Alcohol on the beach from March 1-April 17? $500 fine and/or up to 6 months in jail

On March 18, 2016, during a special council meeting, the Gulf Shores City Council unanimously adopted an ordinance to prohibit the possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages along the entire Gulf beaches in the City of Gulf Shores corporate limits. The ban on alcohol is in effect from March 1st through April 17th.

“The city has a responsibility to protect the health, safety and welfare of our residents and visitors and an obligation to protect the reputation of the city as a family-friendly destination,” Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft said during the meeting. Craft went on to say, “In order to keep spring break in Gulf Shores a safe environment, it is time we take action.”

This new ban prohibits any person to possess or consume any alcoholic beverage on any portion of the beach south of the protected sand dunes within the Gulf Shores city limits from the west end of Gulf State Park Beach to the very end of West Beach.  During the spring break season, college-aged visitors are drawn in large numbers to beach destinations, and the city finds that the prolonged consumption of alcohol this year is directly associated with undesirable behavior and an increased risk to public safety.

“Gulf Shores has long been known as a favorite beach destination for families from across the Southeast and Midwest,” added Mayor Craft. “In recent years, we have seen an increase in students coming here for spring break, and we again want to reiterate that we are a family- friendly destination that welcomes visitors of all ages to enjoy our beaches and destination responsibly. We as city leaders have an obligation to do whatever is necessary to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for our citizens and our visitors and to protect our beaches.”

Any person in violation of this Ordinance shall be guilty of an offense, punishable by up to $500 and/or up to 6 months in jail.

For more information visit www.gulfshoresal.gov

Be safe. Be careful. Have a great time!

Leave Only Footprints: We all love the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach beaches. The Leave Only Footprints initiative seeks to keep them the way we love them!

The Leave Only Footprints initiative: Gulf Shores and Orange Beach enact new ordinances and kick off a public relations campaign to keep the beaches clean and safe, not only for us, but for sea turtles and other wildlife as well. What’s Leave Only Footprints all about?

Keeping the Orange Beach & Orange Beach beaches clean

You love vacationing in Lower Alabama, and one of the things you probably love most about it (aside from the food, golf, shopping…) is the very nice beaches, some of the nicest beaches, with the best sand, in the country.

Leave No Trace. Well, Leave Only Footprints!

Personal Items Must Be Removed One Hour After Sunset

You probably have seen old chairs, umbrellas, or other items that seem to have been planted as permanent fixtures on the beach. Maybe someone left them out just for their trip or maybe they’ve been there for what seems like years–destined to get beat up and drawn out to sea, bobbing in the Gulf, and marring the coastline.

Effective in 2016, the cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach ask that you please remove all your personal items from the beach one hour after sunset. All abandoned items will be removed for the protection of our beaches, local wildlife, and the many visitors we want to enjoy our clean coast for generations to come.

Avoid walking on any beach vegetation.

Plant roots hold together the fragile dunes. Sea Oats form and stabilize the sand dunes that both protect our beaches from erosion and add to Gulf Shores’ beauty. Looking at the Gulf is pretty awesome, but seeing the Gulf framed by peaks and valleys in the dunes simply gorgeous.

Sea Oats’ roots go an amazingly long way down to do this job, but they can’t stand up to kids and adults running all over them. No strong roots = no dunes. And that’s just not good for any of us.

So while it may be fun to catch a frisbee, throw a football, or dig in the dunes, its very harmful to the ecology. So please help us keep the vegetation strong so that it can help us keep coming back to the same beautiful beaches at our beach vacation homes year after year.

Explore away from bird nesting areas.

Nests may be located in the ground and camouflaged to resemble the surrounding environment, so please watch your step! While your are it, keep an eye out for bird nesting areas as well as for Sea Turtle nesting areas. They can be hard to spot, and these are definitely places where you don’t want to even leave footprints.

Staying on paths in hiking areas, and on paths between dunes (or better yet, using walkovers when there is one nearby) is the best way to avoid these fragile areas.

