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Everything Camping => South: TN, AL, MS, LA, KY, TX, NM => Topic started by: stevesanders on August 21, 2015, 12:00:15 AM

Title: 2015 National Shrimp Festival, Gulf Shores, AL
Post by: stevesanders on August 21, 2015, 12:00:15 AM
Is anyone else going to the 2015 National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores, AL on October 8 - 11?  We will be at Luxury RV Resort, which is a great location to stay during the festival, but they are probably full.
Title: 2015 National Shrimp Festival, Gulf Shores, AL
Post by: admin on August 21, 2015, 12:42:33 PM
I didnt even know there was a National Shrimp Festival...though now that I know it certainly sounds like fun

-Sean
Title: 2015 National Shrimp Festival, Gulf Shores, AL
Post by: sandyu on August 21, 2015, 04:37:08 PM
I'll be at st Joseph state park in Florida, not that far away. I'm not sure if I'll be able to drag the kids away from the beach to check it out.
Title: 2015 National Shrimp Festival, Gulf Shores, AL
Post by: solds88 on August 27, 2015, 04:17:49 PM
I have been there the last 4 years in a row. A tip: take your lightweight lawn chairs with you to the festival, free bands will be playing at both ends of the park, hard to find a seat. And, the kids can play in the sand as it's right on the beach. Lawn chairs come in handy for that too.  Also, the main east-west highway is closed during those 4 days. Shuttles stop at various supermarkets up to several miles from the festival, park free and pay several bucks for the shuttle, much easier.  This year we're joining friends in Myrtle Beach. However, if you attend the Festival you must try Lambert's CafĂ© in Foley, north of Gulf Shores. I guarantee that you won't leave hungry, every few minutes free food rolls down the isle. [a href="http://www.throwedrolls.com/shopcontent.asp?type=Foley"]http://www.throwedrolls.com/shopcontent.asp?type=Foley[/a]  
Title: 2015 National Shrimp Festival, Gulf Shores, AL
Post by: leslie on August 27, 2015, 09:13:49 PM
We are going to the iRV2 International Rally. However, this sounds like fun for next year. Give us a heads-up in time for next year. How early do you need to make reservations in order to get a campsite?
Title: 2015 National Shrimp Festival, Gulf Shores, AL
Post by: daplumbr on August 29, 2015, 10:16:59 PM
[quote source="/post/14435/thread" timestamp="1440185828" author="@kybrowns"]I'll be at st Joseph state park in Florida, not that far away. I'm not sure if I'll be able to drag the kids away from the beach to check it out. [/quote]When you finish up that trip, post a report. I've visited that park several times in the winter but never camped there. We are contemplating an extended winter trip to the Cape San Blas area and i'd like to know what it's like to camp. 
Title: 2015 National Shrimp Festival, Gulf Shores, AL
Post by: sandyu on August 29, 2015, 10:31:22 PM
Will do. Hopefully I can post while I'm down there.
Title: 2015 National Shrimp Festival, Gulf Shores, AL
Post by: solds88 on September 10, 2015, 01:26:48 AM
[quote source="/post/14648/thread" timestamp="1440720829" author="@leslie"]We are going to the iRV2 International Rally. However, this sounds like fun for next year. Give us a heads-up in time for next year. How early do you need to make reservations in order to get a campsite?[/quote][p]  Leslie,[/p][p]
[/p][p]I can't give you any solid information about those campgrounds close to the festival as we camp about 30 miles from Gulf Shores. We have friends down there and we camp close to their place. I know that Gulf State Park, which is located between Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, is very popular and will probably require reservations be made later this fall or early spring in order to secure a spot for 2016. There is a lot to see and do in the area. The Pensacola Navel Air Station has a great Navel Air Museum. The Battleship U.S.S. Alabama and Submarine U.S.S. Drum are anchored at Mobile, about 50 miles from Gulf Shores.    
[/p]
Title: 2015 National Shrimp Festival, Gulf Shores, AL
Post by: stevesanders on September 15, 2015, 11:31:08 PM
Quote from: @leslie" source="/post/14648/thread" timestamp="1440720829We are going to the iRV2 International Rally. However, this sounds like fun for next year. Give us a heads-up in time for next year. How early do you need to make reservations in order to get a campsite?
We have been going for several years and staying at Luxury RV Resort, which is about 5 blocks from the festival, so you can walk from the campsite.  Reservations must generally be made one year in advance.  If you have a Camplite, you can stay there, but this will be our last year to stay at Luxury RV.  They have a new policy that doesn't allow pop-up campers.  We've been loyal customers there for well over 10 years, and now we're being told that we can't come back.

Last weekend we stayed a few miles away at Gulf State Park, which is an extremely good option, but it's not in walking distance of the festival.  I'm not sure how far in advance you need to reserve a campsite for the festival weekend, but last weekend (Labor Day weekend), my wife called them on Friday morning and got a site for that night and the rest of the holiday weekend.  However, I think we got the last site in the campground.

The Shrimp Festival is always the second weekend in October.

If you're in the area, make sure to have a meal at Gilby's restaurant in Orange Beach.  It's in the same shopping center with the Publix grocery store, so it's very easy to overlook, but it should not be missed!!!  Other excellent local restaurants include Tin Top in Bayou la Batre, Bahama Bob's and Sea-N-Suds on the beach in Gulf Shores, Shrimp Basket restaurants all over the area, and McGuire's Irish Pub and Brewery in Pensacola is well worth the drive!

I've been visiting Gulf Shores frequently since I was a child.  If you want any local information about the area, just send me a note.

Steve.