Travel Guide for Your Gulf Shores Vacation

What to do, where to stay, and where to eat when traveling to Orange Beach or Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Book a Trip to Orange Beach, Alabama, For a Casual and Fun Family Vacation

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Okay, let me go ahead and clarify one thing first…

Are Orange Beach and Gulf Shores the same thing?

Technically no, they are not. However, people often lump Orange Beach into Gulf Shores because it is probably more well known and they are so close together. They are just down the road from each other and run together. So, I may use the term “Gulf Shores” here and there in this post, but my family prefers to stay in Orange Beach. Not only is our favorite high-rise condo there but Orange Beach in general is such a comfortable place to vacation.

The city is casual, clean, and has plenty of great restaurant options. The beaches are a soft sugar white sand that we have come to love.

Insider Tip: You can download a free digital travel guide for Orange Beach at the bottom of this post!

Where to Stay in Orange Beach

We’ve traveled to the Gulf Shores area three times for spring break. So many things about it are starting to feel like tradition including where we stay. We’ve stayed at the Pheonix West, in Orange Beach, the first and third visit and Fort Morgan the second time. We really liked Fort Morgan but, loved Orange Beach more.

There are so many positive things that I can say about the condos we’ve stayed in and the high-rise itself.

For starters, our condos both times were spacious, clean, and comfortable. I loved the way they were both designed and furnished. Each had a big ocean view balcony, perfect for sipping morning coffee while hearing the waves crash.

As far as bedrooms and bathrooms, there are different condo sizes to choose. We had a three-bedroom condo each time with plenty of room for everyone to spread out and have their own space. The spaces at Pheonix West also have big living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens, which makes eating in easy and comfortable for a group of people.

Here is the condominium that we stayed in at the Pheonix West last time, and it was absolutely beautiful! I would stay here again without a hesitation.

There are also corner units, which we are looking at for next year to accommodate more people and they are huge and luxurious.

I have seen several of the units and honestly, I don’t think you can go wrong with any of them! They are all so nicely decorated and kept clean.

What We Loved About Pheonix West

The Pheonix West has everything you need when traveling with kids to keep everyone entertained. Here are the amenities that we enjoy about this location and why we’ve booked here more than once.

• Ocean Front Balcony
• Beautiful Beach Steps Away
• Inside Pool for Days That May Rain
• Lazy River for Hours of Fun
• Huge Slide the Kids Spend All day on
• Separate Pool for Swimming
• Hot Tub
• Pickleball and Tennis Courts
• Gym
• On Site Parking

The first year we went, we shared a condo with another family and this year we brought two sets of grandparents with us! We had four different families with our group that stayed inside the high-rise and all of the families had a blast! Three of the families brought grandparents and it’s safe to say that the Pheonix West had something for everyone and made the perfect spot for a multi-generational group vacation.

I’m a beach and pool girl so I could pretty much spend all of my vacation time next to the water and I’m happy to report that this last trip to Orange Beach, that’s how we spent a good portion of our time.

The kids love the big slide and could spend hours at a time on it and in the lazy river. The parents may have enjoyed both too, especially the lazy river.

Not only was the beach fun during the day but. we also went crab hunting at night, which was fun and a little more challenging than I expected!

What To Do and Where To Eat In Gulf Shores

I feel like I needed to combine these two topics together because a lot of our favorite places to eat also provide a lot of entertainment.

The Hangout – A must-go-to while in Gulf Shores, The Hangout is everything a family could want out of a spring break dinner. There is a huge area outside to “hang out” before or after your meal. Think, outdoor bars, Dj, band, bungee jumping fun, and even a foam party for your wild children.

Once seated for dinner, the fun really begins. This open-air style restaurant has really long tables, making this venue perfect when traveling with larger groups. The energy is high, and the crowd is encouraged to interact and even get a little wild. Dancing on the tables does happen…but I can promise it’s all in good fun and clean entertainment for your entire family.

This popular destination can get pretty busy, so we usually go either on a Monday or Tuesday.

Ginny Lanes – We usually eat at this restaurant twice when we are down in Orange Beach. I just love the vibe, and the food is really good too. The inside feels nice and cozy while the outside seating is on the water with a view of the beautiful boats parked in the harbor. Ginny Lanes is located at The Wharf, which is also a must visit area that I share more about below.

Zeke’s Restaurant– We just discovered this place this past year and it’s now on the list of places we will go every year. The restaurant itself is beautiful, and the food was delicious. There is outdoor seating with chandeliers and it’s also right on the water with a view of really large swoon worthy yachts.

As mentioned, we had a pretty big group and it’s noteworthy to add that we didn’t have any issues getting us all seated together at any restaurant.

Insider Tip: I recommend heading to The Hangout around 4:30 pm for an earlier dinner to avoid a long wait. I believe you should get seated around 5pm or 5:30pm. Regardless, there are things to do that will make your wait time enjoyable!

Other Activities in Orange Beach

The Wharf – You can’t go to Orange Beach and not spend time at The Wharf. A shopping and dining district, The Wharf provides plenty of entertainment for all ages. We always go there at least twice to eat dinner and sometimes a lunch too.

You’ll want to plan on grabbing some ice cream at Kilwins for dessert while you enjoy the laser light show after dinner.

I also recommend looking up times that the DJ is playing outside in the center of the district. Our family and friends had so much fun taking part in the karaoke.

When entering The Wharf, you will be greeted by a beautiful Ferris wheel, which is also a site to see at night along with the light show.

Arcade – This is always a fun activity when we need a break from the sun. It could also be saved for a rainy day, however, my family loves doing the go kart track outside as well, which doesn’t run if it’s raining. I think there are several to choose from in the area, but we have found that Adventure Island never disappoints.

Dolphin Cruise– Such a fun experience for couples or families. It’s a great way to get out on the water around the Gulf Shores. We took our dolphin cruise through Hudson Marina, which offers a variety of water activities such as Pirate Ship Cruises, Sailing and Sunset Charters, and Jet Ski Rentals.

Deep Sea Fishing– We haven’t done this yet, but it’s on my bucket list for when we go back. Hudson Marina also offers a few different options for fishing charters while in the Orange Beach area. Looking for a Private Offshore Fishing Trip? This fishing adventure may be for you! It includes Four people for a six-hour trip!.

Here some specific activities that you can book!

• Dolphin and Sailing Cruise Aboard 52′ Catamaran
• Orange Beach: Dolphin Eco Sunset Cruise Aboard The Explorer
• Sunset Sailing Cruise
• Parasailing Gulf Coast Alabama
• Alabama Gulf Coast Dolphin Cruise

Make The Memories – Book the Trip!

We’ve made memories that will last a lifetime in Orange Beach. Not only with our own family, but friends who feel like family.

If you’re looking for an easy and family-oriented place to vacation with your own family or, a group of families, Orange Beach should be on your bucket list. Again, I highly recommend booking at Pheonix West for a comfortable stay!

Want a peek at some of the highlights from our first ever trip to Orange Beach? Check out the highlight reel!

But first, don’t forget to Grab Your Free Digital Travel Guide for Orange Beach Here.