Must Visit: Gulf Shores

I’ve always lived near the beach and miss it dreadfully, so from the beginning, the Gulf Shores and I were destined to fall in love!  Have a look at this sand!  This water! I wish I was there right now.

During our roadtrip, Will and I spent the night in Biloxi, Mississippi and then drove all the way down the coastal highway to Orange Beach. Located on the boarder of Alabama and Florida, Orange Beach is a one-of-a-kind visual overload with its white sand, dark blue water and brightly colored stilted houses on the sea shore. The beaches' boulevard is bustling with oyster and martini bars including the world famous Florabama lounge,  fine dining and pristine beaches as far as the eye can see. While the city centre plays host to a shopping district with high fashion outlets, an amusement park, many tourist orientated shops with a friendly and laid back atmosphere throughout. 

Overall, this small beach town is very family orientated, there are no nightclubs on the boulevard, mainly hotels and these stilted houses; which are mostly pet friendly. The local tourist centers include activities like fishing, bike riding, playing tennis and exploring the State Park.

The serene and laid back atmosphere is shaken once a year for the Hangout Music Festival and of course, we happened to be there on just this very weekend! So, unable to find a room for the night; Will and I drove the 8 hours back to Atlanta with the sound of the waves still crashing in our ears as we fell asleep. Going back to Orange Beach and staying in a bright stilted house on the beach is on my to-do list.

Fun Facts: 

1.  Americans who live inland will not typically eat seafood unless they are by the shore because the seafood loses its freshness within the distance it takes to travel inland. 

2.  Americans will not eat US oysters during their summer – or months missing the letter “R” (that is May, June, July, August) because they say the warm ocean water makes them go bad.

3.  Australians call shrimps “prawns” so the stereotyped catchphrase “let’s put a shrimp on the barbie” that Americans use to imitate an Aussie is incorrect. I’ve never heard any fellow Australian, nor have I, ever called a prawn shrimp!

4.  Pelicans in the Gulf Shore are not white like they are in Australia. They are grey and at first I thought they were covered in oil from a spill or something!

All photos without credits were taken by me!