Orange Beach, AL Road Trips

1 Fort Morgan, 51 Hwy 180 West, ☏ +1 251 540-7127. Museum 9AM-5PM daily. Fort hours vary by season. $3 for adults. $1 for children. A fort has been at this site on and off since the 1500s. The present fortification date from 1834 to WWII and played a vital part in the Battle of Mobile Bay. Historical tours are given daily in the summer. 2 Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, 20499 Oak Rd E, ☏ +1 251-256-7008. Daily 9AM-4PM. The Zoo features many exotic animals, including lions, monkeys and bears. There is also a petting zoo, reptile house and in the summer there are daily animal shows. Adults $11, Seniors $9, Kids (3-12) $8, Kids under 3 are free. (updated Dec 2017) Gulf Shores Museum, 244 West 19th Avenue, ☏ +1 251-968-1473. Learn about Gulf Coast weather with a video on the Hurricane Hunters. Great exhibition on shrimping and fishing. Free. Orange Beach Indian & Sea Museum, 25850 John M Snook Avenue, Orange Beach, ☏ +1 251-981-8545. Tu-F 9AM - 4PM; Sa 9AM - 2PM. Collection of local artifacts and items that tell the area's Native American and fishing history.

The best thing to do in Orange Beach is enjoy the beaches. There are plenty of places to park at most public beaches. Some offer facilities and picnic tables. There are many beach access area that provide pedestrian access only. These are best if you are staying nearby and don't need a car to get to the beach. It is best to be aware of the Beach Warning Flags that tell you whether it is safe to go into the Gulf of Mexico. There is an unlimited amount of water sports activities available in Orange Beach. Take your pick between waverunners, catamarans, parasailing, sailboats, boogie boards etc. at any of the numerous rental places along the beach. Orange Beach Public Beach Access at Cotton Bayou, Romar Beach, and Alabama Point. Beaches are full of activity and conveniently located near bars and restaurants. Arrive early for a good spot. 1 Gulf State Park (6 miles east of Hwy 59), ☏ +1 251 948-7275. A great beach for families and away from the hustle of the other beaches. Facilities are minimal and a small parking fee is charged. 2 Waterville USA. Hwy 59 North. A 25-acre water and fun park. It has waterslides that are for the kiddies and the daredevils. There is miniature golf, go-karts, an arcade, and small carnival rides for younger children. GOLF!. Numerous courses at varying rates. Gulf State Park has an affordable course. Look up Soldiers Creek, Lost Key and Glenlakes for great courses at very fair prices. Cotton Creek and Cypress bend are both Arnold Palmer designs. Many more. Adventure Island, 24559 Perdido Beach Blvd, ☏ +1 251-974-1500.

Gulf Shores Steamer, 27267 Perdido Beach Blvd, ☏ +1 251-948-6344. A great selection of steamed seafood is on hand at this extremely casual restaurant. They served up platters of freshly steamed seafood, sandwiches and a kids menu with some great appetizers including steamed blue crab claws, raw and steamed oysters and smoked tuna dip. They also serve hand-cut ribeyes, burgers and chicken for the landlover. They offer waterfront dining. THE GULF, 27500 Perdido Beach Blvd, ☏ +1 251-424-1800. 11AM - 10PM. "Just a little beach bar with an amazing view, serving thoughtful food inspired by the Gulf of Mexico. Oh, and the building is made from repurposed shipping containers and we spin vinyl. Come get stoked." (updated Nov 2015)

1 The Flora-Bama Lounge and Oyster Bar, 17401 Perdido Key Drive Pensacola, ☏ +1 850 492-0611 (Florida), +1 251 980-5118 (Alabama). The Flora-Bama Lounge and Oyster Bar (aka The Flora-Bama or "THE BAMA"), located in Orange Beach, Florida, adjacent the Alabama/Florida state line, is a honky-tonk, oyster bar, beach bar, and Gulf Coast cultural landmark, touted as being America's "Last Great Roadhouse". The Flora-Bama takes its name from its location on the Florida-Alabama border line. The Flora-Bama property truly does lie in both Alabama and Florida with the bar sitting right on the line... (updated Nov 2015)

Hilton Garden Inn Orange Beach, 23092 Perdido Beach Blvd, ☏ +1 251 974-1600. This modern breachfront hotel is 4.5 miles from Waterville USA's amusement park and 4.7 miles from the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. All rooms offer contemporary decor, balconies and custom-designed beds, plus free WiFi, flat-screen TVs, minifridges, microwaves and Keurig coffeemakers. Suites add separate living areas with pull-out sofas. Parking is free. There's a casual restaurant serving cooked-to-order breakfast and light lunches, as well as a 24/7 pantry and a poolside tiki bar. Additional amenities include a fitness center, beach access, an indoor/outdoor heated pool and 2 hot tubs. There's also a 24-hour business center and meeting rooms. (updated Nov 2015) Holiday Inn Express Orange Beach, 24700 Perdido Beach Blvd, ☏ +1 251 234-6797. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. This modern hotel overlooks Orange Beach and is a 2-minute walk from Adventure Island amusement park, and a 5-minute drive from Gulf State Park. The contemporary rooms come with private balconies, desks, flat-screen TVs and coffeemakers, plus microwaves and minifridges. WiFi is free, while kids 19 and under stay free with an adult. Amenities include a 24-hour fitness center, an outdoor pool, a pool-side bar and a hot tub, as well free parking & breakfast. Business facilities include a business center and meeting space for up to 80 delegates. (updated Nov 2015) Hampton Inn & Suites, 25518 Perdido Beach Blvd, ☏ +1 251 923-4400. Off State Route 182, this contemporary beachfront hotel is a 5-minute walk from downtown Orange Beach.

You can fly into nearby airports such as Mobile, AL (MOB IATA) or Pensacola, FL (PNS IATA). Private and corporate planes are served by the Jack Edwards Airport (GUF IATA) in Gulf Shores. Other options include Montgomery, AL (MGM IATA) and New Orleans, LA (MSY IATA)- both of which would require a three-hour drive. The Gulf Shores and Orange Beach areas are easily reached from Interstates 65 and 10 as well as US Hwy 98. All three intersect with Alabama Hwy 59 (also known as Gulf Shores Parkway) which leads directly to Gulf Shores. Distance from major cities: Atlanta, GA, 370 miles; Birmingham, AL, 274 miles; Jackson, MS, 245 miles; Memphis, TN, 480 miles; Nashville, TN, 450 miles; New Orleans, LA, 214 miles; St. Louis, MO, 632 miles. A ferry service is available between nearby Fort Morgan and Dauphin Island. The ferry landing is approximately 25 miles west of Hwy 59 on West Fort Morgan Road. Boaters can reach Gulf Shores and Orange Beach via the Intracoastal Waterway. The Tennessee-Tombigbee provides a link between the Intracoastal and numerous ports in the midwest. In Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, boaters will find numerous marinas available.

Plenty of accommodations are located directly on the beach. Guests can walk right out and enjoy the sand and water. Some are located within easy walking distance of restaurants and shops. The cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are connected by two main east-west highways. The most southern one is Highway 182 (known locally as Beach Blvd). It runs along the beach and offers great views of the water. Highway 180 (known locally as Canal Road) runs along the Intracoastal Waterway. Highway 59 terminates at the public beach in Gulf Shores where it connects with Beach Blvd.