Gulf Shores Welcome Center
Gulf Shores Welcome Center
5
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Both welcome centers are open seven days a week. The centers are closed on Easter, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
Suggested duration
< 1 hour
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Best nearby
Restaurants
115 within 3 miles
Attractions
38 within 6 miles
See what other travelers are saying
- Barrett LGulf Shores, Alabama814 contributionsMust stop in Gulf Shores!!I haven't been here, even tho I'm a local, but since we were have friends coming this week & daughter in two weeks it was time to get some coupon books, flyers, etc. It's actually a visitor center to be proud of because it is very nicely designed with a beachy upbeat and upscale decor that's very warm and inviting as are the friendly and helpful the people inside. The ladies welcomed us warmly and were very eager and happy to share all kinds of helpful information. Even as a local I found a couple things that I'm sure visitors would likely miss. Bottom line: This lovely welcome center is clean and well organized with tons of guides, brochures, maps, pamphlets, coupons, papers and stuff you can use with terrific Gulf Shores knowledgeable ambassadors. Great stop!!Thank you so much for taking the time to write this kind review. We genuinely hope our centers are remembered for our warm southern hospitality and eagerness to share this trove of information we have for our local paradise. Please feel free to visit again and or call the centers if you need any ideas and suggestions for your visitors.Written May 24, 2020This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Traveled with familyWritten May 23, 2020
- Cindy W1 contributionGulf Shores Vacay!!!Beautiful facility and the staff were very friendly and helpful. I would recommend anyone visiting Gulf Shores to stop by the Gulf Shores Welcome Center and pick up brochures on local attractions, restaurants and lodging. Their friendly staff will be more than happy to accommodate your travel needs!!Thank you for stopping by, we are always excited to hear about our visitor's experience. We hope you stop by on your next trip to the area.Written June 22, 2020This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Traveled with familyWritten June 21, 2020
- CIndy Walker3 contributionsRetirement/Girls Trip to Gulf Shores was Awesome!!I love visiting Gulf Shores And Orange Beach, AL. The people there are so friendly. The ladies at the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach welcome centers are always friendly and knowledgeable of the area. We were given packets of information and coupons to use during our stay. Due to COVID, We were also given a small bottle of hand sanitizer to use which showed how much the tourism industry cares about the safety of their visitors.Thank you Cindy for taking the time to post such a nice review. Or staff tries to show "Southern Hospitality" and share area information. We so appreciate your visit to our Welcome Center. Please stop by on your next visit and till we meet again..........Have a great week.Written September 18, 2020This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Traveled with friendsWritten September 17, 2020
These reviews are the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor checks reviews for fraud.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
476 reviews
Excellent
398
Very good
57
Average
13
Poor
4
Terrible
4
Beach Tigers
Springdale, AR156 contributions
May 2020
Went here in May to pick up brochures for the area. First the building its self is beautiful. Went inside, workers are all behind the counter with masks on. All of the brochure cases are wrapped in clear stretch wrap. We had to tell the counter folks which brochures we wanted and then wait for them to get them from the back. Not sure how this helped slow the spread. Especially since other travelers came in and stood shoulder to shoulder with us as we looked and no one was managing the social distancing of the travelers to travelers... just the travelers to employees behind the counter. If you go on down the road, most of the restaurants have the same brochures. I would recommend bypassing the welcome center and getting what you need from your resort or a restaurant.
Written June 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you for visiting our welcome center. As Director of Hospitality and Information, I wanted to personally respond to your review as the health and safety of our guests and staff are paramount. We are making every precaution to take guest and employee safety seriously during this unprecedented time. The wrap is to keep multiple guests from touching brochures and to limit contact to just our employee (who just sanitized their hands) and you. Our efforts do not inhibit the guests from retrieving any requested information. We are always willing and welcoming in our centers to provide our guests with as much detail and any literature that we have available. We continue to work on social distancing with guests as have found the need to educate visitors to follow recommendations during this time. We appreciate your concerns that we are open, but we (along with all other businesses in this area, despite the pandemic), we are here for our guests. If you like to continue this conversation, please call my direct line at 251-968-9319.
Thanks,
Kim Chapman
Written June 30, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ouiswim
1 contribution
Aug 2020
This was only our second visit to Gulf Shores and we stopped at the welcome center to check out some of the things to do and places to eat. I'm sure at one time this was a welcoming place, but not now. The over reaction to Covid 19 was ridiculous. We were the only ones there but we had to enter one door and leave another. All of the brochures were shrink wrapped tightly so you couldn't get one. We had to keep calling out which ones we wanted and after a while we felt like we were inconveniencing the girl. I'm sure it wasn't her fault and she was just doing what she was told to do. It's been a few days and we are finding brochures all over Gulf Shores with no restrictions. Daily you can pick up things in a grocery store that have been touched by who knows how many people but you can't pick up a paper brochure at the Welcome Center! We did not leave there feeling welcome.
