Gulf State Park
Gulf State Park, seven miles away in neighboring Gulf Shores, is a great place to enjoy all nature has to offer. Part of the park includes two miles of beachfront property on the Gulf of Mexico. There are more than 6,000 acres of park lands for you to enjoy. You can camp out, rent a cabin or cottage, or just drop by for a few hours. While in Gulf State Park you will have opportunities to swim or fish in the Gulf or one of three freshwater lakes in the park. Getting close to nature will be easy when you venture down one of the park's 10 trails and see beautiful plants and wildlife like rabbits, turtles, birds and deer.
Gulf State Park
20115 State Hwy. 135
Gulf Shores, AL 36542
(251) 948-7275
alapark.com
Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge
Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, nine miles away in Gulf Shores, is a 7,000 acre wildlife habitat which includes sand dunes, marshes, swamps and scrub forest. More than 370 species of migratory birds, including osprey and heron, call the refuge home. So does the endangered Alabama beach mouse and nesting sea turtles. If you are among the more than 100,000 visitors to the refuge each year you will also see armadillos, coyotes and red foxes. You can see what the refuge encompasses when you walk or hike one of its nature trails.
Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge
12295 State Highway 180
Gulf Shores, AL 36542
(251) 540-7720
fws.gov/bonsecour
Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo
Just a short 7 mile drive into Gulf Shores will take you to the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. With just 17 acres of developed property, the zoo is small, but visitors will find it gives them an opportunity to get closer to the nearly 300 animals living there. You will see all your favorites, from lions and tigers and bears, to a variety of snakes in the reptile house. There is a petting zoo and in the summer you can catch animal performance shows.
Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo
1204 Gulf Shores Parkway
Gulf Shores, AL 36542
(251) 968-5731
alabamagulfcoastzoo.org
