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Orange Beach is situated on the southern coast of Alabama, right next to the Florida border. Located across a bayou on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico, this laid-back seaside city has a population of fewer than 8,500 residents. It makes for a wonderfully tranquil getaway destination.
Orange Beach is, without a doubt, most famous for its white sand beaches. The region is also a water sports hub, and marinas and fishing piers can be found all along the water’s edge. Boating, fishing, kayaking, and much more are all on offer, and there are plenty of beautiful swimming spots to explore.
However, if watersports aren’t your thing, there are lots more on offer in Orange Beach than just the coastline. There are plenty of land-based activities available in Orange Beach, with the nearby Gulf State Park offering an enormous variety of things to do. There is also plenty of local hospitality to enjoy, with fabulous drinking and dining options dotted all over the city.
If you’re planning a trip to Orange Beach, here are the can’t-miss things to do in Orange Beach.
Soak up the Atmosphere at The Wharf
- Address: 23101 Canal Road, Orange Beach, AL
- Website: alwharf.com
- Opening hours: Daily from 10 am to 2 am.
The Wharf in Orange Beach is one of the best spots in the city for shopping, arts, dining, and one-of-a-kind entertainment. There are plenty of exciting things to do here, including a giant Ferris Wheel, laser light shows, an escape room, arcades, and periodic festivals.
The Wharf is even home to an amphitheater, which hosts some of the biggest stars in music each year. Make sure you check the schedule and book ahead to be guaranteed a ticket.
To make the most of a day at The Wharf, wander down Main Street and check out the local shops, then grab a seat for a bite to eat at one of the many fantastic restaurants. From a sugar factory and bakery to a wine bar and taco spot, The Wharf has a huge range of options to suit any appetite.
This spot is also one of the few pet-friendly entertainment options in the Orange Beach city area, so your furry friends can join in the fun!
Get Close to Nature at Gulf State Park
- Address: 20115 State Park Road, Gulf Shores, AL
- Website: alapark.com
- Opening hours: Trails and Picnic Areas are open from Sunrise to Sunset. Headquarters Offices are open Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4 pm.
The Gulf State Park sits right between Gulf Shores & Orange Beach. There are over 28 miles of walking, running, and biking trails here, covering nine distinct ecosystems within the park boundaries.
Gulf State Park has two miles of beaches, spacious camping facilities, and, if you don’t fancy sleeping under canvas, a brand-new accommodation lodge. There are tons of activities, including kayaking, canoeing, hiking, biking, and fishing, to name just a few.
You can also swim and paddle in Lake Shelby, where you’ll also find a dedicated dog pond so your pup can get in on the action.
Gulf State Park’s incredible biodiversity is on display at the Gulf State Park Nature Center. Here you can take part in one of the educational programs that give visitors an interactive look at the local flora and fauna, including owls, turtles, and snakes. Programs are offered daily, alongside guided nature walks, beach walks, pier tours, and other nature programs.
The Beach Pavilion is equipped with everything you need to enjoy a convenient day at the beach. There are climate-controlled bathrooms with showers, accessible ramps, and plenty of picnic tables.
If you haven’t brought your own picnic, check out Beachin’ Eats, which serves up a great range of food and beverages. Also on the beach are vendors offering exciting activities such as parasailing and kayaking.
Test Your Gaming Skills at Fat Daddy’s Arcade
- Address: 24565 Perdido Beach Blvd, Orange Beach, AL
- Website: fatdaddysarcade.com
- Opening hours: Daily from 11 am to 10 pm.
Take a break from the beach and head to Fat Daddy’s Arcade to work your way through more than 80 of the very best arcade games.
The top interactive games here include The Walking Dead, Jurassic Park, and Fruit Ninja, but you can also put your skills to the test at Monster Drop Chaos, The Wizard of Oz, Skee Ball, Hoops, and many more.
Top prizes include Nerf, stuffed animals, Barbie, and Hot Wheels. Fat Daddy’s Arcade is also home to claw games, as well as dueling basketball hoops, air hockey, and other competitive options guaranteed to provide thrills and family fun.
Fat Daddy’s Arcade is a great spot to visit for the whole family and welcomes groups and birthday parties. They also sell light refreshments. But best of all, Fat Daddy’s Arcade is free to enter!
