Gulf Shores

Travel 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

Default Image

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
Default Image

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
Default Image

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
Default Image

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
Default Image

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
Beachside Resort Hotel
Beachside Resort Hotel
2 out of 5
610 W Beach Blvd, Gulf Shores, AL
The price is €74 per night from 6 Nov to 7 Nov
€74
includes taxes & fees
6 Nov - 7 Nov
Stay at this hotel in Gulf Shores. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8/10 Very Good! (1,316 reviews)
Weekend stay for 4
"Overall the place was good. Absolutely perfect location. Nice clean swimming pool. Our bed linen could have been better. The floors in room could have been cleaner and we killed two medium sized roaches on the lastnight of our stay. The water pressure seemed very low in the shower. The hotel phone ..."

Reviewed on 3 Nov 2024

Beachside Resort Hotel
Motel 6 Gulf Shores, AL
Motel 6 Gulf Shores, AL
2 out of 5
3025 W 1st ST, Gulf Shores, AL
Fully refundable
The price is €57 per night from 10 Nov to 11 Nov
€57
includes taxes & fees
10 Nov - 11 Nov
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. ...
7/10 Good! (1,000 reviews)
"no issues,thin walls though!"

Reviewed on 4 Nov 2024

Motel 6 Gulf Shores, AL
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
The price is €72 per night from 7 Nov to 8 Nov
€72
includes taxes & fees
7 Nov - 8 Nov
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Gulf Shores. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful ...
7.6/10 Good! (1,111 reviews)
"Nice place at a great price. Perfect for staying the night after a concert at the Amphitheater! Close by and much less pricey than the hotel at the venue. Comfy & clean, great staff, easy check in & check out."

Reviewed on 1 Nov 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! (577 reviews)
"Loved that it was right on the beach. Disliked the bathroom as there is no bathroom counter. Also no closet space. There is a closet but it has a shelving unit in it making it impossible to hang up anything. No dresser in the bedroom and only one nightstand."

Reviewed on 27 Oct 2024

Phoenix All Suites West Hotel
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! (11 reviews)
Leon
"Private; quiet; great location"

Reviewed on 4 May 2024

Waterfront home with WiFi, sun deck, screened porch & private beach access
Phoenix All Suites
Phoenix All Suites
3.5 out of 5
201 East 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. Our guests praise the property condition in our reviews. ...
8/10 Very Good! (283 reviews)
"It was good!"

Reviewed on 2 Nov 2024

Phoenix All Suites
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

Things to do