Moving to Gulf Shores?

Has moving to Gulf Shores just become an option?  If so, you’re about to make a great decision and you’re not alone.  Our beaches attract literally millions of visitors all year long and after making so many trips here to Pleasure Island, there are many who decide to make Gulf Shores their permanent home.  What an exciting time for you!  The people are friendly, the beaches are beautiful, and the food is fantastic.

Although the thought of moving can be exciting, it can also be pretty overwhelming as well.  That’s exactly why The Ultimate Guide to Life in Gulf Shores was created.  As a Realtor for 13 years, I work with people all the time who move to Gulf Shores from other states.  Yes, they know enough about the area to want to come but they often have many unanswered questions about their potential new address.  I wanted to create a huge resource for people like you to help you transition from one area to the next.

So, if you are moving here yourself or know someone who is, please read this article and bookmark it.  This guide is fairly large and is broken up into 11 major categories that will tell you more about our beautiful city.

Here’s What You’ll Find Below:

• Facts and Figures
• Beautiful Surroundings
• Strong Economy and Jobs
• Thriving Community
• Outdoor Activities
• Easy Commute
• Restaurants and Entertainment
• Weather and Climate
• Public Safety
• Schools and Programs
• Real Estate
• Final Thoughts

The Ultimate Guide to Life in Gulf Shores

Gulf Shores is a highly popular destination with people from all over the country and there is a ton of information about our city all over the interenet.  Here, however, you can find what you need all in one place.  I hope you find value from the information below to help make your move a smooth one.  So let’s get started…..

Although reading about the facts and figures of a city can be boring, Gulf Shores is a very interesting town.

• Population: 11,689
• Total Area: 31.26 square miles (4.85 square miles is water)
• Median Home Price: $258,022  
• Median Household Income: $50,418
• Sales Tax: 10%
• State Income Tax: 5%
• Median Age: 47
• Average Commute Time: 20.04 minutes

It’s interesting to me that Gulf Shores is so popular with folks from around the country but the residential population is only 11,689 (the 4th largest in Baldwin County).  We are, however, seeing a steady stream of folks wanting to live here at the beach with a growth rate of 20% since 2010.

From the most recent population estimate, Gulf Shores is the 5th fastest growing city in Alabama.  The allure is real.  People are mainly drawn to Gulf Shores for the weather, the sugar white sand, and the turquoise waters but once they move here, they quickly find out that the city strives to strike a balance of work, play, and quality of life.

As you can see, the majority of Gulf Shores is a long, narrow peninsula with Foley AL to the north and Orange Beach to the east.  The distance from downtown Gulf Shores to the tip of the peninsula (Fort Morgan) is roughly 22 miles.  Gulf Shores is a boater’s paradise for fishing, watersports, or just cruising. 

Here Are the Other Bodies of Water Around Gulf Shores Besides the Gulf of Mexico:

• Intracoastal Waterway
• Little Lagoon – 8 miles long and 3/4 of a mile wide at widest point.
• Lake Shelby – 592 acres
• Middle Lake – 193 acres
• Little Lake – 39 acres
• Oyster Bay
• Bon Secour Bay
• Bon Secour River

Interesting Facts and Accolades:

• The recorded population of Gulf Shores in 1956 was 120.
• At 1,540 feet, The Gulf State Park Pier is the second longest on the Gulf Coast.
• There are 24 miles of trails for hiking and biking within 3 major parks in Gulf Shores.
• USA Today – 10 Best Southern Beaches
• TripAdvisor – Top 10 List of Destinations on the Rise
• National Geographic – 7 Great American Beach Towns
• The Travel Channel – Best Gulf Coast Beaches
• CNN – named Gulf State Park among 22 Can’t Miss US Beaches
• MSN – Best Beaches to Visit Before Summer Ends
• Travel + Leisure – America’s Best Little Beach Towns
• TravelNerd – Top 10 Small US Beach Towns
• SmarterTravel.com – 10 Sleepy Beach Towns Perfect for Fall
• Coastal Living – America’s 21 Best Beaches
• Parents – America’s 10 Best Beach Towns
• Budget Travel – America’s Coolest Small Towns
• AOL – 20 Most Charming Beach Towns

Reviews from Niche.com

After moving to Gulf Shores you’ll find that this town is one of the most beautiful areas in the country.  The white, sugar-fine beaches, gorgeous turquoise waters of the Gulf, sunsets over the bay, and quiet tree-lined biking trails provide the perfect backdrop for peace and serenity.  

