Your Vacation Rental
Get the postcard of your dreams from your very own vacation rental in Gulf Shores. You’ll post pics of the places you’re visiting, so why not give your followers a glimpse of where you’re staying?
Gulf Shores is a place of sun, sand, history, and fun. You’ll be an Insta-hit as your Instagram followers fawn over your feed. Mara Ashford lives for adventure. She has traveled to 56 countries (and counting!), climbing every mountain and kayaking every river she found along the way. She shares her passion for the great outdoors with the world through her photos and writing
By Mara Ashford
Looking to up your Instagram? Focus on Gulf Shores, a glittering gem on Alabama’s Gulf Coast, with plenty of places to make your feed pop. The beaches, of course, are picture-perfect, but you want more than beautiful sunrises and sunsets and white sand.
We’re here for you with our picks for the five most awesome Instagram spots in Gulf Shores. A fun fact before we get started: Gulf Shores is one of the fastest-growing cities in Alabama. People love the mild weather, white sand beaches with turquoise water, and a lower cost of living than other parts of the country.
Now, onto the list….
Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo
Picture yourself getting up close and personal with the animals at the zoo made famous on “Animal Planet.” The show captured the zoo’s survival story after the staff was forced to mount the first off-site evacuation of zoo animals in the U.S. ahead of Hurricane Ivan in 2004.
“The Little Zoo That Could” captures the zoo’s survival story and relocation to a larger, safer location further inland. The new 25-acre site houses more than 600 animals. The entrance on its own is Insta-worthy. From the parrots’ brilliant plumage to the sloths’ adorable antics, you’ll have plenty of pictures to post.
Ft. Morgan Historic Site
Add a little history to your Insta-feed. At the tip of Scenic Ft. Morgan Peninsula, you’ll find plenty of scenery with a rich past.
Construction on Ft. Morgan started more than 200 years ago. It played a crucial part in the Battle of Mobile Bay during the Civil War in 1864. The U.S. military also used it during the Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II. It became a historic site in 1946 after the U.S. government ceded it to Alabama. If history isn’t your thing, head to the white sand beaches or visit the wildlife areas. This is an excellent spot for bird watching, and the dunes and marshes make for unique photos.
Gulf State Park Beaches
You’ll find 3.5 miles of beautiful beaches stretching before you here. Access the public beach at the Beach Pavillion, which is a pretty picture on its own.
Hit the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail to explore the 6,150 acres of the park. It takes you through the nine different ecosystems within the park, with photo ops in every direction. Get there early if you want pristine, people-free pictures on the beach.
Gulf State Park Pier
This is the second-longest pier on the Gulf Coast and Alabama’s only public pier. Hurricane Sally did heavy damage here in September 2020, but the pier is partially open again for fishing and photographs.
If you don’t want to drop a line, you can watch the fish swim by. From May through October, sea turtles nest and lay eggs on the sandy shores, and the pier is a great place to see them in the water. From fall through spring, the pier is one of the best sunset spots in Gulf Shores.
