Fun just a short drive away to Ala. Gulf Coast
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Beaches stretching across part of a 30,000-acre island are just one of the many reasons to take the short drive to Alabama’s Gulf Coast.
About 250 miles east of Baton Rouge, the Alabama coast consists of the cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, as well as the unincorporated area of Fort Morgan. Although the beach might be most prominent, the area also features live oaks, pine trees, freshwater lakes, bayous and coves in inland areas, according to the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Louisiana tourists contributed to the largest group of visitors from outside of Alabama, with 38 percent of out-of-state travelers coming from the southeast region of the U.S. in 2008. Because the coast is a short drive from Louisiana, many who traveled there from Baton Rouge went by car, contributing to the 90 percent of visitors who traveled that way.
According to the bureau, even though the national economy has been in a steep decline, the local economy took only a small hit in taxable lodging revenue in the summer 2008 season, less than 1 percent below totals for 2007.
“These numbers indicate that families still chose to take that annual summer vacation,” said Herb Malone, CVB president and CEO. “Instead of a costly or exotic vacation, many searched for alternatives, and we were happy that many selected our clean, family-friendly destination.
“When you stop to consider the cost of fuel and economic situation, it is a remarkable fact that we produced a summer season comparable to our previous benchmark year of 2007.”
The Alabama Gulf Coast has been recognized by Southern Living magazine. In 2008 the area was named the No. 3 Favorite Beach Destination and the No. 4 Family Destination.
Also, the annual National Shrimp Festival was named the No. 7 Favorite Festival or Fair.
On the Net: http://www. gulfshores.com
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