Gulf State Park is the best reason to linger in Gulf Shores after you have had your first beach swim. The park protects beach, lake, dunes, live-oak hammocks, marsh, and pine woods, all threaded by a broad trail system that is easy to walk or cycle.
The Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail is the real prize. Its paved paths and boardwalks make the park feel much larger than the map suggests, and they are a good way to find shade, birds, and quiet when the main beach is crowded.