As the holiday season approaches, the charming coastal community of Orange Beach transforms into a festive paradise. With its beautiful beaches and warm atmosphere, it’s an ideal setting to gather with family and friends for a memorable Christmas dinner. Whether you’re looking to dine out, order take-out, or host your own celebration, this guide will help you navigate the best options for a delightful holiday feast. Plus, we’ll show you how booking with us at Poole & Associates can enhance your holiday experience.

Dining Out: Festive Culinary Experiences

For those who prefer to celebrate Christmas without the stress of cooking, Orange Beach offers a variety of restaurants that create special holiday menus. From seafood shacks to upscale dining establishments, there’s something to suit every palate.

Christmas is one of the busiest dining days of the year, so it’s essential to make reservations ahead of time. Popular restaurants often fill up quickly, especially those known for their unique holiday dishes. Whether you’re in the mood for a traditional turkey dinner or want to try something with a local twist, securing your spot is key to enjoying a hassle-free meal.

Dining out during the holidays allows you to experience the festive ambiance that many restaurants cultivate. Enjoy beautifully decorated spaces filled with twinkling lights, seasonal decor, and often live entertainment. Many establishments also host special events, making your dining experience even more enjoyable.

Take-Out: Enjoying Holiday Flavors at Home

If you prefer the comfort of your own vacation rental but still want to indulge in delicious holiday cuisine, consider ordering take-out from local restaurants. This option allows you to enjoy a festive meal in a relaxed setting without the fuss of cooking.

Many restaurants in Orange Beach offer catering services or holiday meal packages that include everything from appetizers to desserts. These packages can be a great way to enjoy a complete holiday meal without the stress of preparation. Opt for family-style servings so that everyone can enjoy their favorites.

Take-out also provides the flexibility to mix and match various dishes to cater to your family’s tastes. Whether you want to stick to traditional holiday fare or explore local specialties, the variety of options available means you can craft a Christmas dinner that reflects your family’s preferences.

Hosting Your Own Christmas Dinner

If you’re feeling inspired and want to create your own holiday celebration, renting a property through Poole & Associates is the perfect way to host an unforgettable Christmas dinner. Our vacation rentals provide the ideal setting for family gatherings, combining comfort and convenience.

At Poole & Associates, we offer a range of properties that can comfortably accommodate your holiday celebrations. With ample dining areas, fully equipped kitchens, and cozy living spaces, our homes allow you to host a festive meal with ease. Whether you’re planning an intimate dinner or a larger family gathering, we have the perfect space for you.

When preparing your Christmas feast, take advantage of Orange Beach’s local markets and vendors. Fresh seafood, seasonal produce, and artisanal products are abundant, allowing you to create a meal that showcases the best flavors of the region. Visiting local markets can also be a fun family outing, adding to the holiday spirit.

Hosting your own Christmas dinner allows for personal touches that make the gathering truly special. Consider including family traditions, such as a signature dish or a special toast to honor loved ones. These meaningful details create lasting memories for everyone involved.

Planning Ahead for a Stress-Free Celebration

As Christmas approaches, planning is essential to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience. Whether you choose to dine out, order take-out, or host your own gathering, being organized will help you make the most of your holiday festivities.

For dining out, make your reservations as early as possible. If you’re opting for take-out, review menus and place your orders in advance to avoid last-minute stress. If you’re hosting, create a timeline for shopping, meal prep, and decorating to keep everything on track.

Book Your Christmas Vacation with Poole & Associates

Christmas in Orange Beach is a delightful experience filled with warmth, community, and incredible food. Whether you decide to dine out, enjoy take-out, or host your own gathering, the area offers endless opportunities to celebrate the season with your loved ones.

If you’re planning to host a Christmas dinner, consider booking a spacious and comfortable rental with us at Poole & Associates. Our properties provide the perfect backdrop for your holiday celebrations, ensuring that you have a memorable experience filled with joy and laughter. Embrace the spirit of the season and enjoy a magical Christmas in Orange Beach!

It has been one hot summer this year, and we sure are ready for fall to arrive. If you are looking for a great fall getaway that puts you right by the beach and nearby fun activities, look no further than Gulf Shores, Alabama. Our vacation destination has plenty of fun and excitement still going down in the fall season, only with some slightly cooler temps. The local events are still kicking off a whole lot of fun for you to see too. Take a look at the top fall events currently scheduled to take place this fall in Gulf Shores.

51st Annual National Shrimp Festival

You either love it or hate it, but there is no question that shrimp is one of the country’s most popular seafood items on any menu. With Gulf Shores being right along the coast, you can expect to find plenty of tasty shrimp options here in the area. If you love shrimp, you have to check out the Annual National Shrimp Festival that takes place right here in Gulf Shores each fall. This will be the 51st annual event for the festival, making it a long-standing tradition for the area.

This four-day event brings in over 250,000 people for an action-packed weekend best spent with friends and family. The Annual National Shrimp Festival is a combination of music, food, and art that brings a little bit of everything for everyone. On the music side, you will find two entertainment stages that will host four days of country, jazz, classic rock, and much more for you to sing along to. You will also find a variety of art vendors on hand for the festival selling their incredible works of art. Browse through the collections of sculptures, paintings, jewelry, fine arts, and much more with each option, making for a great gift to take back home with you.

Enter the Sand Sculpture Contest, where you will be tested in making an extravagant display that is worthy of the top title. Kids will find plenty to do over in the Children’s Activity Village perfect for children of all ages. The Miss Shrimp Festival Pageant is open for any Baldwin County students who are from the area.

Of course, you probably came to the Annual National Shrimp Festival to indulge yourself in the incredible food that is being prepared. You will find that shrimp is the star of the show but not the only food for purchase. You can also find tasty fish tacos, seafood platters, burgers, crab cakes, and much more. Best of the Fest vendors will be on hand who have won awards in year’s past so you know they are good. This year’s 51st Annual National Shrimp Festival will take place October 10th through the 13th. Festival hours are 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM Thursday through Saturday and 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Sunday. Don’t miss out on this incredible fall event!

Local Live Music

When you visit Gulf Shores, you will want to find time to relax and just hang out. And there is no better way to do that than with some incredible live music. Gulf Shores features plenty of live musical acts throughout the year at the local venues here in town. You will find big name acts such as Rhonda Vincent hitting the stage at the Alabama Gulf Coast Music Hall just down the road on November 10th. Or keep it local with The Hangout Gulf Shores featuring a variety of musical talent such as Donny Brewer, Kirstie Kraus, and John Patti throughout the season. Gulf Shores is known for hosting the Hangout Music Festival each year in the spring, so you know that we know good music. Don’t miss out on these local acts whenever you visit in the fall!

Coastal Alabama Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival

Nothing goes better together than delicious food and craft beer. You can find the two together when you attend the Coastal Alabama Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival taking place in November. This two day event is perfect for festival goers to experience craft beers from the region and pair them with the delicious cuisine of local food trucks. Enjoy tasters of the attending breweries so you can try a little bit of everything. Bring some lawn chairs or blankets and enjoy yard games down by the gulf. The Coastal Alabama Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival will take place on November 9th and 10th this year.

Head On Down to Gulf Shores

Gulf Shores is waiting for you and your family to make your next trip to the area. Do not wait and come experience fall with us down by the water.  Contact us today!

Orange Beach, Alabama is renowned for its sun-kissed shores, crystal-clear waters, and lively summer atmosphere. Yet, there’s something uniquely enchanting about visiting this coastal paradise during its quieter seasons. From the tranquil fall to the peaceful early spring, these off-peak periods offer an opportunity to experience the charm of Orange Beach without the usual hustle and bustle. To make the most of your serene getaway, booking with Poole & Associates ensures a stay that combines luxury, comfort, and exceptional service.

The Allure of Orange Beach’s Quiet Seasons

The quieter seasons in Orange Beach typically span from late fall through early spring. During these months, the area’s energy shifts from vibrant and bustling to calm and serene. The weather remains pleasantly mild, making it an ideal time for relaxation and exploration. Whether you’re seeking a peaceful retreat or an active outdoor adventure, the quieter seasons offer a unique way to enjoy all that Orange Beach has to offer.

