Roughly a six hour drive from my home in North Alabama, Gulf Shores is a lovely Alabama Beach! Its less 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! read more

My last 5 year old review focused on the summer concerts, it's time for an update! 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. read more

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Great beach,white sand.Mainly families on this visit.If any complaint,it would be the rental chairs and umbrellas dominate the beach and are set up in the ideal places,at least where we were.But no problem getting on the beach and setting up our chairs and umbrella. read more

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Gulf Shores Beach is really beautiful. The beach is clean and so peaceful too! I spent the day at the beach for my birthday and I really enjoyed myself. The sunsets are a thing of beauty and the white sand is lovely. Gulf Shores is definitely one of my favorite destinations. The off season is a great time to visit the beach!!! read more

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Its such an awesome coast to camp on. Beautiful sunrises and unforgettable sunsets. Clean beaches and cool water... definitely put on your bucket list. read more

These are the cleanest, most beautiful beaches I have EVER experienced. There was lost of Jelly fish on our 2025 vacation, but it wasnt a deal breaker as its not always like that. The sand is pristine white, and the waters are the most tranquil aqua blue color you ever seen. There are SO many shells. I didnt see super large ones, but MORE than enough for each person to get a zip lock baggie FULL to bring home. The people are so very kind and helpful. I absolutely love it here. Also, I have to use a wheelchair 75% of my walking. So if you are disabled, you can take your wheelchair to the edge of the boardwalk, and walk a very short distance with a bit of help right to the shore. It was no trouble for me with my son to assist me. Highly recommend checking this place off your bucket list! read more

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I love coming to Gulf Shores!! The pay to park is easy and I have always had luck finding spots! They do come around and ticket so make sure to pay and leave that receipt in the window! The beaches are "raked" at night and free of garbage. They provide trash bins up and down the beach so remember to pick your junk!! Always a good time in LA (lower Alabama) ha! read more

Gulf Shores Beach - Beaches Near Me - Gulf Shores, Alabama

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I came here twice during my week stay in February. Day 1 I walked the beach barefoot, while my mom wore shoes. Parking was difficult, but we used a handicapped placard from MN. I found some seashells. Beach was very clean. Parking free until March supposedly. I walked the North Beach on another day. I came back the last evening in Gulf Shores for a sunset picture. Until next time. Recommend. read more

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How do I love thee? Let me count the ways: beaches. food. vibes. This and Pensacola are my paradise destinations. I'm a Frequent Flier to GS/OB, so let me know if you need recs for anything!! read more

Gulf Shores Beach - Beaches Near Me - Gulf Shores, Alabama

Definitely a Beautiful beach. It was cool on this day, But we needed to see the ocean and make memories. The beach was soft and surprisingly the water wasn't too cold-dipped my toes in for a second. read more

Gulf Shores Beach - Beaches Near Me - Gulf Shores, Alabama

I'm familiar with certain cities and areas in Alabama, but never visited the gulf area. This beach nice on Alabama gulf coast. It's vibrant with a good mix of the young and old bringing excitement to the area. You'll find attractions, dining experiences, music venues and adventure both on and off the water. There were people parasailing, swimming, taking photos and walking along the white sandy beach just enjoying the evening. This was my first time at this beach, and the weather was nice in May and I will return. It wasn't crowded at all towards the Orange beach/ grass island area. I loved the calm vibe. read more

Gulf Shores Beach - Beaches Near Me - Gulf Shores, Alabama

This beach was fabulous, the only detractor was the chair and Umbrella rentals service , that would not allow us to rent the chairs and umbrella. The young man stated "they'd met their rental quota for the day" then suggested I walk 1/4 mile down the beach and ask the persons renting the green umbrellas to rent theirs. We sat on the sand for approximately forty minutes next to an unoccupied umbrella/ chair set up. I got up to stretch my legs as I have edema and sat on the chair that remained unoccupied, about 5 minutes into enjoying the shade the umbrella provided and sitting comfortably in the chair, along came the same young man who denied us a rental and told me I had to get off of the chair, I did, and he folded both chairs , let the umbrella down and proceeded to walk away. I said we could have rented that chair , you'd think he'd take the extra $40 for a set he'd already collected rental fees on. He replied I can rent it to you but i have to set you up back there ( pointing to a spot further back on the beach ) I didn't understand the point, the chairs and umbrella were alread set up why did we need to sit in the Rosa Parks section of the beach??? I asked him to walk away from me and stop talking because he was messing up our beach time. Clearly this was a silly and unnecessary debate. We sat for an additional hour with the chairs we were not allowed to rent, folded and stacked agaisnt the closed umbrella for an hour until we decided to leave the beach, that did not have welcoming staff!!!! read more

