any Gulf Shores people out there?

[Anna_Marie]

We are considering coming down to gulf shores in october. However I have read and heard conflicting reports on how the beaches are, and the water. My husband and kids definitely want to get in the ocean...but I'm worried, is it safe? I mean, with the oil and the disbursement etc. Also worried about reports of sharks coming in close to the beach this year. We never usually get out farther than waste deep though. I would love to support the area, but we only get one vacation a year. I just can't decide whether to do Disney, or the beach. Kids and DH really want the beach. I really need some info! Thanks.

ETA: It would "have" to be Gulf Shores if we picked the beach. Dh doesn't want to go anywhere else - he LOVES the Fort Morgan area.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

I'm not familiar with where that is in Florida. The best bet would be to do a google search and see where the oil skimmers currently are working.

Freudian typo or what?

 

[Pooh Crew]

We just returned from Orange Beach/Gulf Shores and it was amazing. If you search, you can probably find the thread I started talking about how wonderful our trip was. The water was clear and beautiful and the beaches were the same white sand. The day we left, they took down the double red flags and just have up the yellow one for caution. We did not see any oil whatsoever. We did get in the water...and there were many others enjoying the surf, too. My bathing suit has white on it and it was still white when we left, so we were not in any oil. If you go to the city's website, they have all the latest info.

Go and enjoy your trip!

 

[laurie31]

Anna_Marie, DH's aunt just got back and said it was beautiful. No signs of oil, and no smell of oil either. I read in our local paper that they had lifted the ban on ocean swimming, but I can't find the link. I did find this one, where they have reopened the waters for commercial fishing. http://www.newsherald.com/news/jane-86017-expected-beach.html

Also, everyone is saying the crowds are nonexistient. Go and have a great time!

 

[marthachick]

Also, everyone is saying the crowds are nonexistient. Go and have a great time!

That's because they were all in Myrtle Beach last week!!! I have never seen it as crowded as it was. Ever.

 

[popedisney]

We just got back from Orange beach/Gulf Shores yesterday and it was wonderful! We swam in the ocean....we didn't go out too far because DS3 was having too much fun letting the waves roll him onto the beach! I am very paranoid of sharks (DH says I am crazy) but I still let DS3 go in the water and I went in to...though not very far! We did see quite a few sting rays VERY close to the shore so that made me a little nervous but the water is so clear that you would be able to see them. We split our time between the pool and the beach and it was a very enjoyable vacation. Not crowded at all and red/yellow flags flying the entire time. Quite a few people were fishing off of the beach so if that is something your kids like it could be fun. We saw no sign/smell of oil and we are from MS Gulf Coast so we know what to look for! Hope that helps....I say go and have a great time!

 

[Pooh Crew]

We just got back from Orange beach/Gulf Shores yesterday and it was wonderful! We swam in the ocean....we didn't go out too far because DS3 was having too much fun letting the waves roll him onto the beach! I am very paranoid of sharks (DH says I am crazy) but I still let DS3 go in the water and I went in to...though not very far! We did see quite a few sting rays VERY close to the shore so that made me a little nervous but the water is so clear that you would be able to see them. We split our time between the pool and the beach and it was a very enjoyable vacation. Not crowded at all and red/yellow flags flying the entire time. Quite a few people were fishing off of the beach so if that is something your kids like it could be fun. We saw no sign/smell of oil and we are from MS Gulf Coast so we know what to look for! Hope that helps....I say go and have a great time!

We did see a shark when we were there a couple weeks ago! Dh was out in the water with two of our kids and a shark the size of our 10 yr old swam by. They were in waist high water and I was right there, too, so I got to see it swim back and forth in the waves! It was scary, but fascinating!

 

[Piglet843]

We are going to GS next weekend for a long weekend.
I'll report back - we are looking forward to it - and I'm glad I won't have to fight crowds for a spot on the beach or for a table for dinner

 

[NewCrew42]

Glad to hear that things are looking good down there!

OP - We usually go to Gulf Shores and stay down at Fort Morgan at the Beach Club. We didn't go this year. But we love it!

 

[Anna_Marie]

Thanks everyone! I booked our trip yesterday! Got a great fall rate plus 20% off that rate for the shrimp festival that will be going on!

We all can't wait to go!

 

[Piglet843]

Hey - Just wanted to tell you - We just got back from a long weekend in Gulf Shores.
The Beaches and the Water are just fine!!
The occasional tar ball washes up with the waves -but they are not big and they are not that many (it just looks like a small black shell laying there - nothing gross about it)
Not many people were there at all - it felt like we had the beach to ourselves.
We stayed within walking distance to The Hangout. That is a great place to have a drink and watch the band play.
We ate at Lambert's, Lulu's, Calypso Joes, Bahama Bob's, and The Original Oyster House.
TOOH - was by far our favorite meal of the trip!
No waits to eat - except for TOOH (and that was because it was Saturday Night)
We also did Adventure Island in Orange Beach, we spent half a day at Waterville, spent half a day at The Wharf, and we drove out to Fort Morgan to ride the Ferry one day.
It was a wonderful vacation -a nice getaway - and an overall pleasing experience.
If you didn't already know about the whole oil spill thing - you'd never think anything was wrong.
The lack of crowd and people for this time of year was the only notable difference.
I hope you enjoy your trip!
Let me know if I can answer any questions!