Written August 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you for visiting our Welcome Center. Your opinion is understood. Many State Welcome Centers have remained closed and have chosen not to open. Our hospitality employees have all remained healthy and active due to the Welcome Center precautions. I understand it is an inconvenience to ask for a brochure but the health and safety of everyone that enters our center is our main concern. We are making every precaution to take guest and employee safety seriously during this unprecedented time. The wrap is to keep multiple guests from touching brochures and to limit contact to just our employee (who just sanitized their hands) and you. Our efforts do not inhibit the guests from retrieving any requested information. We are always willing and welcoming in our centers to provide our guests with as much detail and any literature that we have available. We continue to work on social distancing with guests as have found the need to educate visitors to follow recommendations during this time. We look forward to being able to serve you when we can relax these restrictions. We invite you to stop in on your next visit in hopefully a Pandemic free environment. Until then be safe and enjoy your excursions.
Written August 30, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
570creative
San Antonio, FL29 contributions
Nov 2019
The two ladies were extremely helpful and knowledgeable. I got so much information and material! The facility is really beautiful and new, plus i was able to use their wifi. Stop in and you will learn a lot about what the area has to offer.
Written January 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you very much for your kind review. We enjoy our guests and our staff is very accommodating in trying to provide area information. We like to share our beautiful new facility with all guests. Free Wifi is always available.
Hopefully you will stop in again soon and we can give you more ideas.
Written January 14, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Greg S
1 contribution
Jan 2020 • Couples
Building was great really shows off the area. Staff were super. Very friendly, up beat and positive. They took time to explain how the Center was set up. They were gracious with their time and pleased to answer questions about the area. For those coming into Gulf Shores, visit the center.
Written January 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you for taking the time to post a review of our Welcome Center here in Gulf Shores. We are here to showcase our area and share all the information we have. Please feel free to swing back if have any questions or concerns.
Written January 25, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kenneth L
White House, TN83 contributions
May 2021
I sent my wife in as parking a 50' rig isn't that easy in Gulf Shores. She came out with several wonderful suggestions from one of the ladies working there. Thanks you for all of your help and hospitality.
Written May 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review, Kenneth. We hope you enjoy your visit to our area and come back again to see us soon!
Written May 25, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Suz8086
25 contributions
Jun 2022
This is a beautiful visitor center with great artwork. Lots of brochures and options to learn for your stay. The two individuals working were very welcoming and knowledgeable. We tried several of their recommendations during our week here and they were all great. Thank you!
Written July 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you so much for coming in to see us! We appreciate our visitors and truly thank you for taking the time to leave us your input. We are very happy that you found our information and recommendations useful. Be sure to come back and see us again on your next trip.
Written July 5, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
454Goldie
Penfield, NY7 contributions
Jan 2020
I stopped in to the Gulf Shores Welcome Center on the way in to town to get some information. 2 very friendly and knowledgeable ladies welcomed me and gave me a "Welcome Bag" with lots of information. There were also walls of brochures sorted by category (fishing, entertainment, restaurants, etc.). They also host informative lectures about there area. Great place to stop! Look for the dolphin statue in front of the building.
Written January 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you for stopping in our Welcome Center. Please feel free to stop back by during your stay and we will direct you to local events and activities. Our guests are very important to us and we hope you enjoy your visit to this beautiful paradise we call home.
Written January 24, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sharon J
8 contributions
Sep 2019 • Couples
The welcome center was beautiful and clean.
The lady at the front desk was very helpful and knowledgeable about the area. We received maps, vacation guide and local activitie information. We will definitely return to the welcome center and Gulf Shores!
The lady at the front desk was very helpful and knowledgeable about the area. We received maps, vacation guide and local activitie information. We will definitely return to the welcome center and Gulf Shores!
Written February 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you for taking the time to let us know that you enjoyed your visit to our welcome center and received information for your recent vacation in Gulf Shores.
We hope you stop by and visit us again on your next visit to the area.
Written February 9, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Michael R
Perdido Key, FL162 contributions
Aug 2011 • Couples
My wife and I stopped by to get brochures about attractions in Gulf Shores. The staff member we spoke with was very, very helpful, had personal knowledge of some of the attractions we were interested in, and took extra time to really explain a couple of attractions to us. When I returned a day later to pick up a brochure (my wife had lost) on parasailing, the same staff member immediately recognized me, said hello, had a big smile, and offered to help me again. Stop here first, if only to pick up a few brochures and talk to the staff there. It won't be a waste of time.
