Orange Beach Vacation and Activities

Jul 03 2018

Does an Orange Beach Vacation Fit Your Travel Style?

White-sand beaches and clear turquoise water as far as the eye can see are hallmarks of an Orange Beach vacation. Alabama beaches are comprised of three main vacation spots – Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan.

The sister cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach blend together, and many visitors don’t recognize where one ends and the other begins. However, each offers its own unique qualities. Guests who’ve been coming for generations are oftentimes loyal to one city or the other. However, if you’re a first-time visitor, catch up on each area in our three-part series on the individual travel styles of Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan.

Why an Orange Beach Vacation is Special

An Orange Beach vacation is filled with spacious, white-sand beaches, especially near Alabama Point. Here, you’ll find visitors sunning, swimming and snorkeling. Robinson, Bird and Walker Islands are also located near this area and provide a beautiful setting for a day of fun in the sun. Only accessible by boat, these islands are popular spots for boaters on the weekends and kayakers during the week on an Orange Beach vacation.

Visitors who want to experience the islands can rent a pontoon boat at Flora-Bama Marina and spend a half or full day cruising the waterways. Beach your boat and set up your chairs for the day. If you’re not an experienced boater, go kayaking with Coastal Kayak Excursions. Captain Glenn will provide you with a guided tour of the backbays or transport you and your kayak to Walker Island where you can spend the day paddling through the crystal-clear water.

Orange Beach Shopping and Entertainment

An Orange Beach vacation isn’t complete without a trip to The Wharf. This shopping and entertainment district is a hot spot for fun located on the Intercoastal Waterway. Home to the Hummingbird Zipline, a miniature golf course, the tallest Ferris wheel in Alabama and a 10,000-seat amphitheater, there’s an activity for everyone! The amphitheater has hosted Kenny Chesney, Kid Rock, Jason Aldean, Florida-Georgia Line and many more. You’ll also find a great assortment of Orange Beach restaurants at The Wharf, including the award-winning Bayes Southern Bar & Grill.

Orange Beach Restaurants

Fisher's at Orange Beach Marina Visitors are flocking to Orange Beach for its unique culinary offerings. Foodies have found a new cuisine-centric destination in this coastal city. Fisher’s at Orange Beach Marina boasts a James Beard Award nominee in Chef Bill Briand. This waterside restaurant prepares world-class dishes in a coastal comfortable atmosphere. On the opposite side of the menu is The Gulf, a waterfront restaurant made entirely of shipping containers. There’s no shortage of Instagram-worthy entrees at either of these unique Orange Beach restaurants.

Orange Beach is also home to the World Food Championships, where more than 1,500 chefs and home cooks compete for bragging rights and prize money. In addition, wine enthusiasts will enjoy The Wharf Uncorked Wine & Culinary Event. More than 100 labels are available for sampling at the wine festival during your Orange Beach vacation.

Orange Beach Charter Fishing

Orange Beach charter fishing Orange Beach is considered the charter fishing mecca of the southeast. With more than 100 charter boat captains and one of the largest artificial reef systems in the country, it’s a haven for seasoned fishermen and those casting a line for fun. People come from all over the country for an Orange Beach vacation to watch or participate in some of the biggest fishing tournaments in the southeast.

The Blue Marlin Grand Championship of the Gulf hails from The Wharf in Orange Beach and is held every July. Hundreds of anglers cruise out to the Gulf in hopes of claiming a piece of the $1 million prize money. Billed the “greatest show in sportfishing,” spectators are invited to view the weigh-ins and are entertained with a boat parade, as well.

Held in May each year, the Orange Beach Billfish Classic means big fish and big money! Weigh-ins for this Orange Beach fishing tournament are held at The Wharf.

For those who want to cast a line and reel in a great Orange Beach vacation, it’s easy to book a charter fishing trip with an experienced captain from nearly any marina in this beachside city. Choose a four- or eight-hour trip or even an overnight Orange Beach charter fishing trip.

Orange Beach AL Condos

From spacious Gulf-front condos to bayside beach houses, you’ve got plenty of accommodation options during an Orange Beach vacation. You’ll find a great selection of dog-friendly vacation rentals, as well. When determining your travel style, ask yourself if you’d prefer a community pool with beachfront access or if the additional privacy of a beach house better meets your needs.

Now, let’s hear it. Read our entire Travel Style series and tell us which Alabama beach community best meets your travel style.

Does a Gulf Shores Vacation Fit Your Travel Style?

Does a Fort Morgan Vacation Fit Your Travel Style?

