We rented a condo in Gulf Shores through VRBO. It was perfect, right across the road from the beach but with a view from the balcony. Behind the building was the canal and another scenic view to walk. Gulf Shores is affordable and full of great seafood restaurants and this time of year, quiet, empty, white sandy beaches. The temperature was mostly in the high sixties or low seventies and on the sunny days, it was down right warm. It has become a more popular destination since the last time I was here over Thanksgiving which was four years ago. That time, we came with friends and I was able to find a small house to rent. This time, the only affordable option was the condo. The only negative which really was a positive was the walk up to the third floor. The positive was burning off all those beach calories.
We really didn’t consider driving the RV down. It just didn’t make sense for multiple reasons. In my next newsletter, I will talk about all the RV parks we checked in the area so at some point, we might think about an extended fall-winter trip.
Gulf Shores is booming and seems to be recovering well from Hurricane Sally which hit in the fall of 2020. Since you are only a short distance from Pensacola, Florida, you will likely see and hear the Blue Angels that spend part of the year there. The Blue Angels are the Navy’s version of the Air Force Thunderbirds.
Sunrise from the balcony.
Sunset from behind the condo.
Just about 19 miles from downtown Gulf Shores, you will find Ft. Morgan. It is at a point where the ocean and the bay converge. We ate lunch at Tacky Jacks and then toured Ft. Morgan which includes a pet friendly beach.
After the War of 1812, the US decided a new fort was needed at Mobile Point and that became Ft. Morgan. Construction began in 1819 and it took 15 years to complete. Sadly, the project resulted in a slave lease contract between the government and slave owners in the region. At its height, over 200 enslaved person worked on the project.
On January 4th, the Alabama State Militia seized Fort Morgan from the US Government. It remained in southern hands until 1864 when Admiral Farragut took on the Confederate fleet commanded by Admiral Buchanan. The fort caused damage to Union ships but failed to sink them. The only ship lost, the Tecumseh, struck a mine. During the confusion, Admiral Farragut pushed through into the bay and supposedly said “Damn the Torpedoes! Full speed ahead!” though it is hard to say who could have heard him say it during the noise of the battle.
The Fort remained active through the second World War but was deeded to the state of Alabama for use as a historical park in 1947.