In many destinations, when you think “sports tourism,” you may think of traditional sports complexes and fields. While Gulf Shores and Orange Beach have fantastic traditional sports facilities, the Alabama Gulf Coast lauds its natural venues from the beach to the back bays and an expansive state park in between.
BEACH & GULF OF MEXICO
The beach is an obvious choice for sportcation relaxation before, between and after events, but why not consider it for your event venue? Beach volleyball, triathlons and shore fishing are solid selections for our natural beachfront – 32 miles of it!Gulf Place Public Beach in Gulf Shores is home to the NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship, the annual Brett/Robinson Alabama Coastal Triathlon & Tri-It-On and many other athletic events, such as powerlifting and youth beach volleyball. Gulf Shores | Orange Beach Sports & Events, the city of Gulf Shores, the University of Alabama at Birmingham and The Hangout partner to build the NCAA championship – literally from the sand up – to be a high-quality venue for the best teams across the country and national coverage on the ESPN family of networks. The Alabama Coastal Triathlon, owned and operated by GSOB Sports & Events and managed by Team Magic, begins with a swim in the Gulf of Mexico, which launches off the beach and is based at The Hangout restaurant overlooking the Gulf.
COASTAL Orange Beach, which opened in 2022 as a public-private partnership between the city of Orange Beach and Flora-Bama, offers a large retail space, two full-service dining options, parking for patrons and residents, as well as public beach access. This spot is ideal for beach volleyball and shore fishing, to name a couple of options.
Speaking of Flora-Bama, the legendary roadhouse that straddles the Florida-Alabama line (hence the name) is known for its iconic chocolate frozen adult beverage – the Bushwacker – and live music 365 days a year. Aside from great music, fresh oysters on the half-shell and libations, Flora-Bama is also a great venue for sporting and athletic events. The beachside bar holds its annual Mullet Man Triathlon each April ahead of the infamous Mullet Toss event along with headquartering several other races, like I Pink I Can in March and the Make It to the Line Run/Walk in December. Across the street at the Flora-Bama Marina and Flora-Bama Yacht Club, collegiate wakeboarding has taken place in the past while events like the Flora-Bama Fishing Rodeo take place annually.
BACK BAYS
Amazing fishing, kayaking and paddleboarding opportunities are found in the calmer waters on the back bays of Orange Beach and Little Lagoon in Gulf Shores. Many dolphin and nature cruises as well as inshore fishing charters choose the back bays to view our majestic coastal wildlife or whet a line to hook a variety of fish species, so why not choose these slews as your natural event venue?! Contact GSOB Sports & Events to learn more.
GULF STATE PARK
Often referred to as the “crown jewel of Alabama State Parks,” Gulf State Park boasts 6,150 acres, including a 28-mile accessible trail system, three small freshwater lakes, one of the largest fishing piers on the Gulf of Mexico and educational facilities, such as the Nature Center, Learning Campus and Interpretive Center. Did you know the park highlights nine distinct ecosystems?!
The Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail system is an ideal location for races, runs and biking events of various lengths. The Coastal Half-Marathon, 5K & 1-Mile Fun Run presented by This Is Alabama is owned and operated by GSOB Sports & Events and managed by Team Magic that winds through this majestic park with views of fall flora and fauna the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Other sporting events, such as the Good Life Ride by the Alabama Coastal Foundation, which promotes bicycle safety and environmental awareness, choose the park’s flat and fast course for its annual gathering.
Lake Shelby, one of the park’s three lakes, is the closest body of freshwater to saltwater in the world and is an ideal location for kayaking and paddleboarding events. Meanwhile, non-boat angling events are perfect for the Gulf State Park Fishing & Education Pier, and the park’s beach pavilion is a potential spot for beach soccer, shore fishing and beach volleyball.
Well, are you convinced? If you’re an athlete looking for an event to participate in, check out our calendar of events and our beach races page to learn about our owned and operated races. If you’re a planner searching for a natural venue, contact our team today for a site visit!
Come experience the natural side of the Alabama Gulf Coast!
