March in Gulf Shores: What to Expect

March in Gulf Shores is a beautiful time of year with warm spring weather. Southern flowers like azaleas burst into bloom and birds that wintered in Central and South America return and rest in the area after their long flight over the Gulf. The snowbird crowd is filtering out and the spring break crowd takes their place, filling the beaches around mid-March.

Sports

Temperatures in March in the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area average in the 60s and low 70s with night temperatures in the upper 50s. With such moderate weather, March is a great time for golfing, fishing and other sports. You can expect to find beach marathons, beach volleyball, softball and baseball tournaments around this time of year. So, pick one or two of the numerous golf courses in the area and spend a gorgeous spring day playing golf with your buddies, or if you're feeling more ambitious, join in one of the marathons like the Flora-Bama Beach Run or the Shrimp Basket Giving Run. March is also a good time to participate in a Saturday Morning Bike Ride. These rides take place throughout the year and begin at Infinity Bicycles on Orange Beach Boulevard. They go for 25-35 miles around Orange Beach. If you prefer a more leisurely activity, you can join the ride that starts at 10:30 and goes through Gulf State Park.

Orange Beach Festival of Art

March in Gulf Shores isn't only about sports and spring break revelry. You can also enjoy a little culture around this time of year. Every March for over 40 years, the Orange Beach Festival of Art takes place over a full weekend of music, visual art, culinary art and arts and crafts. This annual free event attracts thousands of visitors and over 100 artists from around the country.

Holiday Festivities

In March you can celebrate St. Patrick's Day and sometimes also Easter (when Easter falls in March) at the beach. Either of these holidays is a great time to plan a short family vacation and enjoy the festivities. The Wharf in Orange Beach hosts an Easter egg hunt every year where kids can meet the Easter bunny and take pictures afterwards. The restaurants and bars of the Wharf also host a St. Patrick's Day celebration with special menus, cocktails, live music and more.

Birding & Wildlife

March is a perfect time of year to enjoy nature in the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area. Visit Dauphin Island and the Audubon Bird Sanctuary to see the colorful migrating birds that are coming back from Central and South America starting in early March. Alternatively, you can hike the trails at Bon Secour or take the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry trail to spot birds and other wildlife. If you have time, visit the Bellingrath Gardens and see hundreds of thousands of blooming flowers.

Early spring and March are a great time to visit Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Book a Gulf Shores vacation rental today to take advantage of the great activities and temperatures.