Gulf Shores, Alabama has 12 top-rated attractions.

Gulf Shores, along with neighbouring Orange Beach, is a memorable vacation destination that provides one of the most well-rounded vacation experiences in the United States. This resort community appeals to couples, families, and solo travellers alike, thanks to its culinary diversity, tourist attractions, and extensive options for both water and land-based activities.

Throw your flip-flops into the sand on your way to the beach to enjoy the area's pristine white sands. Take advantage of the marine life's diversity by going on a dolphin-watching tour or fishing charter, or get an adrenaline rush by ziplining high above the attractions. With our list of the top attractions in Gulf Shores, you can easily plan your ideal vacation.

1. The Seashore

The beaches of Gulf Shores are distinct, with sand the colour and consistency of sugar, and spending a day in the surf or simply enjoying the salt breeze beneath a canopy are popular activities. Despite the fact that Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are beach communities, the beaches are rarely crowded, even during peak hours. If you enjoy beachcombing at sunrise, bring a bag to collect sand dollars that wash up on the shore. Photographers will enjoy the sun's angles at sunrise and sunset, which provide ideal lighting for family photos or capturing pelicans settling in on the pier.

The majority of beachfront condos rent out lounge chairs and umbrellas. If you plan to spend the day at the beach, bring a packed lunch and snacks because there aren't many eating options on the beach side of the condos where most tourists stay.

2. Gulf State Park

It's simple to spend an entire day at Gulf State Park, where the main attraction is outdoor recreation. The park keeps a weekly activities calendar, which you can check out before your visit to learn about organised activities, or you can explore on your own. The well-kept park has hiking trails, a pier, and beaches. You can rent trail or beach bikes, kayaks, Segways, and paddleboards to use in the park for added outdoor adventure.

There are also paddleboard lessons available. Keep your eyes peeled as you walk or ride the trails; you might spot a resident alligator or two among the abundant wildlife.

Hands-on activities at the Gulf State Park Nature Center include live animal demonstrations, guided beach walks, telescope viewing, and educational programmes for children. Yoga enthusiasts can strike their poses at the Beach Pavilion during morning programmes.

There are campsites available, as well as a popular RV park, but RV owners should make reservations as far in advance as possible. Pet owners can take Fido to Lake Shelby, which has a dog park.

Gulf Shores, Alabama, 20115 State Highway 135.

3. Gulf State Park Pier

The Gulf State Park Pier, which is popular for fishing and people watching, can easily be spent several hours. You can come and go from the 1,540-foot-long public pier all day for a few dollars. You can watch surfers and swimmers while relaxing in the Gulf breeze on the two miles of beaches.

The pier restaurant makes it easy to spend several hours there. You can grab a bite to go or take in the view from above the beach, which has seating that faces the water.

The pier restaurant makes it easy to spend several hours there. You can grab a bite to go or take

in the view from above the beach, which has seating that faces the water.

Every day, local and out-of-town anglers flock to the pier. If you don't want to bring your own, you can rent fishing equipment. Watching other fishermen and pelicans compete for the catch is some of the best Gulf Shores entertainment. Sharks are frequently spotted in the water beneath the pier, prowling for the leftovers of fish cleaned on-site. Keep an eye out for a shark breaching the surface of the water.

Gulf Shores, Alabama, 20115 State Highway 135.

4. Eco-Tours by Sailaway Charters

While navigating the backwaters of Longs Bayou and Wolf Bay with Captain Skip, you can learn about crabbing, shrimping, and oyster tonging. This small-group adventure provides an intimate look at the region's ecosystem, waters, and wildlife. Learn why Alabama produces more than 1.5 million bushels of blue crabs per year and about the life cycle of oysters from these waters.

During your educational trip, keep an eye out for dolphins that like to swim alongside the small boat, as well as herons and other animals that live in the estuaries.

Orange Beach, Alabama, 24231 Gulf Bay Road

5. Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo is expanding and will move to a new location in the fall of 2019. Primate exhibits, lions, bears, leopards, and an aviary are among the most popular. There are also educational talks and animal shows on the agenda, and a shaded picnic area provides a welcome respite from the hot Alabama sun.

For an additional fee, you can participate in one of the zoo's new animal encounters with kangaroos, lemurs, sloths, and tamanduas, or the Animal Enrichment Program, which allows you to accompany a zookeeper and learn how to care for some of the animals.

6. Coastal Segway Adventures

One of the most enjoyable ways to explore Gulf Shores nature and wildlife is with guided Segway tours along the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail in Gulf State Park. The two-hour tours take you through seven trails while your guide explains the park's various ecosystems.

