Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about what NOT to do when you visit the Gulf Shore of Alabama. While many travel blogs will tell you the best things to see on a Gulf Shores vacation, our Gulf Shores travel guide tells you what NOT to do so you can avoid making these common mistakes.
Don’t Think Gulf Shores is Only Beaches
Of course, the Gulf Shores beaches are the main reason for visiting. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything else to do. Pensacola and Mobile are both great day trips from the area. There are also lots of fun small towns that dot the gulf shores, where you can explore all different kinds of things to see and do.
Some of the best things to see in Pensacola include:
- Flora-Bama; It’s a combination of bars, restaurants, and a concert venue on the beach in Pensacola.
- Blue Angel’s weekly training sessions
- The Naval Aviation Museum
- The Seville Historic District has beautiful buildings restored to 18th-century style, which is when the Spanish captured Pensacola
- McGuire’s Irish Pub and Peg Leg Pete’s are great places to eat in Pensacola
The Visit Pensacola Tourism website has more ideas to start planning!
Mobile is actually the home of the original Mardi Gras of the United States. So, if you don’t feel like going to New Orleans for Mardi Gras, check out the celebrations in Mobile!
- The Mobile Mardi Gras Museum is a great place to learn more about the tradition.
- The USS Alabama is a battleship located in Mobile
- The USS Drum is a submarine you can visit in Mobile
- Mobile Museum of Art
- Fort Gaines and Fort Morgan are both 19th-century forts surrounding Mobile
Visit Mobile Alabama has travel ideas as well!
Don’t Make These Beach Mistakes
When you do visit the Gulf Shores beaches, keep these rules in mind. The beaches here are really clean and nice to visit, partly because of these rules.
- Don’t bring any glass containers to the beach
- Don’t litter
- Don’t bring your pets
- Don’t forget the sunblock, aloe vera, and a sunhat
The heat and humidity in the summer can be almost unbearable so make sure you’re prepared. Most importantly, don’t miss the sunsets over the Gulf!
What NOT to Do on a Beach Trip
Don’t Be Afraid to Let Out Your Inner Child
Visiting the Gulf Shores is so much fun, and your inner child will be screaming to run wild! The whole region is super family-oriented, so you’ll find tons of video game arcades, go-kart tracks, bumper boats, mini-golf, amusement parks, and much more! There are also lots of state parks with hiking and kayaking, beach-combing, and fishing. You’d have to try really hard not to have a great time at all of the Gulf Shores attractions.
Don’t Miss Out on the Seafood
The seafood is fresh and fantastic here! You can’t go wrong with Gulf Shrimp, and it’s served in so many different ways, that you’ll never get sick of it! Some of my favorites are the shrimp po’boys, shrimp and grits, oyster, grouper, and we even had seafood-stuffed baked potatoes. It’s all delicious!
Don’t Expect Cheap Food
Even though the seafood is fresh and local, it’s still expensive. The Gulf Shores is very much a tourist area, so prices are higher than you might expect. It’s a good idea to stock up on groceries before you arrive at the Gulf Shores. We stock up in Pensacola or Mobile, where the prices are much more reasonable. Hard alcohol is only sold at liquor stores, and the prices are equally inflated the closer you get to Gulf Shores.
Don’t Be Surprised at U-Turns
In most places in America, U-turns are illegal, but there are some spots in the Gulf Shores where there are specific U-Turn lanes. On the main drag, there is a boulevard that prevents left turns in most places, so you may have to drive past your destination and do a u-turn up ahead to double back.
Don’t Forget to Book Ahead for Peak Season
The Gulf Shores are most popular during spring break and summer break, so if you’re traveling during that time, make sure you are booking your Gulf Shores accommodation well in advance. If you’re visiting Gulf Shores by plane, you’ll have to fly into Pensacola or Mobile and then drive to the Gulf Shores. Each of these is about an hour from Gulf Shores, so you’ll also need a rental car once you land. (You might consider renting outside of the airport, as you can save some money this way) These aren’t major airports, so make sure you are also reserving flights and rental cars well in advance.
How to Beat Peak Season Travel Prices
Don’t Be Surprised at the UFOs
Pensacola is allegedly a UFO hot-spot, so you’ll see a lot of tourist attractions capitalizing on this niche. It also happens to be the home of the Blue Angels flight squadron, so you might see all kinds of things up in the sky! You might also see Unidentified Swimming Objects, but those are usually dolphins!
Grab Some Wolters World Travel Gear!
Don’t be surprised if you fall in love with the Gulf Shores beaches! With beautiful, pristine beaches and family-friendly activities, it’s easy to fall in love! Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism has lots of great itineraries to choose from!
Want more travel tips for the southern states? Check out some of our other blog posts: