Here’s the beach in front of the Pink Pony Pub in Gulf Shores, my all-time favorite dive bar. We never go to Gulf Shores without visiting it at least once.
They say that everyone’s favorite beach is the one they went to as a child. I suppose that’s why my favorite beach is Gulf Shores, Alabama. That and the fact it has the most beautiful sugar white sand and clear blue water of any beach on the continental United States that I’ve ever visited. And, especially lately, a proliferation of fun places to eat and drink.
It takes the same amount of time — eight hours — to get to Gulf Shores as it does to get to the South Carolina coast, where I’ve noticed that most folks from East Tennessee tend to go when they head to the beach. So here’s a little sample of what you might want to do if you decide to break out of the rut and go to the Gulf Coast instead of the Atlantic Coast one of these days. I love the slogan of the town of Gulf Shores: Small town, big beach!
Upon arriving in Gulf Shores, we recommend you do as we always do: Head straight to the Acme Oyster House. Do not check into your hotel. Do not go put your feet in the sand. Just get to this fabulous restaurant, part of a small chain founded and headquartered in New Orleans.
Here’s the sign you are looking for! It’s located on the Intercoastal Waterway at 216 E. 24th Ave. in Gulf Shores.
Here’s what to order while you decide what else to order: chargrilled oysters. They are fantastic.
Our server, Desiree, who is from New Orleans, let us in on a key to Acme’s deliciousness. The sauces and seasonings for all seven Acme locations are prepared in a central commissary and shipped to the individual restaurants. That’s why the chargrilled oysters you have in Gulf Shores will be the same as the ones you have in the French Quarter, the original location which opened more than 100 years ago. It’s a secret blend of butter and spices that makes the magic.
My friend Bart Weaver turned us on to this little number at Acme. A Voo Doo Mary is made with traditional Bloody Mary ingredients — plus a shot of merlot!
We love to stay at the Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach, which is seven miles from Gulf Shores. It’s the same beach, and it’s difficult to tell when you leave one town and enter the other as you travel east on the beach road.
We generally ask for a room with a pool view.
The Gulf of Mexico isn’t the only place for waterfront dining in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. We enjoy a harbor-side lunch at a casual family-owned spot called Shipp’s Harbour Grill located on Bayou Saint John, across Perdido Beach Boulevard from our hotel.
This is Sportsman Marina where Shipp’s Harbour Grill is located. The restaurant address is 27842 Canal Road in Orange Beach.
These deck chairs facing the marina are perfect for an early evening cocktail.
Cute.
We enjoy eating on this shady porch.
Seared tuna is the star of the Paradise Island salad, which I ordered at Shipp’s Harbour Grill. It was delicious.
During Happy Hour, we head for our required drink at the Pink Pony Pub. Click here to see the live “Beach Cam” of what’s happening there right now.
You can’t miss it. It’s where Highway 59 runs into the Gulf of Mexico. This place has been around since 1956.
As much as I love the Pink Pony Pub, you really probably don’t want to have dinner there. There’s a great place that we enjoy for dinner called Louisiana Lagniappe.
We could walk there from our hotel.
Alan had grouper and I had gumbo. (In New Orleans, a lagniappe means “a little something extra.”)
But, of course, Alan’s favorite thing was the white chocolate cheesecake with raspberry sauce.
Another required dining stop on every trip is Lulu’s, located on the Intercoastal Waterway at 200 E. 25th Ave., in Gulf Shores. It is owned by Lucy Buffett, Jimmy Buffett’s sister. My favorite things are the excellent fish tacos made with grilled mahi mahi.
Here’s the view from Lulu’s porch overlooking the Intercoastal Waterway. You can see Acme Oyster House on the left across the water.
We always sit on the porch.
Wacky bar.
But here’s the reason we have to come during every visit. This is the most awesome hot sauce. It’s called “Mean Green,” and we pick up a few bottles every time we go.
