GULF SHORES

Gulf State Park Pier
Gulf Place Gulf Shores
Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

Gorgeous beaches, family attractions and famous annual events make Gulf Shores our most popular stretch of paradise. The city is built for convenience, with a walkable downtown full of great restaurants, shopping centers and fun entertainment venues. Condos and charming beachfront homes provide easy access to all Gulf Shores has to offer. And it’s all built around some of the most beautiful Gulf Coast beaches in the country.

Fun in the sun awaits at Gulf Place, the city’s main public beach, where miles of sand and surf are complemented by amenities like open-air pavilions, comfortable bathhouses, volleyball courts, picnic and play areas, and several beachfront restaurants. Visitors can make a splash with fun activities like watersports, parasailing, jet skiing, and body surfing. You can also explore beyond the beaches to enjoy Gulf Shores attractions like thrilling theme parks, the state’s #1 zoo, and the award-winning Gulf State Park.

Fun Facts about Gulf Shores

  • The Gulf Shores area is home to four distinct ecosystems: small stream swamp forest, freshwater marsh, wet longleaf pine savannah, and ancient maritime live oak forest.
  • Gulf Shores’ famous sugar-white sand is composed of tiny quartz crystals that washed downstream from the ancient Appalachian Mountains hundreds of thousands of years ago.
  • The Gulf State Park Fishing Pier is the second-longest pier on the entire Gulf of Mexico and offers a bait and tackle shop, as well as seasonal restaurant.

ORANGE BEACH

The Wharf
Alabama Point
Charter Fishing Orange Beach

Orange Beach is not your ordinary beach destination. Stretching from the east side of Gulf State Park to the Florida state line, its miles of scenic shoreline are complemented by vibrant bays and lush lagoons, luxurious condos, upscale restaurants, and nature trails. This small beach city is big on outdoor adventure, and visitors can spend their days exploring its intricate waterways, boating to its sunny off-shore islands or taking an Orange Beach charter fishing trip.

If you prefer rest and relaxation, Alabama Point is a wide public beach with modern amenities like boardwalk access, covered picnic tables and on-site restrooms. When you’re done in the sun, head to The Wharf to browse boutique shops, enjoy waterfront dining, take in a laser light show and ride the southeast’s second-largest Ferris wheel. It won’t take you long to discover that life is better here at the beach!

Fun Facts about Orange Beach

  • Feel like fishing? Orange Beach is home to the largest charter fishing fleet in the southeast.
  • The Ferris wheel at The Wharf is an impressive 112 feet tall, making it the highest accessible point in the area. Talk about a panoramic view!
  • Perdido Pass was once a hotspot for pirates! They used the area to hide as they raided and plundered passing ships. Legend has it, they even buried some of their booty nearby!

FORT MORGAN

Fort Morgan Alabama
Fort Morgan Beaches
Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge

You won’t find rows of beachfront restaurants or shops in Fort Morgan, but that’s part of its quant charm. A small peninsula to the west of Gulf Shores, Fort Morgan is the picture of peace and serenity with its wide, unspoiled beaches and protected nature preserves. Here, visitors can experience the natural beauty of the Alabama Gulf Coast while still enjoying easy access to amenities like restaurants, shopping, and theme parks in nearby Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

On warm and sunny days, Fort Morgan’s miles of spacious shoreline are perfect for playing fetch with your dog, building sandcastles, hunting for seashells, or snoozing on the sand. If you’re looking to learn, visit a local oyster farm to get a hands-on lesson in aquaculture or tour the town’s namesake historic site to explore an authentic masonry fort. If you’re feeling adventurous, take a walk on the wild side at Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge (but watch where you step – it’s home to nesting sea turtles and the shy Alabama beach mouse.)

Fun Facts about Fort Morgan

  • The State of Alabama purchased Historic Fort Morgan in 1927 for $8,000.
  • Fort Morgan is where Union Admiral David Farragut reportedly shouted, “Damn the torpedoes…full speed ahead!” as he commanded his troops in the Battle of Mobile Bay.
  • Fort Morgan’s Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge is a protected nesting site for three species of threatened or endangered sea turtles. From May to October, volunteers and turtle experts come together to share the beach and ensure the protection of our tiny turtles!