What A Difference A Month Makes (Gulf State Park, Alabama)

[Ray N]

Today we visited Gulf State Park, (near Gulf Shores, Alabama). A month ago the 496 sites were about all taken, today it looked like it was five to ten percent full - almost had a deserted feeling about it. Daytime highs around 90, the Gulf water was flat and warm, and about a ten percent chance of afternoon showers.

I love the Gulf Coast in the fall and spring, after the masses of tourists leave, and the temperatures once again become enjoyable.

[Seamstress]

How much of a problem are the bugs there this time of year?

[Ray N]

We weren't camping there, but only visited and walked around in the late morning; but we didn't run across any buggy pests. However, we also visited Meaher State Park in North Mobile Bay and the yellow flies were very bad there. In our own yard in Pensacola, the mosquitoes and flies seem to have died down from the summer highs but there are still quite a few mosquitoes out in the evenings.

I don't know why one park would be free of bugs, and another one, a half hour away would be infested. Maybe the winds at the time, maybe the locations - one in the middle of a marsh and the other one almost on the gulf beach?

[honda03842]

we frequently camp at Assateague, 40 miles of beach amd wild horses on our way north or south, usually in April or October. We write about how wonderful it is. We never see mosquitos.

Freinds who read our newsletter went there in the summer and had to stay in their rig because of the mosquitos. Time of the year has a lot to do with thee critters. As well some of these ocean locations have breezes that keep the mosquitos down.

[Donna D.]

If you're in a site with full hookups and mosquitos are a problem... turn on a FAN. Clip on, standee or box... it really doesn't matter.... because mosquitos don't fly in a wind! Send those suckers to the next camp site with a fan... true story.

[Hman66]

Originally Posted by Ray N

We weren't camping there, but only visited and walked around in the late morning; but we didn't run across any buggy pests. However, we also visited Meaher State Park in North Mobile Bay and the yellow flies were very bad there. In our own yard in Pensacola, the mosquitoes and flies seem to have died down from the summer highs but there are still quite a few mosquitoes out in the evenings.

I don't know why one park would be free of bugs, and another one, a half hour away would be infested. Maybe the winds at the time, maybe the locations - one in the middle of a marsh and the other one almost on the gulf beach?

I live in Gulf Shores and many times it depends on the spraying rotation provided by the city of Gulf Shores. The yellow flies can be bad in the spring, but I have not seen any for a couple of months now. Once school starts the campgrounds empty out and it stays that way until spring break and then the summer/tourist season. There are about 9,500 full time residents here and GS is actually a quiet little town most of the year. It's a wonderful place to live. My 13 foot Scamp is coming sometime next month....can't wait!