We are planning a short trip to the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach, AL area. Is there anything we shouldn't miss? Is there anything we should definitely skip?

The beach is obviously the main attraction, but we'd like to plan to do some other things.

We'd love your suggestions for restaurants or other attractions.

Thanks, you guys.

Don’t park in no parking zones...hahaha when I was there for the oil spill one of my reservist sailor who is a cop in NYC parked in a no parking zone and got a ticket.

Thinking he would be extended a “professional courtesy “ he asked me what he should do. I told him to go pay it and be done.

He didn’t, he went and tried to wriggle out of it. The Chief Of Police got involved and Told the guy to pay the ticket or he would personally make sure his chief in NYC would get A copy of the warrant for arrest after the guy didn’t pay.

Lol, thanks for the chuckle today.

Bellingrath House and Gardens if you like that sort of thing. Rather impressive gardens. Skip the house. USS Alabama if you can handle the heat. Google both and decide.

Haven't been down there in a bit, it's definitely a beach / touristy area. Hit the FloraBama bar if it's open. The beaches are great as well, we do a 2 day trip over there and stay at a hotel in the fall when my family comes to down.

We enjoyed the "Cobalt" restaurant last year when we were there.

This is about an hour east and well worth a visit:

https://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/

Uh...never mind, closed for Corona.

We have been there 3 times, staying in Fort Morgan area, at The Beach Club. I liked this location because it was somewhat removed from all of the Touristy area.

Sassy Bass, Docs, Tacky Jacks, Lulu's for food.

If you have any interest in history, go to Fort Morgan. I am not a history geek, but could have spent an entire day there.

Also, St. Nicks Knives in Foley. Small shop, no real bargains, but if you want a knife, they may have it.

I also parasailed there for the first time. For someone with a fear of heights, it was frickin' awesome and I do recommend it.

Some may depend on who’s with, what they want. Yes, to the Naval Aviation Museum. While over that way maybe check out Pensacola Beach, one of the best anywhere.

Try some fresh shrimp. I’d probably duck into the Florabama bar for old times sake, have a cold one.

http://www.florabama.com/

First time there ? Definitely hit Florabama and Lulus. I like both Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines, Gaines is on Dauphin Island. The fishing in Mobile Bay is excellent, bull reds and speckled trout. The Alabama and all the exhibits around it are great. Your wife might love Fairhope but it’s a ride.

I had forgotten about my visit to Ft. Morgan.

I was the only one there besides staff. Once I told them I was a gunners mate in the CG, I got a behind the scenes tour of the entire Fort. Even met some archeological people from the Govt who were recovering bones from the walls near the SE walls.

Very cool trip.

If you are a history buff it’s a go to. Also there’s Ft. Gaines across the bay on Dauphin Island

If you have money and no kids, I would stay at the Grand Hotel at Point Clear which is close to Fairhope. Kids are welcome but you know what I mean. You can do some sailing on Mobile Bay if you like that sort of thing. There are the outlet stores in Foley as well in case it rains. The beaches near Fort Morgan are less crowded.

I haven't been over that way in many years, but I understand from a friend who lives down there that this place is worth the visit. It ia an amusement park, entertainment, eating and shopping venue:

https://visitowa.com



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quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
If you have money and no kids, I would stay at the Grand Hotel at Point Clear.

The Grand Hotel is definitely worth a visit. Beautiful place.



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Fort Morgan is a great history lesson. Amazing to see how the fort was designed, makes you feel bad for the guys who served there with their wool uniforms.

HK Ag

Family? Kids?

There is actually a little zoo in Gulf Shores that is kinda neat. It's not big but they do have 4 or 5 tigers and at least 2 lions, I believe an ocelot, and maybe a few other big cats. They also have a few exhibits with certain (much) less dangerous animals that they allow you in with to pet. My son was 4 at the time and we went in with 2 small kangaroos and it was pretty cool. Cost about $10.

Tooting my horn a bit but I was the project architect on the new Hilton Gulf State Park Lodge (completed in 2018) and its a really cool spot. The State Park is absolutely gorgeous... miles and miles of walking and biking trails through huge swamps and longleaf pine forests. They have cabins to stay in or camping areas. There is an Interpretive Center at the public pavilion and parking center. Just informative stuff, mostly ecotourism related.

For food, if you can, I highly recommend Perch at the Hilton. Perch is excellent food with an awesome view. After being down in Gulf Shores many times with that project, I can pretty safely say Perch is the nicest restaurant around. The other one I recommend for nice dinner is Fisher's. Upstairs is fine dining, dockside is more casual but good.

The aforementioned Cobalt is pretty decent and right across the street and across the bridge is the outdoor dining-only, shipping container restaurant The Gulf which is quite good. GTs in OB is pretty good, too.

Rent a house on Fort Morgan beach. Quieter than GS proper but close enough for dinner, etc.

quote:

Originally posted by Sigmund:
This is about an hour east and well worth a visit:

https://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/

Uh...never mind, closed for Corona.

Also closed, and not as big as the Pensacola museum:
The Air Force Armament Museum at Eglin AFB,
http://www.afarmamentmuseum.com/

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
I would stay at the Grand Hotel at Point Clear which is close to Fairhope.

What he said.
It's one of my favorite spots, just a gorgeous property.
Its role in the civil war is also pretty cool to learn about.

Apparently fishing is good these days!

Potential Alabama State Record for Blue Marlin Caught out of Orange Beach

Cobalt, tacky jacks, lulus,sea n suds, la playa, pink pony pub, the hangout and of course florabama.

The wharf, outlet mall in foley, Lambert’s cafe in foley.

Blue angels in Pensacola.

Had a condo down there for several years. Still go 3-4 times a year, email me for anything specific you are looking for (family, food, bars...)

my list (including those already listed)

the squeaky white sand sugar beaches
The Grand Hotel
USS Alabama BB 60- USS DRUM
Bellingrath Gardens
Fort Morgan - Fort Gaines
Dauphin Island
Inshore fishing for speckled trout and redfish
Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Mobile
Admiral Semmes Hotel
Driving the Bay on 98
Fairhope
Felix's Fish Camp on the Causeway over the Bay in Spanish Fort (restaurant)