Fall’s Tranquil Escape

As summer fades and autumn arrives, Orange Beach transforms into a tranquil haven. The temperature cools to a comfortable level, and the summer crowds give way to a more relaxed atmosphere. Fall is a fantastic time to enjoy the area’s beautiful beaches without the usual crowds. The Gulf waters remain warm enough for swimming, and the lower humidity makes for more pleasant beachcombing and sunset strolls.

Autumn also brings a variety of local events and festivals that celebrate the season. From seafood festivals to art fairs, there are plenty of activities to engage in. The quieter atmosphere of fall allows you to enjoy these events at a more leisurely pace, taking in the local culture and community without the overwhelming crowds typical of peak season.

Spring’s Refreshing Serenity

Spring in Orange Beach offers another ideal time to visit. With mild temperatures and blooming flora, the area comes to life in vibrant colors and pleasant weather. The spring season is perfect for enjoying outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and exploring local nature reserves.

The Gulf of Mexico is particularly inviting in spring, with calm waters ideal for kayaking, paddleboarding, and fishing. The springtime weather also makes it a great time to explore the area’s many parks and nature trails. The serene environment allows you to fully appreciate the natural beauty of Orange Beach without the high-season rush.

Why Choose Poole & Associates?

To fully immerse yourself in the tranquility of Orange Beach during its quieter seasons, booking with Poole & Associates is highly recommended. We offer a curated selection of properties that perfectly complement the serene atmosphere of the off-peak months. Our portfolio includes a range of upscale accommodations, from beachfront condos to luxurious beach houses, each designed to provide the ultimate comfort and relaxation.

Poole & Associates is known for its exceptional service and attention to detail. Our team is dedicated to ensuring that your stay is as enjoyable and stress-free as possible. Whether you’re seeking a modern condo with stunning Gulf views or a cozy beach house with private amenities, Poole & Associates has options to suit every preference and need.

What Sets Poole & Associates Apart

What makes Poole & Associates stand out is our commitment to delivering a personalized vacation experience. Our knowledgeable team offers tailored recommendations for local attractions, dining, and activities, ensuring that you make the most of your time in Orange Beach. We can provide valuable insights into the best local spots and hidden gems, helping you to fully enjoy your stay.

Our properties are selected for their quality and location, providing guests with luxurious accommodations that enhance their experience. From elegant interiors and modern amenities to serene outdoor spaces and convenient beach access, Poole & Associates ensures that every aspect of your stay is exceptional.

Book With Poole & Associates Online Now

Vacationing in Orange Beach during its quieter seasons offers a unique opportunity to experience the area’s natural beauty and charm in a more relaxed and serene setting. With the help of Poole & Associates, you can ensure a stay that blends luxury, comfort, and exceptional service. Whether you’re visiting in the fall or spring, our thoughtfully curated properties and personalized service make them an ideal choice for a peaceful and memorable escape.

So, consider a tranquil getaway to Orange Beach and let Poole & Associates be your gateway to a serene and delightful experience. Enjoy the stunning Gulf Coast, explore the local culture, and create lasting memories of a truly relaxing vacation. Contact us today!

There are some people we meet in life that always seem to have everything put together. They find the lowest prices on airfare and vacation homes, having spent weeks watching the sales, they make up itineraries that can be as long as 20 pages, breaking down every activity to the 15-minute mark, and quite frankly, they make us feel very tired, even as we admire them greatly. But today, we at Poole & Associates would like to take a moment today to celebrate the procrastinators in our midst, the travelers who live life on the fly, who forget to make plans until it’s almost time to step on the plane, and this guide to planning a last minute trip to Gulf Shores will show you all the ways this Alabama vacation will be one you will never forget, especially when you stay in one of our last minute Gulf Shores rentals!

Book Your Last Minute Alabama Stay With Us Here!

You Don’t Always Need to Plan Ahead to Save Money

There’s no need to envy the planners in life, especially when it comes to saving money on your vacation accommodations. Our main goal, as vacation property managers, is seeing that every property we offer is rented every night of the year, and although that is a goal that is almost impossible to achieve, we often offer some enticements in the form of last-minute deals, to make it happen as often as possible. So while it can be a good thing to plan ahead, you, our likeminded procrastinator, it can also be an even better thing to wait until the last minute!

Every Space Is the Best Space

If you have ever been forced to stay in a hotel room at the last minute—perhaps a flat tire delayed your journey by a few hours, or you waited a little too long to book—you know the pain of taking whatever room is available. The rooms by the elevators include nights of sleep interrupted by the ding of the bell announcing yet another late-night arrival, the sound of the ice machine being continually in use through all hours of the night and the accompanying loud laughter and chatter of the inconsiderate guests partaking of that ice, the not-so-stunning views of dumpsters that look like they probably smell bad are all reasons you may have regretted your last-minute trips, but with Poole & Associates, there are no bad properties. We work hard to ensure that every guest feels pampered and spoiled, and it shows in every property we offer.

Want to Save More? Book Direct!

Could you find the vacation home or condo of your dreams on one of those popular vacation rental websites? Absolutely, you could, but because you did your last-minute scrolling by visiting our Poole & Associates website directly, you can save even more. We like to reward our guests who go the extra mile to find us, but it is more than that. Those vacation rental sites are sure convenient, but they charge us when you rent from them, and because they charge you as well, you can save even more and will still enjoy all the comforts, luxuries, and amenities you expect from our company, which means you are going to enjoy more for less. And we can’t think of anyone who might have a problem with that math, unless it is the vacation rental websites that aren’t getting your money.

Short Notice Adventures Outside

When your journey doesn’t offer much time for planning things, it’s ok, because all of these outdoor activities never require advance notice, ensuring that your stay with us will be filled with fun and excitement; take a moment to explore these fresh air adventures we have listed below.

Savor the Sunshine at Waterville USA/Escape House, 906 Gulf Shores Parkway

Your Summer adventures will be even more fun when you spend a day at Waterville USA/ Escape Park and if you just arrived in town today, we encourage you to go to their website and purchase same day tickets. They won’t sell out and you will have a fabulous time sliding, splashing, and feeling the waves in their wave park. Wawa World offers pint sized slides and activities for the pint-sized travelers in your family.

Road Trip to Alligator Alley, 19950 County Road 71 in Summerdale

Located just under 20 miles away from the waters of Gulf Shores, (Don’t worry, you will be back at the beach in no time!) Alligator Alley offers a fascinating chance to get up close and personal with over 450 alligators. This sanctuary is open every day from 10 AM until 5 PM, providing a safe home for the cold-blooded creatures while keeping visitors a safe distance away. Grab some alligator chow and feed the little gators from your perch on the elevated boardwalk, check out the pigs that make their home at the sanctuary, and if you miss the 11 AM feeding of the big gators, you will have two more chances to catch the show at 1:00 PM and 4 PM.

The Beach Is Always Waiting

For many, the white sand beaches of Gulf Shores are the entire reason they visit, and the good news is that no pre-planning is necessary! The even better news is that your stay will be filled with serenity, salt air, and a sense of wonder as you spend the day relaxing, swimming, and frolicking in the surf. This adventure is the one, above all, that will actually reward you for taking a trip on short notice as the sea may operate on its own timetable, but it is a timetable that no one else needs to keep.

Having Fun in Gulf Shores at the Last Minute

Southerners are a casual breed, taking their cues from the natural world, and because the sea still ebbs and flows whether you planned your visit months ago or whether you thought about it last week and hopped on the plane yesterday, you will still enjoy all that Gulf Shores has to offer with no sacrifices and the examples we have listed below will give you a little something extra to look forward and fortunately, you won’t have to anticipate the fun you can have for long.

Take in a Show at the South Baldwin Community Theater, 2022 W 2^nd Street

A visit to New York at the last minute could mean that you miss out on tickets to the most popular Broadway plays, especially as the best ones sell out on a regular basis. Our South Baldwin Community Theater, however, won’t sell out, and we can promise that the performers will perform at the caliber of those New York shows, there just may be a little more Southern twang involved.

The Beer Is Always Cold at Big Beach Brewing, 300 E 24^th Avenue

It is always the perfect time for a cold beer, and Big Beach Brewing invites you to sip the best in town! Open every day at noon and offering live music on most weekends, their ten-barrel brewing system allows them to serve up to 12 different beers on tap. And guess what? They also won’t mind if you waited until the last minute to visit.

