As the title states, this location is awesome. The sand and beach are just steps away which was great since we have little kids. No worries of them getting tired on the walk to the beach or having to cross traffic. There are 2 beach areas to choose from. One is behind the jetty's which made the water calm and allowed for the kids to have a little more freedom playing in the water. The gulf side had larger waves which were fun for the kids. Neither beach was really crowded and we had ample space to setup and play in the sand. Lots of creatures and shells for the kids to explore and watch. There are grocery stores and restaurants close by and the harbor is just a short drive. Once you got back to the house you didn't feel like you were in the hustle and bustle anymore and it was quiet.
The house itself was nice. We didn't use the bedroom off the garage, but didn't notice the smell that other reviewers had mentioned. We ate most meals at the house and found there to be ample cooking utensils. The gas range and stove is nice and heats quickly. The master bedroom was very large and the closet big enough to store all our luggage. Our kids both slept in the 2nd bedroom upstairs and loved all the books since most of them were new to us. We never heard a peep out of the different groups that stayed in the unit next door. The 2nd group that stayed there was pretty large, but we still couldn't hear them once we were inside. The outdoor shower was convenient for washing off all the sand upon returning from the beach. The washer and dryer in the garage was used a couple times during the week which was nice since we didn't have to worry about doing a ton of laundry when we got home.
The jetty's were great fishing. I woke up early every day to get out by sunrise. Tons of sand fleas available on the beach. I caught fish every trip I took out and the locals were nice and helpful. The Track, Fudpuckers, Fat Daddy's, Merlins, Half Hitch, and many other stores and destinations were all a quick drive and fun. Harbor Walk was interesting and the kids loved watching the boats unload their catches. The restaurants were on the pricey side, but the house is close enough that you didn't have to eat there if you didn't want.
Overall we loved the location and enjoyed the house. We'll be back in the future and will recommend this place to our friends. Blows the doors off Gulf Shores.