Seek Adventure at Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail
- Address: 3801 Orange Beach Blvd., Orange Beach, AL
- Website: backcountrytrail.com
The Backcountry Trail was established in 2003 and comprises seven trails among six different ecosystems. If you love nature and the great outdoors, then this might be just the spot for you.
During a visit, guests can explore the timeless beauty of the Butterfly Garden, freshwater lakes and streams, and pristine coastal forests. Activities on offer also include biking, jogging, walking, skating, rock climbing, wildlife watching, plant and tree identification, and photography.
The trail is multi-purpose, so it can be used for walking, jogging, cycling, and even rollerblading. If you don’t have your own bicycle, there are plenty available for hire here. The terrains vary from beginner to expert level, meaning there is something for just about everyone.
Facilities include fully-serviced restrooms and a covered picnic pavilion, and all this is easily accessible from Orange Beach.
Pack a Picnic for the Orange Beach Waterfront Park
- Address: 26425 Canal Rd, Orange Beach, AL
- Website: orangebeachal.gov
This beautiful family-friendly park is located on Wolf Bay and is open all year round. This is a great place for a picnic as there are seven picnic shelters fitted out with grills, tables, and benches. There are also two restroom buildings, the walking paths are paved, and there’s also a kids’ park with slides, swings, climbing areas, and shade structures.
Orange Beach Waterfront Park is located just outside the city center, so it is less crowded than some of the city parks. It’s also pet-friendly.
Pack Your Binoculars for an Orange Beach Dolphin Cruise
- Address: 4673 Wharf Pkwy W, Orange Beach, AL (Cetacean Cruises at The Wharf)
- Website: cetaceancruises.com
For animal lovers, seeing dolphins in the wild is one of the coolest things to do in Orange Beach. The city’s location, on a thin strip of land with surrounding channels, makes it a great area for dolphins, so why not try a dolphin cruise and see if you can spot some? We recommend a sunset cruise to make the most of the cooler weather and beautiful light over the water.
Fact: Did you know the dolphins in the Orange Beach area are smaller than the dolphins that live in the open ocean on the Gulf? This is because the fish they eat are smaller too!
Have Some Family Fun at Adventure Island
- Address: 24559 Perdido Beach Boulevard, Orange Beach, AL
- Website: adventure-island.com
- Opening hours: Open daily, from 10 am to 10 pm.
Adventure Island is a family-friendly amusement park in Orange Beach that has been welcoming guests to the Gulf Coast for almost 30 years. This wild and wonderful venue features a whole host of attractions and is an awesome spot to entertain visitors of all ages.
With indoor and outdoor attractions, Adventure Island is great to visit, whatever the weather. The 18-hole mini golf course is packed full of fun obstacles and challenging water features, and there’s also a laser tag course, go-karts, and bumper boats.
Be sure to visit the snack bar to fuel up between activities!
Discover the Award-Winning Tropic Falls Indoor Waterpark
- Address: 1501 S OWA Blvd, Foley, AL
- Website: visitowa.com/destinations
- Opening hours: Open every day, from 10 am to 8 pm.
Tropic Falls is an award-winning theme park and is one of the top places to visit with children near Orange Beach. The Tropic Falls Indoor Waterpark is beneath a convertible glass roof, making it a year-round tropical paradise. With slides up to 23 meters tall, a surf simulator, and a new 2787-square-meter wave pool, you are guaranteed to find an attraction for every age and thrill level!
Tropic Falls has plenty of snack bars and a cafeteria, so it’s perfect for a full day out as there’s always somewhere to grab a bite or a drink. For added luxury, you can rent a spacious cabana with dining tables and chairs, lounge chairs, and umbrellas.
Get Artsy at the Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach
- Address: 26389 Canal Rd, Orange Beach, AL
- Website: orangebeachal.gov
- Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4 pm.
The Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach features a multi-studio campus and overlooks scenic Wolf Bay, so you can learn how to make art while enjoying beautiful vistas.
There are some great activities on offer for creative visitors to Orange Beach, including their popular “Make Your Own” classes. Book a spot in the Hot Shop or the Clay Studio, where you can learn how to blow glass and throw clay on a pottery wheel. The gallery displays some of the best local artwork and is free to visit, and the center also offers art camps and scavenger hunts for kids.
