Gulf Shores Archives - Big Guy Tiny Trailer

Gulf State Park for a Week

Gulf State Park

We have camped at Gulf State Park several times. It is a beautiful park with miles of bike trails and beach access. For this trip, we were there for a week in late September and weather was overall very nice.

Gulf State Park Campground

Sadly, shade is not plentiful at the campground. I think that previous storms took out many trees. We were there last year in a site with virtually no shade and it was pretty miserable. So, we looked for good sites to book the next year.

Site number 72 was quite shady and we were fortunate to have it for this trip. It made all the difference in a comfortable stay versus glaring heat.

The only downside was that the bathhouse near our site was closed. They are having issues with all of them and some major work is planned for the future.

Gulf State Park Activities

Usually, we bring our bikes and spend a good bit of time on the trails in the park. However, this year my husband was recovering from total knee replacement and was not yet up to the bike rides. However, he did go on some short walks with our pup.

There is an interesting live oak tree in the park that continues to live despite laying on the ground. It is enormous.

Gulf State Park Live Oak Tree — Giant Live Oak on the ground

Our daily walk with our pup was by sites along the lake. The views were nice, but I missed riding our bikes.

We played Mexican Train on one of our days and it was a nice way to spend an afternoon.

Mexican Train at Gulf State Park — Mexican Train

Gulf State Dog Park

There is a dog pond at Lake Shelby within the Gulf State dog park. It was a warm day and our girl ran into the water several times, but she basically just ran around in the water rather than swimming. She wasn’t afraid though. I think it was fun for her.

Fort Morgan for a Day

We took a thirty minute drive west to Fort Morgan. The fort was completed in 1833 and it cost just over a million dollars, making it one of the most expensive of its kind. It saw a good bit of action during the Civil War and the Battle of Mobile Bay.

The fort is quite large, though basically only the stones and bricks remain. The grounds were a lovely and lush green that were picturesque against the blue sky.

The arched entrance was kind of nice.

This entrance had what appeared to be railroad tracks. I’m not sure what was going to there.

The beach at Fort Morgan allows dogs We debated letting our pup get into the water, but by that time, we were hungry.

Gulf State Park Pool

The pool was so nice that we spent a couple of days there. The photo below was taken late in the day and we were the only ones there at that time. It isn’t but 4 1/2 feet deep, but is quite large.

Pool at Gulf State Park — Love this pool!

There are also areas that offer plenty of shade, which is important to us.

Our days at the pool were relaxing. We also used the pool for my husband to do some stretching of his knee replacement.

Gulf Shores Beach

There are areas of beach that are state park property, but we drove to a beach near The Hangout because it is so close to the beach and the walking in sand is minimal. It was a relaxing afternoon watching the waves. We went into the water, but the waves were pretty high and my husband was a little unsteady. The biggest thing we were trying to avoid was a fall since he was only three months post op.

He took his tall camping chair because getting up is easier in it.

We were rewarded for being there by a gorgeous sunset. We stayed until it was beginning to get dark.

Meals on the Gulf

Meals on the gulf are something that we always enjoy about our camping trips to Gulf State Park. They did not disappoint. We had a couple of outstanding meals while there.

Tacky Jacks Fort Morgan

Our favorite meal was at Tacky Jacks at Fort Morgan. There is another location we tried last year, but this one was by far the best. It is next to a marina and I suspect that the food is fresher as a result. Whatever the reason, it was delicious.

I discovered Bushwhackers last year, a favorite drink of the region. The one at Tacky Jacks was next level because it had a peanut butter whiskey topper. Oh my!

Bushwhacker with peanut butter whiskey topper

The view of the marina during lunch made the experience very special.

We try to find restaurants that allow dogs outside. This one was dog friendly.

OSO at Bear Point Harbor

OSO is a very out of the way place that we learned about from some people at the pool. The seafood was very fresh there and they also served a Bushwhacker with a peanut butter whiskey topper if you requested it. We shared a bowl of gumbo there as well and it was awesome.

The view of the harbor from the deck at OSO was also lovely and we were able to bring our pup. Coincidentally, we ran into a friend we haven’t seen in many years there. It was nice to catch up with her.

In Conclusion

So, our week at Gulf State Park was a nice, relaxing getaway. While we really missed having our bikes, it was still a very enjoyable week. If you would like to read about other places we have visited, check out our page, States Visited, a Campsite Resource.

Happy camping everyone!

Great Times in Gulf Shores, Key Lime Rally 2018

Key Lime Rally Campground

The Key Lime Rally was a gathering of the group, Firty and Over RV’ers – Life on the Road. The rally was held at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores and almost 300 Key Limers were in attendance.