And Leave Nature in Its Place

Keep the natural ecosystem intact by avoiding the removal of shells, driftwood or other items you may find during your island explorations. The smallest bit of driftwood may be home to native species.

Plants are a key part of the ecosystem, so we already know not to dig around them or walk or run on them, but we definitely shouldn’t dig them up. Digging up plants is even specifically proscribed by the Orange Beach ordinance–plus you shouldn’t plant anything (unless its on the prescribed list).

Quick Fact: Proscribed = shouldn’t be done. Prescribed = Should be done. 🙂

Leave Only Footprints, but definitely leave lots of footprints!

Consider the best type of transportation to see the island: your feet! Walking is not only a great form of exercise, but it’s an eco-friendly way to experience the Alabama Gulf Coast.

But not Fido or Fifi’s footprints. Dogs (and other domestic animals) are not allowed on either the Orange Beach or the Gulf Shores beaches, ever. Yes, people do it; no, they shouldn’t be, even on leash; and yes it will merit a fine if your caught doing it. Sure, its fun to run with the big guy, but dogs simply do not belong on the beach. No only do they sometimes leave a little something behind, but they disrupt sea turtle nests (we may have trouble finding these, dogs do not) and other wildlife, plus though we love our dogs (and I have them too, and would love to take them on the beach), not everyone does, and everyone should be able to enjoy their Gulf Shores vacation.

Where to learn more about the Leave Only Footprints initiative

If you like dry original source materials, and come on you know you do, right?, then you can read the full language of the ordinances as they were passed in Gulf Shores and in Orange Beach. The Gulf Shores ordinance is mostly about the removal of your stuff whereas the Orange Beach ordinance covers a much wider range of activities, from no pets, to what you can plant, all of which are great reminders of good practices we should all be doing anyway, right?

Much of the Leave Only Footprints initiative, and the underlying ordinances, follow the 7 basic principles of Leave No Trace, including Leave What You Find, Be Considerate of Other Visitors, and Respect Wildlife, which are things we can all live with.

Plus, come on, sea turtles are awesome!  So let’s all Share the Beach.

You can also follow the Leave Only Footprints, on Facebook.

Getting to your Gulf Shores beach house is easier than ever — especially if you’re flying in!

Whether you’re hopping a direct Allegiant flight right into town or routing through a major hub, here’s everything you need to know about airports near Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Gulf Shores International Airport (GUF/JKA) — Right In Your Backyard

Closest airport to Gulf Shores: just 2 miles north of downtown Gulf Shores.
Address: 1155 Commerce Dr, Gulf Shores, AL 36542

If you can catch a direct flight here, do it. Gulf Shores International is a small, easy, stress-free airport — no long hikes through concourses, no chaos. You’re basically at the beach before you’ve unloaded your bags.

Allegiant Air is the commercial carrier, and the route network has grown fast. As of summer 2026, they offer nonstop seasonal service from 13 cities:

• Nashville, TN (BNA)
• Kansas City, MO (MCI)
• Cincinnati, OH (CVG)
• Knoxville, TN (TYS)
• Des Moines, IA (DSM)
• Appleton, WI (ATW)
• Belleville / St. Louis, MO (BLV)
• Northwest Arkansas / Bentonville, AR (XNA)
• Huntsville, AL (HSV) — new 2026
• Louisville, KY (SDF) — new 2026
• Omaha, NE (OMA) — new 2026
• Springfield, MO (SGF) — new 2026
• Oklahoma City, OK (OKC) — new 2026

Most routes are seasonal (spring and summer peak). Check Allegiant.com for current schedules — fares are often surprisingly low. The airport is also expanding: a new $15M terminal is in the works, targeted for completion in May 2027.

Pensacola International Airport (PNS) — Closest Major Airport

Distance: ~38 miles / about 1 hour drive

Pensacola is the go-to for travelers who can’t get a direct flight into GUF. It’s a full-service airport with daily nonstop service from dozens of cities on American, Delta, United, Southwest, and more. All major rental car companies are on-site, and the drive down to Gulf Shores along US-98 is an easy, scenic coastal cruise.

Best for: Anyone coming from the East Coast, major hubs, or cities not served by Allegiant at GUF.

