Looking for a long weekend get-away? Hoping to escape the cold? Luckily for you, we recently planned an Orange Beach, Alabama vacation- the perfect mix of action for adults and fun for the kids.
Orange Beach and Gulf Shores sits peacefully on the Gulf Coast and sports beaches of silky white sand. The surf is calm to moderate most of the year and the area is packed with fantastic foodie joints, action packed adventures, artsy shops, and fantastic fishing. We can’t say enough good things about the area, but we will save that for a future article -- stay tuned. In the meantime, here is a down-and-dirty itinerary planned especially for you! Think of Hook & Barrel as your personal travel concierge. Safe travels and don’t blame us if you drink too many Bushwackers!
When to go to Orange Beach and Gulf Shores? We suggest late April to coincide with the legendary Mullet Toss. This year (2022) the toss happens April 22-24. Don’t know what that is? Google it, you’ll be happy you did, or watch the video below. Yes, it will be a bit more crowded than normal, but the chaos of the toss is simply left behind at the Flora-Bama. Retreat back to your hotel for some long-needed R&R. Where do you fly into? You have 2 choices: Pensacola is the best (rent a car and drive from there) or Destin. Try to arrive no later than Thursday evening. You want this long weekend to last as long as you possibly can!
Thursday Evening
Stay Here:
Turquoise Place Official Onsite Management by Spectrum Resorts
26302 Perdido Beach Blvd.
Orange Beach, AL, 36561
Tel: 877-422-5249
Website: https://turquoiseplace.spectrumresorts.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TurquoisePlace
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spectrumresorts/
06:00 AM
Depart condo for the fishing trip: Fort Morgan Marina
1577 Hwy. 180 W.
Gulf Shores, AL, 36542
Tel: (251) 981-4007
Your inshore fishing trip will be departing from Fort Morgan Marina which is about a 45-minute drive from the Turquoise.
07:00 AM
Inshore fishing trip with Intercoastal Safaris :
Orange Beach, FL, 36561
Tel: (850) 375-2223
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://intercoastalsafaris.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/intercoastalsafaris
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/intercoastalsafaris/
Description: Guide Stephen Lee and Captain Perry will be taking you out for inshore fishing along some of our area’s bays north of the Gulf of Mexico.
01:00 PM
Free Time
Description: Enjoy the beach, the pools or lazy river at your condo, spend the afternoon exploring Gulf State Park's fishing pier, or check out the high-end boats and shopping at The Wharf.
Saturday
08:00 AM
Breakfast: City Donut
26651 Perdido Beach Blvd., Ste. A
Orange Beach, AL, 36561
Tel: (251) 981-3688
Website: https://www.citydonutob.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/City-Donut-385859758182546/
Description: The condo is close to a great donut shop called City Donuts. Just be sure to get there early because they are known to sell out!
09:30 AM
Enjoy an epic day at Flora-Bama Mullet Toss: Flora-Bama Lounge & Oyster Bar
17401 Perdido Key Dr.
Perdido Key, FL, 32507
Tel: (850) 483-6266
Website: https://www.florabama.com/oyster-bar.html
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/florabama
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_florabama/
05:30 PM
Dinner at Fisher's Upstairs: Fisher's at Orange Beach Marina
27075 Marina Rd.
Orange Beach, AL, 36561
Tel: (251) 981-7305
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fishersatobm
Description: One of the best restaurants in the area, Fisher's Upstairs is led by Chef Bill Briand, a 5-time James Beard semi-finalist. Chef Bill trained under Emeril Lagasse in New Orleans for many years before moving to the beach to open Fisher's.
08:00 AM
Breakfast: Sunliner Diner
100 E. 2nd St.
Gulf Shores, AL, 36542
Tel: (251) 937-6590
Website: https://www.sunlinerdiner.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunlinerdiner
Instagram: @sunlinerdiner
Description: Step back in time at this vintage 1950s-style diner where pancakes reign supreme. There likely will be a wait to be seated because this is a popular spot.
10:00 AM
Bike the Backcountry Trail: Beach Bike Rentals
22989 Perdido Beach Blvd.
Orange Beach, AL, 36561
Tel: (251) 968-1770
Website: https://www.beachbikerentalsorangebeach.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeachBikeRentals/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beachbikerentals
Description: Explore the 28 miles of Gulf State Park's Backcountry Trail. Be on the lookout for Lefty the Alligator at her favorite spot (the bike shop folks can mark it on the map for you) and try to get to the Overlook on Gulf Oak Ridge Trail, the highest spot in this 6,150-acre state park. Gulf State Park encompasses nine different ecosystems and is home to a variety of wildlife.
12:00 PM
Gyrocopter experience: Beach Flight Aviation
1215 Commerce Dr.
Gulf Shores, AL, 36542
Tel: (251) 597-5999
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.beachflight.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeachFlightAviation
Description: Way more adventurous than a standard helicopter tour of the island, these open-air copters give an added adrenaline rush. Ask them to fly over the Mullet Toss!
01:30 PM
Lunch: Doc's Seafood Shack & Oyster Bar
26029 Canal Rd.
Orange Beach, AL, 36561
Tel: (251) 981-6999
Website: https://www.docsseafoodshack.com/seafood-menu/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/docsseafoodshackorangebeach
Description: There is always a wait to try out the "Best Fried Shrimp in the Entire Civilized World," but Doc's Seafood is a legendary favorite spot for visitors and locals alike, serving up seafood since 1984.
03:00 PM
Free Time
Description: Enjoy the beach, the pools or lazy river at your condo, spend the afternoon exploring Gulf State Park's fishing pier and bike trails, or check out the high-end boats and shopping at The Wharf.
One additional thing you will want to squeeze in one night is a bowfishing adventure with Fish-Kabob Bowfishing. With over 12 years of bowfishing charter experience and adventures offered from both Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, this is a great opportunity to explore the water at night in search of everything from fish to rays.
Website: fishkabob.com
09:30 AM
Check out of your condo
09:30 AM
Breakfast on your own: OSO Early
5749 Bay la Launch Ave
Orange Beach, AL, 36561
Tel: 251-345-6738
Website: https://www.osobearpoint.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OSOatBearPointHarbor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/osoearly/
Description: We saved this special new breakfast place for last. As you will have learned by the time you leave, the Bushwacker is the drink of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, and this great spot offers their special breakfast take on this with Bushwacker Pancakes!
11:30 AM
Depart for airport
All we will say, is “you’re welcome”. This is a great trip to Orange Beach and Gulf Shores and the above suggestions are some of the best the area has to offer. Each stop proved to be amazing and fun for the whole family.
Let us know how it was!