Witness beautiful sunrises…..

and sunsets.

Our sand is so white that it looks like snow.  It’s also super-fine to the touch.  This sand is actually quartz that has filtered down from the Appalacian Mountains thousands of years ago.

In addition to the Gulf, the many other bays, lakes, and lagoon offer up picture perfect moments.

As with Orange Beach, the Gulf Shores economy is largely fueled by the vast tourism market.  Last year, there were approximately 6 million visitors spending over $3 billion dollars on the Alabama Gulf Coast.  Needless to say, that is a ton of money that is being poured into a fairly small area.

The unemployment rate for Gulf Shores is 5.2% with a positive job growth of 1.78%.

Employment By Industry

Jobs

According to Glassdoor.com, there are 882 jobs within 15 miles of Gulf Shores.  

The top 5 positions that are being hired in Gulf Shores are:

• HVAC technician
• Graphic Designer
• Registered Nurse
• Dental Hygenist
• Radiology

What is a thriving community?  I see it as community that maintains a healthy balance between population growth, new business to support that growth, and quality of life.  Gulf Shores meets that definition.  This is definitely a family friendly community whose government works hard to enhance and protect the quality of life for its residents and guests, while encouraging economic prosperity in a business friendly atmosphere. 

A community that is growing is always evolving.  One of the latest ways that Gulf Shores is improving to make the city better for residents and guests is the Revitalization Project. 

Gulf Place Revitalization Project

Located near the “T” where Route 59 comes to an end at Beach Blvd will be a $15 million project called Gulf Place.  The goal is to improve pedestrian safety and beach access while revitalizing and managing economic development. 

Here’s what you can expect to see at Gulf Place:

• New boardwalk
• Outdoor fitness area
• Large shade canopy
• Restrooms with lockers/beach showers
• Amphitheater
• Green space
• Discovery playground
• Dune walks
• Public Safety Building
• Hammocks & swings
• Paved promenade
• Interactive fountain

Waterway Village Multimodul Access Project

The Waterway Village Project is another example of how Gulf Shores is working to improve the city’s economic development and quality of life.  The goal of this project is to improve traffic and pedestrian safety while promoting a more sustainable community.

The major aspects of the project mainly have to do with the transportation infrastrucure at Waterway Village and across the Intracoastal Waterway.  Here’s what it will involve:

• 3 miles of complete roads with bicycle lanes and sidewalks
• 1.5 miles of road to access the business and aviation park
• 2,000 feet of pedestrian bridge next to the bridge going over the ICW
• Road widening on Hwy 59
• 3 miles of sidewalks within the Waterway Village
• Pedestrian and bike access throughout the village and across the ICW.
• Provide access for pedestrians, bicycles, and vehicles from Hwy 59 to the airport, Gulf Shores Business and Aviation Park, Country Road 4, and the Foley Beach Expressway.

Green Up Gulf Shores

Protecting the natural resources of an area is a crucial element in maintaining a thriving community.  After moving to Gulf Shores, you’ll find that there are a number of ways to get involved.  In efforts to provide a clean and healthy environment, Gulf Shores is leading the way to create, promote, and enhance initiatives to reduce waste, raise environmental awareness, reduce waste, increase livability, and improve the overall sustainablilty of the community.

Quote from the Green Up Gulf Shores initiative:

“We protect and enhance the quality of life for our residents, visitors, and retirees.

We protect and preserve our unique natural resources.

We embed sustainability into the fabric of the community.”

Leave Only Footprints

In order to help the city reach its goal in maintaining a clean and healthy environment, they have established the Leave Only Footprints program.  These are the main focal points:

• Anything left on the beach an hour after sunset will be removed by beach patrol.
• Items not allowed on the beach: metal shovels, glass containers, tents or structures larger than 10′x10′.  No overnight camping, fireworks, fires, vehicles, pets, or firearms.
• No walking on the dunes.  Use designated walkovers or boardwalks.
• Obey the Beach Warning Flag System.
• Respect private property of others.

