Gulf Shores, Alabama: I stayed the entire month of November at an Escapees Club RV Park between Foley and Fairhope, AL. It was about 30 minutes north of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, AL which are on the Gulf of Mexico. Within a day or two I met my neighbors Larry and Mary and some other couples they knew at the park. It is so nice to have people to talk with, especially when they are as sweet as Larry and Mary!
I did a lot of driving and exploring the towns and beaches nearby. Gulf Shores and Orange Beach have the whitest sands, and because of that the sand is cool instead of hot on your feet. The water was still warm from summer but was cooling down quickly. The first week of November was glorious and warm but, after that, swimming in the ocean would be too cold. The town of Gulf Shores is definitely a resort/tourist town with vacation rentals, shops, and dining everywhere. I expected it to be busier than ever in the winter with all the snowbirds, however, it was quite the opposite. Orange Beach was a bit nicer area and a bit nicer beach, but it was the fact that you could look one way and see the ocean while looking the opposite direction to see the Intracoastal Waterway that made it special.
I enjoyed going to Gulf State Park several times. It is located on a lake not far from the beach and has tons of trails for walking and biking. Boardwalks were built over inlets and swampy areas to make continuous trails all around the park. One visit I walked several short trails, and on my second visit I road my e-bike through some beautiful areas. It was fun to strike up conversations with numerous folks out enjoying the weather as I was. It sounded like quite a few people are now preferring this area for winter snow birding vs. Florida.
There is no shortage of parks and recreational areas here. Lagoon Pass Park had its own beach with shells, shells, shells! Graham Nature Center was large with wide swaths of grassy trails throughout the forested park. Weeks Bay Pitcher Plant Bog was a super cool swampy area with boardwalks leading you past large groupings of pitcher plants (carnivorous plants). Pine Beach trail was my favorite with a wide grassy trail leading through various eco systems that included a large inland brackish lake, a lookout tower for birdwatching and, toward the end, its own private beach. Snow white sand with tons of shells and hardly any people!
I had several visitors while in Alabama. My friends Jeff and Shannon from Oklahoma were passing through, so we had dinner together at the Tin Top Restaurant which had great food and ambiance. I was also able to see a work friend of mine and his girlfriend (Todd and Karin) for lunch and afternoon on the beach in Perdido Key. I hadn’t seen Todd in many years and was excited to see him again!
The Escapees Club Park held a potluck dinner on Thanksgiving. No one had to be alone unless they wanted to be. The park provided the turkey and gravy while everyone else provided side dishes. It was a blessing to have friendly folks to spend a holiday with.
All in all, I loved my time in Alabama. If I’d realized how much I was going to like it, I might have planned to stay another month. Hindsight! Maybe next time! Florida, here I come!
Great photos!!
Hello Michelle,
This is Rich. We shared stories at a pier at Little Manatee SP in Florida. It’s an easy Sunday here in the Northeast and I’ve been admiring your photos. Thank You and See (Create) Beauty wherever you BE – Smiling Me . . .