It’s important when you go to Gulf Shores to find someone who owns a boat. In our case on a visit earlier this month, it was my brother, Jimmy, and his wife, Tess. They took us on a Saturday to Pirates Cove, a place in Perdido Bay where the locals go. (I know. It’s supposed to have an apostrophe after the “s,” but it doesn’t.) If you are going by car, it’s located at 6664 County Road 95 in Elberta, Alabama.
On our way to Pirates Cove, we actually passed a pirate ship!
Approaching Pirates Cove.
Yep. We’re in the right place.
It has a cool laid-back vibe.
An appropriate tablecloth.
Pirates Cove is famous, we were told, for its signature drink called a bushwacker. Here’s my step-niece, Tabatha Middleton, enjoying one. You get a big discount if you buy this special cup for reuse.
Click here if you’d like a recipe for a bushwacker.
If you already are on the water, you really should motor on over to Tacky Jack’s a large festive place where President Obama made a surprise visit in 2010 to survey the aftermath of the BP oil spill. If you are traveling by land, the address is 27206 Safe Harbor Drive in Orange Beach. It’s just good ole beach food.
On your way to Tacky Jack’s, watch for sandbars, like this one that some birds are taking advantage of.
Yes, it is pretty tacky.
Here’s our gang off-loading at Tacky Jack’s.
Family picture. From left, Jimmy, Tess, Tabatha, Alan and Tabatha’s step-daughter, Kaylee.
Kaylee taking advantage of the telescope.
Alan playing tourist.
Jimmy’s top priority.
Mine. I love steamed crab claws.
Tess and Tabatha split some nachos the restaurant calls “Mexican Garbage.” Ha.
From Tacky Jack’s you can see our hotel. Perdido Beach Resort is those two pink towers.
If you are looking for fine dining, you will find it at Voyagers, located inside Perdido Beach Resort, 27200 Perdido Beach Blvd.
Follow the signs.
The tony eatery has won Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence for its wine offerings.
But I had a cosmopolitan.
I love the peaceful, white tablecloth setting of Voyagers.
We recommend the dish called Fruits of the Sea. It includes lobster, scallops, shrimp, tomatoes and mushrooms tossed with fresh fettuccine.
Here’s Alan’s dessert: blackberry buckle with ice cream. I thought the presentation was memorable.
Speaking of desserts, here’s a place to stop on your way to get on the interstate to head back to Knoxville. It’s called Street’s Seafood Restaurant located an hour from the beach at 2515 S. US Highway 31 in Bay Minette. It’s a meat and three kind of place. In Knoxville, think The Lunch House or Wright’s Cafeteria. But make no mistake. You are not here for the meat and three. You are here for dessert!
Watch for this sign on your right.
Yep.
The dessert table. Oh my God.
How about some coconut cake?
Or strawberry.
Or red velvet.
Well, you get the idea!
So, from beach food to fine dining to country cooking, you can’t beat a trip to Gulf Shores. Where’s your favorite beach?
My favorite beach is Mirimar Beach. It’s just outside of Destin Beach in Florida. It’s the same beach, but without the crowds. It’s geared more towards couples as opposed to families with children. We spent time there in July and fell in love. It’s close enough to the crowded areas if you want to visit, but has its own unique dining and entertainment experiences. Gulf Shores is my second favorite. I grew up visiting both areas. Loved seeing your pictures of Gulf Shores as it stands today. It’s been 10 or so years since I’ve visited Gulf Shores. Maybe that’s next year’s beach trip!
Sounds great, Shaun! We need to try it. Gulf Shores is a little on the “family friendly” side, for sure. I think it’s great that the Pink Pony Pub’s policy is “No children after 9 p.m.!”
Pawleys Island, Garden City and Surfside – all for exactly why you said, went there as a child. Cherished memories with grandparents and cousins. This looks wonderful.
Yep. I hear ya, Maria.