Gulf Shores is the perfect blend of natural beauty and man-made fun.

Gulf State Park

Besides the beach, Gulf State Park is probably the biggest staple and landmark for the area.  Within the park’s 6,500 acres, you’ll find many ways to become one with nature whether you’re into biking, hiking, camping, or checking out the area’s wildlife. 

Here’s what Gulf State Park has to offer:

• A 1,540 foot fishing pier – Second longest on the Gulf Coast
• An interactive nature center
• 2 1/2 miles of beach on the Gulf
• A large beach pavilion
• 5,000 square foot swimming pool with splash pad
• Guide kayaking and nature walks
• 20 modern cabins
• 11 lakeside cottages
• 496 full hook-up campsites
• 11 primitive camping sites
• 11 air conditioned bath houses
• Laundry facilities
• A campstore
• Tennis and Pickle Ball Courts
• Horse shoe pits
• Volleyball courts
• Golf course and grill
• Backcountry Trail with 25 miles for hiking and biking
• kayak and paddleboard rentals
• Geocaching
• Segway Tours
• Bike rentals

Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge

Visit this massive 7,157 acre wildlife refuge located off of Fort Morgan Rd, directly on the Gulf Shores coastline.  Bon Secour means “safe harbor” which totally emcompasses the mission of the park, to give refuge to the wildlife of lower Alambama.  It also provides a great venue for the public to be able to observe this wildlife and their habitat.  Here are some of the activities that you can take part in at the refuge:

• Nature Hikes
• Wildlife viewing including alligators, snakes, bobcats, foxes, and a variety of birds.
• Bird watching – Over 370 species have been documented.
• Many different programs throughout the year that include night hikes, ranger guided tours, dune tours, and butterfly tagging.
• Photography opportunities
• Fishing at either the beach or the 40 acre Gator Lake which requires a 1 mile hike.

Other Gulf Shores Parks

Canal Landing

Located under the Intracoastal Waterway in Waterway Village and features public parking, boat launch, dock, and restrooms.  50 W Canal Rd.

Gulf Shores Dog Park

Features a large fenced in areas for large and small dogs.  Water is provided for dogs.  Open every day of the week from dusk til dawn.  308 Clubhouse Drive.

Gulf Shores Kids Park

This wonderful park was built by over 1,500 volunteers and open 7 days a week from dusk til dawn.  2008 West 3rd St.

Gulf Shores Wetlands Nature Park

This park has a gravel walking path that loops around a pond and contains a fishing pier, gazebos, and benches.   19025 Oak Rd W (at the base of the water tower at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex)

Meyer Park

A 12 acre park that includes playground equipment, picnic areas, a baseball field, and horseshoe pits.  400 E 22nd Ave.

Lagoon Park

This is a great spot that includes boat ramps and restrooms.  This also is an ideal starting location for runners and cyclists.  18068 Fort Morgan Rd.

Little Lagoon Pass Park

Beach access, outdoor showers, and public parking.  1660 W Beach Blvd.

Little Lagoon Pier

1562 W Beach Blvd

Sims Park with Skate Park

The largest city park that includes a pavilion, soccer fields, fitness center, baseball fields, and skate park.  348 W 19th Ave.

The Dog Pond

This dog park is located at Lake Shelby and includes fencing, trees, waste bag stations, and an agility course.  Please be aware that an occassional alligator can be seen in Lake Shelby.  20115 Hwy 135.

Wade Ward Nature Park

Scenic boardwalk that connects Lake Shelby to Little Lagoon where you can observe an abundance of the areas wildlife.  500 Gulf Shores Pkwy.

Gulf Shores Golf

Cotton Creek at Craft Farms

3840 Cotton Creek Circle
Gulf Shores, AL 36542
251-968-7500
Website

One of 2 premium golf courses located at Craft Farms.  Cotton Creek is an 18 hole championship, Par 72 course.  Cotton Creek is a 4 Star course that is consistently rated by Golf Digest as one of the Best Places to Play.  Gold Tees – 7,127 yards, Blue Tees – 6,617 yards, White Tees – 6,080 yards, Silver Tees – 5,438 yards, Red Tees – 5,160 yards.

