The Quieter Side of Gulf Shores, Gulf Shores, Alabama

Gulf Shores is the southernmost settlement in Alabama. Located just west of Pensacola, Florida, the resort town with a population of 12,000 attracts many tourists, especially during spring break. For some reason, I expected a quainter city, so I was surprised by all high rises which lined the beach and the amusement park. That said, during the 24 hours I visited Gulf Shores, I didn’t even make it to the built-up area.

Instead of fishing charters, dolphin watching, boat cruises, and golfing, I explored the quieter side. I made my first stop at Gulf State Park. As I begin to describe Gulf State Park, it won’t sound that quiet.

Gulf State Park encompasses 6,500 acres. It features a lodge with a restaurant and pool operated by Hilton, cottages, cabins, hundreds of RV hookups, some tent sites, a nature center, three lakes with paddle boarding and kayaking, 2.5 miles of beach, a fishing pier, and 28 miles of hiking and biking trails which pass through nine ecosystems.

While the list of amenities may sound overwhelming, it is easy to step away from it all like Annie and I did. We started out on Gulf Oak Ridge Trail, which was paved and headed away from the activity. We soon detoured upon seeing a grassy path and followed it. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).