Mobile Regional Airport (MOB) — About an Hour West

Distance: ~70 miles / about 1.25–1.5 hour drive

Mobile is Alabama’s main commercial airport, served year-round by American, Delta, and United with connections through Atlanta, Charlotte, and Houston. It’s smaller and uncrowded — worth checking if fares into Pensacola aren’t cooperating, or if you’re coming from the west.

Best for: Travelers connecting through Houston or Atlanta, or anyone who wants a quieter airport experience.

Other Airports Worth Knowing

Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) — ~100 miles east. Smaller Florida Panhandle airport served by American, Delta, and United. Worth a fare check if you’re coming from somewhere with limited Pensacola service.

Gulfport–Biloxi International Airport (GPT) — ~125 miles west. Sometimes has lower fares from certain Midwest markets. If the savings are real, the roughly 2-hour drive through coastal Mississippi is perfectly manageable.

Getting from the Airport to Your Beach House

All of these airports have on-site rental cars — and we strongly recommend renting one for your stay. Gulf Shores and Fort Morgan are spread out, and having a car means easy grocery runs, restaurant hopping, and day trips at your own pace.

From GUF, you’re literally 5–10 minutes from most of our properties. From Pensacola, plug your home’s address into Google Maps and enjoy the drive — it’s an easy shot west on US-98 across the Perdido Key Bridge into Alabama.

Uber and Lyft are available in the area, but coverage can be spotty during peak season weekends. Don’t count on rideshare as your only transportation plan.

Ready to Book Your Gulf Shores Vacation Home?

We manage 60+ large vacation homes in Gulf Shores and Fort Morgan — most sleeping 10 to 20+ guests, with private pools, beach access, and all the room your group needs. Browse all homes →

Questions? Give us a shout — we know this area inside and out.

Can I have things delivered? Yes, usually, BUT some important caveats

(Note, this is a subsection of our bigger “Beach Home Basics” FAQ. Check that one out for the 411 on everything we can think of to make your beach vacay smooth as butter! Now… how do you get that butter delivered?)

Can you have things ordered and delivered to the places? Yes you can! Most services and delivery organizations will deliver to all our places. A couple really important caveats…

PLEASE…

1. DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING DELIVERED BEFORE YOU ARRIVE. No, we cannot meet folks at the home, let them in, get packages, etc. We would love to, but we simply do not have the ability to make random runs to the homes. Schedule all deliveries for after you arrive please.
2. DO NOT DELIVER ITEMS VIA USPS. USPS (the US Postal Service) generally will NOT deliver to the homes because the beach homes do not have mail boxes. Yes, we know… a package won’t go in a mailbox… but… they won’t deliver at all if there is no mailbox. We have had this happen a lot, and it will get sent back. We have had reports of some luck in the Orange Beach locations, but more often than not, its going to get returned to sender.AMAZON. This is a huge problem for Amazon orders because Amazon won’t tell you HOW they are delivering until after you order (if at all) and it could go USPS and if it does…. it won’t make it. We suggest trying to use a nearby Amazon locker type delivery if you must send something via Amazon.

UPS/Fedex and pretty much anything else like DHL will deliver, with the possible exception of when those services use US Post as the ‘last mile’ of the trip. Also be mindful that delivery to the Gulf Shores area is typically a day or two (or more) SLOWER than almost anywhere I have been… so be mindful of what the delivery estimates (in, say, Amazon) actually say as its likely more than what you are used to at home, though, of course, YMMV. 🙂

Groceries, etc, can absolutely be delivered to the address of the places… but again please be sure to have that arrive after you do to ensure its not delivered outside and sitting around (potentially going bad, or being taken!). We have used Instacart, and love Publix, Roushes, and you can of course use Walmart or Target and More! There’s even a Sam’s Club in the area. Again, DO NOT DO NOT  DO NOT purposely or ‘accidentally’ have these services deliver before arrival. Better to make it the next morning. We are not able to send someone running over to meet them, and your food and supplies will likely be dropped at the door step. Not good for the perishables for sure, and potentially not great for things sticking around!

