Ever since I was a child in the 60’s I can remember vacationing with my family in Gulf Shores Alabama. There was just something so special about that beautiful little beach community on the Gulf of Mexico. So many memories flood my mind of past adventures on the glistening white sands looking for seashells and sand dollars, chasing sand crabs, building magnificent sandcastles surrounded by living moats of clear blue/green ocean. Family has always been important to me and there is no place on earth that I have ever spent such quality family time as I have in Gulf Shores. Throughout the years there have been many changes due to severe storms and many of the once-famous landmarks have been replaced. The community itself has grown from a sleepy little Gulf Coast Town to a bustling, modern vacation Mecca that many of the old-timers would lament has gotten too big for its britches. But as with all forms of progress, there are growing pains. Many if not all of the family-owned Motels have been replaced with the more well-known name brand Hotels. The small quaint beach houses have given way to more luxurious and expansive beach homes that can provide enough luxuries to compete with the numerous Condominium Resorts that cater to the families seeking escape from colder regions of the US. Even though Gulf Shores has lost some of its small-town feel for us veteran visitors, it still holds a very special place in our hearts.
Gulf Shores and its neighboring community of Orange Beach take much pride in being known as a family destination versus its more notorious cousin in Florida, Panama City which has more of a Spring Break/Party City reputation. I think that is why I have always been so partial to this place. Recently Gulf Shores has become remarkably progressive in their desire to make the beaches more accessible to wheelchair users by providing access mats that allow wheelchair users to navigate onto the beach and closer to the water’s edge. They also offer beach wheelchairs on a first-come-first-served basis. To find out more about these accessibility options you can click on this link. https://www.gulfshoresal.gov/1268/Accessibility If you are lucky enough to live near the beach and are interested in buying versus renting a beach wheelchair there are several great options available. Waterwheels is an excellent choice because it allows you to actually get into the water and float around. If you are not into getting wet and just want to sit around with the rest of your family on the beach, Healthline Medical makes a beach wheelchair to fit that need and offers free shipping to boot!
There is a couple of great company’s in the area that caters to anyone needing to rent a wheelchair with motorized assistance to explore the white sandy beaches. I can personally recommend both of these companies for offering superior customer service. Beach Power Rentals and Beach Buggy’s design, sell and rent motorized beach wheelchairs that will allow you to cruise the beach with your family as they hunt for seashells. Both Companies design their own power chairs to have multiple options for different needs or disabilities. I highly recommend you check them out next time you are vacationing on the Gulf Coast. One other local business that specializes in all-around beach rentals to include everything from kayak rentals to beach loungers to paddleboards and parasailing also offers a few manual push beach wheelchairs. Check out Ike’s for all your beaching needs.
If you desire to rent versus transport any durable medical equipment during your stay on the Gulf Coast, Medical Equipment Solutions in Foley, Al offers all types of equipment for your daily routine. Personally I like to bring my own gear whenever possible which usually necessitates driving in my wheelchair-accessible minivan.
As I mentioned up above Gulf Shores has really come along way in embracing those of us requiring a wheelchair. Most if not all of the high-rise Condos have wheelchair access and accommodations to some level or another. I recommend always calling first and talking to a real person who is actually familiar with the property to guarantee that the room they are providing really meets all of your physical needs. As the beach houses have grown in size many are now offering handicapped features including ramps to the main level, elevators and some even have walk-in showers that can be easily adapted to roll-in showers by purchasing a threshold ramp to ease entering and exiting the shower. These are especially helpful if the person helping the handicapped individual is not strong enough to lift the shower chair over the lip. The last time we stayed in Gulf Shores we found a marvelous beach house that met all of our needs. It was large spacious and incredibly versatile. Specifically designed for large families or a group of up to 31 people of all abilities wanting to stay together. I highly recommend staying here if you are planning a special family event such as a Wedding or Family reunion. I’m sure there are a few others I could mention but this was my favorite.
As always we had a wonderful time at Gulf Shores. We ate lots of fresh seafood at The Original Oyster House, Lulu’s and Tacky Jack’s. Enjoyed a mudslide at the Pink Pony Pub, and finished out our stay by eating breakfast at Hazel’s Nook a personal family tradition since the ’60s. We made wonderful new memories to be cherished and remembered. Are you about ready to pack your bags and start making memories as well? The beach is calling!
