The Beach is Calling

Spring Break is in Full Swing!

Every year around this time, we are blessed to have visitors from around the country who appreciate our beautiful beaches, and our rich culture of great food, excellent live music and abundant good times. We are glad to have you with us and want your visit here to be one you want to relive year after year.

To make sure you get the most out of your visit, take a look at our 10 steps to a perfect beach vacation.

1. Get out on the water. Regardless of your level of seaworthiness, find a charter boat or dolphin tour and enjoy some time at sea.
2. Get up early at least once. Or maybe that means staying up, but watch the sunrise. Few things will be as memorable for you as the serenity of the sun coming across the waves early in the morning. Since you’re up, you might even want to get in a round of golf at one of the many courses in the area.
3. Splurge on a really good meal. We have many excellent local restaurants with the freshest seafood you can imagine. It is well worth the indulgence to fully take advantage while you are here.
4. Go local. Get a good healthy dose of Southern hospitality by patronizing independent local businesses. We are glad to see you and want to let you know.
5. Use our app. GulfBeaches, available on iPhone or Android, provides all kinds of timely, helpful information including weather, events, meetups, activities and specials around town.
6. Post pictures online. We have no doubt that your remembered your camera or smartphone, but post at least some of your pictures online right away so that if anything should happen to your devices, you still have a record of your time here.
7. Wear sunscreen. Seriously folks, you have probably been mostly out of the sun for several winter months. Be kind to your skin and don’t try to get a deep dark tan all at once. Your travel enjoyment is substantially diminished when your entire body blisters – not to mention the health risks.
8. Drink water. It may feel balmy and delightful on the beach, but you are still depleting your system of water. Dehydration can cause all kinds of nasty problems ranging from headaches to hospitalization, so be prepared.
9. Use baby powder when you get off the beach. Do you hate that sandy feeling you get after being at the beach all day? Dust yourself off with baby powder to feel normal again.
10. Remember your shades. Protect your eyes at the beach and look good doing it. In fact, get yourself a pair of sunglasses your really like and rock them the whole time you’re here.

 

Girlfriend Getaway

This is a great time of year to sneak away with a few girlfriends and enjoy a long weekend here in the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach area.  You can find just the adventure you seek and then relax and enjoy delicious food and vibrant live music.

To get started planning your trip, take a look at the sampling of opportunities offered below. You can find many more options in the Things to Do area of the Gulf Shores Website or you can download the Gulf Beaches app for iPhone or Android and start planning your trip wherever you are.

Indulge

Fusion Spa Salon  is an Aveda salon offering a full suite of luxuriant spa treatments and massages.  For more information about this and other spas, click here.

Thrill

BeachnRiver Kayak Rentals offers intimate tours of the Bon Secour river for those looking to get their heart racing.  To learn more about this and other tours and attractions, clickhere.

Do Something New

Why not try something you’ve never done? The Hot Shop at the Orange Beach Art Center offers classes in glass blowing that allow you to bring home your own unique souvenir. Classes are affordable – between $25 and $35.

Shop

We have plenty of great places to get that special souvenir or new swimsuit. If you are looking for something special, consider visiting the boardwalk at the Original Oyster House, or the shops at the Wharf . For a list of the many fabulous shops in the area click here.

Enjoy

Of course we know most people love us for the good food and good times. You will find plenty of both at LuLu’s  or The Hangout . For a complete list of nightly entertainment, click here.

Again, these are just a few samples of the many great ways to spend a weekend here and we haven’t even included strolling on the beach! When you are ready to get into a little trouble with your girlfriends, we are here to welcome you.

 

Orange Beach Market Days October 6-16 – Catch the Orange Beach Experience!

Ask natives and they will tell you that this is the best season to be on the Gulf coast. The weather is gorgeous, the fish are biting and we have lots of events to explore. In celebration of that, The Orange Beach Business Advisory Committee is sponsoring Market Days to showcase the wonderful island experiences that are available year round, such as biking, hiking, shopping, dining, boating and fishing.