Concierge level fridge and house stocking? Yes, you can! There are several services that will stock your fridge and more. We can even allow this sometimes ahead of time with advanced pre-approval. This requires coordination so it must be approved at least a week in advance of the stay. One service we know of is Beach Mom’s but if you run across another one that looks solid, let us know!

Beach Moms
https://www.thebeachmoms.net
251-979-8400
Google Place with reviews:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/af3DeFzoKbVXoVSa6

You can also check out this list we provide and this FAQ too, though we try to hit it all in this email for you! Baby equipment? Grills? Beach stuff? Its all in there.

Smart Roku TVs

Televisions in most of our homes are awesome Roku-based SmartTVs. Most bedrooms have tv’s too (yes, people ask… come on… you are going on a beach vacation… but… yes… we have TVs in most bedrooms).

RokuTVs come with many free apps and free channels (400+) too, plus the ability to sign into to your own streaming services and cable/satellite service providers.

Local or cable/satellite channels are not provided except on the main tv in the living room.

Guests are welcome to use the Roku TVs to access their own cable channels and streaming services. In most cases the apps are already loaded and you simply need to login with your local cable/satellite provider. Netflix, AppleTV, Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and many more are installed by default and ready for you to login!

You can even screen mirror videos, photos, and streaming services from most iOS/MacOS, Android, and Windows 10 devices right to the TV. Not sure how? We have info on screen mirroring, or ask a kid. 🙂

Note, we do not provide or support DVD players, though you may find a few in the homes. YMMV. If you need to play DVDs or other older media, please plan to bring one, and a handy dandy HDMI cable for them.

Vacation Mode on the RokuTVs! Bonus! Have you ever been somewhere, logged into Netflix or similar, and forgot to logout? That’s a bummer because you had to ask the host to log you out (oops!) or logout from all devices through your online account. Well… not in our homes! With Guest Mode, you set your name and check out date, and when that date arrives, the RokuOS will log you out and remove all your info! Nice!

Your fridge isn’t cooling your stuff, that’s so… not cool!

Fridges! Warm beverages and empty fridges: Don’t do it!

“My refrigerator isn’t working.” 9 times out of 10 this message comes in when someone arrives with a bunch of food, especially WARM/HOT beverages and loads up the refrigerator. Not only will it take a REALLY long time, like overnight or longer, it will likely cause the fridge to condensate inside and potentially outside. Refrigerators simply are not designed to work going from empty to a large amount of warm products and to cool those products takes lots of time as there is a lot of mass to cool down and none already in the fridge to help hold the cold. Normally, at home, you have all the other already cold stuff that retains a temperature and “helps” the new stuff cool down. Not so when empty. This also means that if you put some milk, eggs, and lunchmeat (perhaps already cool) but with a lot of hot beverages then they may very well not be kept at at a good temp too until everything is cooled down.

Key takeaway?! If you are bringing beverages, buy them cold if you can, or put them on ice in a cooler for that first day or so. 

Worth noting: this should NOT affect the freezer except in extreme cases, so your freezer portion should work regardless of what kind of crazy you have going in the fridge (unless of course you stuck a lot of hot beverages in the freezer….); however, if you fill the entire fridge with warm beverages, its entirely possible, since most fridges circulate air from freezer to fridge compartments, that the freezer could get warmer than its set to since it is working super hard trying to cool all those warm beverages….

If on the other hand, you put cold stuff in and its not staying cool. The freezer isn’t working at all (not feeling cold). The lights don’t come on in either compartment. You don’t hear fans or compressors. Reach out so we can get someone out asap!

Stay frosty my friends!

Ah, still with me? Maybe want a little more, or not quite sure about this whole warm beverages thing taking a LONG time… well… here’s some more. 🙂

https://www.houfy.com/kristen-davemaxfield/posts/cooling-your-food-drinks-in-an-empty-refrigerator-15119

How to fix a jammed garbage disposal? A yucky stew in the sink, or a backed up dishwasher, not cool. But you can fix it yourself in most cases.

