Gulf Shores, AL HyperLocal City Guide featuring Neighborhoods, Zip Codes and Yellow Pages.

It’s a beautiful day at the beach in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The sun sparkles on the Gulf of Mexico. The sand is warm beneath your toes. The only sounds are gentle waves lapping the shoreline and the laughing cries of saucy seagulls. Ahh…it must be paradise. Perched along 32 miles of sugar-white beaches, Gulf Shores blends beach fun with a dash southern hospitality and plenty of entertaining activities.

Plant your beach blanket and umbrella anywhere along 32-miles of pristine beaches. Watch dolphins play in the surf. Beachcomb for treasures. Build the Taj Mahal of sandcastles. Fish or crab along the shoreline. Get a bird’s eye view parasailing over the clear Gulf waters. Simply enjoy doing nothing; what a rare treat. Later, pamper yourself with a soothing massage at the Beach Club Spa or Spa of Eden.

The beaches of Gulf Shores are great, but there’s more to life than just beaches here. Get back to nature. Hike scenic paths at Pine Beach Trail. Go bird watching at Jeff Friend Trail at Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, a large migratory bird stopover in April, May, September and October. Learn how fishing has always been a way of life in these parts at the Gulf Shores Museum. While there, get in the pilot’s seat and experience Hurricane Hunters in action by viewing an exciting documentary video. Closely, step back in Civil War history at Fort Morgan, Fort Gaines and Blakeley State Park.

Gulf Shores boasts some of the best golf in the country. From beachside greens to Scottish-style links, there are over 288 holes to play along the Alabama Gulf Coast. At Craft Farms Resort’s Cypress Bend and Cotton Creek courses, designed by Arnold Palmer, traverse a series of tricky lake plays. Kiva Dunes is ranked as Alabama’s #1 golf course for its conditioning, challenges and scenic vistas. Back on the water, Gulf Shores is a saltwater angler's dream. Go after yellow fin tuna, amberjack, cobia, red snapper. Watch the sun paint a red and gold masterpiece across the water and enjoy a fresh seafood feast. When it’s time to return to the real world, leave this playful paradise with beautiful memories and a vow to return soon.

Written by: Lynne Christen