Mar 30 2018

6 Must-Try Restaurants for Orange Beach, Gulf Shores Breakfast

You’ve heard it all your life…breakfast is the most important meal of the day. In Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, it’s not just the most important, but is also one of the most delicious! No matter if you have an appetite for eggs or a craving for seafood, you can have your pick on Alabama beaches during your next vacation with these Orange Beach and Gulf Shores breakfast restaurants.

After much taste-bud tempting research, we’ve compiled a list of our six favorite breakfast spots at Orange Beach and Gulf Shores restaurants. Before you sink your toes in the sand, feast on these drool-worthy selections. It’s also perfectly acceptable to take a nap after breakfast while on vacation. You might just need one!

Gulf Shores Breakfast Restaurants: The Ruby Slipper Café, Orange Beach AL

Finding a starting point to talk about with The Ruby Slipper Café in Orange Beach is difficult. Every item on the menu gets a thumbs up! However, what this slice of breakfast heaven may be best known for is its benedicts. These aren’t your ordinary benedicts, either. Don’t order expecting your selection to be served atop an English muffin. Instead, you’ll find a monstrous, airy homemade southern biscuit.

You have six eggs-traordinary benedicts to choose from, including the Chicken St. Charles, which includes a fried chicken breast and two poached eggs finished with a pork Tasso cream sauce. The Shrimp Boogaloo Benedict is equally delicious, especially if you’re a seafood fan! This dish takes The Ruby Slipper Café back to its New Orleans roots with Gulf shrimp sautéed with pork Tasso and creole tomato sauce served over fried green tomatoes and, of course, two poached eggs.

Foodie blogger Erin Klema of The Epicurean Traveler said nobody does Eggs Benedict quiet like The Ruby Slipper. “What I really love about the Benedicts at The Ruby Slipper is the option to order two different ones — what they call the “Peacemaker.” Even narrowing my order down to two was a difficult choice! Eventually, I decided upon the Chicken St. Charles and the Shrimp Boogaloo Benedict. Both looked as mouthwatering as they tasted!”

Tasty Tip: Order a side of Pig Candy Bacon or the French Toast Batons stacked up like a game of Jenga. The kids will love it, and so will you! An Orange Beach and Gulf Shores breakfast doesn’t get much better than this!

The Southern Grind Coffee House, Orange Beach AL

The Southern Grind Coffee House is a local’s favorite. You can’t go wrong with breakfast in this relaxed, beachy coffee spot. There are two locations for you to get your caffeine fix, one at The Wharf in Orange Beach, and the newest location inside Hotel Indigo, also in Orange Beach. This mom and pop shop serves up a great selection of breakfast items, but our favorites are Chef Jim’s Belgian Waffles topped with fresh strawberries, fresh whipped cream and drizzled in white chocolate. If that sounds like pure indulgence…it is! However, you’re on vacation and that’s allowed! Another favorite at this Orange Beach restaurant is the Jalapeno Potato Scramble. Load up on your protein with three eggs scrambled with fresh baby spinach, Bella mushrooms and either cheddar, mozzarella, provolone or feta cheese.

Tasty Tip: If you need a wake-me-up, visit the Hotel Indigo location for a tall cup of nitro draft coffee. This is one of the only locations on Alabama’s beaches where nitro coffee is available for an Orange Beach or Gulf Shores breakfast. It’s worth the trip!

Brick & Spoon, Orange Beach AL

Rise and dine at Brick & Spoon located on Canal Road in Orange Beach AL. Voted one of the “Top 10 Breakfasts in the US” by Travel + Leisure, it’s hard to pass up the restaurant’s Shrimp & Grits. It’s a meal big enough to feed you and a friend, or ask for a to-go box and save the rest for lunch! Have your fork ready when the server brings a giant bowl of fire-roasted corn grits topped with a poached egg, Gulf shrimp, bell peppers, onion, house garlic and cream sauce.

Tasty Tip: Did you know breakfast should come with dessert, too? It does at Brick & Spoon. The Bananas in Pajamas is a favorite for kids and kids-at-heart with its crispy banana eggrolls drizzled in fosters sauce.

Sassy Bass Amazin’ Grill, Fort Morgan AL

When you want a down-home breakfast with made-from-scratch recipes, the locals know to head to Sassy Bass Amazin’ Grill in Fort Morgan. There’s nothing fussy about the food, and that’s what makes it so filling. In fact, grab a plate and head to the breakfast buffet filled with all your traditional favorites and a few unique dishes, too. The owner swears by the savory porridge made with grilled beef, pork and oatmeal porridge. Another one of our favorites at this Fort Morgan restaurant is the Western Omelet prepared with cured ham, onion, green pepper, home fries and toast. Sassy Bass is the kind of place you go to submerge yourself in the local culture. Meet locals with great stories to tell, and you may get some insider secrets for your Gulf Shores vacation, too!