If your disposal is clogged and you have a dishwasher, do not run the dishwasher. The dishwasher drains through the sink plumbing (this is true in all houses), and if you run it with a clogged sink, you will get water backing up into the sink and probably straight out of the dishwasher onto your floor. You have been warned…. Now, on to the disposal!

We are happy tp send out maintenance, though that can take some time, and we are sure you’d love to get things going (down the drain) fast, so we wanted to make a few suggestions that you can try to fix the problem yourself. In most cases, a disposal that won’t run is a simple fix.

Clog or disposal issue?

Normal grinding noises, but water won’t drain? You have a clog!

If you turn on the disposal, can you hear it whirling around, and see the water being disturbed by the blades, but the water isn’t going down? You have a clog! You may also have both a jammed disposal and a clog. I’d fix the disposal first because if you get it running, then it might just clear the drainage issue all by itself (see troubleshooting steps below for humming/no humming).

Humming or no humming?

No Humming

• There is a reset button, usually red. On the side or the bottom. Check it and push it. Turn back on.
• No humming and reset didn’t work? Check fuse box. If flipped, put back. Try again. No luck. Check reset now.

If either of these make it hum (even for a short period of time), move on to humming. This is progress. It means something is causing it to trip, and that something is probably a jam.

Humming, no grinding? It’s jammed.

Remove what is jammed in it

Could be something big. Who knows what might have slipped in there. If it is jammed make sure the switch is off before you put anything  in the opening. Remove any debris from inside the disposal. You may need to use tongs or pliers — again be sure its off! — to remove whatever is inside the disposal (which is off, right? Seriously…not just not working, I mean off at the switch, you don’t want to lose a couple digits, right?). If there is something solid in there, that won’t grind (like plastic, metal, glass), will just tear it up and keep jamming it, so we have to get anything like that out first.

Dislodge with a hex wrench

Under the sink, look at the bottom of the disposal for a hex-shaped hole. If you see one, find a 1/4-inch hex wrench that fits the hole (often there is one attached to the disposal). Fit the hex wrench into the hole, and force it back and forth in both directions a few times to free the impellers. You may not be able to move it, if not, go back to the broom handle because you can get more torque by twisting it around inside.

Dislodge with a switch

Some models actually have a switch to reverse the direction of the blades to unstick whatever’s stuck. Most do not, but if you see a switch, it’s either power (check that!) or a reverse (try that too).

Dislodge with a stick: Try a wooden broom handle or large sturdy wooden spoon

Take the end of a wooden broom handle or spoon, put it in the drain, and move it to dislodge whatever is in the disposal. If doing this, you may have to put some weight into it. Run the water and try the switch again.

You should be able to crank the broom handle hard enough to manually make the bottom of the disposal turn. Wiggle it back and forthBe sure you don’t have the spoon or broom handle or your hand in it when turning back on. Give it another shot. Any progress?

Again, if it is humming, it is jammed, so keep at it. If it isn’t humming, its tripped at the reset or the fuse (it’s not getting power!), OR its dead. The only thing you can’t fix is dead….

Still no luck? Don’t run the dishwasher… and submit a maintenance request

If after trying the above steps, you still cannot unclog the disposal, call the office. Do not run your dishwasher while your disposal is clogged, as it may cause the dishwasher to back up and flood. You can text or email anytime!

Some other useful FAQs from around the web

Got a stinky sink? Sounds like a machine gun is rat a tat tatting? Check these out from Insinkerator, one of the leading disposal manufacturers.

This next video covers some basics, and shows you how to remove the disposal if you really want to get into it, but that’s pretty advanced and you can make a heck of a mess if the sink is full of stuff.

This one has some sketchy production values, but is pretty extensive.

How do I lock the storm secure doors with multipoint locks?

“The balcony door won’t lock, its broken, please fix it.”

Happy to help!  9 out of 10 times the door and its locking mechanism are NOT broken but they can be confusing if you have never used one (or never used a “French” type door–which work the same way.

Read on, or watch the video for an example.

Many of our non-slider balcony doors are Anderson doors with multipoint locking assemblies and have features that make them more secure if there is a storm.