Cypress Bend at Craft Farms

3840 Cotton Creek Circle
Gulf Shores, AL 36542
251-968-7500
Website

Both Cotton Creek and Cypress Bend were designed by pro golfing legend Arnold Palmer.  Cypress Bend is an 18 hole championship, Par 72 course with a 4 1/2 star rating from Golf Digest.  Gold Tees – 6,848 yards, Blue Tees – 6,432 yards, White Tees – 5,975 yards, Silver Tees – 5,458 yards, Red Tees – 5,027 yards.

Gulf Shores Golf Club

520 Clubhouse Drive
Gulf Shores, AL 36542
251-968-7366
Website

This 18 hole resort course is located in a quiet community within a couple of miles from the beach.  Blue Tees – 6,365 yards, White Tees – 5,950 yards, Red Tees – 5,362 yards.

Gulf State Park Golf’s Refuge Golf Course

20115 Hwy 135
Gulf Shores, AL 36542
251-948-4653
Website

An 18 hole championship course designed by Earl Stone.  Blue Tees – 6,563 yards, White Tees – 6,171 yards, and Red Tees – 5,310 yards.

Kiva Dunes Golf Club

815 Plantation Drive
Gulf Shores AL 36542
251-540-7000
Website

One of the most highly rated courses in the area.  Gold Tees – 7,092 yards, Blue Tees – 6,464 yards, White Tees – 5,849 yards, and Red Tees – 5,006 yards.

Peninsula Golf and Racquet Club

20 Peninsula Blvd
Gulf Shores, AL 36542
251-968-8009
Website

A beautiful course featuring 27 holes of championship golf.  Gold Tees – 7,026 yards, Blue Tees – 6,494 yards, White Tees – 5,799 yards, and Red Tees – 5,072 yards.

Watersports/Boat Tours/Fishing Charters

There are many companies that offer watersport activities in Orange Beach but this list only features those in Gulf Shores.  So if you’re moving to Gulf Shores and try your hand at paddleboarding, kayaking, or jet skiing, take a look at the list below.

• Coyote Beach Sports
  112 E. 1st Ave
  251-228-2080
• Ike’s Beach Service
  800 W Beach Blvd
  251-948-3757
• Go Go Kayaks
  921 Gulf Shores Pkwy
  251-752-5500
• Sky High and Pleasure Island Parasail
  251-946-9000
• Wild Native Tours
  251-272-4088
• Island Life Beach Rentals and Charters
  251-233-9493
• Nicole Fishing Charters
  251-947-1991
• Island Marine Charters
• 251-228-2344
• Red Eye Fishing Charters
  251-540-6982
• Reel Attraction Charters
  251-422-8665
• Fish-Kabob Bowfishing and Charters
  251-504-4709
• Fed Up Inshore Charters
  251-377-7135
• Gulf Adventures Fishing
  251-978-9711
• Nelson Fishing Charters
  251-721-9016

Unless you’re driving from the southern most part of the Florida panhandle, there’s only one way to get to Gulf Shores and that’s via Route 59 (Gulf Shores Pkwy).

In general commute times in Gulf Shores are fairly low but as you can imagine during the peak season, traffic will be congested during certain times of the week.  The times with the biggest congestion is during big festival events like The Hangout Music Festival, July 4th weekend, and Saturdays between noon and 4pm (the typical turnaround time for tourists).  Most locals learn to work around these high traffic times so it doesn’t become an issue.  

Although it’s busy the rest of the year, traffic is not so overwhelmingly frustrating. 

