Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are more than Alabama’s beaches. They’re 32 miles of sugar sand beaches on the warm and gentle Gulf of Mexico. In our opinion, what separates them from other Gulf Coast destinations is Gulf State Park, which sits between the towns of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.
If you’re looking for a hotel in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, may we suggest the beautiful and innovative Lodge at Gulf State Park? They claim to be “A Unique Destination On The Alabama Gulf Coast Where Nature Is At Your Doorstep,” and we would agree, but we also think they’re so much more. Read on to hear our ten reasons to stay at The Lodge at Gulf State Park.
You’re Inside Gulf State Park
Harold Samuel said the three most important things in real estate are location, location, and location. The Lodge at Gulf State Park has all of these in spades because they are located inside Gulf State Park, but what does that mean to you?
The first location would be access to the park’s interior via a pedestrian bridge over Beach Blvd. You can ride your bike over the bridge to access Gulf State Park’s 28 miles of biking trails . Didn’t bring a bike? No worries. Just pick one from the free bike share kiosk in front of The Lodge once you download the app. If you want to do more than riding, you can even rent a kayak just across the bridge and paddle Lake Shelby.
The second location is your access to the Gulf State Park Fishing Pier, which used to be the largest fishing pier on the Gulf Coast. You can try your luck with a variety of fish that include Sheepshead, Red Drum, Spanish Mackerel, Flounder, Florida Pompano, King Mackerel, Whiting, and more! Or, you can be a sightseer and enjoy the live music and stunning sunsets.
The third location is the incomparable access to the Gulf State Park Beaches. The beach is just outside your door, and it doesn’t take too many footsteps in the sand to find a secluded section of surf where you can let your mind wander, and your troubles wash away.
It’s A True Beachside Resort
It takes more than sand and water to make a beachside resort, and the Lodge delivers. On the beach, you’ll find lifeguard towers, sand volleyball, and a wide range of beach rentals, including umbrellas. At the Lodge, there’s an outside pool, snack bar, corn hole, and convenient showers to keep the salt and sand from getting out of hand.
With all of these amenities, you don’t have to plan your beach day around the squeakiest wheel. There’s something for everyone and ways to throttle your activities up or down, depending on the mood.
Nature Programs
Gulf State Park offers weekly programs for children and adults to learn about Alabama’s Gulf Coast. Their programs include guided nature walks, beach walks, pier walks, and nature time, with many activities starting adjacent to the Lodge.
Gulf State Park is a living museum of native plants and animals with every major coastal ecosystem represented. It’s a one-stop eco-tour with trained park naturalists and interpretive trails.
Rooms with a View
Escaping into nature is one thing. Being able to enjoy it from the comfort of your private balcony is something else. The Lodge’s website states – Each of the 350 non-smoking Guest Rooms, including 20 suites, weave comfort and sustainability with a contemporary flair. All rooms and suites bring the outdoors in by providing guests views of either The Gulf of Mexico or Lake Shelby/Gulf State Park. Most rooms have balconies and all rooms have a window that opens slightly to allow the gulf breezes into the room.
For us, that meant that we could wake up and check the sunrise to help us decide if we should sleep in or head down to the beach. Some mornings, we just opened the curtains and enjoyed the show while snuggling in bed. Even if we were enjoying the air conditioning, we could get our dose of Vitamin Sea by looking out the window.
Sunrise, Sunset
Sunrise, sunset, swiftly flow the days… but for us, these are the most magical times of our beach vacation. And since The Lodge at Gulf State Park is right on the beach, we could make the most of these golden hours. Jenn loves sleeping in, and I’m a straight-out-of-bed kind of guy. Some mornings she set me free to go adventuring. Others, I stayed in with her. But the times I liked the best were when we could go out and explore the empty beaches together.
Sunsets were always together time because the Lodge creates so many little sitting areas to enjoy nature’s finest show. Of course there’s the beach and pool, but there are other places you can grab a bite to eat and watch the sun go down. We loved getting an Irish coffee from the Roasted Oak cafe and sitting in the comfortable chairs outside the lobby. We also loved ordering a cocktail to drink on the Perch Patio or Foodcraft deck. Pro-tip, if you want a frozen concoction to help you hang on
