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Need some beach time and were thinking of driving to Gulf Shores from the KC area. Any recommendations on lodging and dining? We don't want to break the bank on the trip.

Eat some fried crab claws for me, will ya? Can't find good fcc in Maine.

Every where we ate down there, we loved it. My favorite was Lulu's. My wife like the Original Oyster House (or was it Bar) the best.

Just completing a Gulf Coast tour. Started in New Orlenes for 2 days. Moved to Gulf Shores for two days. Wrapping up at the Margaritaville Hotel in Pensacola Beach now as I type this from their business center. Great spring break trip with the kids, although with this strange winter we aren't really escaping bad Chicago weather when it was mid-80s when we left.

Lulu's is a must in Gulf Shores for food. I was surprised that it was a bigger venue with much more to keep kids busy. The wait was almost 2 hours on a Sunday night, so we ate outside in the picnic table area by the bar and it was only a 25 min. wait. Great time with Parrothead friends and relatives from far away places, good food, good drink. What more do you need?

Also had food and drink at the Floribama bar, where I believe the Bama Breeze video was based on. Nothing too special, but somewhat of a Parrothead bucket list thing. Still in the process of rebuilding after the hurricane and looks to be greatly expanding.

Two websites for finding condos, etc.:
www.meyerre.com
www.gulfrentals.com
Also try www.vrbo.com. It's where we have found our condos for several years. You can put in how many bedrooms, what area around Gulf Shores you want to stay, etc.
Restaurants:
Lulu's (of course)
Tacky Jack's (great place to watch the sunset)
Mikee's Seafood (cheap)
Shrimp Basket
Flipper's Restaurant
Happy Harbor
and my favorite of all time:
The Original Oyster House (yum)

All, thanks for the input. Looks like plenty of good options. We are looking forward to some good beach time and drinking lots of Rum.

PHins Up

I practically lived down there.

My recommendations for good food are...
King Neptunes
Mikees
Tacky Jacks 2 down Fort Morgan Road is great for sunsets and overstuffed oyster poboys
Lulu's (of course) Crab melt is phenomenal, fried okra order is enough for 4 people, and the Krispy Kreme bread pudding is so rich you can eat off it for days. Lulu's has 2 webcams so you can wave to friends back home if you can get them to log on while you're there.
Best fudge is at Souvenir City with the huge shark.
Shrimp Shack is quick and yummy. Their slaw has tiny salad shrimp in it. Tasty!

Variety Shelling is best at Little Lagoon Pass. Parking area is a birding stop.
If you want huge shells go all the way down to the Fort and walk out around the point past the light house. Scallop shells as big as your hand.


Pink Pony Pub is small but has good service and it's right on the beach. The Hang Out is right next door. It's a great one stop for food, bands & booze, plus a play area for the kiddies.
Flori~bama is a rathole but a fun & famous one. Don't take kids at night if you don't want alot of explaining on the car ride back.

For the Buffett Gulf Coast show, we stayed at Best Western right near the Pink Pony and Hang Out. I liked the location and The Island Pancake House.
http://www.bestwesternonthebeach.com/dining.htm

I also enjoyed staying on lower floors of The Island House right above pool.
http://www.islandhousehotel.com/

If you go to the Original Oyster House you'll be "Lounging at the Lagoon."

And be sure to try the Bushwacker everywhere.

http://www.gulf2key.com/2011/flavor-and ... er-recipe/

conched wrote:And be sure to try the Bushwacker everywhere.

http://www.gulf2key.com/2011/flavor-and ... er-recipe/

Mmmm...dessert.

I'd offer suggestions, but I really am not familiar with the area.

RinglingRingling wrote:I'd offer suggestions, but I really am not familiar with the area.

SPEW !!!!!!

lime rickie wrote:

conched wrote:And be sure to try the Bushwacker everywhere.

http://www.gulf2key.com/2011/flavor-and ... er-recipe/

Mmmm...dessert.

And appetizer!

That recipe forgot to say to throw a cherry on top!

conched wrote:And be sure to try the Bushwacker everywhere.

Yeah, those are an experience. Had a couple at the Flora-bama. And in Pensacola. Whew.

looking4OPH wrote:

conched wrote:And be sure to try the Bushwacker everywhere.

Yeah, those are an experience. Had a couple at the Flora-bama. And in Pensacola. Whew.

They'll make you try to fall UP the stairs to the upper deck at Tacky Jack's!!

The Orange beach location is big with boaters and not a bad place to spend a Saturday afternoon if you can find a barstool. There is an upper observation deck that gives fantastic views of Perdido Bay and Alabama Point. There are some old gumball machines filled up with dog food; you can spend 50cents and feed the fish.