Gulf Shores is one of Alabama’s two sugar-white sand beaches. The laid back atmosphere paired with unique restaurants and and one-of-a-kind attractions make it an ideal spot for millennials to vacation. Here are nine fun things for millennials to do in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
Eat At Unique Restaurants
Sunliner Diner is a Gulf Shores staple. This classic 1950’s themed American diner has retro newspaper menus, collector cars, hand-spun milkshakes, and serves classic diner breakfast all-day.
The Hangout is a world famous family restaurant and entertainment venue with delicious seafood, cocktails, and the best view of the beach. During the summer, games, dancing, music, and contests last all day.
Need a sweet treat? The Yard Milkshake Bar is known for over-the-top milkshakes made with premium ice cream.
Three more unique restaurants in Gulf Shores are Tacky Jacks (add your own duct tape to the wall), LuLu’s (home to an arcade and rope course), and Sassy Bass (several different concepts in the area).
Explore Gulf State Park
Alabama’s Gulf State Park is unlike anywhere else on the Gulf Coast because of its size and diversity of preserved ecosystems. From wetlands and woodlands to beaches and 28 miles of trails, exploring the nine natural habitats is a non-stop adventure. Running, birding, geocaching, fishing, biking, and swimming are only a handful of activities enjoyed here.
The Gulf State Park Nature Center is a living museum of plants and animals that are native to the Gulf Coast region. The Center offers a variety of exciting educational programs daily.
Attend Hangout Fest
The Hangout Music Festival (known as Hangout Fest) is an epic three-day music festival that takes place on the beaches of Gulf Shores. The festival is centered around the iconic Hangout restaurant.
Past headliners include The Weeknd, Weezer, The Lumineers, Cardi B, Calvin Harris, Twenty One Pilots, Florence + The Machine, Jimmy Eat World, The Killers, Halsey, and many more.
Here is everything you need to know about Hangout Fest–our favorite thing for millennials to do in Gulf Shores.
Play Golf
Golf is just as important in Gulf Shores as the white sand beach. The area’s exquisitely designed and maintained golf courses go hand-in-hand with the natural beauty of the Alabama Gulf Coast.
Craft Farms Golf Resort is home to Arnold Palmer’s signature golf courses–Cotton Creek and Cypress Bend. Both are two of the best public courses in the South.
Another highly acclaimed public golf course in Gulf Shores is Kiva Dunes. The link style course winds through a secluded piece of land, presenting incredible shotmaking opportunities in an unforgettable setting.
Designed by Earl Stone, Peninsula Golf and Racquet Club provides the perfect blend of Southern hospitality and championship golf. Golf Digest gave the course a 4.5 star rating.
Go Shopping
Your visit to Gulf Shores should absolutely include a trip to Souvenir City. This family owned shop has been a Gulf Shores tradition since 1956. In addition to selling souvenirs of all kind, the shark entrance makes a great photo op.
Some other fun local stores to stop in are Island Girl, Charm Boutique, Geez Louise, Beach House Boutique, The Royal Standard, and Tiki Island Boutique.
If you’re up for a short drive, there is a Tanger Outlets in Foley (Express Factory Outlet, H & M, J. Crew Factory, Kate Spade New York, Le Creuset, Salt Life, Simply Southern, Vera Bradley).
Let Loose And Have Fun
There is a lot of fun to be had in Gulf Shores. Have you ever wanted to learn how to build a sand castle? You can do just that at Sand Castle University. Or, take a 2-hour guided tour through the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail with Coastal Segway Adventures.
If escape rooms are your jam, Gulf Shores has several to choose from. There is also a 20-acre water park (Waterville USA), trampoline park (The Factory), and entertainment mecca (The Track) with six go-kart tracks, mini golf, blaster boats, two coasters, and an arcade.
Get Out On The Water
Gulf Shores is full of opportunities to get out on the Gulf of Mexico. From jet skiing to parasailing, paddle boarding to kayaking, you can find a rental here. There are also some fun dolphin, eco-tour, and sunset cruises.
Scuba Diving is prevalent here too, as dive sites off of the Alabama coast form part of the largest artificial reef program in the United States. You will see exotic fish and shipwrecks while diving in Gulf Shores.
Prefer to just spend your day on the beach? These are all of the beach access points in town.
Take A Fitness Class
In addition to traditional methods of exercise (and some of the best cycling in Alabama), Gulf Shores has some really cool fitness opportunities.
At Glow Yoga, you will work up a sweat and leave feeling rejuvenated, relaxed, and inspired. The studio welcomes all fitness levels and loves beginners.
MOXIE is a cardio fitness experience that focuses on creating health and wellness by strengthening the mind and body in unison. Although technically located in Orange Beach, we had to include it on our list of things for millennials to do in Gulf Shores.
9Round offers a kickboxing themed fitness program that incorporates functional, interval, cardiovascular, and circuit training regimens.
Check Out Orange Beach
The last thing on our list of things for millennials to do in Gulf Shores is check out neighboring Orange Beach, Alabama’s other sugar-white sand beach. Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are very much alike, but Orange Beach is a tad quieter and home to our favorite resort in the area (Turquoise Place).
Spend some time getting to know Orange Beach with these things for millennials to do.
Pin This Post For Later
Visiting in Gulf Shores with your significant other? Check out 15 perfect date ideas in the area.
Vacationing with the whole family? Here is a list of things to do with kids in Gulf Shores.
Still looking for more things to do? Read our vacation guide to Orange Beach.