Most of us take our furry children with us when we travel.
They have become such an important part of our families, we just can’t bear
leaving them behind. Our team at Sunset Properties is just like you! We take our furry kids with us on trips,
too. Everyone needs a vacation break sometimes! Because we understand the need
for this kind of companionship, we make sure we have dog friendly rentals
available. We offer a variety of vacation homes that allow guests to bring
their four legged babies with them. But once you get down to our
beautiful beach paradise home, where can you take your fur baby? What can
you guys do to hang out together? Dogs are not allowed on the public
beaches in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, so where can you go for a playdate with your adorable little rescue who rescued you? We suggest trying out
the following local spots:
Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail
Established in 2003, the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail is one of our favorite
places to go when we want to visit all the ecosystems our island has to
offer. It’s kind of a “one-stop-shop” for hikers, bikers and fur babies
who want to see a variety of wildlife habitats right here along the Alabama Gulf Coast. You’ll be sharing the trail with other folks, so be sure
to have pup properly leashed. This is as much for your safety as for the
safety of others. With more than fifteen miles of trails to explore, this
is one outing that’s sure to please everyone in your group. Be on the
lookout for herons, gators, bobcats and turtles. You and your pretty
pooch will travel through marshes, along old hunting trails, and through one of
the last remaining maritime forests in South Alabama. There’s a lot to see and
sniff! The trails are well maintained and great for travel on foot or
bicycle. Because the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail is a part
of Alabama State Parks, there are also plenty of convenience stops for visitors,
too. You’ll find restrooms and picnic areas spread throughout. So
go ahead and pack a lunch for your and your buddy and make it a day
outdoors! Don’t forget to clean up after your canine cutie. We
expect you’ll find the trails clean and ask that you leave them that same way.
Lake Shelby Dog Park
Within the expanse that is Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail
is beautiful Lake Shelby. Located just north
of the beach road within Gulf State Park, Lake Shelby has
long been one of our favorite places to go for picnics, swimming and just
watching nature. Dogs are welcome to enjoy Lake Shelby, too. Your
furry friend must be leashed when entering and leaving the park and must be
current on all vaccinations. While we recommend Lake Shelby as one of our
favorite outing spots, we caution you to be watchful over your fur baby.
Alligators live in and around this ancient lake and they can be aggressive
towards dogs.
Orange Beach Waterfront Park
Located on Canal Road in Orange Beach, Orange Beach Waterfront
Park is
a perfect place to take the kiddos and the Fidos! The kids will find a
wooden playground unlike any other on our island. Parents will notice
this is a great spot to snap some fun vacation pics, too! The City of Orange Beach planned well when they added a 400 foot
fishing pier to extend the park out into our beautiful back bay area.
Take a walk out on the pier and you may just see a family of dolphins swimming
by. Your hound will be happy with all the open space to stretch his
legs. Restrooms are provided and a pavilion is available so bring your
picnic supplies. Remember to keep your fur baby on a leash and clean up
after if he goes potty in the park.
Unleashed Doggie Park
Are you and your cheerful canine will find plenty to wag your
tails about at Unleashed Doggie Park! Plenty of open space, that
is. Unleashed Doggie Park, located at 27920 Canal
Road, opened in 2010 and it has become a favorite place of locals and visitors,
alike! In addition to plenty of open space to play, you’ll find a nicely
kept, fenced-in large play area. Watering stations are also
available. For everyone’s safety, this park has a very specific list of
guidelines for visitors and we encourage you to check them out here.
The Fort at Fort Morgan
Have you ever visited the actual fort located at the end of
Fort Morgan Road? Turn off Alabama Highway 59 and head west about 22
miles and you’ll find Fort Morgan. Its just past The Dunes subdivision and condos. On the site of this
historic landmark dating back to 1812 and formerly called Fort Bowyer, Fort
Morgan historic site is a great place for a family outing! All members of
your family, including your furry bestie kept safely on a leash, are welcome to
tour the fort grounds during daylight hours. Historic Fort Morgan is
located at the most western tip of Baldwin County where the Gulf of Mexico
meets Mobile Bay making it’s beach area unique in several ways. First,
because the salt and fresh waters that surround Gulf Shores, Orange Beach
and Fort Morgan meet here, you’re sure to see several forms of marine life. Dolphins tend to swim pretty close to the beaches that surround the
fort. Coastal birds like seagulls, blue herons, and sandpipers are visible almost
daily. Sand crabs love this largely untraveled beach and you may even see
a gator somewhere nearby. Another thing you’ll most likely see off shore
is the Mobile Bay Ferry. The ferry transports
automobiles from Fort Morgan to Dauphin Island in Mobile County. The
ferry schedule may be altered a bit due to COVID-19 concerns, so we suggest you
check their website for an up-to-date schedule listing. Lastly, you might find
your furry friend sniffing something that was left at the old fort site for
decades. Artifacts found on fort property are naturally the property of
the fort. So, if you guys unearth something, be sure to take it to the
gift shop located on the fort grounds. Speaking of artifacts, if you’d
like to see something really cool, that has been unearthed by the Gulf’s might power during a
hurricane, but is too big to put in your pocket, travel about 5 miles east of
the fort along the beach. If the tide is just right, you may get a
glimpse of The Rachel. A ship from long
ago, her remains are beached in the Fort Morgan area for all to see.
Fort Morgan Community
Our fur babies are not allowed to traipse their toes across the sandy white public beaches in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, but they are allowed on the sand in the Fort Morgan community. That’s right! You and your four-legged jogging buddy can stretch your legs in the warm sand in Fort Morgan. If you are a guest of Sunset Properties and your vacation home is located in this area, you will love the convenience of this. The beaches in Fort Morgan, Alabama have less restrictive guidelines than those in other places on our island. Consider reserving a vacation home in The Dunes Condominiums. Check out Dunes 602 if you and your canine companion enjoy watching sunsets from a private balcony facing the Gulf of Mexico. Dunes 202 may be more in line with what you’re looking for if you want to be poolside. Several other condos located within this complex are also dog friendly. Would you rather stay in a single-family beach house? Give Dunesberry a look. This spacious beach home is located in The Dunes subdivision and is literally just yards from the sandy white beaches of The Gulf of Mexico. You and your pupper will enjoy sipping your cold drinks on private balconies as you plan your daily outings. For a complete listing of our dog friendly rentals, follow this link. Remember there are some restrictions associated with bringing your furry family member and we will be happy to answer any questions you have!
When you’re ready to head down to our beautiful Alabama Coast,
don’t leave your snuggle buddy at home. Bring him or her with you,
too. There’s lots you can do together as a family and lots of great
places to choose to stay. We are looking forward to your arrival!
www.sunsetproperties.com
251.543.1370
