Winter in Gulf Shores, Alabama

Many people who love Gulf Shores have never seen it in winter. Visit in winter, especially just after fall and before the snowbirds flood in after Christmas, and you will be practically alone on the beach. You will never have to wait in line at restaurants and your lodging will be cheaper than you are used to paying. The weather might be cool, and sometimes even cold, but it is possible than the weather could be very pleasant. High temperatures into the low 70s are common during the winter, and some years the Alabama Gulf Coast only gets a few days of truly cold weather.

All of the photos on this page were taken during the first few days in December.




This is the Gulf State Park area, just east of the pier. One lone walker has all of the shells to herself.




Fish do bite in the winter, but not many people fish on the Gulf State Park Pier when the weather turns cool.




Not a lot of footprints in the sand, but plenty of bird tracks.




If you enjoy taking photos, winter is a great time for it. The beach has a different look when it's uncrowded.




The east side of the pier and a solitary great blue heron.




East of the Gulf State Park Pier. Not one person on the beach.




As mentioned, fish bite in winter, but very few people fish compared to the numbers than do when the weather is warm. Speckled trout, redfish, white trout, whiting, and pompano are some fish that bite when the water is cool.




In the summer, the Islands of Perdido Pass are crowded with boats and people.




The tip of Bird Island is the most favored place to park a small boat on the islands, but on this day nobody was there.




If you like to shop, you will not have to look very hard to find a good place to park. This is the Wharf in Orange Beach.




You will not have to wait on a table at area restaurants.




The Cotton Bayou Public Beach Area of Gulf State Park is always a busy place during the summer. Visit during the a Gulf Shores winter and it is all yours.