Naturally, Orange Beach is a place for families to spend quality time together enjoying the great outdoors. Biking on our nationally recognized Wilderness Trail is accessible by renting a bike from one of our local bike shops. Orange Beach’s charter boat fleet is known for their world class fishing and it is a year round sport in the Gulf of Mexico. Dolphins play in our bays daily and the captains of our dolphin cruises at various marinas are available for families to come aboard and experience the sites in our bays.

You may be in town to enjoy local seafood during the National Shrimp Festival, get your heart racing at Thunder on the Gulf, or wrestle with nature during the IFA Red Fishing Tournament. While you are here, look for Market Days specials such as the few examples listed below.

Restaurant Specials:
• Shipp’s Harbor Grill chef tastings and marina packages
• Flippers free Eddie Boy’s homemade ice cream and real NFL grass for gamedays
• Tacky Jack’s “Kiss the Fish” event for Make A Wish Foundation
• Flora Bama mullet toss training

Retail Specials:
• J&M Tackle educational seminars
• Wildflowers Boutique Fashion Day events

This is a great time to visit and Market Days events are a great way to enhance your vacation and have an experience of a lifetime. We look forward to seeing you!

 

Can You Hear Me Now? There’s an App for That!

If you have a smart phone and are considering a trip to the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach area, you could not have picked a better time. We just made it that much easier for you to find great deals and fun things to do. Look for an app called Gulf Beaches.

The official smart phone app of the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, we combined information from all the best restaurants, attractions, hotels and shops this area has to offer. If you want to be the first to know about a cool offer or special deal, this is the place to look.

This app is not just for planning your trip either. We have loads of helpful information to set you up for a great time once you get here. Worried that your sailing trip may be cancelled? You can check weather conditions directly from the app and avoid having to reset what you normally use. We even thought of those of you amateur James Bonds who rock the check-ins. Gulf Beaches links to Facebook Places, Foursquare and other geo-location sites, so you don’t miss out on those secret specials around town, and we don’t miss out on your valuable input.

So check it out, tech-friendly friends! Guests who download this new app may receive a small token by visiting either the Gulf Shores or Orange Beach Welcome Center through Labor Day and showing the app on your phone to one of the welcome center staff members.

To get the app, visit www.itunes.com or https://market.android.com/apps, and search for the app titled Gulf Beaches, or click here.

 

Off The Beaten Path

Loads of amazing souvenir superstores abound between Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. If you are looking for a trip shirt, a new beach towel or surf gear any one of those fine establishments can provide you with exactly what you need. If you need to step it up a bit for a special someone back home, here are some places you may not have considered for souvenirs.

Orange Beach Arts Center

Featuring the only public access glass studio in Alabama, this gallery offers more than just framed art. Find your mom a unique, hand-blown wine glass or sculpture.

Location: 26389 Canal Road

Orange Beach, AL 36561-5010

(251) 981-2787

Hours: Monday - Saturday 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Tallulah’s Treasures

An eclectic array of clothing, gifts and local artwork surround this venerable retail location. Look for the unmistakable teal walls and friendly dog.

Location: 25122 Perdido Beach Blvd
Orange Beach, AL 36561-6209

(251)-981-6003
Hours: Monday – Saturday 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM

Sunday 12:00 -5:00 PM

Geez Louise

Stocked full of unique apparel from local designers as well as Bohemian jewelry, accessories and gifts, this shop has become a favorite of locals and visitors alike. It is located in the Original Oyster House Boardwalk in Gulf Shores.

Location: 701 Hwy 59 Original Oyster House Boardwalk
Gulf Shores, AL 36542

(251) 948-5684

B& L’s Happy Shak

Need a cool gift for the free spirit on your list? Not to worry, this hippy haven has a great selection of tie-dye clothing for everyone from infants to adults. Check out their canvas accessories and folk art décor items as well.

Location: 1544 Gulf Shores Parkway
Gulf Shores, AL 36542
(251) 968-3347

These are just a sampling of the wonderful variety of specialty shops located in the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach area. For more shops, please click here.