Super easy to find via GPS and plenty of (free) parking in their own lot (situated with a bunch of…read morerestaurants). Came during down time so the beach was empty but oh so beautiful with clean white sand and clear water!

Easy to get to with a great boardwalk and shopping. There are also a few restaurants nearby to…read moreenjoy. Employees we encountered were kind. Beach is beautiful of course. This time of year there is plenty of parking and spots to enjoy.

Wetlands Park in Gulf Shores is a hidden gem of a serene nature preserve that is a unique…read moreopportunity to explore our coastal wetlands and enjoy a variety of outdoor activities. I discovered it because of a friend who likes to take long nature walks alone and is a nature buff. It's a walking and hiking park located at the base of the big blue water tower at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex, with the entrance at the northeast corner behind the sportsplex, that provides a convenient and accessible location. It's open to the public for daytime for locals and tourists. The park features a loop gravel path that encircles a small tranquil fishing pond, making it a nice destination for those who love to cast a line and try their luck at catching local fish species. Along the path, you'll find benches, but not in the greatest condition, gazebos, and a fishing pier, providing ample spots to relax, take in the scenery, and appreciate the natural beauty of the wetlands. One of the key highlights of Wetlands Park is its connection to the Alabama Coastal Birding Trail, making it a prime location for birdwatching enthusiasts to observe both migrating and local bird species. There's elevated boardwalks allowing you to traverse the wetlands without disturbing the ecosystem, with lovely views of the wetlands and the diverse wildlife that calls it home. We walked through the park yesterday because my friend and I have a real appreciation for reptiles and she's told me about both snakes and alligators that's she seen here over the years taking long walks here. We weren't disappointed as we approached one of the smaller ponds, with a fishing pier, we spotted a juvenile gator that seemed as anxious to see us as we were to see him, or her. It was only 2-3 feet long and swam all the way across the pond to check us out, it was cool and we enjoyed the visit :-) Also, Wade Ward Nature Park, a nearby extension of the Wetlands Park, features a boardwalk trail that further explores the wetlands ecosystem and connects Little Lagoon with Lake Shelby. This area is home to various wildlife, including otters, pelicans, and the occasional alligator, providing a fascinating glimpse into the rich biodiversity. Overall, Wetlands Park in Gulf Shores is an nice destination for nature lovers, birdwatchers, and those looking to experience the beauty and tranquility of the coastal wetlands. With its well-maintained trails, abundant wildlife, and scenic views, it offers a memorable and educational experience for visitors of all ages.