24 Best Things To Do In Gulf Shores And Orange Beach

No matter how many times you visit 32-mile stretch of sugary sand on Alabama's Gulf Coast, you'll find yourself planning your next trip to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach before you've even reached I-65 on your way home. The signature catchphrase of Gulf Shores "Small Town, Big Beach" can be seen around town, and gives you a glimpse of what kind of place it really is.

While the white quartz sand and rolling waters of the Gulf of Mexico are the main attraction, there's plenty more to do and see. Here are the top things to do during your getaway to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama.

Enjoy The Outdoors

Outdoor riches here are remarkable: Gulf shoreline, bayous, rivers, and lakes. Opportunities for adventure await at every turn with its family-friendly beaches and area attractions.

Spend Plenty Of Time On The White Sand Beaches

First and foremost, you have to visit the beaches. Head to one of several public access points in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores to hunt for seashells, walk the boardwalk, or fish from the pier. You'll find 14 different access points, including the Gulf State Park Beach Pavilion, Cotton Bayou, and Alabama Point. The city's "Leave Only Footprints" campaign is working to ensure that the beaches stay as beautiful as they are now for many years to come.

Connect With Nature At Gulf State Park

Nature lovers will love exploring the area’s ecosystems in water and on land with opportunities for birding, hiking, boating excursions, and more. Within Gulf State Park are 28 miles of paved trails for walking and biking. As you make your way through Gulf State Park, you'll wind through six different ecosystems, so you'll be able to see an abundance of different plants, trees, and wildlife. Make sure to plan stops at the butterfly garden and nature center, and don't forget your camera! Gulf State Park is also home to the largest fishing pier in the Gulf of Mexico.

alapark.com; 20115 State Park Road, Gulf Shores, AL 36542; 251-948-7275

Note: The Gulf State Park Pier is currently closed for repair and is anticipated to reopen in the summer of 2024

Visit The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo is one of the most popular family attractions in the region and is home to over 600 animals. Featured on the Animal Planet Show " The Little Zoo That Could", which shared the story of the zoo's recovery after Hurricane Ivan, The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo is now known as "The Little Zoo That Grew" after moving to new 25+ acre property in 2020.

alabamagulfcoastzoo.com; 20499 Oak Road East, Gulf Shores, AL 36542; 251-256-7008

Tour By Bike

Biking is a great way to get around town, as well as enjoy the area’s many trails. Bikes are provided at some lodging facilities, and there are several places around the area to rent as well. Beach Bike Rentals is located near Gulf State Park’s Rosemary Trail and offers delivery and pickup to your lodging site. Rent an e-bike at Gulf Shores Bike Rentals to cover more area in less time.

Play A Round

Head to one of the area’s premier golf courses for an afternoon just steps away from the Gulf’s beaches or under Spanish moss-draped oaks. Kiva Dunes has been ranked as Alabama’s top public golf course. Plus, for family-friendly fun, check out one of the many miniature golf courses like Adventure Island in Gulf Shores and Pirates Island Adventure Golf in Orange Beach.

Take In A Breathtaking Sunset

No matter how many times you see an Alabama Gulf Coast sunset, it'll never get old. Make plans to spend at least one night on the beach during sunset to see the beautiful skies against the clear blue ocean and white sand.

Slumber By The Sea

When choosing a place to stay during your trip to Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, we recommend choosing an accommodation as close to the sand as possible.

