You've heard of the book "1000 Places to See Before You Die." Here's our version of uniquely Alabama Gulf Coast "must try" things to do.

1. Eat fried shrimp - and lots of it!
2. Visit the world-famous Flora-Bama Lounge, the "last great American roadhouse".
3. Ride the tallest Ferris wheel in the southeast at The Wharf.
4. Cheer on the hermit crab races at Calypso Joe's.
5. Live in flip-flops and Hawaiian shirts.
6. Catch mullet madness at the annual Interstate Mullet Toss.
7. Get up close and personal with some feathered friends at the spring and fall bird bandings.
8. Ride the Wild Woody at The Track.

9. Catch a Brent Burns performance.
10. Surf the new Flowrider at Waterville.
11. Fly the Bird of Paradise, a restored open-cockpit plane.
12. Scarf some nachos on the deck of the Pink Pony.
13. Take the ferry from Fort Morgan across Mobile Bay to Fort Gaines.
14. Suck down a Bushwacker...or two.
15. Drive out to Billy's Seafood in Bon Secour and shop for fresh-off-the-boat seafood.
16. Sit on the porch at Scoops and cool off with some ice cream.
17. Indulge in fried green tomatoes and L.A. caviar at Lulu's (owned by Jimmy Buffet's sister).
18. Take a family picture in the mouth of the giant shark at Souvenir City.
19. Order a big ol' plate of Royal Reds (shrimp) at King Neptune's.
20. Stop at Burris' Farm Market on your way down for the freshest fruit, veggies and Strawberry Shortcake.
21. Check out Alligator Alley, home to more than 150 really big gators.
22. Watch the weigh-ins when the fishing charters bring their catch back to the marinas in the evening.
23. Try some oysters...Slimy, maybe, but oh, so good.
24. Pick up our official trail guide and head out on the Alabama Coastal Birding Trail.
25. Look for sea turtle trails left by mama turtles coming ashore to nest. (They look a lot like tire tracks)
26. Get spooked on a candlelight tour of Fort Morgan.
27. Have brunch on the water and feed the fish at Tacky Jack's.
28. Jam out at The Wharf amphitheater with the likes of Widespread Panic and Brad Paisley.
29. Sample the handcrafted cheeses at Sweet Home Farm, a working organic family dairy.
30. Bag some serious bargains at Tanger Outlet Center.
31. Listen to some of the nation's best songwriters at the Frank Brown International Songwriters' Festival.
32. Keep up with your e-mail. Go wireless or log-in to the terminals at both our Welcome Centers.

33. Soar with the Blue Angels at the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola.
34. Stuff your pockets with beads and MoonPies at a Mardi Gras parade.
35. Challenge the kids to a game of Jamaican horseshoes at Lulu's.
36. Comb for treasures at the antique stores in Foley.
37. Let the kids earn their sea legs at the Orange Beach sailing camp.
38. Hike through Bon Secour and paddle around in the canoe that's kept there for visitors to use.
39. Walk in the footsteps of history along the Battle of Mobile Civil War Trail.
40. Meet the stars of Animal Planet's The Little Zoo That Could (a.k.a. Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo).
41. Salute our fighting men and women at the USS Alabama Battleship Park in Mobile.
42. Perfect your cooking technique in a culinary class at Faulkner State Community College.
43. Explore the woodlands and wetlands of the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail
44. Choose from fried, boiled, etoufee or on-a-stick at the annual National Shrimp Festival.
45. Sink your teeth into some "Silver Queen" corn, available at farm markets and roadside stands all summer long.
46. Go extreme by plunging into the Polar Bear Dip at the Flora-Bama.(Brrrrr!)
47. Purchase some inspiring art items at the Waterfront Festival of Art in Orange Beach.
48. Enjoy music, dancing and the best German sausage at the Elberta Sausage Festival.
49. Peddle, paddle and pound pavement in the Alabama Coastal Triathlon.
50. Watch the wooden ships on the water as they race for the skull at Annual Wooden Boat Festival.
51. Sample a new vintage at the Southern Breeze Wine and Culinary Festival.
52. Holiday lights and decorations meander along the waters of Orange Beach at the Nautical Night of Lights.
53. Start your week off right with the Galilean church service at Gulf State Park. (Mother's Day - Labor Day only)
54. Search for sand dollars on an early morning beach stroll.
55. Go to lunch by boat.
56. Have a sandcastle-building contest.
57. Dance the night away at Live Bait.
58. Frolic with Flipper and his friends on a dolphin cruise.
59. Do some hands-on science at the Gulf Coast Exploreum.
60. Discover our coastal ecosystem at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab & Estuarium.
61. Learn about the early days of Alabama's Gulf Coast at the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach museums.
62. Go crabbing at Lagoon Pass.
63. Visit Bellingrath Gardens to see the flowers of every season.

64. Kayak through the nation's second largest river delta at Five Rivers Delta Center on the Mobile Causeway.
65. Indulge in a gourmet picnic dinner on the beach as you witness a beautiful sunset.
66. Go out to lunch in your swimsuit and flip flops.
67. Play with the crabs on the beach at night.
68. Have your photo taken with a palm tree.
69. Dive the wrecks and man-made reefs in the gulf
70. Support minor league baseball team, Mobile Bay Bears, and see a future major leaguer!
71. Start a new generation of golfers and tennis players by enrolling your children in summer camps at Peninsula.
72. Relive the history of Baldwin County at the Heritage Museum in Elberta.
73. Toot the horn on the railroad at Wales West Train & Garden Lovers Park.
74. Wonder at the wildlife of Weeks Bay Estuarine Reserve and Pitcher Plant Bog.
75. Tour the antebellum mansions in Mobile.
76. Stuff yourself with all-you-can-eat fresh mullet at Sea-n-Suds.
77. Eat fresh strawberries at Loxley Strawberry Festival.
78. Catch the "throwed" rolls at Lambert's in Foley. (Heads up!)
79. Enjoy the pristine natural beauty of the Islands of Perdido Marine Park (But leave only footprints, please.)
80. Pamper your tootsies with a pedicure at Solar Nails, located next door to The Chocolate Corner. (Coincidence? We think not.)
81. Unwind with a full-body massage on your beach-front balcony.

We were having so much fun coming up with our 101 things, we decided to stop and give you a chance to join in. Got something that's a "must try" Gulf Shores/Orange Beach activity? Something you have to eat, or see or do every time you're here? Send us your favorites and we may add them to our list.