Release Your Inner Artist at the Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach, 26389 Canal Road

Offering art classes in many different genres as well as serving as a gallery where guests can purchase stunningly beautiful souvenirs to remember their stay in the Gulf Shores area, the Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach offers an adventure that requires very little in the way of planning ahead. If you take a class, you will have to follow their schedule, of course, but the different classes, including glass and clay ones, are held on a pretty regular basis, so if you miss one, another will occur shortly thereafter.

Time to Dine

Although there will obviously be times when the lines are longer, procrastinating won’t inhibit the tasteful good times you can experience at our local restaurants! Our fully equipped kitchens are perfect for saving money, but could you really consider your vacation a successful one if you didn’t try out the restaurants we have listed below? Well, probably, but it definitely wouldn’t be as delicious!

Breakfast at Kitty’s Café, 3800 Gulf Shores Parkway #100

You may already know this, but it bears repeating: Southerners have taken the art of making breakfast to the next level of wonderful, and Kitty’s Café has perfected it even more. Offering fluffy pancakes the size of a dinner plate, grits that taste like the ones your Southern grandma would have made, and our most favorite version of Eggs Benedict ever, (Can you get any more Southern than a Fried Green Tomato Benedict?) we encourage you to make room on your itinerary for at least one breakfast at Kitty’s Café.

Lunch at The Beach House Kitchen and Cocktails, 1154 W Beach Boulevard #6200

No matter how hearty your breakfast was, by lunchtime the sun, the salt air, and the adventures you will enjoy under and in both, will ensure you are ready for a big seafood lunch (or burgers) at the Beach House Kitchen and Cocktails. Offering an expansive menu filled with sandwiches, burgers, salads, and, of course, the fresh and sweet seafood, sourced from the blue waters that surround us. Even better, even though their lunches are amazing, if you make the last-minute decision to make your meal there, the lines shouldn’t be long at all, and you should be able to get in soon!

Dinner at De Soto’s Seafood Kitchen, 138 W 1^st Avenue

We’re sticking with the seafood theme for the last meal of the day, and De Soto’s Seafood Kitchen is one of our favorites and is a regular hangout for the locals. Winning the People’s Choice award for friendliest staff for 5 years in the last 15, we think that even if the food wasn’t the best in the state we would still want to eat there.

Choose Poole & Associates

We’ve explained all the ways you can save money even at short notice, but there is so much more to our Poole & Associates last minute beach rentals Gulf Shores AL that will elevate your Alabama vacation to new levels of comfort and luxury. Open the door to a vacation that will make all others pale in comparison, following the paths of high end flooring into rooms filled with treasures designed to make guests feel welcomed and at home.

Comfort Is Key

Feeling comfortable on vacation isn’t always a guarantee but we at Poole & Associates are working to change that fact. Offering plush furnishings including sofas that will be the cause of impromptu naps, premium beds topped with high thread count linens, and multiple areas to sit, relax, and savor the beauty of Alabama.

Modern Conveniences Matter Too

Dishwashers help make short work of kitchen chores, state of the art televisions provide another way to wind down after a long day of Gulf Shores fun, and high-speed internet will allow hard working travelers to keep up with any emergencies that may take place back at the office. Our properties are designed to provide guests with all the modern conveniences that make life easier and that’s another goal we love to achieve.

The Extras You Deserve

The amenities found in our vacation escapes ensure that your home sweet vacation home will be an integral part of your holiday experience. Private and community pools, barbecue grills, even private access to quiet and peaceful beaches are just a few of the extras that will make you feel spoiled and appreciated. Gulf views will be spectacular, but the less glamorous amenities, such as fully equipped laundry rooms or even laundry closets, will make you realize that we really do everything we can to make you feel welcomed and appreciated.

Reserve the Poole & Associates Vacation Sanctuary That Fills Your Heart with Joy

Our last minute Gulf Shores rentals and condos will be the best part of a vacation experience that already tops all others!

Contact Us Today!

Celebrate the one you call Dad this Father’s Day with a break in a beach locale full of fun, sun, sand, and water. Make this trip memorable with a trip to the beach and crashing waves of the Gulf of Mexico and the Alabama shores. Choose an Alabama Gulf Coast vacation for your ultimate destination and start planning the Father’s Day fun.

Browse Our Alabama Gulf Shores Rentals Here!

Beach Time

You chose a beach destination for plenty of beach fun this Father’s Day. You and Dad can take part in any of the area’s lazy beach activities: lay out and sunbathe, plant a beach umbrella and spread out a blanket for a picnic, take a swim in the Gulf, or whatever other beach fun you can think of.

Dad can head out to sea, or turn up the adrenaline with activities like parasailing, SCUBA diving, or snorkeling. Rip through the waves on a jet ski, or slow things down a bit with a sunset cruise or wildlife-watching cruise.

Fort Morgan Road Trail

Dad may want to change up the exercise routine a big during vacation. The 5.6-mile asphalt trail starts just outside the western border of Gulf State Park and stretches west. It runs parallel to Fort Morgan Road/Highway 180 through tree-lined areas and neighborhoods, finally ending at the Peninsula Golf Club.

The mostly flat surface trail is an easy hike or bike for people of all skill levels, but the eastern end has a few gentle climbs. Add some difficulty on that eastern end and continue on through Gulf State Park’s Hugh Branyon Backcountry Trails.

Gulf Shores Museum

The museum is located in a house dating back to before World War II! The house stood as the beach house of Valerie Cole’s family from Mobile. The family donated the structure, which was originally located in West Beach. It was moved to its current home after Hurricane Frederic in 1979.

The museum features many permanent and temporary exhibits telling the story of local history, and offers various programs and activities for all ages and a variety of interests.

Gulf State Park

Wander two miles of Gulf beachfront, or take part in some of Dad’s favorite beach activities: swim, surf, build sand castles, and more. Have a beach picnic, or move it to the shade and shelter of a beach pavilion.

For the dad that loves to fish, bring some gear and spend some time at the pier. For those looking for an adventure, try kayaking or parasailing.

Souvenir City

You and Dad will score some awesome souvenirs as part of his Father’s Day vacation activities. If you can’t find something to reflect the fun you’ve had so far, hit the shops of Gulf Shores.

The shop is a local icon, billed to have “thousands of gifts for everyone on your list,” so you and Dad are bound to find something to remember your time here. The shop has been a staple of the Gulf Shores community since 1956 and is open daily.

Glow Kayaking

Dad may enjoy taking a serene paddle around the water in the morning before the water and beach get busy for the day. The calmer waters around Bird Island are the perfect place. Several kayak tour companies want you to consider something different: glow kayaking. The nighttime-only trips are taken in clear-body kayaks outfitted with special underwater LED lights to light up the night and the water like you’ve never seen before.

You and Dad can choose a color or color pattern that suits your mood. Look down through the bottom of your boat not just for the lights, but also the beautiful creatures swimming below you. You can choose a two-person kayak to paddle around with Dad, or stick close to one another during the paddle but control your own vessel.

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

Dad and the family can go for a walk on the wild side this Father’s Day! Visit the zoo to see over 100 species, including 22 critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable, or near-threatened species. Meet exotic residents like the African grey crowned crane, the Eurasian lynx, lemurs, various reptiles, and many others.

For everyone from the littlest guests to guests young at heart, there’s a petting zoo. Pet goats, sheep, donkeys, deer, and many other residents. Ask about close-up private encounters where each participant can touch, hold, feed, and learn about friendly animals like two-toed sloths (age restrictions apply).

Book Your Alabama Gulf Shores Rental Today!

Alabama Gulf Coast Father’s Day Headquarters

When you and book a Father’s Day getaway to the Alabama Gulf Coast with Poole & Associates, you and Dad won’t be short on fun and amazing activities to fill your time. Enjoy the water, lounge around your rental, or enjoy the myriad of other activities available to help build an Alabama Gulf Coast vacation that is uniquely yours.

We have homes from one-bedroom units for Dad’s solo getaway, all the way up to four-bedroom homes so he can surround himself with family. Savor the flavors of home when you prepare a home-cooked meal in the unit’s fully-equipped kitchen. Enjoy spacious living areas and private outdoor spaces like patios or balconies. Unwind after a long day in a private bedroom, or gather some snacks and enjoy Dad’s favorite movies or TV shows together on a flat-screen TV with an entertainment center.

Contact us today!

