SoWal vs. Gulf Shores

**austin78735** · 08-04-2009, 09:35 PM

Hi,
We have vacationed in Seagrove for the last 2 years. We love it. Love the beaches, love the walkabillity of the area, lots of good restaurants, lots to see and do....but most importantly we love the beaches! We've never been to Gulf Shores, Al...just wondering how they compare. Wondering if it might be worth a stop there on our way back from SoWal sometime.
Thanks!!

**Beach Runner** · 08-04-2009, 10:28 PM

Oh, Jesus! If you like high-rises, chain restaurants (Hooters-type cuisine), Gulf Shores is for you. Oh, yeah, and crossing a four-lane road if you are not staying at a beachfront rental.

**SWGB** · 08-04-2009, 10:37 PM

No really BR don't sugar coat it.

**Beach Runner** · 08-04-2009, 11:05 PM

We came really close to buying the home of the owner of Pat O'Briens in the Gulf Shores area. We would have had our own boat slip and could take our boat to any restaurant in the area, plus cruising the ICW. That would have been really nice. The problem was that the beach access was across a four-laned highway.

Hubby is from Madison, WI, with all of the beautiful lakes and boating life, so the boating appealed to him. Boating is not convenient in SoWal. But the pros of SoWal (minimal high-rises, no four-lane beachfront roads, no chain restaurants) majorly outweighed the boating life at Gulf Shores/Ono Island/Perdido Key.

We chose to build a home in Seagrove. We love it.

**tistheseason** · 08-04-2009, 11:13 PM

We had a beach front condo in Gulf Shores before moving on up to Sowal. Can't really think of a reason to stop in there. I really enjoyed our time there --mostly because we were right on the water. But I can't imagine stopping in there on your way home from Sowal.

**beachmouse** · 08-04-2009, 11:42 PM

My impression of it is that it's a cleaned up version of Panama City Beach.

**Miss Kitty** · 08-05-2009, 03:17 AM

Originally Posted by tistheseason

We had a beach front condo in Gulf Shores before moving on up to Sowal. Can't really think of a reason to stop in there. I really enjoyed our time there --mostly because we were right on the water. But I can't imagine stopping in there on your way home from Sowal.

I can think of ONE reason to stop on your way back to Texas...reentry is a biatch and seeing Gulf Shores might help with the recovery from sowalitis.

**jensieblue** · 08-05-2009, 07:26 AM

I have no vested interest in this discussion but do have observations. I am an Alabamian and have family living in Fairhope. Have been vacationing for beach trips in the 30A area for going on 30 years. And. apologizing in advance for any who take offense, definitely, definetly go to 30 A. Gulf Shores is the equivalent of Talladega with sand, sand you can see far, far in the distance. The sand is not the soft, pristine sand of 30 A. It is full of the trash that has been coughed out of Mobile Bay. For that matter so is the surf. Mobile Bay is lovely from a distance, but is full of things one wouldn't want to swim in. When I want to vist the Mobile bay are, I love the Marriot Grand. It is historic, great for the kids in our family and those who love golf and they have or used to have lots of staff to clean the grounds to immaculate condition.

**austin78735** · 08-05-2009, 04:11 PM

Welll, alrighty then. I have my answer. That's what I was looking for....thank you!

**CarolWeaver** · 08-05-2009, 06:10 PM

I've had the good fortune to spend time in many areas from Rosemary Beach to Pensacola to Gulf Shores, Mobile and on to Biloxi and over to New Orleans. Each one has great things to offer. The fun comes in discovering as much as you can and experiencing different things along the way.

We recently stopped in Gulf Shores and walked out on the new pier at the state park. It is truly amazing. Then we stopped at the zoo there because they were doing special visits with the baby animals. It isn't a big zoo, but it is very nice.

So, I hope that you will consider stopping at as many places as you can along the Gulf Coast.

**SWGB** · 08-05-2009, 11:48 PM

We have a zoo, it's called Red Bar.

DD · 08-05-2009, 11:51 PM

Originally Posted by Miss Kitty

I can think of ONE reason to stop on your way back to Texas...reentry is a biatch and seeing Gulf Shores might help with the recovery from sowalitis.

ns

Originally Posted by SWGB

We have a zoo, it's called Red Bar.

They'll be getting some new animals next week.

**Smiling JOe** · 08-06-2009, 08:36 AM

Let's not forget that in SoWal, if you wake up early on a Sunday morning and realize that you are out of tequila for your margaritas or vodka for Bloody Marys, you can go to the liquor store and buy more. In you are in Gulf Shores, you are out of luck.

**inside635** · 08-06-2009, 08:46 AM

Liquor Stores open on Sunday???? Well, I learned something new! It NEVER occurred to me that liquor store were open on Sundays. Really? Are you pulling my leg? In Texas you have to plan ahead in the liquor area since Sunday is a no-no day.

**Smiling JOe** · 08-06-2009, 08:50 AM

yep, around 8 am, I think, and you can buy wine and beer in the grocery store anytime they are open 7 days a week.

**Andy A** · 08-06-2009, 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by Smiling JOe

yep, around 8 am, I think, and you can buy wine and beer in the grocery store anytime they are open 7 days a week.

I believe you have to wait until noon in Oskaloosa County on Sunday.

**SWGB** · 08-06-2009, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by Smiling JOe

yep, around 8 am, I think, and you can buy wine and beer in the grocery store anytime they are open 7 days a week.

Can't buy beer or wine after 2 AM at the Tom Thumb.

DD · 08-06-2009, 10:48 PM

Originally Posted by Smiling JOe

Let's not forget that in SoWal, if you wake up early on a Sunday morning and realize that you are out of tequila for your margaritas or vodka for Bloody Marys, you can go to the liquor store and buy more. In you are in Gulf Shores, you are out of luck.