Skip to content

Top Navigation

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Food and Recipes
  • Culture and Lifestyle
  • Style
  • Holidays & Occasions
  • Home
  • Gardening Ideas
  • News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Southern Living

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Explore

    Explore

    • The Best New Haircuts to Try in 2022

      The Best New Haircuts to Try in 2022

      Here are the haircuts you'll be seeing everywhere this year. Read More
    • How To Season A Cast-Iron Skillet

      How To Season A Cast-Iron Skillet

      Learn how to season this Southern kitchen staple in five easy steps. Read More
    • 50 Thoughtful Messages for a Meaningful Thank You Note

      50 Thoughtful Messages for a Meaningful Thank You Note

      Not sure what to write in a thank you card? Here's how to show your gratitude with a handwritten note. Read More
  • Food and Recipes

    Food and Recipes

    See All Food and Recipes
    4 Easy Ways to Tell if an Egg Has Gone Bad

    4 Easy Ways to Tell if an Egg Has Gone Bad

    It’s not all in the senses, but they sure can help.
    • Recipes
    • Quick and Easy Dinner
    • Kitchen Assistant
    • Casserole
    • Holiday and Occasion Food
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Desserts
    • Healthy and Light
    • Side Dishes
    • Party Food and Drink
    • Appetizers
    • Meat
    • Breakfast
    • BBQ
    • Drinks
    • What's Cooking
  • Culture and Lifestyle

    Culture and Lifestyle

    See All Culture and Lifestyle
    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    Let your besties know how much they mean to you with these unique nicknames.
    • Quotes and Sayings
    • Biscuits and Jam Podcast
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Healthy Living
    • Coastal Living
  • Style

    Style

    See All Style
    The Coziest Winter Nail Colors for January 2022

    The Coziest Winter Nail Colors for January 2022

    The beginning of a new year often has us all feeling like starting off fresh by taking on better habits, getting rid of old ones, and—most commonly—changing up our look. While others are hitting the squats and going into the salon for a pixie cut, why not start slow and steady with a cozy winter manicure in a color that feels new to you? It takes only a little courage to step outside your usual OPI Lincoln Park After Dark or Essie Bordeaux, which is all you need to kick 2022 off on a fanciful foot.  From new wintry takes on classic dark nail colors to unique pops of color that'll have you feeling the opposite of boring, these are the best nail colors to try this January and tick off all the way into spring. 
    • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Fashion
    • Short Hairstyles
    • Nails
    • Medium Hairstyles
    • Skincare
    • Long Hairstyles
  • Holidays & Occasions

    Holidays & Occasions

    See All Holidays & Occasions
    • Thanksgiving
    • Gifts
    • Christmas
    • Mother's Day
    • Hanukkah
    • New Year's
    • Easter
    • Mardi Gras
    • 4th of July
    • Weddings
  • Home

    Home

    See All Home
    16 Kitchen Design Trends Southern Designers Predict Will Be Everywhere in 2022

    16 Kitchen Design Trends Southern Designers Predict Will Be Everywhere in 2022

    There's no denying how the pandemic fundamentally changed the world—including how we live (and work) inside our homes. An overall trend toward celebrating the history and originality of our homes is displacing ultramodern aesthetics and sharp lines as we all look to create cozier, colorful, more personalized spaces that better suit our lifestyles. We're turning away from big-box stores and toward vintage items—first, out of necessity due to supply-chain issues, and now, for design reasons—to add charm and character to every room in the house, including the kitchen. Here, interior designers from around the South share their predictions for what's trending in kitchen design for 2022 and beyond.
    • Home Decor Ideas
    • Idea Houses
    • Kitchen Design
    • Before & After Photos
    • Bathroom Design
    • Curb Appeal
    • Bedroom Design
    • DIY Home Decor
    • Color Palettes & Paint
    • House Plans & Builders
    • Inspired Communities
  • Gardening Ideas

    Gardening Ideas

    See All Gardening Ideas
    If You Keep Finding Ladybugs in Your House, Here's What You Need to Know