Isle of Palms in South Carolina just outside of Charleston was my family’s annual vacation destination. There is something for everyone with the beach, Civil War history, plantation tours, historic homes, and, of course, amazing seafood.
I’ve heard great things about it, Amanda.
It’s hard to pick a favorite beach. But we were in Destin last month, and the Gulf Coast is beautiful. We enjoyed some good ole beach food there: The Shrimp Basket has all-you-can-eat steamed shrimp on Tuesdays and all-you-can-eat fried, grilled or blackened shrimp on Wednesdays. John and I also got a couple bushwackers, which we first discovered in St. Thomas.
Growing up in West TN, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach were the closest beaches around and always my favorite! Thank you for the trip down memory lane, Cynthia! Brb, I think I hear the ocean calling my name.
Wow, does this make me crave a trip to the beach. My family is planning to rendezvous in Folly Beach, S.C. next month to celebrate my mother’s 90th birthday: our first time to Folly Beach/Charleston and my first trip to a Southern beach in — can you believe it? — 30 years! I must say, though, you do make a good case for the Gulf Shores.
Yay, Amanda! Another Gulf Shores fan! Lauren: I have been to Destin and think it’s great, too.
Hey, Carol: We went to a wedding on Folly Beach a few years ago and had a good time. We went into Charleston a time or two and just loved it, of course. My only complaint about the Atlantic Coast is that the sand just isn’t as pretty. But, really, any beach is a good beach!
This was a delightful read, and the beach cam was so much fun!
Thanks, Gina! I love that beach cam!
I am so glad you both enjoyed the boat ride. I absolutely love Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. I could not think of any other place I would want to live (except Knoxville)! Lol!
Tess, well, the good news is that we can have the best of both worlds! We visit you and you visit us! Looking forward to your trip here next month! Thanks for everything!
I love Gulf Shores too, Cynthia. You missed one of my favorite joints — FloraBama. Being from west Tennessee, the Alabama & Florida coasts were my family’s vacation destination for years. Now my favorite beach is West Bay Beach in Roatan, Honduras. I can spend a week there & never get in a car or put my shoes on. It is true rest & relaxation.
Cynthia that all sounds great! Boy I’m hungry now! We love the Gulf Coast, Pensacola is our beach of choice, not too crowded, then you have a neat little downtown area with some great restaurants!
Hey, Michelle! We love Pensacola, too. It’s only about 45 minutes from Gulf Shores. When we fly down, we fly into Pensacola. Haven’t been to downtown Pensacola in many years. Thanks to your post, we will put it on our to-do list. Thanks!
This summer I had the pleasure of spending a week at Cefalu in Sicily… What a location! It’s an incredibly charming town, the water is crisp and clear, and the beaches are lively. It’s a totally different beach culture than my tried-and-true childhood spot, Juno Beach, in south Florida. Juno, which is very laid back and relaxing, is just north of West Palm Beach. It’s a cute little area with typical Floridian seaside eateries and, in the right season, tons of sweet baby Loggerhead hatchlings! (That, for me, is a major draw.)
absolutely love Orange Beach! But we are heading to Isle of Palms, S.C. The 29th.
Have been going there for about 35 yrs. minus a few after Hugo hit.
Celeste: We didn’t make it to the Florabama this trip, but we sure have in the past. It’s a unique experience for sure!
Erin: Would love to see those hatchlings!
Cammie: Have fun in the Atlantic!
This post couldn’t have landed in my in-box at a better time: will be in Gulf Shores September 12th for a week! So, thanks for all these recommendations — places, food, everything. I’m definitely into eating out for dinner any night, and the plates of food are making my mouth water already.
That’s great, Rusha! I hope you have a blast. Let me know where you go. I hope you write a blog post about your visit. There’s a restaurant called Fisher’s where we wanted to dine, but we couldn’t get in. Maybe you can, since school has started and it’s not quite as crowded down there. It’s in Orange Beach.
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