Gulf Shores- where to stay?

[Silly Little Pixie]

We are thinking of going to Gulf Shores this summer for a few days (3-4) after visiting my inlaws in Tennessee, before driving back home to California. We would probably want to rent a beach house as another family may join us with their kids. It looks great from what I have seen on Trip Advisor. (I last went as a teenager.) Beachfront is a priority.

My question is, where is a good place to stay? I looked on vrbo and saw lots of different "sections"- East, West, Central, Orange Beach, etc. Pros or cons to locations? Or it won't matter? Suggestions on good places to eat or things to do would also be welcome.

TIA!

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

We haven't been there in a little while, but I'll try to help you if I can.

Things to do. The beach, of course. There is also a go-cart track area down there and also a water park. Mini Golf too. Lots of golf as well. There is also a state park down there that is nice. The U.S.S. Alabama is in Mobile. They also have botanical gardens. Over in Pensacola, there's the Aviation Museum, So there is lots to keep you occupied.

Places to eat.
We liked the Original Oyster House. It's casual. Nothing special. But good. It can be crowded.
Up in Foley about 8 miles away there is Lambert's, Home of the throwed (their spelling) rolls. Home comfort foods. Huge portions. By the outlet mall.
There are several places with ocean views to eat at. Some of the menus on the doors looked good. They had prices to match. But we didn't get to any of them so I can't vouch for any.

Places to stay. Can't help you there. We haven't rented a beach house. As for general area, the Central and East side and Orange beach have more going on. The West side, that juts out into Mobile Bay is more residential.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

We are thinking of going to Gulf Shores this summer for a few days (3-4) after visiting my inlaws in Tennessee, before driving back home to California. We would probably want to rent a beach house as another family may join us with their kids. It looks great from what I have seen on Trip Advisor. (I last went as a teenager.) Beachfront is a priority.

My question is, where is a good place to stay? I looked on vrbo and saw lots of different "sections"- East, West, Central, Orange Beach, etc. Pros or cons to locations? Or it won't matter? Suggestions on good places to eat or things to do would also be welcome.

TIA!

Orange Beach, Orange Beach, Orange Beach! We go every summer and it is, my favorite American Beach

We always stay at the Phoenix X or The Turquoise - they have 3 and 4 bedroom units. We are thinking of staying at the new Phoenix West this summer. We looked at some condos that were for sale there last year and the place is BEAUTIFUL, really nice. We have some friends who have a place at The Caribe and it's really nice too.

We always eat at The Hangout, Louisana Lagniappe, San Roc Cay Deli, Zek's, Franco's and our FAVORITE place, Lu Lu's (owned by Lucy Buffet, sister of Jimmy Buffet) and we also like original oyster house and Lambert's. The kids always like to visit The Woody - it's a wooden go-cart track near Lu Lu's. And I always hit the Tanger outlet in Foley.

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

Thanks for the great ideas of things to do!

Tell me more about Orange Beach. What makes it great? I'm getting excited thinking about a new place to visit.

 

[luvsJack]

Next time we visit the area, we plan to stay at Perdido Beach Resort. My niece and her family stayed there last summer and we checked it out while we were there a few weeks later--looks WONDERFUL!

We have a ball at the Hang Out--lots of fun but can be very crowded. Food is great at Mike's Seafood, small and crowded but wonderful food. Tacky Jack's was pretty good, but the girls (they are 13) prefer the Hang Out. My niece and family ate at The Shrimp Basket and said the food was really good.

The girls (dd and bff) love, love, love going to The Track. The have several go kart tracks that they have a ball racing on, a nice arcade (especially nice if it rains while you are there) and some other rides and attractions. Great fun.

 

[Miniefan]

This is my hometown area. I am from Pensacola, Florida so I guess I am very biased about the area. I have to tell you that the further you get away from Alabama, the more beautiful the beach and water is.

I really don't know why that is, but another diser said that he thought it was because it was closer to the mouth of the mississippi river. Not sure but it is 100% true. The water is cleaner and clearer and sand is whiter in Florida.

The things other posters have mentioned- Tanger outlets, Waterville, the Track, Lamberts, the Hangout, and Lulu's are the ONLY reasons I ever go over there. I would never go there to go to the beach.

If I can help you with any more specifics please let me know. As far as places to stay, I don't know of any beach houses, however there are lots of gulf front condos and hotels in gulf shores/orange beach.

PM me if I can help you with anything else.

 

[ilovejack02]

I am a Orange Beach fan.. just a little quieter than Gulf Shores. We have a house across the street in small neighborhood from Pheonix X , so while I haven't stayed there, most people i know stay there. . I like the area since it walking distance to Flor Bama lol. I have heard good things about the Caribe too, It is on the bay side, i have heard it is very nice.

We have spent many years going to Destin , the beach is prettier in Florida, but we enjoy Orange beach just as much, and are happier that we have an hour shorter drive.

 

[luvsJack]

This is my hometown area. I am from Pensacola, Florida so I guess I am very biased about the area. I have to tell you that the further you get away from Alabama, the more beautiful the beach and water is.

I really don't know why that is, but another diser said that he thought it was because it was closer to the mouth of the mississippi river. Not sure but it is 100% true. The water is cleaner and clearer and sand is whiter in Florida.

The things other posters have mentioned- Tanger outlets, Waterville, the Track, Lamberts, the Hangout, and Lulu's are the ONLY reasons I ever go over there. I would never go there to go to the beach.