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It's not absolutely horrible. I do not like that it does not have a boardwalk and you really can't see the beach from the road. All you can see your buildings businesses or grass. It has a couple mini golf, places, arcade, several restaurants and shopping places. They have dolphin tours and all the normal touristy things... They really don't have a lot of options as far as fast food - if you're looking for that. If you want to spend the money to go to a waterpark/amusement park - you can do that with 10 minute drive. You can drive into Foley (20 + minutes) where there's a lot more shopping options - outlet mall - fast food places - etc. I would prefer to go a little bit further down in the Florida read more

I prefer this beach over others because it's not typically as crowded. It's well kept. Parking can be an issue depending on when you visit. There are the typical cutesy beach shops and places to dine. Cute city. Another plus to this beach is it's not too far from Tanger outlets so I typically will make a shopping stop as well. read more

Gulf Shores Beach - Beach - Beaches Near Me - Gulf Shores, Alabama

I remember back in the 90s when it was just a strip that included a restaurant arcade a few kiddie rides & a McDonald's going down the ways from the pink pony. In the past 20 years I'm glad to have seen the beach advance & develop into the site that it has become today. Gulf Shores Beach has developed beautifully in the past 5 years offering locals and tourists a wonderful view of the ocean relaxing upon a white sandy beach. In addition to the ocean views & beautifully landscaped surroundings it also includes space to walk your dogs along side the beach away from beach goers shaded bench areas for beach goers to cool off & mats for wheelchair access for those beach goers who would otherwise have to enjoy it further back. Dining & shopping is within a walking distance of the beach that include The Hangout,Souvenir City The Pink Pony & Alvin's island. I was very impressed with the vast lots offered for parking along the beach making it easy for finding a space & I love the fact Gulf Shores Beach isn't crowded unlike a vast majority of Florida beaches. I'll always enjoy my days along this beach when I'm in town for a visit.  Be sure to like on FB & tell a friend https://www.facebook.com/pages/Beach-At-Gulf-Shores-Alabama/134095223332786 read more

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Impressive beach. Being from Texas, I appreciated the white sands and nice water here. The beaches are clean and there wasn't a fight for space like the other beaches. I came in mid-August and there were plenty of spots to sit at. If you want to park for free, you can find spots across the street from the beach. The parking area near the beach is the pay to park lot. We parked across the street and it wasn't bad of a walk. There is a pavilion you can seek shelter from the sun, hang out under the shade, keep dry from the rain, etc. It rained for a bit then stopped, but when it started to pour down we waited in the pavilion to dry off. They definitely like to keep this place clean and organized. I remember seeing the beach worker put a tag on a canopy that was left on the beach. There are signs to leave no trash and not leave anything unattended. Great place to relax in a small town. read more

Gulf Shores Beach - Relaxing - Beaches Near Me - Gulf Shores, Alabama

If you want that white sandy beach and blue ocean but don't want the crowd of Panama City and Destin, come to Gulf Shores! My hubby loves Gulf Shores. As a child, his Godmother used to take him so he has a soft spot. We haven't been to Gulf Shores at least in a decade. A lot of change! There's so much going on. I'm glad we came after Thanksgiving. Cannot beat the gorgeousness of the Gulf side. 279/2019 read more

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Perfect place to enjoy a huge and clean beach for Spring break and summer. There's plenty of accessible parking, great shops and restaurants within walking distance, and shade shelters and bathrooms in the area. We love the volleyball nets! Sand looked like it was kept clean all week we went here. read more

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Best beach in the south. Power white sand and very relaxing vacation. Off season is the best time to visit