Finding a vacation rental is easier than ever these days, as travelers let their fingers do the scrolling, heading right to the popular vacation websites, seeking the homes that will make our vacation dreams come true, and Airbnb is often the first site they visit. Convenient, easy to navigate, and providing a peek at the properties we hope will bring comfort and relaxation during out travel adventures, it is the perfect example of how travel has changed over the decades, but is it always the best choice? If your upcoming vacation journey is bringing you to the tranquil town of Gulf Shores, we at Poole & Associates think we know of a much better to find your home sweet vacation home, and as such, we have prepared this guide to the top reasons moving away from Airbnb and book Gulf Shores Rentals direct from our own website will help you enjoy an Alabama vacation filled with good times, great memories, and all the comforts of home.

Spend Less, Enjoy More

Even as Airbnb’s humble beginnings made it the best place to find a deal on vacation accommodations (two men looking for a way to make money offered air mattresses on the floor of their apartment to travelers seeking a deal), today, the extra fees they charge can jack up the prices to unreasonable amounts. Parking fees are charged, cleaning fees are added to the bill, and if you don’t do the “chores” that are in the listing, they can charge you for that as well. Parking fees are common, damage waiver fees, and although this isn’t common in Gulf Shores, some Airbnb rentals charge fees for the rental of linens. The fee that makes us scratch our heads and say hmm, however, is the Airbnb service fee that can be as much as a few hundred dollars, with no hint of what that fee covers. When you book directly from Poole & Associates, the price you see on the listing is the only price you will pay, with the one exception being a pet fee for our pet friendly rentals. Offering virtually identical properties for less will allow you to save your vacation dollars for the important stuff like souvenirs and memorabilia.

Lower Prices Overall

Even better than the realization that we charge little to no fees is the understanding that many times, we offer lower prices overall when you book direct, because we want to avoid fees ourselves. Everyone deserves to make money off the wares they sell, but Airbnb charges both you and the company when the property they list is booked, and this sort of double dipping makes us want to offer more for less, encouraging travels to find what they want when they book directly from us.

It Can Pay to Procrastinate

We have been raised believing that procrastination is bad behavior, that it is always best to just do the thing you are trying to avoid first thing, getting it out of the way before it is too late to enjoy the fruits of your labor, but there can be a reward for waiting until the last minute to book your vacation escape. Vacation property management companies understand that an empty bed is a profit sucker, and very often, Poole & Associates will offer deals on homes or condos that may entice you to make your last-minute vacation destination be the white sand beaches of Gulf Shores. Our comfortable escapes could very well be the reward you receive for doing something your mama probably taught you was wrong!

Not All Properties Can Be Found on Airbnb

Yes, you may find a few of our Poole & Associates Gulf Shores sanctuaries listed on Airbnb, but if you want a larger selection, come visit our page. The best homes we offer, the ones with the luxury amenities, the premium furnishings, even the chef-quality appliances are saved for the savvy travelers who know the best way to find a vacation home is by booking direct. Pour yourself a glass of wine, find a comfortable seat, and be prepared to spend some happy moments scrolling until the perfect home jumps out at you from the page, reminding you of all the reasons you chose to visit Poole & Associates site rather than wasting time and money on the company that is no longer a very good deal.

Personally Yours

In the early days Airbnb was all about that personal touch, but as the company morphed into a multibillion dollar one, (yes, you read that right) the personal touches fell to the wayside, but that isn’t an issue when you book direct from Poole & Associates. Whether you need a highchair for your tiny traveler, want to know where the best pizzas can be ordered nearest to your property, or are you wondering whether the rental you chose has a Keurig as opposed to a coffee maker, all you need to do is send us an email or give us a call. Even if your questions or requests happen to come in after hours, we can promise a response as quickly as the next regularly scheduled business hours, ensuring that everything you want or need will be waiting for you when you walk in the door for the very first time.

It Happens

Even with everything we do to ensure that every traveler’s vacation spent in the warm embrace of our Poole & Associates vacation sanctuaries is as perfect as can be, life happens. Storms may send branches through windows, little outdoor creatures may find their way indoors, and internet outages may occur at the climax of the movie being watched, and when those annoyances do disrupt the perfection of your Alabama adventures, knowing that there will be a live human on the other end of the phone, ready to help make things better no matter what time of day or night it happens to be, will give you peace of mind. 100% attention to the needs and wishes of our guests is just one more amenity we offer, and because our company is located right here in town, (rather than thousands of miles away in a corporate office building in San Francisco) you can be assured that help will shortly be on the way!

Small Businesses Thank You for Your Support

We all know the importance of supporting small businesses, especially after the mess that took place during recent world troubles, but have you ever realized that when you book Gulf Shores Rentals direct from our site, you are also supporting a small business? We all know about the humble beginnings of Airbnb, it’s been told time and time again, but the reality is Airbnb is now a multi-billion-dollar corporation that has strayed far from its humble beginnings. Poole & Associates has been an integral part of the Gulf Shores Community for over two decades, and our dedication to the people who live and work here is as strong today as it was on that day in 1990 when a former housekeeper in the hospitality industry decided to make that big step towards independence and began our company. Whatever success we have obtained, we owe it to that decision made all those years ago, but also to the people who show up every day, working hard to give you the vacation you deserve.

Your Personal Concierge

The best part of travel is exploring regions we have never visited before, and although you may have read all the guide books, trying to determine what you can do during your visit to Gulf Shores, does that guide book happen to mention that Lulu’s, one of our favorite local restaurants, offers a family friendly experience that includes rope courses, a beach arcade, and a caricaturist often on site? Or that it is owned by the sister of everyone’s favorite beach musician, Jimmy Buffett? Or does it say anywhere within its pages that the reason the sands are so brilliantly white in this area is that they are created from tiny pieces of Appalachian quartz that have washed downstream from the Appalachian Mountains? Guidebooks can only go so far, with the writers often doing nothing more than regurgitating what has been written by other guidebooks over the years, but when you book direct from Poole & Associates, you also have direct access to the best concierge services in Alabama. We live here, love here, work here, and there is nothing more we like to do than share our considerable knowledge of the area with the people who reside under our roofs every day!

The Poole & Associates Guarantee

Booking directly from Poole & Associates is one of the best ways to ensure that the home you choose is the one you get when you arrive in Gulf Shores. Being 100% truthful with our guests is very important to us, and although we can’t verify that others have not been, you will know when you find that charming condo with the beach views and the bunk beds in the secondary bedrooms that your kiddos are anxious to climb into, that it will be the property you receive. Unlock the doors to the condo or home of your dreams and experience a vacation that stands out against all others, simply because you chose to book direct; it really is the easiest thing you will do all year.

Flexibility Is Important

Travel can be exhausting and fraught with anxiety as too-short layovers, staff shortages, or overbooked planes can make your 5-hour journey extend far longer than you are ready to experience. Travel delays are a fact of life, and if you arrive later than planned, or if you experience the unicorn of travel journeys and are actually earlier than originally thought, give us a call. We will hold your spot for you, (Remember the bad old days of travel when hotels would actually give your room to someone else because you were late?) and if you are early, in most cases, there shouldn’t be a problem checking in early and getting a head start on your vacation adventures.

Southern Hospitality at Its Finest

Life moves at a slower and more genteel pace here in the South, but we are always the first people who will offer up their homes for weary travelers, being sure to feed them a hearty meal and making sure they wear a sweater if its chilly outside, which, when we think about it, may be part of the reason we ended up in the hospitality industry. We love to take care of all of our guests, and when you book direct, you become part of the Poole & Associates family. That other company in San Francisco can claim the crookedest road and hilly streets, but Southern hospitality can only be found here in Gulf Shores in our Poole & Associates vacation escapes!

Happiness Can Be Booked Direct

The things that make you happy may be different from person to person, and although you would probably enjoy your Gulf Shore vacation in any property, even ones booked through Airbnb, booking Gulf Shores Rentals directly with us ensures that your vacation experience is one you will never forget. Every property offers that something wonderful that will spoil you against all other vacation homes, enhancing every adventure you enjoy in Gulf Shores. Choose between a condo that offers access to community amenities that may include pools, hot tubs, and sports courts or our private homes that provide space for your large family to call their own. Including private pools that will introduce travelers to the ultimate in luxury experiences, that of a nighttime swim.

Reserve your favorite Poole & Associates vacation escape today and discover all the ways that booking directly through us can lead to happiness and joy!

