A great family beach vacation spot, a trip to Orange Beach, AL, is sure to be filled with delightful dining experiences, exciting dolphin-sighting cruises, adventurous fishing charters, scenic nature hikes, and more!
If you’re planning your itinerary for your upcoming escape, here’s a helpful guide for all the best things to do in Orange Beach, AL.
1. Explore Gulf State Park
Nature lovers will have a great adventure on the 6,500 acres of protected parkland at Gulf State Park, with beaches, marshlands, streams, pine forests, and three beautiful lakes: Lake Shelby, Middle Lake, and Little Lake.
There are 28 miles of paved trails for walking and biking. The park also has camping, cabins, picnic areas, playgrounds, a nature center, a fishing pier, a swimming pool, and canoe and kayak rentals.
2. Relax on Orange Beach’s Pristine Shores
Alabama’s Gulf Coast is known for its pristine white sand beaches. It is said that the blindingly white and soft sand is made from crushed quarts that washed down form the Appalachian Mountains millions of years ago.
There are 32 miles of beachfront and 15 public-access beaches in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, where you can hunt for seashells, walk the boardwalk, or fish from the pier.
3. Visit The Wharf
The Wharf, a popular waterfront dining and entertainment complex in the city, is a bustling destination filled with various fun activities.
Ride the Ferris Wheel, the tallest one in the Southeast, to witness a great view of Orange Beach. Take the Wharf Express Train for a delightful ride around Main Street. There’s a 10,000-seat amphitheater where you can watch your favorite artists.
Other things you can enjoy at The Wharf include shopping, trying out the restaurants, seeing a movie, axe throwing, playing at the arcade, trying an escape game, and visiting the Selfie Museum.
At night, the mesmerizing display of choreographed lighting effects and lasers with upbeat music at SPECTRA Sound and Light Show is not to be missed.
4. Discover Adventure Island
Adventure Island offers the perfect adventure for families, with indoor and outdoor attractions for kids and adults alike.
This amusement park features adventure golf, bumper boats, go-karts, and more! A dedicated kid’s area with rides designed for younger children will entertain them for hours.
5. Dolphin Watching Cruises
A trip to the Alabama Gulf Coast won’t be complete without an unforgettable encounter with playful resident dolphins. Dolphin watching cruises offer an entertaining and exciting way to learn about these beautiful marine mammals in their natural habitat.
Knowledgeable guides ensure a fun and interactive tour, for an amusing educational experience for everyone onboard. Aside from seeing a dolphin pod, you’ll likely catch glimpses of herons, ospreys, or red-tailed hawks, too!
6. Enjoy Local Seafood at Waterfront Restaurants
Of course, one of the best things to do in Orange Beach is have a taste of fresh, local seafood from the top waterfront restaurants in the area.
The Gulf is a unique restaurant with a structure that’s anchored around shipping containers. The menu changes daily and is crafted around fresh seasonal ingredients that are available. Choose the perfect spot to enjoy your food and drinks while watching boats come and go in the Perdido Pass.
Cobalt the Restaurant, located under the Perdido Pass Bridge, is a beautiful spot to watch the sunset. It is accessible by land and sea and offers calming water views from every table. It’s open daily, and the menu highlights include daily specials, Bronzed Gulf Grouper, and Zydeco Chicken.
Lulu’s offers stunning water views of the Intercoastal Waterway and is also accessible by boat. The restaurant is known for serving delicious food with allergy-friendly options and its nightly live music from various singers and musicians.
7. Deep-Sea Fishing Charters
Orange Beach is the perfect place to go deep-sea fishing. Being close to the Mexican Gulf will give you a good chance of catching lots of different types of fish.
The marina at The Wharf specializes in chartered boat rides and fishing excursions. This is an excellent choice to experience an exciting boat ride through the back bays of Orange Beach and cast a line to catch some of the freshest local fish, namely redfish, snapper, amberjack, and speckled trout.
8. Visit the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail
The Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail is one of the best places to hike in Orange Beach, with 26 trails to explore among nine ecosystems. It offers the perfect spot for lovers of outdoor activities to enjoy biking, hiking, jogging, and rock climbing.
The trail is conveniently located just a few minutes away from the hotels and resorts. It winds through six contrasting ecosystems – sandy ridges, freshwater marshes, coastal dunes, swamps, and pine and oak forests.
The trail is easy for walking or biking along, and offers an exciting wildlife encounter, too. White-tailed deer, otters, alligators, and boars live in this area, so be ready to see them up close!
9. Explore the Alabama Coastal Birding Trail
The coast of Alabama is a world-renowned location for bird watching. In spite of Alabama’s relatively small coastline, it is host to almost all the birds that can be found along the Gulf.
The Alabama Coastal Birding Trail features six birding loops in Baldwin and Mobile counties and spans over 200 miles. Each loop features various ecological regions that represent the northern Gulf Coast, allowing birders to encounter diverse resident and migratory birds.
There are over fifty well-organized stops along these loops. During peak migration, birdwatchers and nature photographers from different parts of the country and all over the world can be found at these trail stops.
The best time for bird watching at ACBT is during the spring and fall migration seasons when birds are leaving or entering the Gulf Coast, but you can expect to see birds throughout the year.
10. Attend Seasonal Festivals and Events
Many annual events and festivals are held in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores throughout the year.
One such annual event is the three-day Hangout Music Festival that takes place on the white sands of the Gulf Coast in May. This year, the festival celebrates its 15th year and will be taking place from May 16 through 18. Participating artists include Morgan Wallen, Post Malone, Brooks and Dunn, and more.
The Annual National Shrimp Festival, which takes place during the second weekend of October each year, is an experience both locals and visitors alike have been looking forward to for over 50 years. Admission is free, and the festival draws nearly 250,000 guests who come to enjoy food, music, art, and more.
11. Go Parasailing Over the Gulf
Whether you’re an adrenaline junkie or a first-time flyer, parasailing over the Gulf is an exhilarating experience that blends the thrill of flight with the serene beauty of the Gulf below.
Parasailing is a great way to add a splash of adventure to your beach day. Feel the excitement as you soar hundreds of feet above the sparkling Gulf waters, taking in the spectacular panoramic views of Orange Beach’s stunning coastline.
12. Explore Flora-Bama
The Flora-Bama, the most famous beach bar on Alabama’s Gulf Coast, is definitely a must-visit!
This lounge, package store, and oyster bar is named such because it’s located right on the Florida and Alabama state lines. It has five stages with live music playing every day of the year and five full-service bars.
Flora-Bama is called the “Home of the Bushwacker” for their famous version of the drink –frozen and made with Kahlua and Crème de Cacao.
Conclusion
A trip to Orange Beach, AL, will definitely be a vacation to remember! This beautiful resort city may be popular for its pristine white sand beaches and delectable seafood restaurants, but there are so many places and activities to enjoy here.
If you are interested in the homes for sale in the area, please give us a call at (251) 270-6400 or send us an email at hollie@localpropertyinc.com to schedule an appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best time of year to visit Orange Beach, AL?
The best times to visit Orange Beach are March through May and September through November, when you can take advantage of the off-peak season and enjoy swimming in the Gulf of Mexico in the late spring and early fall.
Are there free activities in Orange Beach?
Yes, like the Annual National Shrimp Festival, which takes place during the second weekend of October each year.
Are pets allowed on the beach?
For health and wildlife disturbance reasons, dogs are not allowed on Gulf Beaches. However, you can take your furry companion to Unleashed, a community dog park.
