There are dozens of reasons you may have waited until the last minute to start planning your vacation to the Gulf Shores area, and there are thousands of ways you are going to have the best time of your life while here. This part of the country is where your beach dreams come true, where serenity is served with a side of exciting fun, and relaxation is the word for every day, and we at Poole & Associates are excited to make the planning easy for you, especially as you don’t have much time before your vacation of a lifetime begins. Our tips, hints, and tricks for planning a last-minute vacation in the Gulf Shores area will ensure that you don’t skip a beat and you never miss a fun and exciting adventure, with this guide happily leading the way.
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Tips for Planning a Last-Minute Vacation in the Gulf Shores Area
We’re calling this a brief guide due to the fact that there isn’t a lot of change in the temperatures throughout the year. The coldest it will get is, of course, in the winter months, when the lows tend to run in the 40s at night, meaning you will probably want to bring a jacket and wear long pants. The highs in winter can reach near 70 degrees and although you probably won’t be swimming in the sea, some of the pools in our Poole & Associates vacation escapes can be heated if you like, so pack a swimsuit or three. For the rest of the year, temperatures are warm and wonderful and shorts, tees, and sundresses won’t take up a lot of room in your luggage, leaving space for souvenirs you will buy when you can drag yourself away from our beaches. Sunscreen, sunglasses, and hats are highly recommended as well, and flip flops are the shoes of every day, except for the coolest days in winter.
Plan for Resting Beach Face
There’s a look beach goers have on their faces at the end of each day on the sand, one of serenity, happiness, and possibly a little bit of lazy enjoyment, and it is one you will see on your own face. We are a casual group of people here in the deep south of Alabama, and the good news is that when you choose visit at the last minute, you can still count on enjoying a vacation filled with adventure—no sacrifices needed. Below, we have listed a few ideas on how best to enjoy the beach and even though doing nothing isn’t on that list, if nothing is what you want to do, we applaud you and welcome you to the leisurely and nonjudgmental beach life communities in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Fort Morgan Beach!
Prepare to Learn to Surf (and More) at Tambos Surf, Skate, and Coffee Shop, 3800 Gulf Shores Parkway #130 in Gulf Shores
When you think of top surfing destinations, Florida and Hawaii may be where your mind goes, but you have to remember that this part of Alabama is practically North Florida, and as such, we offer some pretty decent waves. Tambos Surf, Skate & Coffee Shop offers up the feel that we imagine Ron Jon Surf Shop might have offered way back when they first opened for business. Casual and laidback, the people who work here, learn here, or just hang here all have discovered that the surf vibe culture is one they want to be a part of and if you are interested, you too will be able to hang 10 with the best of them. Tambos offers surf lessons for surfers of all experience levels and we have it on great authority that once you catch your first wave, you will be hooked for life. Also offering a skateboard park inside their shop, your teens and tweens might be interested in playing while you sip coffee and watch. (Unless your name is Tony Hawk!)
Discover New Ways to Surf at Foil Gulf Coast, 5677 Bayou St John Avenue in Orange Beach
The daredevils amongst are discovering how much fun surf foiling can be, offering a new way to experience the ancient sport, and Foil Gulf Coast will help you get your feet wet. Surf foiling, also known as hydrofoiling, adds a touch of technology to the ancient sport, using a somewhat smaller version of a surfboard that has a hydrofoil attached, allowing participants to glide ABOVE the water as they catch waves. Foil Gulf Coast offers rentals and lessons, setting you on the potential path to obsession!
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Yet Another Way to Enjoy Surfing at Gulf Shores Kiteboarding, 22085 County Road 64 in Robertsdale
This next last-minute surfing adventure brings joy to all who attempt it. Kiteboarding, using a surfboard with a sail attached, will make you feel like you are flying (and you often will be) with the kind people at Gulf Shores Kiteboarding leading the way to adventure. The shop itself is based in Robertsdale, but they serve Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, so you won’t have far to go to get back home at the end of the day when you are feeling tired, waterlogged, and over salty. Best of all, there isn’t a lot of advanced planning needed for all three of the surfing adventures listed and often you can be out on the water within minutes of walking into the shop!
No Reservations Needed
As we have mentioned more than a few times, the Gulf Coast of Alabama is laidback, casual, and although some restaurants do need reservations at the busy times, the ones listed below are always open for walk-ins. And they barely have dress codes, but that’s a tale that can be told another time. For now, let’s explore the culinary landscape of our favorite beach towns!