The next time you need a break, consider adding plenty of sand, sun, water, and fun. Enjoy a beach retreat on the Alabama Gulf Coast, where you’ll have something for everyone for a relaxing vacation any time of year. Point your compass toward Fort Morgan and the surrounding area, where there are plenty of things to do and see to make it a trip to remember. You’ll need and want to do some shopping while you’re here, so make a stop at a Fort Morgan farmers market or craft market.

While the Alabama Gulf Coast Market is right in neighboring Gulf Shores, if you’re looking for some variety, the surrounding area, including Foley, often hosts farmers and craft markets as well. Please note these markets are a 20- to 30-minute drive from Fort Morgan.

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Alabama Gulf Coast Market

The seasonal market offers fresh baked goods, fruits and veggies, honey, jam, and more. The unique schedule runs October-July. They are open Saturdays, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. at 22250 Perdido Beach Blvd in Gulf Shores. They also accept Senior Farmers Markets Nutrition Program.

Coastal Alabama Farmers & Fishermans Market

They year-round market is the best place to get fresh produce, meat, seafood caught right off the coast, baked goods and more. Browse arts and crafts made by local artisans. The market is open Saturdays 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. The covered area that hosts the market means it is open rain or shine! Hop in your car and visit them at 781 Farmers Market Lane in Foley.

Chicago Street Farmers Market

The limited schedule market means you need to make sure to make it part of your itinerary. You’ll want to pick up plants, fresh produce, baked goods, seafood, grass-fed beef, eggs, and more. The market is available mid-May until the end of July, Fridays starting at 4 p.m. at John B. Foley Park. The address is 125 E. Laurel Ave. in Foley.

Orange Beach Freedom Fest & Bama Coast Cruisin’ Car Show

The third annual event will be held at The Wharf in Orange Beach and feature a festival full of fun. The car show kicks off the weekend with vintage and classic cars lining Main Street. There’s also a Kids’ Zone next to the Ferris wheel.

Come for the cars, stay for the crafts. Come back Saturday and wander the booths of over 70 local artisans, crafters, clothiers, and other vendors. Pick up fresh produce, local honey and jams, along with amazing and unique arts and crafts, many with a patriotic theme. Listen to live music while you shop, too.

The car show runs Friday and Saturday, October 6-7, 2024, and the craft and farmers market fair takes place Saturday, October 7. Events run 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on both days.

Gulf Coast Green Market

Stop by and pick up unique items created by local artists and craftspeople as well as fresh fruits, vegetables, baked goods, jam, honey, and more. You’ll definitely want to make this limited schedule market a part of your shopping itinerary.

The market is available from the end of May to the end of June, Saturdays, 7-11 a.m. You can find the market on the shores of Lake Shelby in Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores.

Foley Indoor Flea Market Market

The market is actually an indoor/outdoor affair. It features over two dozen specialty local vendors, with more being added regularly. Shop arts, crafts, and other cool finds to pick up the best souvenirs and gifts.

The market is under new management, and new things are coming all the time. Stop in Wednesday-Thursday & Sunday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. It’s located at 14809 Hwy 59 in Foley.

Other Cities

There are several other cities further along Alabama’s Gulf Coast and inland that host their own farmers’ and crafters’ markets. If you have more time and would like to shop further afield, take a road trip and hit other markets, then relax at your accommodation provided by Poole & Associates!

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Fort Morgan Craft & Farmers Markets + Poole & Associates Makes for a Great Vacation

The ultimate way to enjoy all your farmers market and craft market shopping during your Fort Morgan vacation is with a Fort Morgan vacation rental provided by Poole & Associates. We have homes from one-bedroom units for a solo or sweetheart getaway, all the way up to four-bedroom homes to enjoy a farmers market shopping adventure with all your loved ones. Savor the flavors of home with the fresh fruits and veggies you picked up when you prepare a home-cooked meal in the unit’s fully equipped kitchen.

Enjoy spacious living areas and private outdoor spaces like patios or balconies. Unwind after a long day in a private bedroom or gather some snacks and enjoy your favorite movies together on a flat-screen TV with an entertainment center. Our premium units include upgrades like stainless steel appliances, granite counters, hardwood floors, flat-screen TVs, and more!

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No matter how many times you return to Gulf Shores, every time will offer a slightly different vacation experience, especially when you choose to attend any or all of the following top events in Gulf  Shores 2024. Providing an authentic peek into what we love most, you can be enjoying a Mardi Gras parade during one visit, listening to free music in outdoor auditoriums in another, and devouring s’mores with marshmallows you roasted over a campfire at the beach during another. This guide to the top Gulf Shores events in 2024 will help you plan an idyllic Alabama vacation made even more special simply because you chose Poole & Associates for your Gulf Shores sanctuary.

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January

January is a quiet month in Gulf Shores as families are concentrating more on returning to school and work after the winter holidays and less on planning fabulous beach vacations in Gulf Shores, but it is still a truly excellent time to visit, providing serene adventures and luxurious moments spent at home with Poole & Associates.

Winter Concert Series, January 29-30, February 15-16, and February 22, Erie H Meyer Civic Center in Gulf Shores

This winter concert series is always an enjoyable one, with ticket prices ranging from $27.50 – $35. Their January performance was called a Motown Experience and presented the best music of the golden days of Motown, including songs that were originally performed by Marvin Gaye, Tina Turner, and Michael Jackson.

February

Although February will be over by the time you read this, these events will come around again in 2025, so maybe now would be the perfect time to start planning your first vacation of next year?

Mardi Gras Parade, February 13 at 10 AM

Gulf Shores is located just a little over three hours outside of New Orleans, so it should be of no surprise that our Mardi Gras Parade is a much-loved February tradition. Parades have seemed to fall out of favor with Americans as of late, with the exception of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in New York City, but here in Gulf Shores, we wait anxiously for Mardi Gras and a chance to participate in or watch from the sidewalks the best parade in the state. Featuring fanciful floats, high school marching bands, and all the colorful beads, this parade has delighted so many for nearly 50 years.

Orange Beach Seafood Festival & Car Show, February 24^th at the Wharf

Although they are two entirely different towns, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are so close that we will be including events that take place in Orange Beach in this Gulf Shores guide, and the Orange Beach Seafood Festival & Car Show is worth waiting almost another year to attend. 2024 was the 32^nd anniversary of this fun festival, offering arts & crafts created by 125+ vendors, live music, a kids’ zone, and of course, the sweet, delicious seafood for which this region is famous. The car show portion of the festivities feature colorful classic cars from over the decades, bringing joy to the car enthusiasts in your traveling party.

Annual Fort Morgan Oyster Fest, February 25^th at the Beach Club Resort & Spa in Fort Morgan

Ok, you got us, this next festival wasn’t held in Gulf Shores either, but the oysters are all you can eat, beer, wine, and cocktails will be available for purchase, and live music and more Arts & Crafts vendors, make this another popular event. Add in the fact that Fort Morgan sits practically on Gulf Shores doorstep and there really isn’t any excuse not to add this event to our calendar.

March

March is the beginning of the season of promise, and we promise that everyone visiting this month will have the best times of their lives participating in the following events and festivals.

Waterway Village Series, Every Thursday from March 7-April 11, Waterway Village

This concert series is a free one being held in the Waterway Village community, beginning at 5:30. Offering food and beverage trucks for hungry and thirsty concert goers to purchase, the Gulf Coast Arts Alliance will also be open extended hours so you can check out the art scene while dancing to the music played by local favorites performing a varied selection of musical genres including blues, rock, and country.

Orange Beach Festival of Art, March 9-10, Orange Beach Waterfront Park

Could there be a more perfect way to enjoy a pre-spring day than by attending this fantastic festival that lies so close to Wolf Bay you can hear the water slapping against shore’s edge in between free musical performances? Offering food, beverages, and vendors selling all the things you never knew you needed until you were standing next to the table they were being sold from, this year’s festival was its 50^th return, and it just seems to get better every year.

The Wharf Boat and Yacht Show, March 15-17, The Wharf in Orange Beach

If you live near the lake, sea, or river in your own hometown, you will understand the excitement we feel when the Wharf Boat and Yacht Show comes to town in March. This is the largest on water show in the Gulf Coast, with over 115 exhibitors showing their wares and even if you don’t plan on purchasing a boat in the near future, seeing the advancements in technology and the luxurious extras on the yachts being shown will make this event one your newest obsession.

