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| Some girlfriends and I are planning an August trip to the beach. We will be driving from Louisiana. We have narrowed it down to a general area of Gulf Shores, Pensacola, or Orange Beach. We want to stay somewhere that the beaches are nice and there is plenty to do. I have done research online, but I want those word of mouth tips you can only get from people who have been. Share your experiences and advice with me please :) |
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 Accident Prone
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Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area is awesome. Relatively quiet, family-friendly atmosphere. The last couple of years, we took our horse trailer and camped at Gulf State Park. If you go to that area, be sure to visit my friend Toma at the Flip Flop Deli Shop--it's across the street from The Hangout, just look for the Razorback flag and tell him Vonda sent you. https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=699569383436390 |
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Accident Prone
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Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | Btw, we prefer the condos in the smaller properties over the big flashy ones. |
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| Three 4 Luck - 2015-06-16 11:51 AM Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area is awesome. Relatively quiet, family-friendly atmosphere. The last couple of years, we took our horse trailer and camped at Gulf State Park. If you go to that area, be sure to visit my friend Toma at the Flip Flop Deli Shop--it's across the street from The Hangout, just look for the Razorback flag and tell him Vonda sent you. https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=699569383436390
I will do that!! Thank ya !! :) |
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Location: Deep South | It really depends on what you're looking for. I live/work in Gulf Shores, I love it here. The beaches and condos and restaurants are going to be just as nice and varied as Pensacola. But I will say that when my girl friends and I want to go "out" we drive over to Pensacola and hit the Boardwalk. |
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| BamaCanChaser - 2015-06-16 12:36 PM It really depends on what you're looking for. I live/work in Gulf Shores, I love it here. The beaches and condos and restaurants are going to be just as nice and varied as Pensacola. But I will say that when my girl friends and I want to go "out" we drive over to Pensacola and hit the Boardwalk.
Really!?! I will have to get with you closer to when we go about all the local stuff to do! We are mainly just wanting to relax, get some good eats, and maybe take a boat tour or go whale watching or something. We MAY get spontanious and go out but who knows lol. |
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Location: Never in one place long | No advice but this sounds fun!! Have a good time! :) I'm sure you will make memories wherever you choose. |
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| DLV - 2015-06-16 1:56 PM No advice but this sounds fun!! Have a good time! :) I'm sure you will make memories wherever you choose.
Thank you!! I hope so! I have not been to the beach in years. I wish I could take my horse....imagine the workout in the sand!!! |
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 Hugs to You
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Location: In The Land of Cotton | There are no whales to watch. Maybe dolphins, but no whales. |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
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Location: Kansas | whatever you do.....do not visit a nude beach....I'm still scarred from my experience hahaha |
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Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | We did a shrimp boat tour one year with some dude that I swear had been smoking the wacky weed. It was great tho! We had dolphins playing right next to the boat, caught oysters, crabs and shrimp. Kept some to cook. |
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| hoofs_in_motion - 2015-06-16 2:31 PM whatever you do.....do not visit a nude beach....I'm still scarred from my experience hahaha
LOL Yeh that is def not on my list of "to-do's". |
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| Three 4 Luck - 2015-06-16 2:31 PM We did a shrimp boat tour one year with some dude that I swear had been smoking the wacky weed. It was great tho! We had dolphins playing right next to the boat, caught oysters, crabs and shrimp. Kept some to cook.
That sounds pretty fun!!! Where did you leave from? |
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Location: Deep South | scwebster - 2015-06-16 1:52 PM
BamaCanChaser - 2015-06-16 12:36 PM It really depends on what you're looking for. I live/work in Gulf Shores, I love it here. The beaches and condos and restaurants are going to be just as nice and varied as Pensacola. But I will say that when my girl friends and I want to go "out" we drive over to Pensacola and hit the Boardwalk.
Really!?! I will have to get with you closer to when we go about all the local stuff to do! We are mainly just wanting to relax, get some good eats, and maybe take a boat tour or go whale watching or something. We MAY get spontanious and go out but who knows lol.
Then I think Gulf Shores is a great place to consider! No whales, but we do have dolphin cruises, parasailing, jet ski/kayak/paddle board rentals, zip lining, basically all kinds of activity type things to do. Whatever you decide, you will enjoy, no doubt! |
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| BamaCanChaser - 2015-06-16 3:32 PM scwebster - 2015-06-16 1:52 PM BamaCanChaser - 2015-06-16 12:36 PM It really depends on what you're looking for. I live/work in Gulf Shores, I love it here. The beaches and condos and restaurants are going to be just as nice and varied as Pensacola. But I will say that when my girl friends and I want to go "out" we drive over to Pensacola and hit the Boardwalk. Really!?! I will have to get with you closer to when we go about all the local stuff to do! We are mainly just wanting to relax, get some good eats, and maybe take a boat tour or go whale watching or something. We MAY get spontanious and go out but who knows lol. Then I think Gulf Shores is a great place to consider! No whales, but we do have dolphin cruises, parasailing, jet ski/kayak/paddle board rentals, zip lining, basically all kinds of activity type things to do. Whatever you decide, you will enjoy, no doubt!
Sounds perfect!! Thanks for the information! |
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Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | scwebster - 2015-06-16 2:35 PM Three 4 Luck - 2015-06-16 2:31 PM We did a shrimp boat tour one year with some dude that I swear had been smoking the wacky weed. It was great tho! We had dolphins playing right next to the boat, caught oysters, crabs and shrimp. Kept some to cook. That sounds pretty fun!!! Where did you leave from?
