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White sand and turquoise Gulf of Mexico water on the beach at Gulf Shores, Alabama

Gulf Shores Guide

Your Gulf Shores Guide

What I'd tell a friend coming to Gulf Shores

I began visiting Gulf Shores in 1990, and I've been taking care of a place here for more than 20 years.

So this isn't a list of everything you can possibly do on the Alabama coast.

It's the stuff I actually think is worth your time, the places I go myself, and a few things I wish visitors knew before they got here.

And one more thing: you don't have to do anything.

Go to the beach. Get some drinks. Have dinner. Come back to the condo. Do it again tomorrow.

That's a perfectly good Gulf Shores vacation.

The Beach

The Beach Is Right Across the Street

The Nauti Mermaid has deeded beach access directly across West Beach Boulevard through the Sea Chase condominium complex.

You don't need to find a public beach access. You don't need to drive somewhere and hunt for parking. Grab your beach stuff and walk across the street.

And the beach itself? This is the sugar-white sand people come to Gulf Shores for. It's a great beach for couples, solo travelers, friends, and families. You don't need a special reason to be here.

Know Your Beach Flags

Please take the beach flags seriously.

I am an ER nurse, and I've personally been part of teams trying to resuscitate people who got into trouble in the Gulf after ignoring the warning flags. The Gulf can look calm and inviting while conditions in the water are dangerous. A red flag is not a suggestion.

Check the flags before you get in the water, and if conditions change, get out.

  • Green

    Low hazard and calm conditions - enjoy the water, but swim with caution.

  • Yellow

    Moderate surf and rip currents.

  • Red

    High hazard. Rip currents and dangerous surf present.

  • Double Red

    Water closed. Stay out of the Gulf.

  • Purple

    Dangerous marine life is present.

Beach Rules

  • No glass
  • Clean up your trash
  • No dogs on Gulf Shores public beaches
  • Stay off the dunes
  • Fill in large holes before leaving

    Large holes can injure people and trap or injure nesting sea turtles. Fill them in before you leave.

Eat

Bushwackers & Bites

I'm not going to give you a list of 50 restaurants. These are places I've actually been and recommend to my own guests.

Paw print = Dog-friendly

Two Bushwacker cocktails, fish tacos, and a happy golden retriever at a dog-friendly beach bar in Gulf Shores

Near the Condo

Beach House Kitchen & Cocktails

Walkable from The Nauti Mermaid and a convenient choice for lunch or dinner. I recommend the fish tacos and the crawfish mac and cheese.

Orange Beach

Explore

Things to Do When You Feel Like Doing Something

Dogs

Bringing Your Dog?

Paw print = Dog-friendly

Where Can My Dog Go?

Dogs aren't allowed on the public beaches in Gulf Shores or Orange Beach, but Fort Morgan is different. Leashed dogs are welcome on the public beaches along the Fort Morgan peninsula. Clean up after your dog and pay attention to posted restrictions around the wildlife areas and Fort Morgan State Historic Site.

Two happy dogs running through the shallow waves on a sunny Gulf beach

Where Your Dog Can Go

  • Fort Morgan public beaches
  • Dog-friendly restaurants

Practical Advice

Getting Around

Bring a car.

If you're staying on West Beach and mostly plan to go to the beach, eat at one of the nearby restaurants, and hang around the condo, you can get by with a bicycle.

But West Beach is mostly houses and condos, with only a handful of restaurants. If you want to explore Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Fort Morgan, or Pensacola, you'll want a car.

Seasons

When to Come

March
Gets busy with spring break.
April
Is usually calm.
May
Is when the busy season starts. May is one of my favorite months on the coast.
June & July
Are the busiest.
August
Things start slowing down when the kids go back to school.
September
Is quieter.
October
This is my absolute favorite month on the coast.
November & December
Are temperate. Some days are chilly, while others are extremely pleasant.
January & February
Are the coldest and windiest months.
A happy golden retriever lying on the sugar-white sand of a Gulf Shores beach at sunset

Good to Know

A Few Things That Might Surprise You

The Sand Really Is That White.

That sugar-white sand is one of the first things people notice when they arrive. There's a reason people keep coming back.

You Don't Have to Fill Your Vacation.

Seriously.

You can spend the morning on the beach, have lunch, take a nap, go get a drink, have dinner, and call it a day.

You don't get extra vacation points for being exhausted when you go home.

Now You Know.

Go enjoy Gulf Shores. And if you find a place you think I need to add to this guide, tell me about it.

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