Breakfast with the Bunny, March 23, Erie H Meyer Civic Center, 1930 W 2^nd Street

Easter is held on March 31^st this year, but the Bunny comes early to Gulf Shores, probably because he is so busy on Easter Sunday. We promise that this exciting event will be the one event that makes your child realize that their parents are heroes for allowing them to participate, offering a traditional pancake breakfast (shared with the whiskered fellow himself) the chance to meet the Easter Bunny and have photos taken with him, and meet and greets with fuzzy favorites transported from the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. Cost is $5 each for kids 4 and older; your tiniest tots can participate for free.

April

Spring has officially sprung in the Gulf Shores area and this time of year the temps are just about perfect, the sun is shining cheerfully, and these Gulf Shores events and festivals bring us joy.

Waterway Village Zydeco & Crawfish Festival & 5K Run, April 19 & 20, Waterway Village

We are good at a lot of things, but for some reason we excel at festivals and feeding people, and the Waterway Village Zydeco & Crawfish Festival & 5K Run is another wonderful example. Zydeco music is a genre popular in Louisiana, offering French origins and blending the music of the Caribbean with blues. In addition to the 5K Run (which allows you to eat as much as you want without worrying about counting calories), tasty crawfish, and arts vendors selling their creations, there will be a children’s zone filled with fun activities for the littles.

May

As we edge closer to summer, the month of May is filled with lots of fun events, guaranteed to enhance your vacation experience while convincing you that you don’t have nearly enough fun in real life!

The Hangout Music Festival, May 17-19 Gulf Shores Public Beach

This festival is a celebration of exuberance, offering not just music but carnival rides, beach volleyball, and Gulf-front hammocks you will never want to get out of! The Hangout Music Festival is an acclaimed one, the music rocks day and night, and if getting married in a party atmosphere sounds interesting, you should definitely check out the wedding chapel where participants can fake getting married or email the festival peeps to schedule a REAL ceremony with the expectation and almost certainty that you will live happily ever after, simply because you said I do at the Hangout Music Festival.

S’Mores on the Shore, May 23, Gulf Shores Public Beach

Finding family friendly activities that everyone will enjoy can be difficult anywhere else except during your spring vacation to Gulf Shores, and the S’mores on the Shore event is one very popular reason why. Offering campfires to roast the marshmallows you need to build the perfect s’mores, this event begins at 6 PM and also offers live music. It is the perfect time to work on your sandcastle building skills in the hours before darkness takes over.

June

June is another one of those quiet months in Gulf Shores, at least where festivals and events are concerned, but it is still a fantastic time to visit. Visitors in early June will discover that the normal costs associated with vacations are lower, and the beaches are less crowded.

Music at Meyer Park, June 21, July 18, and August 15, 400 E 22^nd Avenue, Gulf Shores

The theme of this music series for the June event is Make Music at Meyer Park and attendees are encouraged to be a part of the music by shaking the tambourines and egg shakers that are provided by the city of Gulf Shores.

July

America celebrates its 248^th birthday in July and our all-American coastal village offers a variety of ways to celebrate, including the events listed below.

Independence Day Celebration, July 4^th, Gulf State Park Fishing and Education Pier

The pier closes early (7AM) to prepare for the fireworks display that will start at about 9 PM but will open to the public again at noon. The pier closes again at 8:30 but when the fireworks start, we promise that you won’t mind the inconvenience of not being able to hang out on the pier.

Blue Marlin Grand Championship of the Gulf, July 10-14, The Wharf, 4673 Wharf Parkway in Orange Beach

The Greatest Show in Sports Fishing features more than 60 of the best Marlin Fishermen and 1.5 million dollars in prize money. Whether you are an avid angler or just fascinated by the sight of prize winning Marlin, the wharf is the place to be during this fun long weekend in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

August

August is the hottest and most humid month of the year, so we Alabamans tend to cocoon inside our homes. The only event that takes place in this sultry month is the second S’mores on the Shore event, duplicating the one that takes place in May.

September

The kids are back in school, the Labor Day Weekend festivities have ended, but September is still an ideal time to visit Gulf Shores, offering lower temperatures, humidity, and prices all around. The Sunset Series, a concert series that takes place on Thursday nights at Gulf Shores Public Beach helps take the sting out of the end of summer adventures. Bring a blanket and a lawn chair (you can probably find one in the closet of your Poole & Associates vacation sanctuary) and celebrate the season with this live music series.

October

Cool days and even cooler nights make October one of our favorite times of the year and these fun events add to the excitement of the fall season.

Movies at Meyer Park, October 24, November 21, and December 19

2024 offers the advent of a new Gulf Shores event, the chance to watch free movies under the stars in Meyers Park.

Annual National Shrimp Festival, October 10-13, Gulf Place

If there is anything better than a festival celebrating the flavor of thousands of pounds of fresh Gulf shrimp and seafood, we really can’t imagine what it would be! This four-day festival features a sand sculpture contest, fresh seafood, live music, and more vendors selling their wares during the most magical time of the year.

November and December

As the winter holidays take center stage, visitors to Gulf Shores can take part in local festivities, including a Thanksgiving Buffet at Coast, held on November 28 at Coast Restaurant and a variety of Christmas Gulf Shores events that may include checking out the lights and watching the lighting of the Gulf Shores Christmas tree. But if you are looking for something a little more unique, the Frank Johnson International Songwriters Festival takes place November 7-17 in over 2 dozen venues across our coastal village.

Come Home to Poole & Associates

However you spend your time in Gulf Shores, coming home to our Poole & Associates vacation sanctuaries will be the highlight of your escape to Alabama. Reserve your favorite home sweet vacation home today!

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For many travelers, they have a bucket list of exotic destinations that they just know their lives will not be as fulfilling without visiting, and those lists are often filled with the biggies we all know, including Paris and the Eifel Tower, New York City and the Empire State Building, and Gulf Shores and its white sand beaches. While the last one is our personal favorite, especially because we at Poole & Associates live, love, and work here, we understand that this region still hasn’t reached the level of excitement the first two cities on our list has, and that’s ok. We just look at that as a challenge to convince the rest of the world, and this guide to the top 10 reasons you should visit Gulf Shores as your next vacation destination will convince you that there is no place else on earth you will want to make your next vacation spot!

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Families Love Us

Everything we do, we do for our families, and finding a vacation destination that offers something for everyone to enjoy can be difficult. Gulf Shores embraces families, providing a variety of activities that all ages can enjoy, including parks with the playground equipment your tiniest travelers adore (Kid’s Park, 348 W 19^th Avenue), go kart amusement parks with arcade games and rides that your tweens will want to return to time and time again (The Track-Gulf Shores, 3200 Gulf Shores Parkway), and the coolest of hot spots a selfie museum set up with a an intriguing selection of backdrops that your teens will thrill to pose in front of (Cool Shots Selfie Museum, 4700B Main Street Suite N-207 in Orange Beach). These are just a few examples of family friendly activities, and when you are here filling every minute of every day with adventures that keep the pouts away, you will know you made the right choice.

Adults Will Feel at Home

We’re not saying that you, as an adult, won’t enjoy the activities we just mentioned, but not all vacations include children, and sometimes even mom and dad need something that reminds them they are still able to have fun together without the ultimate in chaperones tagging along. Music is big in beach areas, and outdoor concerts offer the ultimate in beachy adventures. The Wharf Amphitheater, located at 23101 Canal Road in Orange Beach, may take you back to your own teenage days when the songs you listened to had meaning and there was nothing more romantic than sharing a live concert with your bestie or your boy/girlfriend. Black concert tees were the outfit of the day, and if you engaged in a little make-out session at intermission, all the better! Want to take this walk down memory lane to even higher heights? As an adult you can legally purchase the alcohol sold at the venue, enhancing your concert going experience!

A Taste of the Town

The best vacations often involve the best restaurants, and although we aren’t much for fancy and pretentions in our Alabama coastal town, we can promise meals that will haunt your dreams in all the best ways. De Soto’s Seafood Kitchen, 138 W 1^st Avenue, offers a casual vibe and a delicious taste of the sea, with all dishes being made fresh on the premises, while the Sunliner Diner, 100 E 2^nd Avenue, offers the best chicken and waffles in town, as well as all the Southern favorites our mothers raised us on. Lulu’s Gulf Shores, 200 E 25^th Avenue, offers a semi-famous owner, Lucy Buffett, sister to our favorite beach-loving musician Jimmy Buffett, but she doesn’t rest on her laurels as being well-known for her more famous sibling. The menus at Lulu’s are filled with meals made from scratch using locally sourced ingredients, including what comes from the waters that surround our seaside town. And when you do want a special occasion meal to celebrate your very own special occasion, Perch, 21196 E Beach Boulevard, rises to the occasion, serving elevated surf & turf dishes with a side of stunning seascape views.