Take a look at the most common destinations from The Hangout in Gulf Shores as a starting point:

• Rouses Grocery – 1.2 miles
• Walmart – 1.5 miles
• Gulf State Park – 1 mile
• Target – 4 miles
• Foley – 11 miles
• OWA Theme Park – 10.7 miles
• Tanger Outlet Mall – 9.1 miles
• The Wharf – 6.3 miles
• Orange Beach – 6.3 miles
• Flora-Bama (at the Florida state line) – 10.6 miles
• Downtown Pensacola – 32.1 miles
• Downtown Fairhope – 31.6 miles
• Interstate 10 – 29.4 miles

American

Seafood

Italian

Mexican

Asian

Greek/Cajun/Creole

Dessert/Coffee

Fast Food

Things to Do

In addition to all of the Outdoor Activities above, there are lots of things to keep you busy inside the city limits of Gulf Shores.

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

Yes, Gulf Shores has a zoo and a lot of people miss it because it’s a little hidden (in plain site).  Located off of Gulf Shores Pkwy and 1 mile from the beach is a really cool zoo that is packed with activities for the kids.  Check out their site.

Waterville USA

What’s a beach resort without a great water park?  Waterville USA is actually an amusement park too with go-carts and a roller coaster.

The Track

Located just north of the Intracoastal Waterway Bridge, The Track is hard to miss.  Here you’ll enjoy go-karts, kiddie rides, bumber rides, putt putt, and an arcade.

The Factory

Get your bounce on at this huge trampoline center.  Features include open jump, trapeze, mega slide, ninja obstacle course, foam pits, adrenaline jump, Xtreme Jump, flight simulator, and arcade games.  Fun for all ages.  18948 Oak Rd W.

Pirate’s Island Adventure Golf

Challenge your friends and family to putt putt golf just a few miles from the beach on Hwy 59.  Fun for the whole family!

Zooland Mini Golf

Quirky putt putt just minutes from the beach.  1204 Gulf Shores Pkwy

Gulf Coast Escape Room

This is the same concept of Break Out.  You’re put into a selected themed room and you have to escape by cracking codes.  701 Gulf Shores Pkwy

Gulf Shores Museum

This museum is small but packed with information about the history of this great city.

Cobb Theatres

See the latest flick at the Pinnacle 14.  3780 Gulf Shores Pkwy

In the deep south, you’re going to have hot and muggy summers but how nice is it to be on the beach?  Here are the average temperatures throughout the year in Gulf Shores.

The “hot season” lasts from May 27th through September 26th with a daily average high temperature of 84 degrees.  The hottest day of the year is July 23 with 89 degrees.

Most of the year is quite pleasant which attracts many of the buyers moving to Gulf Shores. 

While rain falls throughout the year in Gulf Shores, the bulk of the rainfall happens during the 30 day period centered around July 31st.

The Gulf Shores Police Department is committed to treating its residents like gold and creating the safest place to live on the Alabama coast.

All areas have some degree of crime (which i loathe) but most of the crime that happens in Gulf Shores has to do with property.  As you’ve read so far, tourists are a big factor when it comes to our economy but guess what?  We have laws too and if you break them, the GSPD will bust you. 

Gulf Shores Police Department
220 Clubhouse Drive
251-968-2431

We obviously love the millions of tourists who come to Gulf Shores year after year but you have to have some rules.  Mostly, rules are in place for your own safety, like those for the Gulf…..

Below you’ll find our beach flag warning system.  This is no joke folks, head the warning.

Gulf Shores public schools are fine which is proven by its test scores below…

With the exception of the primary elementary school in Orange Beach, all students on the coast participate in the Gulf Shores school system (Orange Beach is in the process of building a new middle school).  

Most of the people who move here to Gulf Shores are retired but if you do have kids in school, you can rest assure that your kids are in a great school district.

I’ve been a Realtor for 13 years and this page was created for you.  I’ve moved across town and across country so I know what it’s like to feel the trepidation of moving to a different area.  I don’t mind saying that I am an expert in real estate.  I’ve passed the exam in 3 different states (on the first try) and I’ve never had a complaint with any Real Estate Commission in 13 years.  

If you are buying a new home or condo in Gulf Shores or you need to sell, I can help you.  I know what I’m doing and I can help you to either save the most money when buying a home or make the most money when selling. 

This site is the biggest real estate website in the lower Alabama.  Along with nearly 1,000 pages of content, here’s what you’ll find in regard to real estate in Gulf Shores:

• A list of