Tasty Tip: As one of the few restaurants on the Fort Morgan peninsula serving the beach houses and condos in Fort Morgan, summer can get busy. Be patient. Have conversation and relax. You’re on vacation, and your Gulf Shores breakfast will be coming right up!

Café Beignet, Gulf Shores AL

When a quick breakfast is calling your name, and a sweet tooth is driving your breakfast choice, nothing beats Café Beignet in Gulf Shores. If you’ve never had the culinary pleasure of sinking your teeth into this puff of powdered sugary goodness, you’ve been missing out. You’ll wonder where these pastry delights have been all your life. Order a dozen for $12. You can order them plain and covered in confectioners’ sugar or get the vanilla pudding-filled beignets topped with chocolate syrup. Either way, you really can’t go wrong. Plan an activity outdoors after breakfast to burn off your sugar rush! We suggest a hike on the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trails or the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge.

Tasty Tip: Get them hot and devour them hot! Beignets are best when they’re right out of the fryer and dunked in powdered sugar. These are the pillowy delights a Gulf Shores breakfast dream is made of!

Gulf Shores Top Breakfast Spot

Drumroll please! The number one spot for a Gulf Shores breakfast is…your own balcony or beachfront deck! Smell the salt air and enjoy cool morning breezes without changing out of your pajamas. Gulf Shores beach houses and Orange Beach condos come with fully equipped kitchens and everything you need for breakfast in paradise, minus the groceries and chef, of course! Pick up breakfast-ready muffins and fruit or send someone out on a Café Beignet run. Sip your coffee and enjoy the views of Alabama’s beaches. It really doesn’t get any better than this.

After you’ve had your fill of breakfast and are ready to embark on your Orange Beach and Gulf Shores vacation adventure, check out the newest attractions on the Alabama Gulf Coast. Get the latest in our blog, Four Hot New Attractions on Alabama Beaches.

Jul 25 2017

Best Cheap, Local Restaurants in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores

It’s smart to look around and compare prices when you’re looking for restaurants. After all, even though we offer very affordable rentals, it’s good to make a practice of being thrifty elsewhere—especially when you don’t need to sacrifice quality!

The best cheap restaurants in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores to eat at on vacation are local mom n’ pop shops—what’s the point of going to explore a new place if you’re just going to eat at the same place you always do? Instead, you should be looking for places where you can experience the local cuisine—and in a southern gulf town, it’s cooking you can’t get anywhere else! Here are a few ideas to get your mouth watering:

Sea-n-Suds

This cheap restaurants in Orange Beach is a great spot to visit while you’re on the beach. It’s not hard to understand why Sea-N-Suds has been around so long. You can get a delicious sandwich and a side here for $9 and enjoy it right by the Gulf! Their seafood is reasonably priced too, and fresh from the source. It’s the perfect place to grab “beach food!” You’ll find it by E. 3rd Street and E. Beach Boulevard in Gulf Shores.

Flip Flop Deli Shop

Despite the name, this restaurant is anything but a flop! The prices are quite the bargain given this restaurant’s combination of location, portion size, and service. They have a whole smorgasbord of different options— and each one is spectacularly delicious! Their offerings all make a great beach-outing bite: they offer pizza, snow cones, sandwiches, ice cream, and coffee! You’ll always get your money’s worth here. It’s on Beach Boulevard, west of 4th Street.

The Cove Bar and Grill

If you crave the bar scene but are worried about food prices, check out this spot! This casual spot is great for a good meal, with classic bar food like mozzarella sticks as well as southern staples like fried green tomatoes. For main courses, they feature sandwiches, salads, and wraps, with almost all offerings under $10—enjoy a meal while playing some billiards! It’s on (quite fittingly) Cove Avenue between Gulf Shores Parkway and W 2nd Street.

China King

Ranging from $6 lunch specials to the $12 chef specials and assortments of appetizers to add in for just $4 or less each, China King gives quite a lot of value! There’s an immense menu, too, so even people not fond of Chinese food are likely to find something that sounds delicious. Chinese restaurants may be hard to find in Baldwin County, but China King delivers! China King is in a strip mall on the north side of Alabama’s Coastal Connection in Orange Beach, but if you’re nearby you can even order online—perfect if you can’t stand leaving your vacation rental!