Wild Adventures

When you want to walk on the wild side but aren’t looking for an African safari, your Gulf Shores getaway will provide the ultimate wildlife viewing opportunity with a visit to our Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. Located at 20499 Oak Road E is home to almost 200 species of animals, 31 sub-species, and provides sanctuary to eight endangered species. The zoo is also a local celebrity, having served as the star of the 2006 documentary series, “The Little Zoo,” so you may already know all about it.

If you prefer your natural adventures to be a little tamer, the Gulf State Park Nature Center, 22050 Campground Road, is a living museum dedicated to the plants and animals that are native to the region and the park in which it is located can be an excellent source of exercise and fun. Hiking, biking, fishing, golfing, even geocaching are all popular activities at Gulf State Park, so be sure to check out all this 6150-acre park has to offer. (Or at least as much as you can during your limited number of days in Gulf Shores!

An Artist Haven

Have you ever noticed that the most beautiful towns often attract the most talented artists? A visit to Gulf Shores offers the perfect opportunity to find the perfect seascape to hang over your living room sofa with visits to local galleries and shops. The Susan M McCullough Gallery & Studio, 350 Cypress Bend Boulevard Unit 105, is open weekdays from 10-4 PM, primarily featuring abstract works filled with color, while the Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach, 26389 Canal Boulevard in Orange Beach, is the epicenter of local talent. Offering an art gallery filled with just about every artistic medium known to man, they also provide classes to help visitors build their own souvenirs. The Sea Oat Studio, 1009 E Canal Road, is acclaimed for its sea themed pottery, offering the ideal spot to pick up a lovely gift for your pet sitter/plant waterer/mail gatherer whose selfless help allows you to travel to the most beautiful coastal town in the United States.

Catching Your Limit

As you might expect, fishing is a popular Alabama activity. There is nothing better than spending a day pitting your wits against the slippery creatures who live beneath the surface of the Gulf of Mexico, and your prize at the end of that day may be an exquisitely prepared fish dinner that will even entice your pickiest eaters to give it a try. Fish from the shores, needing nothing more than your pole, bait, a chair, and a cooler filled with your favorite beverages, remembering that the best spots to fish from are those where the water appears to be darker within fishing line distance. Or, if you prefer the challenge of a deep sea fishing expedition, perhaps earning the opportunity to come home with a big game fish, Red Sky Fish Co is a family-run business offering half- and full-day charters. Captain Jason Gamble is an angler with over 30 years’ experience, taking his clients to the spots where the fish bite the most and bringing with him a wealth of experience about fish, nature, and the region you are visiting. Yellowfin tuna, sailfish, and blue and white marlin are what you might expect to catch during your deep sea fishing expedition.

Adventures Under the Sea

The waters off Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are home to the largest artificial reef program in the United States, making our seaside village an ideal vacation spot for obsessed scuba divers. If you are new to the idea, not knowing enough as of yet to develop the obsession, don’t worry; it will happen and it will happen soon! Down Under Dive Shop, 1129 Gulf Shores Parkway, offers the opportunity to learn the sport, providing classes for training and certification, as well as running charters that take divers to the most popular artificial reefs. The Lulu, an intact freighter that was sunk in 2013, the Fairfield New Venture, a former research vessel that was sunk in 2018, and the USS Oriskany, a US Aircraft Carrier that was sunk in 2006 are some of the spots you can visit, with the USS Oriskany being our personal favorite. How often can you freely explore an aircraft carrier? This fascinating artificial reef is home to both sedentary and active marine populations and bears the nickname, “The Great Carrier Reef!”

Military History

As with many seaside towns, our military history is a respected one, and Fort Morgan has stood guard over Mobile Bay since 1834. Famous for its red brick exterior, it took over 46 million cubic yards of bricks, 15 years, and numerous skilled masons to construct. Today, it is a popular tourist attraction. Active during four wars—the Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I and World War II—it is historically significant for its role in the Civil War Battle of Mobile Bay, where famed Union Admiral David Farragut uttered the historic orders, “Damn the torpedoes!”

White Sand Beaches, Turquoise Waters, and All the Serenity of the Sea

Our Gulf Shore area beaches are some of the most beautiful in the world, offering white sands, clear turquoise waters, and the serenity that can only come from the sea. Spending a day at any of our beaches will prove to be the highlight of your vacation experiences, providing something to do for everyone in your traveling group.

Toddlers will love building sandcastles at water’s edge, perhaps with older brothers chiming in on the perfect water-to-sand ratio and parents lingering close at hand to keep squabbles from arising. If you want to join in the fun and impress them with your skills, Sand Castle University offers castle building lessons; give them a call at (251) 600-9771 and prepare to wow your entire family!

Too cool teens can work on their tans or take selfies with the incredibly photogenic sea as their backdrop, and your water babies will enjoy every minute they spend frolicking in the surf, perhaps perfecting their body boarding skills. And you? You can be lounging on a beach chair, taking in all the action, with your toes buried in the white sands, and a refreshing beverage close at hand.

The Most Comfortable Homes and Condos in the State

A vacation rental can be the most important part of your vacation experience, and our Poole & Associates homes and condos are acclaimed for their comfort, style, and luxury. Discerning travelers no longer believe that accommodations are merely a place to lay their head every night, instead expecting more ways to be entertained as well as requiring comfort and luxury, and we aim to please. Choose a home on the beach, offering stunning views and that serenity we mentioned earlier, a condo overlooking the Gulf of Mexico with access to community amenities that can include swimming pools and hot tubs, or a riverfront escape with all the luxuries you deserve, plus views that will touch your soul. The amenities we offer can include game rooms, soaking tubs, wine refrigerators, or privacy, quiet, and seclusion, all traits that are much needed and so well deserved for our hard-working guests. If you can think of something we may have missed in our quest to be the best vacation rental company in the Gulf Shores area, be sure to let us know, and in the meantime, reserve your favorite escape today!

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When we think back to some of the best vacations we have ever experienced, there is one thing that seems to go hand in hand with the experiences and sights we have seen, and that is the meals we enjoyed in those strange new lands. Memories of new ingredients dancing on our palates, the blend of excitement over the place we are visiting combining with the joy of tasty flavors, creating a vacation we never forget. If you are of like mind, we at Poole & Associates have created this ultimate Gulf Shores dining guide, destined to make your Alabama getaway one that not only will you never forget but also wish never had to end.

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Start Your Day Out the Right Way

Doctors and our mamas have drummed into our heads the importance of breakfast, and you can trust us when we say your days on the beach will be much more enjoyable when you start out each morning with breakfast at the places listed below.

Kitty’s Kafe at Pelican Place, 3800 Gulf Shores Parkway Suite 100 in Gulf Shores

Closed on Sunday and open from 7 AM until 2 PM for the remainder of the week, Kitty’s Café is a Southern secret that we are glad to share with you. The décor is simple, apart from the quirky mural painted on the wall featuring a grassy meadow with trees, hot air balloons, and flying pigs, but the menu is absolutely sublime. Mama’s home cooking is the theme of this menu and although they do offer some elevated meal options, including Eggs Benedict with Crab Cakes.

Duck’s Diner, 4560 Easy Street in Orange Beach

We love a simple diner, and Duck’s Diner in Orange Beach, open every day from 7 AM until 1:30 PM, brings us great joy. For over 20 years, Duck’s has never let guests down, offering locally sourced ingredients in their Southern dishes that include Banana Stuffed French Toast and Biscuits and Sausage Gravy, both meals you will want to try again and again!

Sassy Bass Amazin’ Grill, 5160 AL-180 in Gulf Shores

Open every day of the week from 8 AM until 8:30 PM, this impudent spot is worthy of visiting for breakfast, lunch, AND dinner, so if you’re happy with your Crabby Beach Benny or your Sweet Bird Biscuit, be sure to come back for their Shrimp Po’ Boy at lunch and their Big Ass Steak at dinner! (Their words, not ours.)