The Hangout, 101 E Beach Boulevard in Gulf Shores
There was a popular TV show in the 80s that revolved around a local bar, where guests just hung out and drank, and in the 90s there was another popular TV show, this one revolving around a coffee shop where everyone hung out and sipped, and finally in the 2000s, ANOTHER popular show took you back to the bar, where everyone hung out and drank. Your Gulf Shores last-minute getaway is going to allow you to be the star of your own hang out and chill show, this time at a real restaurant/bar known as The Hangout. Offering the spirit of a party that never ends, water views, and a seafood-centric menu that will surprise you with its reasonable prices, you will feel like a regular within your first moments inside. Featuring a foam pit, dancing on tables, live entertainment, and more fun than should be legal, reservations aren’t necessary to eat at the Hangout, but there may be a bit of a wait on a Friday or Saturday night.
The Gulf, 27500 Perdido Beach Boulevard in Orange Beach
Before we talk about the food, lets discuss the structure of The Gulf, a waterfront eatery that looks like nothing you have ever seen before, being constructed from shipping containers. Offering new meaning to the words “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,” this unique restaurant offers a casual vibe, a worthy message, and a menu that tastes like it came from a five-star restaurant without high prices and snooty waiters. The menu is constantly changing but two of our favorites, shrimp tacos and grouper sandwiches always survive the cut, and its sea views will always make you glad you didn’t have to have reservations on your last-minute escape to Alabama.
Drop by These Wonderful Festivals and Events
Remember that time you stumbled upon that open air market in Wales, only to later discover its historical significance to the area? It was hundreds of years old, something that is getting harder and harder to find in the United States, but these festivals and events we have listed here are sure to add an extra sparkle to your shiny Alabama vacation adventures, and most offer free admittance inviting everyone to drop by, last minute or not.
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Annual Fort Morgan Oyster Fest, February, 925 Beach Club Trail in Gulf Shores
We have no way of knowing if you are going to be here in February, you may not know yourself, but if you do happen to find a last-minute journey that brings you to our shores, the Annual Fort Morgan Oyster Fest will offer a happy adventure that is very tasty too! While this event charges an entrance fee, we are happy to say that the fee covers parking, all-you-can-eat oysters (YAY!) and non-alcoholic beverages. Also offering live music, arts and crafts vendors, and a big bunch of kid’s activities, this family friendly adventure may be the shining light of your getaway!
Orange Beach Freedom Fest, September, The Wharf in Orange Beach
Summers can get a little toasty, so by September we are all ready to celebrate cooler days and the Orange Beach Freedom Fest is an annual festival that celebrates in all the right ways. Offering two days of exciting activities that includes the ‘Bama Coast Cruisin’ Car Show, a kids’ zone set up next to the Ferris wheel, patriotic booths, live music, arts, crafts, and food vendors; the list of activities to enjoy during this festival seems to get longer every year and you will not see us complaining about that! Also offering a jeep rally, a firearms show and no admission fees (except for the firearms show; they do charge a separate fee) this celebration of freedom and fun is one of our favorite Orange Beach events.
Christmas in Gulf Shores, December, Various Venues
Even though our white Christmas involves white sands instead of snow, Gulf Shores still manages to be the most festive town around, although Orange Beach and Fort Morgan Beach run a close second and third. Featuring everything from a Community Christmas at Simms Park, to a Breakfast with Santa, to a Beautification contest in which the best decorated home wins a prize, your holiday adventures in Gulf Shores will never cease to amaze and it won’t matter that you didn’t plan this out months in advance. Just be aware that Christmas is quite popular here so stores will be crowded and restaurants will offer longer waiting lists.
No Sacrifices with Poole & Associates
Maybe the best part of a last-minute vacation to the Gulf Shores area is the realization that not only will you not have to make sacrifices when choosing your vacation accommodations, when you choose Poole & Associates, you may even receive a great deal on our luxurious and comfortable sanctuaries. Sometimes a rental falls through or in the non-tourist season there can be more open rentals than normal and special deals are offered to encourage choosing us! And because we don’t offer any subpar vacation rentals you will be getting all the same amenities, luxuries, and comforts as you would during nay other time of the year, you will just pay less and we don’t think you will mind!
It’s the Beach Life in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Fort Morgan Beach
Our most beloved tip is the one that encourages travelers to choose one of our beachfront escapes for their last-minute vacation rental. Offering stunning views and a serenity that will permeate every part of your vacation experience, you never have to be far from the turquoise waters of the Gulf and as you post your fave pics on your social media websites throughout your getaway, we can promise you that your friends and family back home are going to be green with envy! Spend every day building sandcastles, walking along shore’s edge at sunrise, or at the very least, at sunset, and just living your beach life—er, we meant BEST life—when you choose Poole & Associates for your last-minute accommodations. Contact us to reserve your favorite Alabama retreat today and fall in love with all this part of the world has to offer, including our comfortable and luxurious vacation sanctuaries!