Plan A Long Weekend At The Lodge At Gulf State Park

The Lodge at Gulf State Park, a Hilton property, opened to wide acclaim in 2018 and is noteworthy for its level of style and comfort and also for its commitment to both conservation and sustainability. Cabins and cottages are also available in the park, offering lake views, swimming, fishing, and trail activities like walking or biking. Among the on-site restaurants at The Lodge at Gulf State Park are the Gulf-front Perch and Foodcraft, where you’ll enjoy coastal favorites like Crispy Snapper Bites or NOLA BBQ Gulf Shrimp and Grits with sunset views.

lodgeatgulfstatepark.com; 21196 East Beach Blvd., Gulf Shores, AL 36542; 251-540-4000

Stay Steps From The Water At Hotel Indigo

Located just across the street from the beach, the dog-friendly Hotel Indigo is a charming boutique hotel with 62 guest rooms, a poolside bar, a fire pit, and more. They also have a complimentary shuttle to the beach. Just off the lobby, you'll find local coffee shop The Southern Grind which serves a wide selection of coffees and drinks as well as breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

beachindigo.com; 22843 Perdido Beach Blvd., Orange Beach, AL36561; 251-981-1737

Book A Getaway At Turquoise Place

For those looking for more of a luxury experience, Turquoise Place in Orange Beach offers 3-, 4- and 5-bedroom accommodations. Each has a private balcony, gourmet kitchen, and access to amenities at the resort which include a lazy river, tennis courts, poolside bar and grill, saunas, and more.

turquoiseplace.spectrumresorts.com; 26302 Perdido Beach Blvd., Orange Beach, AL 36561; 866-348-9112,

Dine With A View

Just ask the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach crowd what they like best about the area, and they'll immediately start naming restaurants. There are plenty of restaurants around town where you can enjoy dinner with a view. 

Catch Dinner With A View At The Gulf

The Gulf restaurant in Orange Beach has a unique structure that's anchored around shipping containers. It features a mix of tables and casual seating areas so you can find the perfect spot to enjoy a meal and drinks while watching boats come and go in the Perdido Pass. The menu changes daily and is crafted around what fresh seasonal ingredients are available. The experience will be unique, yet enjoyable, each time you visit the seaside hideaway.

thegulf.com; 27500 Perdido Beach Blvd., Orange Beach, AL 36561; 251-424-1800

Watch The Sunset At Cobalt

Accessible by land and sea, Cobalt is located under the Perdido Pass Bridge offering water views from every table. Open daily, you can't go wrong visiting during lunch or dinner, but it's a beautiful venue to watch the sunset. Menu highlights include daily specials, Bronzed Gulf Grouper, and Zydeco Chicken.

cobaltrestaurant.net; 28099 Perdido Beach Blvd., Orange Beach, AL 36561; 251-923-5300

Get A Beachfront Table At CoastAL

Opened in 2023, CoastAL is an expansive restaurant that is the only beachfront restaurant in Orange Beach. You can choose to dine at the restaurant for a more elevated dining experience or at the Beachside Bar for a casual meal. The property also features a retail shop, observation deck, and live music.

coastalorangebeach.com; 25722 Perdido Beach Blvd.,Orange Beach, AL 36561; 251-240-6001

Experience Fun And Good Food At Lucy Buffett's LuLu's

Lulu's features beautiful water views of the Intercoastal Waterway and is also accessible by boat. The restaurant menu features allergy-friendly dishes—including options that are dairy free, egg free, gluten free, shellfish free, soy free, seafood free, and sesame and nut free.

lulusfunfoodmusic.com; 200 E. 25th Ave., Gulf Shores, AL 36542; 251-967-5858

Grab Breakfast, Lunch, Or Dinner At Tacky Jack's

Tacky Jack's has a location in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, both of which boast waterfront views. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, you can visit for a meal with a view at any time of the day. Both locations feature an upper deck to take in the surrounding scenery that can be enjoyed while you're browsing the menu or sipping on a specialty drink.

tackyjacks.com; 240 E. 24th Ave., Gulf Shores, AL 36542; 251-948-8881

Enjoy Delicious Seafood At Louisiana Lagniappe

Since 1999, Louisiana Lagniappe has been serving seafood with a Creole flair in Orange Beach. We're talking dishes like Bayou Grouper, Seafood Lagniappe, Mardi Gras Shrimp, and more. Open daily at 5 p.m., the waterfront restaurant offers an upscale experience while welcoming casual attire.

thelouisianalagniappe.com; 27267 Perdido Beach Blvd. - Suite 20, Orange Beach, AL 36561; 251-981-2258

Attend A Festival Or Show

Throughout the year, Gulf Shores is home to many annual events and festivals. You can find a full list of annual events here.