Gulf Shores Beach is absolutely beautiful. If you are a beach lover you will be so happy at Gulf Shores Beach. The sand is white and sugar fine. There are so many spots you can find to chill and relax and enjoy the sound of the waves. We parked across the street in a public lot. There are nice spots to shower off the sand and salt. There are also several large sails which provide shade if you are like me and have to watch that toasty Gulf sunshine. There are lots of bars and restaurants along the beach. We were surprised to find reasonable prices for very delicious seafood. We took a cooler to the beach with beverages so that was very nice too. read more

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For a weekend getaway we headed to Gulf Shores Alabama! So glad we did! So much fun! Beach was very relaxing. Clean and not too crowded. Traffic to get to the beach was heavy though. We parked next to the bathroom facilities, it was $5 for parking. It was a good location to park that had easy beach access. Below is the places we visited and enjoyed. Be sure to check out the pier, it's $3 per person. There's a store, small restaurant and dipin dots. It was pretty neat to be so far out on the water. We seen dolphins and a sea turtle, not up close but we seen them nonetheless. Made our day. We purchased souvenirs from Souvenir City, lots to choose from and prices were good. We got beef jerky from Beach Jerky, (next to The Purple Octopus). They gave us samples which was super helpful in making decisions on which to choose. Great customer service. Lambert's, Home of the Thrown Rolls! Worth the LONG wait!! We waited 2 hours. Get there BEFORE you're hungry!! Not too far from the beach and the food was delicious and plentiful. Our server, Crystal was awesome, we loved her! On our way out we stopped by Burris Farm Market- (up closer to expressway 10) AHHH-MAZING pecan cobbler, yes PECAN COBBLER! I'm born and raised in Georgia and never had or heard of pecan cobbler. It was SOOOO good!! It was like a creamier version of pecan pie. Came with 2 scoops of ice cream for $5. Took me 2 sittings to finish it, the serving was huge! Can't wait to get back if nothing else, just for this! They had other cobblers that looked good but I only got the pecan. And last but not least, BUC-EE'S! We will travel for Bucees! Love the "I'm traveling" experience of Bucees. Lots of souvenirs, snacks, clean and plentiful bathrooms and so many gas pumps! We will definitely return to Gulf Shores Beach! Next time we want to go to the amusement park that has go-karts... we ran out of time. read more

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This beach is so clean and beautiful. We come from dirty, full of litter and brown beaches. This beach was very calming. It was dead because it's January and 45 degrees out, but it was very calming. read more

pros: Very nice scenic area. beautiful beaches. cons: too many people during the summertime and the entire area is one big cell phone dead spot. really weird but barely any service anywhere throughout the whole city or beach area. if you do business while on vacation then try a different area. read more

Best beach you could hope to find. Soft, white sand that looks like sugar. Always clean (no smoking or alcohol)! Great place to sea shell hunt, as well. When I'm looking for a beach vacation, it's my first choice!! read more

Had the best time while I was there. The water was beautiful a couple of days and had a little bit of seaweed floating around a couple of days! Can't wait to go back!!! read more

Gulf Shores Beach - My view from the condo! - Beaches Near Me - Gulf Shores, Alabama

What a beautiful place! White sandy beaches, and warm gulf water! My family loves to vacation here! It's kept decently clean but I wish there was a no smoking rule on the beach. I've seen so many cigarette butts! Yuck! No one wants to smell that either when you're trying to enjoy fresh air with the family! Overall it's a gorgeous beach and we love visiting! read more

Clean updated restrooms, lots of green space, a lifeguard station made for a king (3 stories tall). Handicapped beach access. Social distancing. read more

We had a great relaxing after Christmas week. Everything was open so plenty of food and shopping! Beach wasn't crowded and weather in the upper 70"s. Water was too cold for me but people were swimming. Nice laid back family oriented but nightlife available read more

I'm in a glass case of emotion here but we've had a good time with no problems, nice people and good weather everyday but one. The restaurants were good and we probably could have spent another week trying different places and still been wanting more. I'd recommend Gulf Shores as much if not more than the other spots in the redneck riviera. read more