The Midday Refresher

Whether you are lazing around on white sand beaches or exploring the history behind Fort Morgan, when lunch time rolls around, we can promise that your hunger will return as well! Something about the salt air, the activities you are participating in, and maybe even the memories of that filling and yummy breakfast you enjoyed earlier in the day will ensure that your appetite stays healthy, and these lunch spots will fill your tank again, allowing you to start the afternoon feeling well fed, energetic and at peace!

Luna’s Eat & Drink, 25689 Canal Road Suite B in Orange Beach

Open at 11 AM every day and closing at 10 PM on Friday and Saturday, 9:30 PM every other day, Luna’s is a local hot spot offering 32 local and regional beers on tap and a menu filled with food they title, “Soulful Southern Goodness.” Happy Hour runs every day from 4-6 PM, offering specials on beer (their beer flights are fun) and appetizers including the world-famous Pimiento Hushpuppies served with blueberry pepper jelly.

Amelia’s Deli & Catering, 2200 E 2^nd Suite A in Gulf Shores

Closed on Saturday and Sunday, Amelia’s Deli & Catering is open 11 AM until 3 PM weekdays, bringing a taste of New York to the Gulf Shores area. Their Glorified Grilled Cheese is a menu item worth noting, offering three types of cheese (Swiss, cheddar, and provolone) and the opportunity to add tomatoes, ham, turkey, or bacon for an additional fee. Vegetarians love their Veggie Health Nut served on wheat and their Grilled Pork Tenderloin will appeal to all the carnivores in your life.

Ruby Slipper Café, 24151 Perdido Beach Boulevard in Orange Beach

Bringing a taste of New Orleans to the shores of Alabama, Ruby Slipper Café is open every day from 7 AM until 2 PM, making it a great breakfast spot as well. Their lunch menu is slightly more brunchy and very delicious, featuring Southern specialties such as shrimp & grits and sweet hot fried chicken, which is their normal fried chicken tossed in Mike’s Hot Honey Glaze. Yum!

Family Friendly Dinners

The family vacation is a tradition that has continued for centuries, and if there is one thing we have learned over the years, our children don’t always show off their most angelic behavior. And although we know that in minutes the flip can switch and they will be sweet once more, strangers in restaurants aren’t always that patient. This next list of restaurants are the family friendly ones that we may visit ourselves, places that understand your children aren’t feral; they are simply hungry and tired.

Lulu’s Gulf Shores, 200 E 25^th Avenue in Gulf Shores

Open every day from 11 AM until 9 PM, Lulu’s provides a sort of brush with fame. The owner is the sister of Jimmy Buffet, but Lulu’s is also one of our kids’ favorite restaurants. Offering two rope courses (one for older kids, one for smaller kids, with both closing during the winter months), a beach arcade, caricature artists, and hair wraps & henna, we have a hard time getting our kids to actually eat in between all of the fun they are having. Also offering live music and a cool shop that adults will love, the menu is billed as fresh coastal cooking and is healthy and delicious, another magical combination that most parents will agree is hard to achieve in normal restaurants!

GT’s on the Bay, 26189 Canal Road in Orange Beach

This next fun zone—er, we mean restaurant—is open every day from 11 AM until 9:30 (10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays). Obviously, parents will love this waterfront spot, the views are breathtaking, but it is the pirate ship playground that will make your kiddos giggle. Let them run mild, scrambling all over the playground while you sip coastal cocktails and devour fresh seafood and locally sourced land lubber meals. Their kids’ menu is pretty extensive as well and even features Virgin Frozen Daiquiris.

The Hangout Gulf Shores, 101 E Beach Boulevard in Gulf Shores

The Hangout is exactly that, a place where everyone from the youngest to the oldest love to hang out. Offering a beachfront location, the kids can build sandcastles at the shore’s edge, or can wade in the surf, as the parents listen to live music and devour delicious meals off the menu, all within close proximity to the children of course. Open every day from 10:30 until 8, the chill vibe and fun ambience will help you make wonderful memories with your children.

Something Special

A Gulf Shores vacation can be the perfect time to celebrate some of life’s most important moments, a honeymoon, a milestone birthday, even a special anniversary, and as such, you may be visiting without the kids and looking for a secluded getaway with your favorite traveling partner. Seeking lazy mornings, late nights, and special occasion restaurants where the meal isn’t just something you eat, it is something that feeds your soul. These restaurants will bring diners a meal to remember when celebrating something special.

Jesse’s on the Bay, 1631 Crosswinds Court in Gulf Shores

Open every day of the week at various hours, Jesse’s on the Bay offers a laidback vibe and stunning sunset views of the bay. The menu covers both land and sea, with their raw bar winning critical acclaim and as you sit at tables covered with white tablecloths, sipping your favorite chardonnay and watching the fire in the sky fade into black, the magic of Gulf Shores will become patently clear.

Pier House Orange Beach, 22703 Perdido Beach Boulevard

Whether you are sunning yourself at shore’s edge, are frolicking in the surf, or are simply sitting on your balcony watching the sea ebb and flow many stories below, the waters that surround you offer a world of delicious creatures, many of which are bound for the plates of Pier House Orange Beach. Closed on Sundays, they open at 11:30 AM, making it possible to enjoy an elevated lunch as well as dinner. Its onsite art gallery helps create a sophisticated and colorful vibe and light music will feel like you have your own romantic theme music playing in the background. Be sure to save room for their cheesecake eggrolls, a sweet ending to a romantic meal.

Stephi’s Cocktail & Cuisine, 25241 Perdido Beach Boulevard Unit 101 in Orange Beach

Modern and sophisticated, the food served at Stephi’s Cocktail & Cuisine matches its surroundings. Open Wednesday through Sunday from 3-8 PM and serving the freshest sushi in town and a seafood menu that features a Caribbean-Asian fusion, ensuring that you will walk out the door at the end of your special occasion dinner feeling as if you just won the lottery of cuisine. Stephi’s cocktail menu is filled with fascinating drinks, including their If Budda Drank a Bloody Mary and Blackbeard’s Margarita, and their dessert menu stars a sweet treat they call Chocolate Dome, created with frozen chocolate custard covered in dark chocolate and drizzled with raspberry coulis.

International Delights

Our all-American coastal town is also known for its international selection of restaurants and as we finish our taste tour of the town, these international restaurants will become the highlight of your trip.

Villaggio Grille, 4790 Main Street Suite F 108-B in Orange Beach

The chef-driven Italian menu at Villaggio Grille makes it a favorite for special occasions as well as being considered family friendly. Offering everything from New Zealand Lamb Lollipops to a fruit plate for kids, every appetite will be sated when visiting this Italian specialty restaurant.

Yoho Rum and Tacos, 4851 Wharf Parkway Suite D116 in Orange Beach

Tacos are fast becoming America’s number one handheld, and the tacos at Yoho Rum and Tacos will quickly become your favorite restaurant. The menu is a complex blend of delicious tacos, yummy sandwiches, and a large selection of flavorful Mexican specialties. Looking for something simple yet different? Their Surf & Turf Quesadilla never ceases to amaze.

Nikki’s Seafood & Thai, 22641 Canal Road in Orange Beach

Apparently, Orange Beach has conquered the international flavors of Alabama, and this last restaurant, Nikki’s Seafood & Thai, fulfills the old saying, “last but not least.” Closed on Sundays and open at 4:30, Nikki’s offers a laid-back vibe and deliciously flavorful seafood-centric Thai specialties. Best of all, its moderately priced menu ensures that a meal here will fit into the tightest of vacation budgets.

The Kitchen of Your Poole & Associates Vacation Sanctuary

Your tour of the town’s flavors would not be complete without experiencing some of your own cooking prepared in our fully equipped gourmet kitchens. Offering high-end appliances, custom cabinetry, and stone countertops, these cheerful spaces will help you feel the joy of cooking return to your soul. Barbecue grills in the backyards offer another way to prepare a meal, even a night at home will be soul filling, simply because of the ambience of our homes. Enjoy al fresco meals at outside tables or devour takeout meals at large dining room tables inside the house. If you don’t feel like cooking—you are on vacation after all—most restaurants offer takeout and with the advent of “food share apps” travelers can enjoy gourmet meals without having to change out of their board shorts.

Reserve your favorite Poole & Associates vacation sanctuary today and receive a “passport” to the best restaurants in the Gulf Shores you will never forget!

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