When you think of Spring Break, the first thoughts that likely come to mind are of wild trips you took during your youth, and you may reminisce or cringe about what happened on those trips. If you have a family now, your Spring Break vacation is more likely planned around the dates when your kids are out of school. You may also want to avoid the wild and crazy college-age crowd. Consider spending your break in the Gulf Shores area, a perfect place for family-friendly fun.
Sugar-White Beaches and Spectacular Views
The biggest attractions in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are, of course, the beaches. Unique sugar-white sand washed down from the Appalachian Mountains attracts tourists throughout the year. You can go parasailing, play beach volleyball, take a sandcastle building course at Sandcastle University, or simply walk along the Gulf at sunrise. If you want a vacation spot to view the beach, there are around 17,000 lodging options, all featuring great vistas of the white beaches contrasting with blue waterfront.
Great Food Variety
The Gulf Shores communities offer a large variety of restaurants providing a wide selection of cuisine from different cultures. Whether you want to eat beach burgers, homemade Italian pasta, Mexican fajitas, oysters, or fried, grilled, and blackened seafood, Gulf Shores has restaurants and establishments that cater to every palate and every budget.
Fishing
If you want to enjoy a relaxing fishing excursion, Gulf Shores has plenty of options open to you. The area’s organized artificial reef program attracts a variety of sea life to the area, such as redfish, mackerel, and white trout. Travel further offshore to catch yellowfish and blackfish tuna, wahoo, and snapper. Looking for trophy fish? Venture further to find both blue and white marlin, as well as sailfish. You can either take a charter cruise where a captain can guide you or rent a boat and handle the fishing by yourself.
Wildlife
Want to take a small break from the beach? Visit the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. There are over 500 types of exotic animals, from lions and tigers to reptiles and primates. Your family can even get close and personal with lemurs, kangaroos, and sloths. If you are a birdwatcher, you can enjoy several bird-spotting locations such as the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail, which stretches through Orange Beach and Gulf State Park. Migrating birds such as herons, bald eagles, brown pelicans and hummingbirds are known to make appearances here. You can even participate in Alabama’s Share the Beach program and sponsor a nest of endangered sea turtles.
The Wharf
If you are visiting Orange Beach, consider taking your family to The Wharf. A family entertainment district by Foley Beach Expressway, The Wharf is the ultimate destination place for tourists visiting the Gulf Shore area. Whether you want to take on ziplining at Hummingbird, watch a live performance at the Wharf Amphitheater, witness the SPECTRA light and sound show on Main Street, or ride the giant Ferris wheel, you will never run out of activities in Gulf Shores.
Leave a Reply