What a beautiful time to relax and enjoy walking the beach when it's completely empty? At first, I thought we came at the worst time since I'm not use to seeing the beach completely empty, but after a few hours in Gulf Shores, I quite frankly enjoyed the peace and quiet during my stay here. We did take a chance on coming here not knowing what the weather is like especially with hurricane season, but everything worked out fine on which I'm glad I got a chance to enjoy the nice sunny weather during my time in Gulf Shores. read more

Gulf Shores Beach - Beautiful sunrise - Beaches Near Me - Gulf Shores, Alabama

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What a gorgeous beach and we live so close to it..But have not been down in almost 2 months so yesterday being a beautiful,warm ,sunny day we went down to walk and look for shells..but it was sooo crowded and then the hubby got to talking to people so we really didnt spend the time I like to so after the rain it will be another trip there..and no stopping at rouses on the way home ,we spent a fortune there lol.. read more

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We always went early mornings looking for shells. It is nice, clean, and minimal human activity at that time of day. read more

Gulf Shores Beach - Gulf Shores beach - Beaches Near Me - Gulf Shores, Alabama

Massive improvements have been made to accommodate parking and welcome visitors. Gulf Shores has white pristine beach's . The public beach's also offer accessible ramp pads on top of the sand , making it easier to enjoy. The Gulf of Mexico is a beautiful site, however look for flags and indicators on how the currents are running. If your visiting stick with the public beach areas provided as these areas are monitored..The City of Gulf Shores, Gulf Shores Beach Patrol, Gulf Shores Police, Gulf Shores Fire and rescue all work tirelessly and diligently to keep everyone safe. read more

We love gulf shores. Clear water and white sand. Great stops to each around and not a busy as ornage beach or Panama City. The further you go towards Florida the prettier the beaches and water get but gulf shores is a perfect mix of small town with great beach. Plenty of seafood and stores. read more

Gulf Shores Beach - Gulf shores - Beaches Near Me - Gulf Shores, Alabama

My 100th review! Not that anyone cares...Ok, back to the beach! The beaches of Gulf Shores, AL, miiiiight just be my favorite of anywhere in the U.S. The white sand, the emerald water -- it is absolutely, stunningly beautiful. The Gulf Coast is an amazing place to toil away your days. So grab some sunblock, a towel and a chaise lounge (which you can get up Hwy. 59 at Wally World for about $10 -- a super save compared to the $20 they charge you for the day on the beach! why not just grab a cooler and some food and drinks while you're there, then you're set for a full day?). If you hit the beach right on W. Beach Blvd., realize this is the one "major" beach of Gulf Shores -- parking fills quickly and the entire scene turns into a tourist mess by late morning. As a plus, in the past couple years, they've expanded parking quite a bit (but now you have to pay for it!). If you continue to travel down Beach Boulevard, you can keep going and going (into Florida and beyond!) and you'll find beaches all along the way. If you want something a little quieter, keep your eye out and you'll find something that suits (no pun intended, ha!) your particular vision of a perfect beach day. The state park beaches are really beautiful (some of them require a bit of a walk before you get to water, keep that in mind) and usually charge about $5 for the day. read more

Gulf Shores Beach - White sandy beaches and pink sunsets - Beaches Near Me - Gulf Shores, Alabama

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Gulf Shores is a great place that is a little bit easier to drive to from where we're located and it's nice to not always fly or drive really far. The beach is always super clean and easy to explore and the water is clear and blue which is such a nice change of pace from some other beaches I've been to. There are a good amount of restaurants and bars along the beach or within walking distance. It's a great place for families or people without kids because there are so many options! Plenty of condo, hotel, and Aribnb's to stay at on the beach too. We can't wait to go back! read more