Head To The Shrimp Festival In Fall

For over 50 years, both locals and visitors alike have looked forward to the Annual National Shrimp Festival which takes place during the second weekend of October each year in Gulf Shores. The festival offers free admission and draws over 200,000 guests who come to enjoy food, music, art, and more.

myshrimpfest.com; 101 Gulf Shores Pkwy., Gulf Shores, AL 36542; 251-968-7200

Kick Off Summer At The Hangout Music Festival 

Each May, thousands of music lovers head to Gulf Shores for the three-day Hangout Music Festival that takes place on the white sands of the Gulf Coast. The 2024 festival will take place from May 17th through the 19th.

hangoutmusicfest.com; 101 E Beach Blvd., Gulf Shores, AL 36542; 844-407-2291

Catch A Concert At The Wharf Amphitheater

The Wharf in Orange Beach features an open-air music venue with 10,000 seats and is a great spot to catch a concert during your vacation. Concerts on the schedule in 2024 include Cole Swindell, Parker McCollum, and more.

alwharf.com; 23101 Canal Road, Orange Beach, AL 36561; 251-224-1020

Shop Local

Make time to shop the area’s unique boutiques and specialty shops.

Shop For Gifts At Souvenir City

Step through the iconic shark's mouth into this souvenir store that has been locally owned since 1956. Open 7 days a week, you'll find a wide range of apparel and beach accessories as well as hermit crabs, fudge, and airbrush art.

souvenircitygs.com, 251-948-7280, 217 Gulf Shores Pkwy., Gulf Shores, AL 36542

Spend An Afternoon At The Shops At The Wharf

In addition to The Wharf Store which sells Wharf-branded merchandise, local merchants at The Wharf include Shades Sunglasses and Casual Apparel, Sand Dollar Lifestyles, High Cotton Bath Company, and Bungalows. Between strolling in and out of shops, you can also take a spin on one of the tallest Ferris wheels in the Southeast at The Wharf or grab a bite to eat at Red or White Wine and Gourmet or Murder Point Oysters.

alwharf.com; 23101 Canal Road, Orange Beach, AL 36561; 251-224-1000

Browse Unique Treasures At Salt Coastal Outfitters

You’ll find local pottery, jewelry, art, and more. Salt Coastal Outfitters carries breezy dresses, gifts, jewelry, handbags, sandals, and housewares.

shopsaltnow.com; 25122 Perdido Beach Blvd. Suite 6, Orange Beach, AL 36561; 251-215-9454

Find Fun Goodies At Gulf Shores City Store

Official merchandise for Gulf Shores, including items featuring their signature phrase "Small Town, Big Beach™" can be found at the City Store which has four locations throughout the town.

gulfshoresal.gov; 1821 Gulf Shores Pkwy., Gulf Shores, AL 36542; 251-968-2504

Shop For Gear At J&M Tackle

Since 1988, family-owned J&M Tackle has served both local and visiting anglers with tackle, apparel, live bait, rods, and more. And it's not just for anglers. You've likely seen folks far and wide wearing the J&M logo on t-shirts, which are a popular souvenir among visitors.

jmtackle.com;25125 Canal Road, Orange Beach, AL 36561; 251-981-5460

Don't Head Home Without Stopping In The Orange Beach Store

At The Orange Beach Store, you'll find everything from hats to shirts to beach towels to stickers and more featuring the trademarked logo in the shape of–you guessed it–an orange. You'll be able to easily spot the store thanks to a bright, striped exterior that matches the famed logo.

theorangebeachstore.com, 25122 Perdido Beach Boulevard, Orange Beach, AL 36561; 251-981-0988