Tours begin with a brief lesson on how to use the Segway and practise in the parking lot, so even first-timers can book this excursion with confidence. Keep an eye out for impressive wildlife like eagles, alligators, and bobcats once you're on the trails.

Orange Beach, Alabama 20115 State Highway 135

7. Fishing

Anglers have a plethora of options in this area, ranging from deep sea and inshore fishing to bow fishing and everything in between. Experienced anglers enjoy the challenge of full-day fishing for species such as marlin, whereas novices can cast a line inshore or on a shorter offshore trip.

You can always arrange for private charters. Deep-sea fishing with Reel Surprise Charters is a reasonably priced option that is ideal for families and first-timers. There are more people on the boat, but professional guides are on hand to assist you in catching species such as triggerfish and red snapper. Night fishing is an exciting way to experience everything the bay waters have to offer. Dixie Inshore Fishing. There are various types of fishing trips available, but targeting speckled trout under the moonlight with an experienced guide is a one-of-a-kind fishing experience.

Intercoastal Safaris can take things to the next level for true outdoor enthusiasts. They can plan trips for inshore fishing, saltwater bow fishing, and even duck or wild hog hunting and fishing. If you fish in Gulf Shores or Orange Beach, you must try the Hook & Cook experience, which is supported by many local restaurants. You pay a small fee to have your catch filleted and delivered to a participating local restaurant, which will prepare it any way you want it, from Mediterranean-style to fried.

8. Sunset Cruise

A sunset cruise with Sail Wild Hearts is one of the best ways to unwind after a long day. As you coast the Gulf waters on an open-ocean catamaran, this is a great leisure evening activity to do with a small group. There are complimentary refreshments and snacks (such as water, soft drinks, and hors d'oeuvres) onboard, as well as restrooms. The open cabin and comfortable front deck provide plenty of space for you to stretch out and enjoy your company while soaking up the warm breeze.

Sunset cruises last about an hour and a half to two hours and provide spectacular views of the white-sand shoreline.

Orange Beach, Alabama 27200 Perdido Beach Blvd.

9. Dolphin Watching

The Gulf Shores' playful dolphins are a big draw for visitors looking for a different type of recreational water activity. Traditional dolphin-watching tours are available from a number of local businesses.

Some of the best places to go dolphin watching are on a glass-bottom boat with Dolphins Down Under or on a WaveRunner tour, where you can see the dolphins swimming alongside you. Wild Native Tours also offers a Dolphins and Wildlife Kayak Experience, which allows novice and experienced kayakers to take a three-hour paddle along the coastline.

10. Hiking

Gulf Shores, Alabama is well-known for its pristine white beaches, but hiking trails provide landlubbers with plenty of flora and fauna to discover. The Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail in Gulf State Park is 28 miles long and passes through nine different ecosystems. You can hike through freshwater marshes or butterfly gardens, and there will be plenty of wildlife to see. Because the trails are so extensive, it is best to plan your hike before you arrive. Maps are available both online and at the state park.

The Alabama Coastal Birding Trail will impress nature photographers and birding enthusiasts because it allows you to observe regional species like the blue heron in their natural habitat. The trail's signage makes it easy to navigate and provides educational information about the area and the birds you might see on your hike.

11. Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge

The Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge is well worth a visit if you want to see some of the abundant wildlife in the Gulf Shores region. The refuge was established to protect threatened species in the area, so you will be exposed to wildlife that you would not have seen otherwise.

The refuge has an active turtle nesting programme where you can learn about how the Gulf Shores is helping to resurrect the sea turtle population. The tiny Alabama beach mouse keeps watch in an undisturbed area of the refuge, where you can see it in its natural habitat in the shoreline shrubs. If you visit in the spring or fall, you will have the opportunity to see many different species of migratory songbirds that have come to enjoy the habitat that has been created to attract them.

Gulf Shores, Alabama address: 12295 AL-180

12. Hummingbird Zipline Course

The Hummingbird Zipline Course at The Wharf in Orange Beach has eight ziplines that take you above the treetops and over wetlands. The course spans more than 6,000 feet, with the highest of the eight towers standing at 115 feet, and you can travel at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour. Expert guides will show you how to use all of the equipment, and you'll have the opportunity to test your skills on a practise zip near ground level before taking to the skies.

The guides will also share information about the beautiful coastal environment with you during your adventure. The entire course lasts approximately 2.5 hours.

Orange Beach, Alabama, 4830 Main Street, Suite G-114

Muhammad Saghir

msaghir1392@gmail.com