Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Travel Guide
This past month I went on two back-to-back beach trips. Right after graduation, Will and I went to Gulf Shores, and right after I went to Hangout Fest with Madi. From beautiful sunsets to gorgeous beaches, I had the best time on both trips, and I can’t wait to share all of the details from these vacations!
Where We Stayed
For my trip with Will, we decided to stay in the Beach Front Hampton Inn and Suites. We chose this hotel because it was right on the beach! The view from our room was so beautiful. We could watch the sunset right from the comfort of our room. I also chose this hotel because it’s pet friendly. I wanted to bring Elle with me, and staying here allowed me to be able to do that. She also enjoyed our balcony! I put her in her carrier and let her enjoy the beachfront view.
With Madi, we decided we wanted to stay in an Airbnb. We actually had a lot of issues with our Airbnb unit so I won’t link it in this blog post. I actually have had so many problems with Airbnb over the last couple of years; I am kinda over going through the trouble. I am a hotel girly through and through and will continue staying in trusted hotels for my next travel adventures.
Where We Ate
When I take a beach trip, I usually like to go to the grocery store to stock up on any snacks/food we might need. I do this to save a little extra money and time. For both trips, I went to the grocery store and bought stuff to make sandwiches, as well as some heat-up dinners! These supplies make it so easy to grab something super quick to eat in between activities. This was especially needed during Hangout Fest when Madi and I were constantly on the go. Even though we didn't spend too much time out, I still got to enjoy a couple of restaurants and dessert places.
Kayden’s Candy Factory: They make their own ice cream in-house. The vibe was so cute and the ice cream was so yummy!
Del’s Ice Cream: They also make their ice cream fresh! It was so delicious and creamy and had SO many flavors to choose from.
Doc’s Seafood Shack: We LOVED the oysters here. They were so fresh and the best oysters I’ve had in a while!
My Beach Essentials
These are the items that I can’t live without at the beach!
Bogg Bag - This bag is perfect for a beach trip. Not only is it big enough for everything I need to bring to the beach, but it’s also so easy to clean. I also love how it comes in so many different cute colors!
ELF Face Sunscreen/Primer - This sunscreen is so glowy and moisturizing. It works well by itself and under makeup and never leaves me feeling greasy.
Sun Bum Face Mist Sunscreen - I love this sunscreen for better SPF coverage. I would recommend this sunscreen for all-day beach use.
Sun Bum Body Sunscreen - This sunscreen smells so good! I love how it doesn’t make my skin feel greasy, but still gives me the protection I need.
Detangler Brush - This brush detangles my hair with no effort! It doesn’t snag or tear my hair and makes brushing tangled hair so easy.
Olaplex Moisturizing Treatment - This hair treatment is a LIFE SAVER for your hair after spending hours swimming in the pool or ocean. This leaves my hair soft, shiny, and smelling good!
Beach Hat - This is my absolute favorite beach hat. The wide brim keeps the sun out of my eyes and the straw texture makes it dirt resistant!
Can Cooler - Does anyone else like sipping a White Claw on the beach? This can cooler keeps slim cans ice cold for the longest time. I also like how this allows me to be a little more discreet with what I’m drinking.
Tap Cooler - I love how this cooler keeps my favorite beverage cold for hours. It is also equipped with a built-in tap, so you can dispense your drink right from the cooler!
Beach Chairs - These chairs are so durable and comfortable for the beach. They recline and have an adjustable pillow for maximum comfort.
Beach Spiker - Hate getting sand all over everything you own? ME TOO. This beach spike holds drinks, keys, phones, and more and lets you avoid sandy stuff!
I also LOVE self-tanning before the beach! I am not one who loves sitting out in the sun (nor do I want skin damage), so self-tanning is essential for me! Last week’s blog post actually went through in-depth of my self-tanning routine.
I am now back in Tuscaloosa & thankful for some time to reset! If you want to see even more about my Gulf Shores beach trip, click here! My Hangout Fest vlog with Madi also just went live yesterday. I am so excited about the opportunity to travel more post-grad, and I can not wait to take you along!
