Gulf Shores, AL

Gulf Shores is a Baldwin County resort city on the Gulf of Mexico and the southernmost settlement in Alabama. Tourism dominates the economy, with beaches, condo towers, vacation rentals, restaurants, and seasonal traffic all central to local life. Gulf State Park is the major public outdoor landmark, adding trails, beach access, and protected coastal habitat alongside the private vacation market. The city is small by year-round population, but it carries a much larger footprint during beach season, when it becomes one of Alabama's main vacation destinations.