Written August 27, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
RESIDENTEVILGURL
Georgetown, SC8 contributions
Apr 2011
the staff is horrible..THEY DIDN'T HELP US AT ALL ..WE KEPT WAITIN FOR THEM TO TELL US ABOUT THINGS ..and when we would ask them questions about places and they just acted like they dont care..NEVER GO TO THEM FOR ADVISE
Written May 9, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Is the red tide expected to be in gulf shores? If so when?
Visit AL Beaches
Gulf Shores, AL1,171 contributions
We have had no reports of any occurrences in our area at this time. It is a natural occurrence that travels with the currents in the water. Feel free to contact again at a later time if you plan to visit the area.
josephcecil36
Prattville, AL
where are you located
Carolyn B
Madison, AL21 contributions
59 heading to Gulf Shores Dolphins in front makes a nice picture ..
BGO62
Mayfield, KY2 contributions
Coming for 3 short days may 24-27; 2018ould like coupons for restaurants and ideas on saving money this time. In Gulf shores
Lynn S
Kaukauna, WI32 contributions
The people who man the Welcome Center will help you find any available coupons among all the informational brochures. Additionally, you can find coupon books at various tourist shops. Ask where you can pick them up; I'm sure the Welcome Center people can point you to the right place,
_john_marshall_933
Rock Falls, IL5 contributions
We are visiting from Illinois and we want homemade pie. Where would you suggest the best place? You were closed over the weekend. We are still looking. Thank you. Only HOMEMADE💕💕
Lynn S
Kaukauna, WI32 contributions
Sarah's Homemade: "Our goal is to provide delicious and homemade meals made easy for you. We cook, while you spend time with your family and friends! Our meals are perfect for vacations, dinner parties, showers, new babies, or just an easy, delicious night in!" We bought their Shepherd's Pie, and we thought it delicious. They may not have a big selection of pie, though. If you like homemade cheesecake, I recommend Hope's Cheesecake, 210 E. 20th Ave, Gulf Shores, AL 36542
What are your nightly rates?
Carolyn B
Madison, AL21 contributions
Always stop at the welcome Center you get lots of Brochures, Discount coupons , lots of good info and friendly people there ..
Easter brunch
MARKOWisconsin
Gulfport, MS109 contributions
Heard Craft Farms complex was great, but have not been there.
Angie S
Tuscaloosa, AL
I'm planning a trip to gulf shores in May for my son I'll also be having a teenager with me I want to no what is the best beach in gulf shores and a place were lots of teenagers to and have fun my son 5 daughter 18 we plan on staying 2 night
MARKOWisconsin
Gulfport, MS109 contributions
The public beach in Gulf Shores is great. You can park all day for $10., but they have bathrooms, volleyball courts, picnic areas, great beaches, shade and sun places.
Elizabeth M
Louisville, KY1 contribution
Is there anything fun for girls- getaway/birthday coming in April 2018
Visit AL Beaches
Gulf Shores, AL1,171 contributions
We have many things for the girls to do: A lot of great dining, shopping, dolphin cruises, kayak excursions,a trip to the spa. Check out all there is to do on our website, and stop in to see us when you come into town.
Elizabeth M
Louisville, KY1 contribution
I would like to know a great place to eat for my Birthday coming sown with some friends for our B-day wanted a nice place to go?
Thanks, Elizabeth
AlnSue
Michigan811 contributions
If u want a fun place go to LULU's
Gulf Shores Welcome Center - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Gulf Shores Welcome Center
- Gulf Shores Welcome Center is open:
- Mon - Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Sat - Sun 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Hotels near Gulf Shores Welcome Center:
- (0.26 mi) Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Gulf Shores
- (0.58 mi) Courtyard by Marriott Gulf Shores Craft Farms
- (2.04 mi) Eagle Cottages at Gulf State Park
- (0.42 mi) Shopping ~ Dining ~ Fun in the sun � Hurry, Don't Walk, RUN! �
- (0.44 mi) Alabama Gulf Coast Condominiums
- Restaurants near Gulf Shores Welcome Center:
- (0.08 mi) Beach Girl Coffee
- (0.30 mi) Gulf Shores Diner
- (0.32 mi) El Toro Mexican Restaurant
- (0.94 mi) The ugly Diner
- (1.22 mi) Hope's Cheesecake
- Attractions near Gulf Shores Welcome Center:
- (0.10 mi) Fitness Factory
- (0.35 mi) Pirate's Island Adventure Golf
- (0.38 mi) The Track
- (0.38 mi) Lost Bay Helicopters
- (1.36 mi) Island Marine Charters