Gulf Shores Active and Adventure Travel Guide

Gulf Shores Active and Adventure Travel Guide

Other Guides for Gulf Shores

Active and Adventure Destinations Near Gulf Shores

Travel Guides Near Gulf Shores

Southeast Active and Adventure States/Provinces

Active and Adventure Travel Destinations

advertisement
Sunset on the beach in Gulf Shores, Alabama
Sunset on the beach, Gulf Shores, Alabama (courtesy, Gulf Shores Convention & Visitors Bureau)
Submit a travel tip

Submit a travel tip about Gulf Shores.
Read Our House Rules

On This Page:

Gulf Shores Active and Adventure Travel Tips

By Alistair Wearmouth
  • Polish the binocs and head to the Alabama Coastal Birding Trail to scope out migratory birds before they hop across the Gulf of Mexico for winter. A series of loops affords plenty of great vantage points for spotting plovers, cranes, and even hummingbirds. October's a good time to enjoy the special events and guided outings at the Alabama Coastal Bird Fest.
  • Spend some time hiking, fishing, and kayaking at 7,000-acre Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, five miles of federally protected beachfront on the Fort Morgan Peninsula. You may also spot green, loggerhead, and Kemp's Ridley sea turtles (but don't disturb them!), which nest here every summer.
  • Go surf fishing along two miles of shimmering, white-sand beach at 6,150-acre Gulf State Park, and then take a break to enjoy the sand dunes or swim in the park's 900-acre freshwater lake. Picnic and changing facilities are available.
  • See and hear a fluttering cloud of black-and-gold monarch butterflies as they migrate west every October. Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge is the best place to catch the show.
  • Book a dive charter and plunge into the azure waters of the Gulf of Mexico to see tuna, mackerel, octopus, and even the enormous hull of the 888-foot USS Oriskany, which was sunk in 2006 to become the world's largest artificial reef. This aircraft carrier's flight deck currently lies at a depth of 130 feet, and its carrier island, accessible to recreational divers, rises to 70.

Ask a Question

Do you have a travel question about this destination or can you provide a tip to a fellow traveler?

ask a question

Join the discussion with Away.com's in-house experts in our travel Q&A.

1 Questions | 1 Answers
  • is there an airport near gulf shores alabama? we just drove back from there. a VERY long drive from illinois.
    Read 1 answer or Answer this question

Hotels

Gulf State Park Cabins

20115 State Highway 135
Gulf Shores, AL 36542 Map

Distance: 1.9 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
4.0
4.0
from: $109

Perdido Beach Resort

27200 Beach Boulevard
Orange Beach, AL 36561 Map

Distance: 9.2 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: 3 class stars

expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
4.0
from: $76

Hilton Garden Inn Orange Beach Beachfront

23092 Perdido Beach Boulevard
Orange Beach, AL 36561 Map

Distance: 3.9 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: 3 class stars

Expert Rated & Recommended
4.0
All Gulf Shores Hotels »
advertisement

compare rates

Attractions

Alabama Coastal Birding Trail

expert favorite attraction
PO Drawer 457
Gulf Shores, Alabama 36547

Distance: 0.0 mi. (from destination center)

Description: A great blue heron sails across a Mobile Bay sunset. Pelicans fly in perfect formation as they... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
4_0
4_0

Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge

expert favorite attraction
12295 State Highway 180
Gulf Shores, Alabama 36542

Distance: 3.3 mi. (from destination center)

Description: The Bon Secour NWR contains 7,000 acres of wildlife habitat for migratory birds, nesting sea... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
4_0
5_0

Gulf State Park

20115 State Hwy. 135
Gulf Shores, Alabama 36542

Distance: 4.0 mi. (from destination center)

Description: Located in the city of Gulf Shores on the coast of Alabama, white sun-kissed beaches, a surging... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
4_0
5_0
All Gulf Shores Attractions »

Airports

Major Airports near Gulf Shores

Distance (mi.)
New Orleans Louis Armstrong International Airport 154.3 map
Birmingham International Airport 236.0 map

Other Smaller Airports near Gulf Shores

Distance (mi.)
Pensacola Regional Airport 34.5 map
Mobile Municipal Airport 36.1 map
Valparaiso Ft. Walton Beach Airport 72.3 map

Flight Deals to Gulf Shores

Originating From
Pittsburgh (PIT) to New Orleans (MSY) $149
Atlanta (ATL) to New Orleans (MSY) $156
Baltimore (BWI) to New Orleans (MSY) $162
Raleigh/Durham (RDU) to New Orleans (MSY) $168
Kansas City (MKC) to New Orleans (MSY) $171

Feature Articles

See All Feature Articles on Gulf Shores »

Gulf Shores Vacation Rentals

check rates
from: $141

2 Bedroom VACATION HOME in GULF SHORES, AL

Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2.5
Sleeps: 6
Amenities: Air Conditioning, Alarm Clock, BBQ, Blender, CD Player, Cable/Satellite TV, Coffee Maker, DVD Player, Dishwasher, Fireplace, Freezer, Full kitchen, Hot Tub, Internet Access, Iron, Jacuzzi, Laundry, Linens, Lounge, Microwave, No Pets, Non-Smoking, Oceanfront, Oven, Patio, Phone, Refrigerator, Sauna, Stereo, Swimming Pool, TV, Toaster, Utensils, VCR
check rates
from: $141

1 Bedroom VACATION HOME in GULF SHORES, AL

Bedrooms: 1
Bathrooms: 1.5
Sleeps: 6
Amenities: Air Conditioning, Alarm Clock, BBQ, Blender, CD Player, Cable/Satellite TV, Coffee Maker, DVD Player, Dishwasher, Fireplace, Freezer, Full kitchen, Hot Tub, Internet Access, Iron, Jacuzzi, Laundry, Linens, Lounge, Microwave, No Pets, Non-Smoking, Oceanfront, Oven, Patio, Phone, Refrigerator, Sauna, Stereo, Swimming Pool, TV, Toaster, Utensils, VCR
check rates
from: $304

4 Bedroom VACATION HOME in GULF SHORES, AL

Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 4
Sleeps: 8
Amenities: Air Conditioning, Alarm Clock, BBQ, Blender, CD Player, Cable/Satellite TV, Coffee Maker, DVD Player, Dishwasher, Fireplace, Freezer, Full kitchen, Hot Tub, Internet Access, Iron, Jacuzzi, Laundry, Linens, Lounge, Microwave, No Pets, Non-Smoking, Oceanfront, Oven, Patio, Phone, Refrigerator, Sauna, Stereo, Swimming Pool, TV, Toaster, Utensils, VCR
All Gulf Shores Vacation Rentals »

Gulf Shores Active and Adventure Travel Guides

»  All Active and Adventure Guides

Compare Rates

Powered by Trip.com
advertisement

Traveler's Currency Converter

Foreign Currency
U.S. Dollar Amount
$

Country
convert Currency

Powered by eZforex
advertisement