Beautiful white sand beaches, not too crowded, mostly small waves, surrounded by a hospitable beach town that knows how to treat guests. I think that it's a little pricey to rent a chair/umbrella. $35/day. For a chair. I can rent a freakin' new model automobile for that! Ok, technically it's 2 chairs and an umbrella. Which you will inevitably share with someone who has a different idea about the proper angle, purpose, and effect of said umbrella. Couples counseling ought to be included! Maybe that's just me? Apparently this year (16) GSA became a Spring Break destination due to the newly tightened booze laws in Panama City, FL. Apparently that didn't go entirely well for GSA where security wasn't beefed up much or PCB, where the usual revenue was way down. I predict that good old fashioned capitalist greed will prevail as kids will soon be strolling Panama City Beach with red cups full of fermented liquid again. GSA seems to have recovered and is hosting a music festival crowd again this year, and doing it in championship fashion. GSA, like so many gulf communities, specializes in surviving and rebounding. Hurricanes, tropical storms, oil spills, they always bounce back. The first year we came was after the huge BP Horizon explosion that dumped way too much oil into the gulf. Tourism had taken a hit that year, and they were so glad to see tourists return that we experienced a flavor and level of Southern Hospitality so generous that it should be capitalized. Well butter my butt and call me a biscuit, but that won me over. Resilience, second chances, underdogs overcoming adversity, I'm a sucker for those! I'm not even really a beach guy. I love the sound, but a couple splashes in the salt water and I'm good for another year. This beach, however, calls to me. It's pretty perfect here. There are fenced off protected dunes with native grasses and what I can only assume are endangered species of some sort. I should look it up. Because this is my home planet and I should probably know more about taking care of it. Update: sea oats. Ask any person a long way from home, or any ambassador from afar, about their culture and inevitably one of the first topics will be food. As well it should be! GSA has dozens of fried shrimp-'n-oyster spots, a few really nice restaurants, and an adjacent sister city named after a citrus fruit with more of the same. I'll never understand the need for the sheer number of beach gear shops, but they seem to be thriving so what the hell do I know? Let's get back to the food. Ok, while I generally prefer seafood from the coldest northern waters of the Pacific and Atlantic, there is a unique breed of shrimp here called "Royal Reds." Well I've been trying to get some for 5 years now and this is my lucky year. These things are legendary. Seriously, look it up. I'm inclined to want to come to the annual shrimp festival one of these years. Anyhow, the seafood here is great and the places that thrive are winning because they do it right. This is the place. To relax, if that's your thing. To party and play, if you're into that. To dine and overdo it, because 'Murica. [...There's even a nice outlet mall 15 minutes from the beach if you insist on wasting your life away shopping for things while your poor beleaguered hubby wastes away in the waiting level of hell. Dante didn't get around to painting middle aged dudes in printed T shirts and straw hats sitting on benches surrounded by pitchfork wielding demons, but I've been there and my advice is to not leave your man unattended for too long at the outlet mall lest he develop a resentment, road rage in the parking lot, or malnutrition from missin lunch by a couple of hours while toy shop.] ...But, by all means spend some time with your toes in the sand, considering your navel, the meaning of existence, and the way(s) in which light and sounds travel in waves through the multiverse(s) while we're stuck walking for now. This beach is perfect for that sort of thing. Come on down, y'all. read more

Gulf Shores Beach - Beaches Near Me - Gulf Shores, Alabama

Went in August. Saw Dolphins every morning. Saw baby sea turtles hatch one night and make their way to sea. Watched them the whole week with a crew each night and was so thrilled to watch them finally make their way out. Seriously it was magical. BP patrols the shore every night/morning and tries to hide away remnants of their spill, though. I loathe BP. read more

Gulf Shores Beach - Beaches Near Me - Gulf Shores, Alabama

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Sugary Sand. Emerald Water. Peaceful Waves. Romantic Nights. Majestic Clouds. Warm Water. Beautiful Horizon. Fresh Air. Love It. read more

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Are you looking for white sand beaches? Clear beautiful water? Cranes that stalk the fisherman? Clear blue skies? Then this beach is the one for you! Come on down!!! But fo realz, this beach is balls out. When MP suggested we go here, I was like "wha? Alabama?" But alas, he was right and I owe him bigtime! This was prolly one of the most beautiful and well kept beaches i've ever had the pleasure of relaxing on. We were there everyday, all day. The people are nice and even the birds are nice!! The beach is right on the little road that takes you into town, so food and shopping are so close. If you want to leave for a while, you won't be gone long and the beaches will still be beautiful when you return!! Bring your chairs or rent some (see Ike's review), lounge around, bring a drink, sunscreen and be fabulous. read more

Gulf Shores Beach - Birds! - Beaches Near Me - Gulf Shores, Alabama

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