The nationally acclaimed Orange Beach Festival of Art takes place at The Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach on the second weekend of March, so if you are planning a trip to Orange Beach during that time, art lovers should factor this fun event into their schedule.
Go Wild at Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo
- Address: 20499 Oak Road East, Gulf Shores, AL
- Website: alabamagulfcoastzoo.com
- Opening hours: Open daily, from 9 am to 4 pm.
The world-renowned Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo is one of the most popular family attractions in the region and is home to nearly 120 species from all over the world and more than 20 endangered species. Incredible animals here include a lynx, tigers, tortoises, bobcats, crocodiles, owls, and many more. Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo is a fantastic place to visit for adults and children alike.
Despite being located just six miles from the beach, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to a faraway tropical oasis. Upon your arrival, the zoo is filled with the sounds of peacocks and chattering monkeys.
As you continue exploring, you’ll discover over 25 acres of wide pathways providing close-up views of the exciting exhibits, as well as picnic areas.
To make the day a comfortable one for all the family, rest stops, benches, and an on-site restaurant can all be found here, plus a gift shop to buy a souvenir to remember your day forever.
Enhance Your Vacation with Gulf Coast Rental
- Address: 25150 Canal Rd. Ste. B, Orange Beach, AL
- Website: gulfcoastrentalco.com
- Opening hours: Open daily from 10 am to 6.30 pm.
Look no further than Golf Coast Rental to hire all the gadgets and equipment you need for your Orange Beach vacation.
Popular choices include stand-up paddleboards, pontoon boats, and toon-tikis (a tiki bar on the water). But for something a little more high-octane, Jeep Wranglers and three-wheeled Polaris Slingshots are also available.
Other rental items include beach chairs, umbrellas, and sand toys that make the perfect finishing touches to your fun day on the beach. Rentals are available by the hour or at a day rate.
Set Sail at Hudson Marina
- Address: 4575 S. Wilson Blvd, Orange Beach, AL
- Website: hudsonmarina.net
Family-owned Hudson Marina was once a commercial fishing boat dock but has now been converted into a marina filled with watersports for ultimate vacation excitement.
Hudson Marina is one of the most popular spots in the Orange Beach area to rent jet skis and book fishing charters. Here, you can also find dolphin cruises, parasailing providers, and an exact replica of The Pinta, which sailed across the Atlantic Ocean in the early 1900s.
Staff at Hudson Marina are well-trained and will ensure that you’re instructed in the safe operation of your hired equipment.
Private charters are perfect for larger groups and allow you to personalize your tour on the water, and Hudson Marina also offers a dinner cruise if you’re celebrating a birthday or looking for a romantic night out during your time in Orange Beach. This excursion includes a scenic tour of Mobile Bay and a buffet-style meal, plus live music and a full-service cash bar.
Experience the Ride of Your Life at Coastal Segway Adventures
- Address: 21101 State Hwy 135, Gulf Shores, AL
- Website: coastalsegwayadventures.com
- Opening hours: Open daily from 8 am to 4 pm.
Get ready for a two-wheel adventure like no other! Segways are a fun and exciting way to explore Orange Beach’s endless natural beauty, and they are safer and easier to use than they may initially seem.
Coastal Segway Adventures offers one-hour Segway eco tours through the Lake Shelby area and two-hour tours through the beautiful Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail. All tours begin with a lesson on how to properly operate a Segway and are great for Segway beginners and more experienced riders.
In addition to Segway tours, Coastal Segway Adventures offers bike and e-bike rentals. You can also rent kayaks and paddleboards here.
Escape the Daily Grind at The Southern Grind Coffee House
- Address: 4751 Main Street Suite 116, Orange Beach, AL
- Website: thesoutherngrind.com
- Opening Hours: Depending on the season.
The Southern Grind has been Orange Beach’s specialty coffee house since 2012 and serves up the most delicious cup of java around. This family-owned and operated establishment is set in a boho-chic, warm, and welcoming setting, and the friendly staff are full of Southern charm.
