Gulf Shores Travel Guide

Tourist Guide
Gulf Shores
Beautiful beaches, championship golf courses, great seafood and unusual nature experiences attract carefree vacationers to this pleasant Alabama resort area.

White-sand beaches and emerald-green water are the popular attractions of Gulf Shores and the Alabama Gulf Coast. Find some of the state’s best golf, good shopping and many natural attractions.

Orange Beach and Alabama Point East are among Alabama Gulf Coast’s most popular beaches, great places to start exploring the area. Sandy shores stretching for miles feature sand dunes, boardwalks and several picnic areas. For a bit more action, try Gulf Shores Public Beach where you’ll find volleyball courts and numerous lively beach bars. Go shopping here and eat fresh seafood.

The Gulf Shores region is also home to some of Alabama’s best golf courses. Test your skills at the three designed by golf legend Arnold Palmer: Cotton Creek and Cyprus Bend at Craft Farms and Lost Key Golf Club on the way to Pensacola, Florida.

Other nearby courses to investigate include the affordable Glenlakes Golf Club and Gulf State Park Refuge Golf Course. If you’re here mostly for golf, consider a “stay and play” package offered by the various hotels and resorts.

For outdoor adventure off the course, hike along the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail, a collaborative effort between the city of Orange Beach and property owners along the trail. Try to catch a glimpse of the “Catman,” a part-man, part-wildcat creature that has allegedly lurked along the paths and swamps for decades. If you’d prefer not to walk, join an eco-tour, which provides a trip through the natural habitats in a covered electric cart.

Enjoy the many water-based activities in Gulf Shores and along the Alabama Gulf Coast. Rent a kayak and explore the back bays of the area or join a dolphin tour. The Alabama Coastal Birding Trail is a must-see for bird lovers, offering more than 50 birding sites. The trail is designed in a series of loops and provides information about the birds you might expect to see at each place.

Come to the Alabama Gulf Coast for adventure, fun and relaxation.

Where to stay in Gulf Shores

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Surf Side Shores

When in Surf Side Shores, you can plan a visit to Kiva Dunes Golf Course and Fort Morgan Beach, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.

Surf Side Shores
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Morgantown

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Morgantown and surrounding area, you can visit Kiva Dunes Golf Course and Fort Morgan Beach.

Morgantown
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Cabana Beach

Cabana Beach might not have many top sights, but Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge and Kiva Dunes Golf Course are two attractions nearby that you can check out.

Cabana Beach
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Brigadoon Trail

Brigadoon Trail might not have many top sights, but West Beach and Gulf Shores Beach are two attractions nearby that you can check out.

Brigadoon Trail
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Fort Morgan Pines

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Fort Morgan Pines and surrounding area, you can visit Fort Morgan Beach and Fort Morgan.

Fort Morgan Pines
Motel 6 Gulf Shores, AL
Motel 6 Gulf Shores, AL
2 out of 5
3025 W 1st ST, Gulf Shores, AL
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is NZ$144 per night from 15 May to 16 May
NZ$144
per night
15 May - 16 May
Stay at this motel in Gulf Shores. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our reviews. ...
6.8/10 (1,004 reviews)
"Check in was quick office personnel were efficient and nice."

Reviewed on 30 Apr. 2024

Motel 6 Gulf Shores, AL
Beachside Resort Hotel
Beachside Resort Hotel
2 out of 5
610 W Beach Blvd, Gulf Shores, AL
The price is NZ$267 per night from 20 May to 21 May
NZ$267
per night
20 May - 21 May
Stay at this hotel in Gulf Shores. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
7.8/10 Good! (1,097 reviews)
"Room met all my expectations and exceeded them by having PLENTY of towels for four gals, all with long hair to wash and dry. The AC was COLD making the humidity outside easy to forget. The beds were comfortable with just the right amount of cover. And a FULL SIZE FRIG was life changing, making other ..."

Reviewed on 12 May 2024

Beachside Resort Hotel
Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Gulf Shores
Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Gulf Shores
2.5 out of 5
3600 Gulf Shores Parkway, Gulf Shores, AL
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is NZ$172 per night from 15 May to 16 May
NZ$172
per night
15 May - 16 May
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Gulf Shores. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
7.6/10 Good! (1,027 reviews)
"Safe and easy access to the beach."

Reviewed on 11 May 2024

Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Gulf Shores
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Phoenix All Suites West Hotel
Phoenix All Suites West Hotel
3.5 out of 5
533 W. Beach Blvd., Gulf Shores, AL
Stay at this 3.5-star beach aparthotel in Gulf Shores. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a beach locale. Popular attractions Gulf Shores Beach and Gulf State ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (484 reviews)
Relaxing stay
"Great location, and excellent room too! Check-in was easy and communication from the front office was awesome. This was our first trip to Gulf Shores, but won’t be the last. Really enjoyed the views, and local dining options. Our room was very clean and comfortable. We enjoyed our morning coffee ..."

Reviewed on 4 May 2024

Phoenix All Suites West Hotel
Sugar Sands RV Resort
Sugar Sands RV Resort
2 out of 5
5343 Roscoe Rd, Gulf Shores, AL
Stay at this mobile home in Gulf Shores. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a fitness center. Popular attractions Gulf Shores Beach and The Wharf are located ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (15 reviews)
"Awesome little RV resort with the option to rent out into homes for a fraction of the price to rent anything on the beach. Amazingly family & pet friendly with beautiful pool (with waterfalls and fountain jets), a playground, splash pad and fitness room. Large shared community area with games and ..."

Reviewed on 10 Apr. 2024

Sugar Sands RV Resort
Waterfront home with WiFi, sun deck, screened porch & private beach access
Waterfront home with WiFi, sun deck, screened porch & private beach access
Gulf Shores
Book a stay at this beach vacation home in Gulf Shores. Enjoy a beach locale, patios, and cable/satellite TV service. Popular attractions Gulf Shores Beach and ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (10 reviews)
Paradise and Bulldozers?
"We loved the house and location; beautiful sunrises and sunsets always. Plenty of room for our guests! What we didn't expect though was the last week of 24/7 beach dredging and reshaping which closed the beach directly in front of us. Fortunately, it reopened on our last day so we could enjoy a final ..."

Reviewed on 16 Dec. 2023

Waterfront home with WiFi, sun deck, screened porch & private beach access
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

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Cities near Gulf Shores