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5 things to do and see at Gulf State Park, including geocaching
ByZoe Hall
Gulf State Park has become a destination for lovers of the great outdoors. With over 6,000 acres, there are several activities to do at this wonder on the coast. Here are five activities we recommend for your next trip down to the coast!
1&2. Hiking and Biking
This park has made biking easier for visitors with its free bike share program. There are 50 bikes available to rent. There are several trails available for cyclists and hikers, all easy to find to find and access. My favorite is the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail, a paved trail that goes through the entire park and its nine unique ecosystems.
3. Birdwatching
The Gulf State Park is home to nine unique ecosystems, which offers visitors the chance to watch and observe all the residential and migrating birds including herons, owls, woodpeckers and more. Check out the Alabama Coastal Birding Trails to view the range of birds!
Some of the birds you can expect to see at the park include hummingbirds, plovers, sandpipers, pelicans, gulls. If you see a species that isn’t listed in the park’s guide, stop by the Nature Center to find out more from one of the Naturalists!
4. Fishing
The Gulf State Park offers several spots for fishers, including the Gulf State Park Fishing and Education pier. Not only is it the largest pier in the Gulf of Mexico, it is also Alabama’s only public pier. On the pier, visitors can find a retail store, concession area and shaded seating. The pier sustained damage in Hurricane Sally, but the northern portion has been repaired and is open.
5. Geocaching
Geocaching is a great family friendly activity to do at Gulf State Park. It’s a real life treasure hunting game. The rules are simple: after choosing a cache to find, when given a set of GPS coordinates, you find the hidden cache. Once you find it, sign the logbook and trade items, and return the original item to the original location for others to find.
To ensure the safety and to maintain the park’s natural resources, all geocaches are required to be permitted. To find out more information, click here.
What is your activity to do at Gulf State Park? Tag us @thebamabuzz to let us know!