    If You Keep Finding Ladybugs in Your House, Here's What You Need to Know

    Plus a few strategies for keeping them out-of-doors
    • Container Gardening
    • Gardening Flowers
    • Fruit, Vegetable & Herb Gardens
    • Garden Pests
    • Plant Guides A-Z
    • Indoor Plants
    • Fall Plants
    • Landscaping Ideas
    • The Grumpy Gardener
  • News

    News

    See All News
    • Celebrities
    • Local News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Southern Living
  2. Travel
  3. Alabama
  4. The Best Things To Do In Gulf Shores, Alabama

The Best Things To Do In Gulf Shores, Alabama

Jenna Sims, Associate Digital Editor at Southern Living
By Jenna Sims
Skip gallery slides
FB
Beaches
Credit: Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism
No matter how many times you visit this coastal Alabama town, you'll find yourself planning your next trip before you've even reached I-65 on your way home. Their signature catchphrase "Small Town, Big Beach" can be seen around town, and gives you a glimpse of what kind of place Gulf Shores really is. While the white quartz sand and rolling waters of the Gulf of Mexico are the main attraction, there's plenty more to do and see in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
Start Slideshow

1 of 6

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Need Things to Do in Gulf Shores? Here are our Recommendations

1 of 6

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 6

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Enjoy Plenty of Beach Time

Beaches
Credit: Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism

Whether you want to sit in a chair just close enough for the waves to hit your toes, enjoy the sights from above with a parasail ride, or walk up and down the beach during sunset, Gulf Shores is an ideal destination for enjoying fun in the sun year-round. Throughout the city, you'll find 9 public access points that lead to the beach, including the Gulf State Park Beach Pavilion and Gulf Place, the main public beach. The city's "Leave Only Footprints" campaign is working to ensure that the beaches stay as beautiful as they are now for many years to come.

2 of 6

3 of 6

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Explore at Gulf State Park

Gulf State Park
Credit: Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism

In addition to two miles of beachfront, Gulf State Park is also home to the largest fishing pier in the Gulf of Mexico and 25 miles of paved trails for walking and biking. The park also offers various lodging options including campsites, lakeside cottages, and The Lodge at Gulf State Park.

3 of 6

Advertisement

4 of 6

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Visit the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo
Credit: Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism

The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo is one of the most popular family attractions in the region and is home to over 600 animals. Featured on the Animal Planet Show " The Little Zoo That Could", which shared the story of the zoo's recovery after Hurricane Ivan, The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo will soon be known as "The Little Zoo That Grew" when it moves to its new 25+ acre property in late 2019.

4 of 6

5 of 6

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Have Dinner by the Water

Hangout
Credit: Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism

Throughout Gulf Shores, you'll find no shortage of restaurants with beautiful views of the water, fun family atmospheres, and fresh Gulf seafood. On the beach, you can find The Hangout, Bahama Bob's Beachside Cafe, and Perch at Gulf State Park, just to name a few of our favorites. On the canal, Lucy Buffet's Lulu's and Tacky Jacks also offer beautiful water views with glimpses of boats as they pass by.

5 of 6

6 of 6

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Attend a Festival

Shrimp Festival
Credit: Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism

Throughout the year, Gulf Shores is home to many annual events and festivals. You can plan your visit during the Annual Shrimp Festival, Hangout Music Festival, and more. You can find a full list of annual events here.

6 of 6

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Jenna Sims

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 6 Need Things to Do in Gulf Shores? Here are our Recommendations
    2 of 6 Enjoy Plenty of Beach Time
    3 of 6 Explore at Gulf State Park
    4 of 6 Visit the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo
    5 of 6 Have Dinner by the Water
    6 of 6 Attend a Festival

    Share & More

    Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print
    Southern Living

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • About Us
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Books from Southern Living
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    MeredithSouthern Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. Southern Living is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporationthis link opens in a new tab All Rights Reserved. Southern Living may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Southern Living. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.southernliving.com

    Sign in

    View image

    The Best Things To Do In Gulf Shores, Alabama
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.