Specifically, they that posts that extend into the top and/or bottom of the door frame, making it less likely the door will blow in under high winds and similar situations.

However, these doors will NOT lock until you engage those posts.

So, how do you do that? Easy (usually):

1. Pull handle UP

You extend the posts by puling up reasonably hard on the handle. The handle should go up about 3/4 or more. If it is not, then you may have to wiggle the door forward or backward a bit. You can see how it works by doing it with the door open. The little posts have to extend into the hole(s) in the door frame. This secures the door in place.

2. Turn the knob

Most of these doors also have a deadbolt/twist knob. AFTER the posts are engaged, you can turn the knob. For most of the doors, the lock will NOT turn until you engage the posts (by pulling up and getting them into the hole(s)). This is what trips most people up: they go to the door, want to lock it, and can’t turn the knob. OH NO! Its broken. Nope…  just missed step one!

Like French Doors–so if you happen to have a french door at home, these work almost exactly like 1 or 2 door french doors where you have to pull up first to secure, then lock them.

Here’s a video on one of our doors to show how it works. Pics coming soon!

How long does a refund take?

5-7 Business days, potentially longer depending on your bank.

If for some reason we need to issue a refund of something to your card, here’s what will happen.

You will receive an email confirmation almost immediately.

Our bank and merchant processor will handle the refund, usually within 24 hours.

YOUR bank then has to actually give it to you, which can take as long as 5-7 days and in some cases even longer. We have NO control over this.

Bonus Issue: Refund shows up as Pending then Disappears

Your bank MAY sometimes show the refund as pending in your online account. Then it will disappear. WE HAVE NOT CANCELLED IT. They will eventually apply it. If you call them, they may say they don’t see it–front line folks do not know how to look it up at most banks. We do not know why some banks, especially American Express, do this thing where they show it as pending, then it disappears, then shows up later as permanent. We suspect it shows up as pending when it first happens, then that goes away when the bank gets the money, but they don’t apply the funds until whatever there ruleset is for cardholders and their risk profiles. We don’t have any control over this but have never had a situation where it shows up as pending and then disappears but never shows back up.

If you really want us to, we can look up a number called an ARN and you can give that to your back to confirm it. But really just don’t be antsy. In olden days, you would have waited til the end of the month, gotten the statement and it would have all cleared.

Yes, we have had a few people ask about all this and out bank and merchant service provided said, in no uncertain terms, that if we show it as issued and settled, it is held up at the cardholders bank:

Per our merchant processing bank:

Refunds typically take 7-10 business days (in rare cases they can take up to 30). If someone is particularly worried, then we can look up and provide the ARN number (Acquirer Reference Number) for the transaction. The cardholder can provide the ARN to their card issuer showing that the funds were sent to them. It’s up to the issuing bank in terms of when the returned funds are made available to the cardholder. I should mentioned that not all banks front-line customer service personnel will know what the ARN is and the cardholder may become frustrated or possibly get an incorrect initial answer from them, but rest assured it is in process and is at their bank.

How Do I send Use Airplay, Cast, or X with your Roku TVs?

Aka How to Show a Video stream on our Roku-based Smart TVs from your devices?

We have nice Roku-Based Smart TVs. One of the cool features of these, besides being able to login to almost any of your own services during your stay, is that, in a pinch, you can almost always show something from your device on the TVs.

This ability to AirPlay or Screen Mirror a video is super helpful sometimes. For example, my family was in a home like the ones you are in, and it had a Roku TV instead of old-school cable/satellite. We used a lot of our own services but… we could not install a sports app and wanted to watch a soccer game. In comes AirPlay. With AirPlay, we got the video up and running on my iPhone, then pushed it to the TV, where we could watch it and even control the video with the Roku remote! Pretty cool.

How? That depends on the type of device you are using. Note it has to be new enough to be compatible. Let’s look at the big 3: AirPlay, Android, and Windows.

RokuTV and AirPlay and Apple Devices

Is my Apple device compatible?

How do I use AirPlay to view videos, music, and photos on my TV?

Apple, Android, Windows Screen Mirroring to RokuTV Smart TVs