Warm up this New Year’s with a vacation to a beach locale full of warmth, fun, sun, sand, and water. Make your New Year’s trip memorable with a trip to the beach and crashing waves of the Gulf of Mexico along the Alabama coast. Choose Gulf Shores as your ultimate destination and start planning all the New Year’s fun. There are plenty of things to see and do while you’re here, indoors and out. First, you’ll want to make sure to book a private vacation rental with Poole & Associates so you can enjoy time with loved ones in private. If you can’t stand a moment away from your furriest family members, ask about pet-friendly rentals to celebrate New Year’s in Gulf Shores with the whole family.
Lulu’s Noon Year’s Eve
Families with young children can ring in the new year, too. The family-friendly party includes crafts, a sandcastle building contest, “kid safe fireworks” – bubble wrap, face-painting, inflatable slide, and more. At this party though, when the clock strikes noon, the beach balls drop instead of the Times Square ball. Hundreds of colorful beach balls drop from above and cover the sand of the beachside restaurant in celebration of the new year!
Reelin’ in the New Year
Head to Fisherman’s Wharf for a New Year’s celebration like no other. Enjoy live music, a rock-climbing wall, camel rides, and much more. Stay until midnight for the New Year countdown and celebration, including a firework display, confetti drop, light show, and one-of-a-kind “marlin drop.” The fun kicks off at 5 p.m. on December 31, 2023 on Main street.
Flora-Bama’s Polar Bear Dip
Plunge into 2024! Take a dip in the Gulf of Mexico at Flora-Bama. Starting at noon, thousands of swimsuit-, wetsuit-, and costume-clad swimmers will run into the water with a splash. For those daring enough to fully submerge, you’ll get free beer and lunch at Flora-Bama!
Ice Skating at the Wharf
Now through January 15, 2024, you can try your hand at ice skating. The rink and all its wintertime and New Year’s fun is presented by Pepsi Co. Look for the large white tent near the Main Street entrance. Visit their website and check the event calendar for specific times. The rink is closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. General admission is $15 and includes skate rental. Cash and all major credit cards are accepted.
Spa Day
New year, new you! There are several spas in Gulf Shores and the surrounding area that are ready to pamper everyone in the group from head to toe. Choose from a menu of massages, facials, manicures, pedicures, body treatments, and more. Some spas even customize services, with special treatments that cater to men’s specific needs.
Fort Morgan Road Trail
The 5.6-mile asphalt trail is a great way to go sightseeing and get your steps in at the same time. The trail starts just outside the western border of Gulf State Park and stretches west through Gulf Shores, running parallel to Fort Morgan Road/Highway 180, through tree-lined areas and neighborhoods, and finally ending at the Peninsula Golf Club. The trail is mostly flat and is an easy hike or bike for most people. However, the eastern end has only a few gentle climbs, and you can add some more difficulty on that end and continue on through Gulf State Park’s Hugh Branyon Backcountry Trails.
Gulf Shores Museum
Take a trip through years past this New Year’s. Stop into the unique museum of Gulf Shores’ history starts with its unique location. The museum is located in a house that once stood as the beach house of Valerie Cole’s family from Mobile, and dates back to before World War II. The family donated the structure, originally located in West Beach. The house was moved to its current home after Hurricane Frederic in 1979. Wander through an array of permanent and temporary exhibits telling the story of local history. It also offers various programs and activities for all ages and many interests.
Celebrate New Year’s 2024 in Gulf Shores
When you and your loved ones book a New Year’s getaway to Gulf Shores with Poole & Associates, you won’t be short on year-round and New Year’s activities to fill your time. Enjoy the beach, lounge around your rental, or enjoy the myriad of other activities available to build a Gulf Shores vacation that is uniquely yours. We have everything from one-bedroom units for a solo or sweetheart trip, all the way up to four-bedroom homes that include everyone this New Year’s.
Savor the taste 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 and 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 in the living or entertainment space.
