Mary and I have been in the Gulf Shores general area now for almost 6 weeks, so I thought I make a few comments about things to do in the area. I know quite a few of you are likely familiar with the area, so you can add additonal comments or just ignore. I don’t profess to be any expert, just relating our experiences.
In no particular order:
FYI, I am assuming most folks know about Battleship Park in Mobile and the Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola.
You can find out about the Blue Angles practice schedule here.
So;
Pirates Cove:
Great place for a pizza or cheeseburger. Right on the water (Wolf Bay). Boats can beach or moor up right at the place. Go across the intercoastal waterway bridge and up to county 20. See web site for further info. Oh, live music starting midafternoon on weekends. If you don’t like dogs, don’t go. They are everywhere, people bring them and they just run free. Very entertaining place. Link below:
Abandon Hope all Ye who enter
Cohiba Dunes Wine and cigar bar.
Located up 59 in the same shopping center as Target. Monday and Thursdays are $2.00 wine nights. All night, not 4 to 6 or some such time. Seems to include some premium tap beer as well. Beautiful surroundings, very nice seating, live music. Yes, smoking is allowed, but their extraction system is state of the art and smoke is barely noticeable. Oh, a walk in humidor to select your cigar, and a good selection of scotch as well as most all other libations. No food, none, nada, zero, not even a bag of chips. So factor that in if you are thinking about going. Amazingly reasonable on those two nights. Highly recommended.
Some shrimp on the barbie? Try Blaylock Seafood.
Not a restaurant, just fresh seafood, wine, oils etc. Was recommended to us by a local and it lives up to what we were told. Left side of 59 just before the Intercoastal waterway bridge if heading north. There are lots of seafood places around, can’t say about any others, other than as noted below. Nice selection of wines, very different than whats at the local Walmart.
Joe Patti’s
Another option for a seafood market is Joe Patti’s in Pensacola. It’s huge and must have everything known to man – seafood & fishwise. A bit of a drive, but not really all that far. Take 182 (Perdido Key Road) all the way and see the entire waterfront area at the same time. Nice drive.
http://joepattis.com/
How about a beautiful Drive?
Here’s one: Take 59 north to 98, go left on 98 until it splits into 98 and scenic 98. Just follow it down to Mobile Bay. It winds its way up along the Bay until Fairhope, maybe further; we didn’t go beyond that point. There is a nice place to stop called Punta Clara Kitchen (lunch and pecan treats) in Point Clear and a Marriot Grand Hotel and Golf Resort right on the water that’s worth a walk around.
If you go off to Visit the Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, a good stop after for lunch or dinner is McGuire’s Irish Pub in Pensacola. Basically right downtown. They also have have an location in Destin in case you to want a longer drive.
Web site:
http://www.mcguiresirishpub.com/
There is always the outlet mall on 59 North. The only thing of interest to me was what appeared to be a Home Depot tool store. Not called that, but only had brands they sell. Power tools, outdoors stuff. Your mileage will vary.
Tin Top Restaurant and Oyster Bar.
Wonderful spot for a dinner, or what we do is just go and sit at the bar and eat our fill of fresh oysters. Tends to be busy for dinner seating in the restaurant, so don’t be in a hurry. To the left off 59 on CR 10. In Bon Secour.
www.tintoprestaurant.com
Lulu’s.
Apparently this place is owned by Jimmy Buffet’s sister. Have not been there yet, but it always appears packed on weekends anyway. On your right on the intercoastal as you go over the hwy 59 bridge north bound. Look down and there it is. We plan on checking it out this weekend.
http://lulusathomeport.com/index-live.php
Camping goodies.
A bit further up 59 on the right side is a Coleman Outlet store. All the stuff they are known for including their grills, lanterns and accessories for them.
There is a Camping World up 59 maybe 12-14 miles or so if you need anything. Seems to be about the only option in the area other than wally world. Opps, there is a Tiffin dealer in Pensacola we visited last year that had a good selection of accessories etc. About a 28 mile drive from Gulf Shores.
Carpenter’s Campers
8450 Pensacola Blvd, Pensacola
Avoid (our opinion)
CiCi’s Pizza. The worst of everything food related in one place. Free would be to expensive.
O’Charly’s. Didn’t get far enough to try the food, service was terrible. We just left.
An FYI;
Highway 59 Expressway. The Toll is just for the bridge, you can drive it all the way from the north start to just before the bridge then turn off at Country road 8 (or any intersection with a light) over to regular 59. The Bella Terra intersection is (look to the right) about the last one before it turns a bit east and becomes more difficult to get off. If you do cross it, it puts you on the same road that goes to Island Retreat, 180, but it has a few tight turns. Cars are $3.50 both ways.
You can get a pass of varing types if you wish. Here;
http://www.beachexpress.com/Content.aspx?p=freedom-pass