This was our second time to camp at Gulf State, one of our favorite parks. Our earlier trip is described in the following link. We were right on the water that trip and as a result, I was very worried about alligators. https://www.bigguytinytrailer.com/2016/12/

Gulf State Park offers everything you could want in a state park and it is located in a desirable resort area. Beautiful biking trails, spacious sites, and a nice large pool make it also a great place to camp. http://www.alapark.com/gulf-state-park

We enjoyed beautiful weather the entire five days we were there, with highs in the upper 70s and lows in the upper 50s. However, we were in the South! The humidity made it quite hot at midday if you were not in a shaded area.

Our site had shade in the late afternoon, but was in direct sunlight most of the day. Therefore, we were happy to have our screen room to provide a little shade. Because we registered late for the rally, we were a good distance from Key Lime Rally activities. (Several camp sites were designed Camp Lime and it was the main gathering place.)

Teardrop campers and tent — Campsite 76 at Gulf State Park

Interior view of Pahaque 10x10 side tent — Inside our 10×10 side tent

Visiting with Good Friends

Our very good friends—the ones who originally talked us into camping—recently moved to Florida. They met us at the campground and stayed a couple of nights before heading on to the Grand Canyon. We loved having them there; it really made this trip special! We had dinner with them the night before the rally. The next day, we spent some quality time on the beach and in the pool. Very relaxing!

Man and woman standing on the beabh — Our friends soaking up some sun

Couple sitting on the beach — Chilling at the beach

Key Lime Events Day 1

The rally organizer very graciously allowed our friends to attend the Key Lime Bash at the Beach, the first official night of the rally. It was held at Gulf State Pavilion, which is right on the beach. Fresh gulf shrimp was served for dinner and bread pudding for dessert. Key Lime Rally members decorated the tables and they were amazing. For entertainment, Elvis performed for us!

Elvis impersonator standing on a table surrounded by fans — Elvis was in the Building

Two women in a pavilion on the beach — My friend Peggy and me

Key Lime Events Day 2

The rally was like a well-oiled machine! There was a morning coffee, then a craft fair and yard sale, CPR training, a corn hole tournament and an Instant Pot cooking demo. We did not attend them, but went with a smaller group on a Dolphin Cruise that afternoon. Others also played Key Lime Bingo and went on a tour of Group 1’s rigs.

A Key Lime Food and Drink contest preceded dinner, which was a Quatro de Mayo Fiesta at Camp Lime. Key Lime members and the Key Limer Band provided the entertainment and it included some specially written songs that were quite funny.

In addition, there were door prizes. Group members had contributed gifts for contests and door prizes. My husband won a great door prize, a basket full of collapsible bowls, measuring cups, and spoons. It was a very nice gift!

So, it was a great day to be a Key Limer!

Key Lime Events Day 3

Day 3 was more laid back and everyone was on their own for dinner. Also, there was a Balloon Festival in Foley that afternoon, which many were attending. The morning activities were Rock Painting Class, a Pet Parade, Corn Hole Tournament, and a tour of Group 2 Rigs.

Therefore, we took this opportunity to enjoy our campsite in the morning and to have an early dinner at a local seafood restaurant. The Fish River Grill was pretty tasty and I had a margarita to honor Cinco de Mayo.

Seafood platter — Late lunch at Fish River Grill #3

Finally, we rounded out our day at the Gulf State Pier. The water was beautiful and it was nice to just hang out there for awhile and enjoy the view.

Gulf Shores sandy beach — View of the beach from the pier

Woman on Gulf State Park Pier in front of sign — Hanging out at the Gulf State Park Pier

Key Lime Events Day 4

The day began with a nondenominational worship service, a great way to start our Sunday morning. Soon after, there was a Dutch Oven Cooking Class given by Dave, a master in the field. I had never seen this type of cooking before and found it fascinating. Audience members assisted in cooking a pork tenderloin with sweet potatoes in one pot and a pineapple upside down cake in another. All were delicious!

Two Dutch ovens with coals on top — Dutch Oven Cooking Class

Pineapple upside down cake cooked in a Dutch oven — Pineapple upside down cake cooked in a Dutch Oven

Next, we attended a wine tasting. Group members each brought a bottle of wine and many also brought snacks. There was a great variety of lovely wines and some awesome snacks. One lady brought the best stuffed jalapeño peppers I have ever tasted. It was a very enjoyable afternoon.

Dinner that night was again at the Pavilion and it was a luau. Key Limers were dressed in their best tropical attire. There were hula dancers who also danced with fire, led a limbo contest, and conga line. Additionally, there were more door prizes and I won a bottle of wine!

We were sad to see the Key Lime Rally ending because it was such a great experience. Most of all, we loved that we met lots of really nice people. We felt we already knew some of them from online posts and it was great to finally meet them in person.

Fire dancers at Key Lime Rally — Fire dancers

Sunset over sand and water — Sunset from the Pavilion

In conclusion, Aloha Key Limers and Happy Camping!

