Flying High on the Coast in Gulf Shores

 

Pure exhilaration is how I felt stepping off the tower platform and flying through the air high above Lake Shelby on the Hummingbird Ziplines a few days ago. This amazing experience, at the Gulf Adventure Center in the Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, lasts about two and one half hours and begins with gearing up and practicing close to the ground.

In "Ground School" each person is taught how to safely maneuver through the course. The primary function to learn is how to use the brake pad on your gloves to slow your descent when necessary. There are two guides to send you on your way and catch you, sometimes literally catching you. Our guides were fun, funny and placed each one of us at ease.

Groups of twelve “zippers” set off on the adventure every 45 minutes and by the end of the course you are new best friends. Our group ranged in age from 12 years old to a 73-year old celebrating her birthday with her family. Interestingly there were only 2 guys in our group but of course that varies. My companion and I were the only locals and we met and bonded with visitors from Louisiana, Tennessee, Georgia and Pennsylvania. It’s so cool to cheer on your fellow flyers and either encourage them to fly or congratulate them as they reach the tower you just landed on.

The minimum age to participate is 8 years old but the primary criteria to ride the Zipline is weight – a minimum of 65 lbs. and a maximum of 260 lbs. The scientific principle is the heavier the person the faster they fly across the cable to the next tower, although it seemed to me that everyone in our group went equally fast.

The scenery is extraordinary because you overlook the beautiful beach, Gulf waters and Gulf State Park fishing pier as well as the waters of Lake Shelby with its abundant wildlife. These incredible views of both waters are possible because Lake Shelby is the closest body of fresh water to salt water in the world. If you get lucky you just might see some of the resident alligators in the ponds as you zip to your next station high above this 6,000-acre park. The seven towers were designed to blend in with the natural setting and are built from natural wood, no concrete, using giant poles harvested specifically for this attraction.

One of my favorite parts of the experience was the professional photography capturing this special moment, since it’s impossible to take photos while you are flying through the air. If you have a pocket that zips or closes with Velcro, you can take along your camera or camera phone and take photos from the towers.

The Hummingbird Ziplines at Gulf Adventure Center is open year round, so the time of year you choose to explore this coastal treat will determine what you should wear. Closed-toe shoes are a must and tennis shoes are preferred. If the weather is warm shorts and a cool shirt are best. I suggest that you eat a hearty meal and drink a bottle of water before you begin, since there are lots of steps to climb on each tower. 

Calling a day or two in advance is necessary because this experience is extremely popular. You will pay when you reserve your day and time and you can even download the waiver so that you can complete it in advance. This saves time when you arrive and gives you the chance to check out the items in the gift shop. You know you will want a t-shirt or other souvenir of your coastal adventure. Our group went on the 5:15 p.m. zip and that placed us flying towards the sunset over the lake on our final leg of the journey.

I highly recommend adding the Hummingbird Ziplines to your “to do” list on your next visit to Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Fort Morgan or Perdido Key. In fact, I’ll bet one time won’t be enough and you will repeat this exhilarating trip at different times of the year. The attraction offers a loyalty program making each future adventure cost less.

See you at the beach.

Related article:

Fly Across Gulf State Park on a Zipline