Summer is made for long, lazy beach days, and Americans are incredibly lucky because they don’t have to go far to find picture-perfect beaches.
In fact, you guys are spoilt for choice!
According to AL.com this beach destination is booming thanks to its laidback white sand beaches, trademark warm welcome, and abundance of other things to see and do.
Here’s why this unexpected U.S. state is soaring in popularity for beach vacations this summer:
Beach Vacations In Alabama
If you haven’t already guessed, we’re talking about Alabama.
Alabama is a region with a rich history and fascinating culture. Tourists visit for the famous southern hospitality and for the outstanding natural beauty, including forest-covered mountains.
But Alabama also boasts some of America’s most beautiful beaches.
Lesser known than the world-famous beaches of Florida and California, the coastline of Alabama sits on the Gulf of Mexico meaning that you’ll find huge stretches of beautiful white sand.
And savvy tourists just can’t get enough.
29% of travelers who visit Alabama will head straight to the beaches of Baldwin County, which is a huge increase on pre-pandemic levels. In fact, Alabama continues to smash tourism records year after year.
And the 3 most popular spots in Baldwin County are the beach spots of Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Fort Morgan.
These 3 coastal areas accounted for a whopping $6.7 billion in visitor spending in 2023.
The State’s Most Popular Beach Spots
Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are just a 15-minute drive apart, separated by a 7.5-mile stretch of beach.
This is just a small section of the 32-mile stretch of sugar-white coastline that attracts so many visitors to Alabama’s beaches.
Despite being so close together, these two beautiful beach spots each have different vibes.
Gulf Shores is the best spot if you’re looking for a bustling family trip or a weekend getaway loaded with things to do.
Choose Orange Beach if you’re looking for a more small-town atmosphere, have the budget for upscale amenities, or you enjoy playing golf.
Travelers often stay in one resort, but spend their time exploring all of the incredible beaches in the area.
Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Fort Morgan are considered 3 of the most beautiful beaches in Alabama, so it should come as no surprise that these 3 spots are the most popular in the region.
Combine Beach Days With History And Culture
Fort Morgan is an incredibly unique beach experience because as well as offering a stretch of sand as beautiful as any other in Alabama, visitors can also wander through a Civil War Era star fortification which the stretch of sand was named for.
Fort Morgan was built between 1819 and 1833 and was the site of the Battle of Mobile Bay.
The fort played key roles in the Civil War, Battle of Spanish Fort, and more recently the two World Wars.
It is a must-visit spot for history enthusiasts and especially for fans of military history.
Although Fort Morgan Beach was named after the fort, the fort itself is actually situated 20 miles inland, but it is well worth taking the trip to explore.
Admission to Fort Morgan is:
- $8 for adults
- $5 children, seniors and college students
- $20 for families with 2 adults and 2 children.
Even if you don’t visit the fort itself, Fort Morgan Beach is well worth exploring. This is the best spot for beach lovers and nature lovers who want to relax on the shoreline without the hustle and bustle of a big resort town.
The beaches on Fort Morgan are not very developed at this point.
But this is part of their charm rather than a negative element. The beaches here are open to the public and allow you to see the gorgeous Gulf waters free from manmade influences.
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