If I can help you with any more specifics please let me know. As far as places to stay, I don't know of any beach houses, however there are lots of gulf front condos and hotels in gulf shores/orange beach.

PM me if I can help you with anything else.

That's funny, we go to Pensacola a lot for day trips to the beach but prefer the beach at Gulf Shores! Not sure really why, we just do.

 

[Miniefan]

That's funny, we go to Pensacola a lot for day trips to the beach but prefer the beach at Gulf Shores! Not sure really why, we just do.

If you get back down there and decide to go to Pcola beach, instead of going to Casino beach (the main gulf side beach by the fishing pier) or Quietwater beach (on the sound side) keep driving down Via DeLuna and go the beach at the end of the road. It is called Opal Beach, it is across from the Portofino. It is my favorite. Less crowded, more secluded and absolutely beautiful. There are lifeguards, there are showers/restrooms and a few picnic pavilions.

I think maybe you enjoy gulf shores cause most times its less crowded. Try Opal beach, it is beautiful and not crowded!!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Thanks for the great ideas of things to do!

Tell me more about Orange Beach. What makes it great? I'm getting excited thinking about a new place to visit.

Orange Beach is right across the line from Florida. It has the most beautiful white, sandy beaches. I don't know what the other poster is talking about with the further you get from Alabama the better the beaches are? We went to Cape San Blas, Florida year before last, when the oil spill was going on, and while we had a great time and loved the area, the beach there could not compare to the beauty of Orange Beach, in my opinion.

I think we prefer Orange Beach because it's not so "touristy" and it's a more family oriented atmosphere - not a party town like Panama City Beach for example.

Also, Orange Beach never seems to be crowded. The only time I thought the beaches were crowded were the year we went down for the 4th of July and the day before, day of and day after the 4th were very crowed. We have been to beaches in California, Seattle, Texas, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina and while those were all nice beaches and we had some great times at those beaches, everyone in our family always says, "it's still not Orange Beach."

Yeah, I know we sound totally biased and we are! lol!

 

[snarlingcoyote]

One of my co-workers has a relative with a condo in Phoenix West and they've stayed there. She's said it's absolutely lovely and recommends it highly. There's a lazy river right on the beach, so you can go back and forth.

 

[Happy Mom2]

Orange Beach!!! Gorgeous white sand beaches!! We have young kids so we always go to the Gulf Shores Zoo. They usually have young animals the kids can pet. The first time we got to feed and pet baby tigers that were about 7 weeks old. The last two times DD and DS got to hold a baby kangaroo. We also go on the a sunset dolphin cruise. We've been on several, but like Southern Rose the best. The Wharf is a fun place to go. There is a huge ferris wheel, and DS loves to watch the big boats in the marina. Guy Harvey's restaurant there is great. We love to eat out on the deck and watch boats.

As for places to stay, we always use vrbo and have always been pleased. It depends on your budget and what amenities you want.

As for places to eat, we like the Shrimp Basket for a good seafood po-boy. Lamberts is good, but get there early. There is always a wait. It's a fun place to go with the kids. They actually throw the rolls across the dining room, and the kids can really relax and have fun. LuLu's has a fun atmosphere, but the food is not too good.

You'll have a great time!

 

[luvsJack]

If you get back down there and decide to go to Pcola beach, instead of going to Casino beach (the main gulf side beach by the fishing pier) or Quietwater beach (on the sound side) keep driving down Via DeLuna and go the beach at the end of the road. It is called Opal Beach, it is across from the Portofino. It is my favorite. Less crowded, more secluded and absolutely beautiful. There are lifeguards, there are showers/restrooms and a few picnic pavilions.

I think maybe you enjoy gulf shores cause most times its less crowded. Try Opal beach, it is beautiful and not crowded!!

I am sure we will be back this summer! We will definitely try Opal Beach! Thanks!

 

[marybet]

This is my hometown area. I am from Pensacola, Florida so I guess I am very biased about the area. I have to tell you that the further you get away from Alabama, the more beautiful the beach and water is.

I really don't know why that is, but another diser said that he thought it was because it was closer to the mouth of the mississippi river. Not sure but it is 100% true. The water is cleaner and clearer and sand is whiter in Florida.

The things other posters have mentioned- Tanger outlets, Waterville, the Track, Lamberts, the Hangout, and Lulu's are the ONLY reasons I ever go over there. I would never go there to go to the beach.

If I can help you with any more specifics please let me know. As far as places to stay, I don't know of any beach houses, however there are lots of gulf front condos and hotels in gulf shores/orange beach.

PM me if I can help you with anything else.

I've been to Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Pensacola Beach, not that a big a difference. They all have white sand and blue water. I don't think there is much to do at Pensacola Beach, except go to the beach. More to do in Gulf Shores, but Orange Beach is only about 8 miles away so close enough to enjoy what Gulf Shores has to offer.

 

[Praying Colonel]

We prefer to be a ways away from Gulf Shores, just because we like it a little quieter. Last summer we stayed in Perdido Key at Beach Colony Resort and really enjoyed our time there. But it's about 30 minutes from Gulf Shores so if you're wanting to be right in the middle of Gulf Shores it's probably not for you. We've stayed in Orange Beach before and liked that, too.

Our favorite place to eat last summer was at the Original Oyster House. I'd read that wait times are long there but we went for a late lunch and early dinner on 2 occasions and had no wait at all. We were there in mid-August so it was not peak season and that probably helped with wait times, too. The seafood's good but the sides are amazing--it's worth going there for the cheese grits alone.