The Southern Grind Coffee House serves an incredible selection of drinks, from nitro draft cold brew to lattes and smoothies, plus homemade desserts, pastries, muffins, cookies, and brownies. Be sure to check out the daily specials.
Party Hard at Flora-Bama Lounge
- Address: 17401 Perdido Key Dr, Pensacola, FL
- Website: florabama.com
- Opening hours: Daily from 9 am to 2.30 am.
Flora-Bama Lounge is one of the most famous beach bars in the country, with hopping live music and great bar food.
Situated on the border of Orange Beach, Alabama, and Perdido Key, Florida, Flora-Bama Lounge has been a landmark in the community since 1964 and makes a great hangout spot. It has five stages for live music of all genres, including country, rock, dance, and beach music. They really do have it all here!
When you need a break from all that dancing, the Flora-Bama Lounge has great menus in three separate eating locations: Oyster Bar, Ole River Grill, and Yacht Club. Grab a refreshing drink and a bite to eat, and soak up the signature party atmosphere.
Get Cultural at the Orange Beach Indian & Sea Museum
- Address: 25805 John M. Snook Ave, Orange Beach, AL
- Website: orangebeachal.gov/246/Indian-Sea-Museum
- Opening hours: Open Tuesday through Thursday, from 9 am to 4 pm.
The Orange Beach Indian and Sea Museum dates back to 1910 and is contained within an old schoolhouse.
This quaint museum houses Native American artifacts and exhibits of Orange Beach’s rich heritage and is a must-do for visiting culture vultures. Artifacts have been primarily donated and loaned to the museum by local residents and include items such as canoes and axes.
Explore the Local History at Fort Morgan
- Address: 51 Hwy 180 West, Gulf Shores, Alabama
- Website: ahc.alabama.gov
- Opening hours: Open daily from 8 am to 5 pm.
At the end of scenic Fort Morgan Peninsula is Fort Morgan, a masonry fort built between 1819 and 1833. The fort was a key defense fort in the Battle of Mobile Bay and was also used periodically throughout the Spanish American War, War I, and World War II.
The site offers a fascinating tour that showcases the evolution of seacoast fortifications in this area. There is also a military memorial commemorating the Civil War.
Beaches
Public beaches in the Orange Beach area are stunning: there are miles of pristine white sand and warm emerald-green Gulf waters to enjoy. If you’re heading to the area on your vacation, you can’t leave without feeling the powdery sand under your feet and the calm ocean waters lapping at your ankles on a sunset beach stroll.
For your safety, it’s important to note that there are no lifeguards on duty from October to February, and beach patrols are limited during this time. Always check the water conditions before swimming, never swim alone, and remember to swim between the flags wherever possible.
Here are some of the area’s best beaches.
Alabama Point East
Alabama Point East, just west of Perdido Key State Park, is a family-friendly beach with wide white sands and magnificent views of the coast. There are plenty of amenities here, including picnic areas, public restrooms, and outdoor showers.
Orange Beach
Orange Beach is one of the prettiest beaches in Alabama and offers plenty of activities. From flyboarding to fishing, there is fun to be found for the whole family. For those who just want to relax, try the walking trails for stunning views of nature.
Cotton Bayou Beach
Just on the outskirts of Orange Beach is Cotton Bayou Beach. This small beach is nestled between some of the most popular condos in the area and has showers, boardwalks, parking, and fishing charters. The backdrop here is beautiful, and there’s lots to do. Get there early to take advantage of the free parking.
Florida Point Beach
Florida Point Beach has pure white sand across a mile-long peninsula and is a very tranquil yet central destination. This makes it a great choice for those who want to head to the beach without going too far from the city.
Surprisingly, Florida Point Beach remains relatively low-profile, despite being central to the city’s coastal region, so you should have no problem finding a quiet spot to relax and enjoy your beautiful surroundings.
Lots to See and Do in Orange Beach
So there we have it: the can’t-miss things to do in Orange Beach. The long and short of it is you will not be short of things to do in Orange Beach.
There really is something for everyone here, and whether you’re a thrill-seeker or a seasoned relaxer, Orange Beach is guaranteed to deliver. And wherever you go, you will encounter famous southern hospitality. Enjoy!
Featured Image Credit: blandas71