The guy's backyard. LOL His house had a dock on the inter-coastal waterway. |
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Location: Arkansas | Pensacola is nice. Last time my family went, we stayed at Navarre. Not as much to do there but the beaches aren't crowded. You can drive to Pensacola for things to do. I really like the Destin area though
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Location: Tennessee | Orange Beach is fantastic. We love it. Plenty of wonderful places to eat. The beach is great. It's a great little town. If you go try a Cold Mil Fleet dolphin cruise. They are great people and it's a really fun time. Shipp's Harbour Grill has some of the greatest food I've ever eaten. There were dolphins every morning crusiing up and down the shore line as well.
Edited by TNCowgirl_4 2015-06-17 6:51 PM
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| TNCowgirl_4 - 2015-06-17 6:49 PM Orange Beach is fantastic. We love it. Plenty of wonderful places to eat. The beach is great. It's a great little town. If you go try a Cold Mil Fleet dolphin cruise. They are great people and it's a really fun time. Shipp's Harbour Grill has some of the greatest food I've ever eaten. There were dolphins every morning crusiing up and down the shore line as well.
Thank you for the info on the Dolphin cruise! I will def check it out! |
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 I Chore in Chucks
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Location: MD | I have been to Florida at least 20+ times in the last 4 years... I have yet to see one stinking dolphin. We were always right on the beach too, everyone else SWEARS they are there. I'm convinced everyone is lying just to see how gullible I am ;)
ETA: I tried, and clearly failed, to quote 3canstorun. So my comment isn't totally random!
Edited by Crowned Image 2015-06-18 1:16 PM
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| Crowned Image - 2015-06-18 1:15 PM I have been to Florida at least 20+ times in the last 4 years... I have yet to see one stinking dolphin. We were always right on the beach too, everyone else SWEARS they are there. I'm convinced everyone is lying just to see how gullible I am ;) ETA: I tried, and clearly failed, to quote 3canstorun. So my comment isn't totally random!
LOL. I stayed with my family in Navarre in 2003. I saw a dolphins (usually in pairs of two) about 60 feet out. It was neat. That is a lot of times to not see a dolphin. Plain bad luck :( |
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Location: FL | We live in the Gulf Breeze/Navarre area and my husband is from Robertsdale (north of Orange Beach/Gulf Shores) so we are VERY familiar with all of those places. All have their advantages. If you stay in Alabama, make sure you go to the Flora-Bama at least once! Pensacola Beach has got a great boardwalk and most everything on the beach is in reasonable walking distance. Also, some people don't realize that Pensacola and Pensacola Beach are two different places entirely. If you stay on Pensacola Beach, the closest town to you is Gulf Breeze, not Pensacola. Though it is just across the bridge. Navarre is great if you are trying to escape a huge crowd. If you end up there, go to Juana's Pagodas. Also if you stay in Navarre, it puts you right between Destin (awesome shopping and beaches) and Pensacola. And if it's dolphins you want to see, all you have to do is walk to the end of Navarre pier on a busy day. We fish out their regularly and the guys cuss them all day for taking their fish. ;)
I was born and raised here in NW Florida (affectionately known as Lower Alabama), so if you need any help or questions, let me know :) |
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Location: Monticello, AR | I just wish my bestie loved the beach like I do!!! She can't sit still that long, and I can take a good book, a cooler and sit a chair in the edge of the water and stay all day!! And I have been on the dolphin cruise out of orange beach...saw lots of them and had a blast! And the ice cream boat came up and you could buy treats while out watching Dolphins!! |
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Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | upscowpatty - 2015-06-20 8:13 AM I just wish my bestie loved the beach like I do!!! She can't sit still that long, and I can take a good book, a cooler and sit a chair in the edge of the water and stay all day!! And I have been on the dolphin cruise out of orange beach...saw lots of them and had a blast! And the ice cream boat came up and you could buy treats while out watching Dolphins!!
Take me next time. We can put her in charge of entertaining kids, and you and I will sit and relax.  |
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 How freakish is that?
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Location: Oregon | Ice cream boat. Yeah baby. |
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| PENSACOLA! ok, maybe i'm just biased b/c i live here. But, i still think the beach is prettier than Gulf Shores and there are less people and there is plenty to do and a lot of great food. You can do the boardwalk, see Ft. Pickens, there is even a dog beach. The Grand Marlin, Hemingways, Flounders, Peg Leg Pete's and Red Fish Blue Fish are all places i'd recommend. Also, if you are down on a tues or wed, you can head down to Ft. Pickens around 11AM and watch the Blue Angels practice (navy base is just across the sound, and i would double check the schedule but these are normal practice days). not sure what dates you are planning for but in about 3 weeks is the blue angel beach show. I hear the Margaritaville hotel on the beach is fantastic. anyway, so yea, my vote is Pensacola, lol!!
ETA: There are plenty of dolphins around! I see them a lot. Also stingrays and an occasional sea turtle.
Here are a couple shots i've taken. I love living here!!!
dolphins:
Edited by Staying Focused 2015-06-21 5:40 PM
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Location: south | We went to Orange Beach last year and are going back again this year...we loved it! Walked out on a fishing pier and saw several dolphins up close in the middle of the day, took a helicopter tour and saw all kinds of sealife in the water, the beach was great and we found lots of seashells...don't think you can go wrong choosing that area! |
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| rodeogurl12 - 2015-06-21 8:36 PM We went to Orange Beach last year and are going back again this year...we loved it! Walked out on a fishing pier and saw several dolphins up close in the middle of the day, took a helicopter tour and saw all kinds of sealife in the water, the beach was great and we found lots of seashells...don't think you can go wrong choosing that area!
OMG BEAUTIFUL!!!! You are lucky to live there! |
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Beach trip with the girls...suggestions