Retired couple wearing Hawaiian clothing

Camping–Just the Two of Us

Just the Two of Us

Our first camping trip was with seasoned campers, and after it, we felt ready to try it alone. Even though it was getting a little cold for camping, we wanted one more trip for 2016. We only had three days, so could not go far. We decided to try Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama. I called to make the reservation and they were able to provide a camping spot on the water and near a bathhouse. Arriving just before dark, we set up quickly. We brought along an EZ 10X10 tent and stored our table and food bins under it as there was a very slight chance of rain.

That First Night

No cooking was required that first night because we stopped along the way. We did not do anything special, just listened to music and talked till sleepy. Sleeping was wonderful in the LG. We have learned that it is important to keep the cabin ventilated, so we kept the fan vent on the top open. It was not cold at all under the covers, even though the temperature went down to the mid-forties!

A Windy Camping Day

We awoke the next morning to the wind howling and when I checked, winds were at 19-20 MPH. We quickly took down the EZ tent as we were afraid it would blow away and perhaps do some serious damage. It is quite heavy and though we had it staked, it did not seem adequate. We were down to just our LG on our campsite. It was a few days before Thanksgiving and the campground was filled with many large RVs. Next to them, our little spot looked barely populated.

A Beautiful View

We had a fantastic view! We were there for two full days and three nights and each day was filled with abundant sunshine and deep blue skies. Again, we had chosen a time with a cold front. While we were there, it became colder and after we left, it became warmer. At least no rain though! Below are some photos taken from our campsite.

Camping at Gulf State Park — View from Site 245

Excellent Raw Oysters

The first day, we had a very simple breakfast of instant oatmeal and then went exploring the area. The park is very nice and there are many trails and sites to see. We had lunch at the Oyster House in Gulf Shores. I have always been a fan of raw oysters, but these were perhaps the best I have ever had. Two factors, I think, contributed to this: the cold weather and the nearness to the source. These had to be very fresh and they were large.

More About the Park

A nice pier and beach access is provided by the park. There is also an outdoor swimming pool. This will be a good place to take grandchildren later. We visited the pier and walked on the beach. A few seagulls posed for some photos. If you are into fishing, this seems to be a good place to go as well, however, according to some fishermen we met, they were not biting on the day we were there.

We went shopping in Gulf Shores that evening and saw the movie, Hacksaw Ridge. It was a great movie! When we arrived back at the campsite it was getting quite cold, so we pulled out our new electric blanket.

Easy Like Sunday Morning

It was very cold outside when we awoke the next morning. I believe it went into the mid-thirties the night before. The idea of preparing any kind of breakfast in that cold was very unappealing, so we went out for breakfast at Another Broken Egg in Orange Beach. It was a first for us and we really enjoyed it. By the time we returned to the campsite, it was much warmer and the winds were calmer. We went to a small Sunday service at the Education Center with some people we had met the day before. After that, we rented bikes. There are many trails in the park and we had a great time! Much of the trails were paved and shaded with beautiful trees and Spanish moss.

Camping and enjoying bike trail at a Gulf State Park — Enjoying the View

Gulf States Park Biking and Hiking Trail

Evenings Camping at the Park

We planned to cook some spicy sausage on the grill that night and went to the nearby Walmart for charcoal. However, we were lured by Auntie Annie’s pretzels located within Walmart, and that killed our appetite. Consequently, there was practically no cooking on this trip. We sat outside for a couple of hours with our new electric blanket over us. It was not enough! However, for sleeping inside the LG, it did a great job. All three nights at Gulf State were great sleeping for us–no cold and no discomfort.

Our Puppy Wakeup Call

We awoke the final morning to a Lab puppy whimpering just outside our door. He had gotten loose and wanted in our LG. Greg could not get out because of this. Eventually, he crawled over me to get out on my side to avoid the puppy jumping into our cabin. The puppy was very friendly and followed Greg to the bathhouse. Greg found a tag with a phone number on him and called the owner, who was frantic to find him and came to get him right away. He was very grateful and had been looking for him since daylight.

On Gulf State’s Bike Trail

Camping Lessons Learned

1) Buy high-quality water hoses and fittings. Our cheap hose leaked and we had to find a hardware store to be able to hook up to the water without leaks.

2) Alligators are not a likely to come into your camp if you are near a lake in November. This may seem silly, but the website stated to beware of alligators and I was a little concerned about getting up in the middle of the night with an alligator nearby. A ranger told me that it is very rare for them to get out of the water and they are not very active when it is cold.

3) It’s not so bad to not have a toilet in your camper if you are near a bathhouse.

4) Lastly, and more importantly, we can go away camping for several days and totally enjoy each other’s company. Our first trip was with friends, which was great fun and helped to keep us entertained. We now know that it can be great fun for just the two of us as well!

What’s Next?

We are looking forward to 2017 and more camping adventures. Heck out our page, States Visited, a Campsite Resource to follow our camping trips.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!