City of Gulf Shores

Travel and Leisure just named Gulf Shores one of America’s Best Little Beach Towns! Listed among far-flung beaches in Hawaii, Maine, and California, Gulf Shores was listed for it’s fantastic seafood, quiet location, and the strange occurrence of “jubilees,” random nights when crabs, fish and shrimp flop up on the beach and make for easy pickings. While the glitz and glamour of Santa Monica or Miami are what some folks look for, many Americans are looking for a quiet get-a-way for their families. Somewhere priced reasonably, with the amenities of a luxury trip, but the down home feel of a small town. Lucky for you, Gulf Shores is just that location. Travel and Leisure only scratched the surface of what makes this area special in our opinion.

Gulf Shores, often referred to as “Pleasure Island,” is home to fantastic Gulf of Mexico views and miles of sandy trails just waiting to be explored. While the beaches of Alabama Gulf Coast are a main draw, there are still plenty of other activities to keep you busy! Families will enjoy Waterville USA, a 25 acre water and fun park, or Adventure Island, where you can play mini golf, bumper boats, go-karts or at the arcade. You may also want to look into visiting Pirates Island Adventure Golf where you can play mini-golf in a pirate themed setting.

Of course, many golf courses are available if you want to spend your time relaxing on the green, with Kiva Dunes being recognized as one of the top courses in the state. For those seeking more adventure, the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, is a fantastic hiking spot with more than six miles of trails and beach access and the Ferris Wheel at The Wharf is an experience not to be missed!  Read about Kiva Dunes here.  You can also experience Laguna Tower by clicking here and Laguna Key Beach here.

Gulf Shores is located within the Baldwin County Public School District and is home to Gulf Shores Elementary School, Golf Shores Middle School and Golf Shores High School.

Gulf Shores is located in south Baldwin County, Alabama, near Little Lagoon, Gasque and Orange Beach, with about a forty-five minute drive from Pensacola and just over an hour’s drive from Mobile, Alabama.

The beautiful white-sand beaches and sparkling emerald waters welcome beach-goers of all ages to Gulf Shores. Kick back, relax, and let the beaches of Gulf Shores take you to a place of Sun, Fun, and Family.

Take a break from the beach to visit Gulf Shores Museum,  for a lesson in local history or visit Fort Morgan.

Take a ride along Mobile Bay on the Vehicle/Passenger Ferry operating between Dauphin Island and
Fort Morgan. Also, in nearby Mobile, Alabama you’ll find the

The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo will even allow you to interact with tiger cubs, lemurs, wolf pups, and baby kangaroos on special exploration adventures.

Aji Sai in Gulf Shores is the place to come if you like sushi, but if you like your seafood cooked, you will enjoy King Neptune’s Seafood Restaurant. If you are looking for a meal with a phenomenal view, try lunching at Sea-N-Suds Restaurant & Oyster Bar.

Gulf Shores has some great shopping hot spots, like Repeat After Me for consignment items and Souvenir City for typical vacation memorabilia. Target is present in Gulf Shores, as well, for shoppers who prefer larger shopping chains.