We know you guys are all too familiar with the social distancing guidelines. Stay six feet apart. Wear a lower face covering when possible. If you’re sick, stay home. Here along the Alabama Gulf Coast, we are becoming pros at keeping ourselves masked, separated and healthy, as well. This has been pretty easy for the spring and much of the early summer. When it’s not so hot, taking a walk on the sand or sitting under an umbrella enjoying a good novel are great ways to social distance at the beach. But what do you do when it feels so scorching hot outside that you limit your beach time to only part of the day, but you still need to escape the four walls of your vacation home without melting?
Here are five ways to Keep Cool and Social Distance While You’re in Gulf Shores:
Parasail over the Gulf of Mexico
Some folks have asked us what is parasailing? Well, it’s actually being towed behind a boat while you’re hooked to a parachute. It’s kind of the best way everrrrr to watch marine life in the Gulf without actually being in the water! How it works is simple. You’ll get your parachute on and climb inside a boat and travel in the Gulf just offshore. You’ll still be able to see your buddies on the beach and they will be able to get some great pics of you! Once you’re out in the Gulf a few yards and ready to take off, you’ll find yourself flying up out of the water behind the boat pulling you in just a matter of minutes. Forget trying to count six feet to social distance, while parasailing, you’ll go as high as eight-hundred feet over the water and just ride in the air. The good folks at Blue Sky Parasail and Watersports would love to have you join them for one of their outings. The rates to parasail are very reasonable and the memories you’ll make are immeasurable. If social distancing and staying cool are two of your goals while you’re vacationing with Sunset Properties in Gulf Shores, parasailing over the Gulf of Mexico needs to be on your list!
Bike from Gulf Shores to Orange Beach
Lots of folks love to bike around our island. We know taking a trip from Gulf Shores to Orange Beach with a few fun stops on the way will be a great way to social distance and keep cool. Why not rent a bike at Tiki’s Bike Shack located on Gulf Shores Parkway next to what we “old tymers” remember as Zooland Mini Golf (now Tiki’s Mini Golf) and ride from there down Gulf Shores Parkway and turn left toward Orange Beach. Of course, while you’re still on Gulf Shores Parkway, you’ll want to stop at Matt’s Homemade Alabama Ice Cream and just get a scoop or two for the road. When you make the turn onto highway 182 also called Beach Boulevard, be sure to stop by our public beach in Gulf Shores and just spend a few minutes enjoying the sounds of the Gulf. There really is nothing better than the feeling of the Gulf breeze on your skin in the middle of the summer. Once you’re back on your way toward Orange Beach, you’ll see one of our favorite restaurants sitting out on the Gulf Side of the Lighthouse condos. Be sure to stop in at Sea-N-Suds for a cold adult beverage and some of the best gumbo anywhere. If you happen to be staying with Sunset Properties in Lighthouse 607, you already know about Sea N Suds! Your adventure shouldn’t end here, though. So, keep pedaling! You’re only about ten miles from the heart of Orange Beach and the scenery along the way is spectacular!
Ride a jet ski in our beautiful back bays
Orange Beach is not only a fisherman’s paradise, but also one of the best places to ride jet skis! While you’re social distancing, why not give it a try? Our back bays, places like Bay La Launch and Wolf Bay, are brimming with sea life this time of year. Dolphins will almost surely swim alongside you as you ride. Sea gulls and cranes are all along the shoreline. While you’re out riding our back bays, be sure to visit Pirate’s Cove Restaurant and Marina and have a burger and a bushwacker! If you’re staying with us at Grand Caribbean 425, a tastefully decorated two bedroom/ one and half bath condo (the perfect size for social distancing!), you are only a few minutes away from where this cool water adventure can start. Visit the good folks at Alabama Extreme Watersports to schedule your jet ski rental and let the fun begin!
Slingshot yourself to Fort Morgan
We cannot think of a better way to cool off during the steaming summer days than to take a ride in a convertible, unless it’s riding in a Slingshot. Slingshots are a kind of crazy cool cross between a convertible car and a three-wheel motorbike. The good folks at Coyote Beach Sports in Gulf Shores will get you set up and on your way in no time! Two people can ride comfortably, as long as one of you can drive a car with a manual transmission. You should start from your condo at Crystal Tower 1406 in the West Beach area of Gulf Shores and travel out Fort Morgan Road until you reach the historic fort site. The twenty-two mile ride out to the fort is such a nice ride and your scenery will change from hundred year old water oaks, to peeks at our lagoon, to passing beside Shell Banks Baptist Church and the old Indian village site. Eventually you will be driving alongside Mobile Bay and end up at Fort Morgan where the Gulf and the bay meet. This is a great ride and a great way to social distance and keep cool!
Go for a swim
Swimming is one of the best ways to cool off while social distancing. Most pools have ten person-limit in the pool areas to help fight the spread of COVID-19. However, the Gulf of Mexico is big enough to handle us all! If swimming in the Gulf appeals to you and you want to be just a short walk away from the public beach in Gulf Shores, stay with Sunset Properties at Beachview 223. This vacation home is a cozy one bedroom apartment on the second floor directly across the street from the world famous Pink Pony Pub and the amazingly white sandy beaches we all love! Speaking of white sandy beaches, check out Beach Front 301! This condo located on West Beach Boulevard is literally just steps away from our beautiful beaches! Remember to social distance on the beach and only hang out with folks you know. But swimming in the Gulf is a great way to get your splash on without having to worry about the ten-person limit at our pools.
We know the necessary social distancing thing can be a challenge when you’re trying to decide what to do in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan and avoid spreading the awful coronavirus. We also know that with a little bit of creativity, you can still have a super fun vacation. At Sunset Properties, we are taking extra precautions to keep your vacation homes guest-ready and safe. If you’re wondering what we’ve been up to regarding this, be sure to check out our COVID-19 Updates Page. We are looking forward to your arrival! The beach is calling and social distancing can be a cool thing, so come on down!!
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