Stay with Harris Vacation Rentals

And if you’re interested in more nooks and crannies in Gulf Shores, book a vacation rental with Harris Vacation Rentals! Our knowledgeable staff will be happy to help you discover our delightful town. Call us at 1-877-446-4853 to book today!

Mar 29 2017

Top Things To Do In Orange Beach, AL

A place for strolling and taking in the gorgeous sights of the beach and the ocean alongside a number of fun-filled things to see and do, Orange Beach deserves to be on every vacationer’s Gulf Shores itinerary. Read on below to learn more about things to do in Orange Beach, AL!

Explore The Best Things To Do In Gulf Shores!

To begin, no trip to Orange Beach is complete without stopping at The Wharf. Here, you’ll find a variety of attractions housed in one single locale, including one of the largest Ferris Wheels in the Southeast U.S., as well as Carmike Cinemas, the enormous outdoor concert venue known as The Amphitheater, and a bevy of stores and restaurants.

Orange Beach Waterfront Park is the perfect place for sightseeing and walking around in the scenic loveliness of Orange Beach. Nestled against Wolf Bay, this park has picnic areas with grills, paved walking paths, a fishing pier, and a lit park for children.

Other family-friendly attractions in Orange Beach include Adventure Island, Fat Daddy’s Arcade, The Wharf Mini Golf, Arena the Next Level, and educational attractions like the Orange Beach Indian & Sea Museum and the Wind & Water Learning Center.

If you and your family appreciate handmade artisan crafts and artwork, you might also want to check out the Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach, where you can choose to create your own masterpiece or pick out a pre-made beauty from the gallery, gift shop, clay studio, or the hot glass shop.

For those of you travelling with four-legged companions, Orange Beach Dog Park is a wonderful place to let them run free with dogs of their own size (as there are separate sections for small and large dogs) under the shade of towering trees. Water and benches are also provided.

Finally, you can check out the magnificent natural setting of Orange Beach on the Alabama Coastal Connection Scenic Byway, where you can drive to serene beaches, quaint downtown areas, historic sites, wildlife preserves, and mouthwatering seafood restaurants along the way.

Harris Vacation Rentals – Your Trusted Experts on Everything Gulf Shores

Contact our office today to find out additional information on attractions and activities in Orange Beach and the rest of Gulf Shores when you reserve your trip lodgings in one of the pristine vacation rental properties that you can search by bedroom!

Photo By Kevin Stephenson from Florence, AL, USA – Sunrise – Front, CC BY 2.0

Mar 21 2017

The Greatest Pet-Friendly Orange Beach Activities

Your most loyal and lovable four-legged family members shouldn’t be left out of the fun on your vacation in tropical Gulf Shores, Alabama! Now you can bring them along and check out the handpicked pet-friendly Orange beach activities that we’ve picked out for you and your pets to try together!

Treat Your Pet (and Yourself) to the Vacation of a Lifetime

To begin, if you’re bringing your dog, you should definitely stop by The Dog Pond. A popular local dog park with scenic views, The Dog Pond is located at Lake Shelby and is open from 8:00am until sunset. Dogs are allowed to be off-leash here.

Gulf Shores Dog Park and Orange Beach Dog Park are two other notable locales that include separate off-leash sections for small and large dogs. Water and benches are provided.

Orange Beach Waterfront Park is a great pet-friendly location, though they must remain on a leash and will require cleaning up after. This site is perfect for taking a leisurely stroll and seeing the sights of Orange Beach.

For more outdoor Orange Beach activities with your pet, there are a number of fantastic trails for walking and hiking throughout the Gulf Shores area. Gulf State Park allows pets on leashes on their trails, as well as in the campground and picnic areas. No pets are allowed in the nature center, in the swimming pool, or on the beaches, unfortunately.

Connecting with Gulf State Park is the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail, a network of seven trails that span over fifteen miles and six different ecosystems. While pets must remain on a leash at all times on these trails, they’ll have plenty of space to run, play, and explore.

Finally, for that beach experience that everybody (dog or otherwise) craves, you should take your pet to Fort Morgan. Unlike most of Gulf Shores, Fort Morgan’s public beaches are open to dogs on leashes, though you won’t be able to take them to the Fort Morgan Historic Site. Let them experience the ocean and watch what happens!

Click here to see over 30 pet friendly rentals!

Harris Vacation Rentals – Your Guides to Everything Gulf Shores

Contact our reservation specialists to learn more about pet-friendly and other activities and attractions that you’ll encounter in Gulf Shores when you book your stay in one of our lovely vacation rental properties today! We offer pet-friendly vacation rentals that are clean, spacious, and comfortable without skimping on quality.

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