Skip to main content
  • Visitors
  • Meetings
  • Sports
Visitors
    • Beach Houses
    • Bed & Breakfasts
    • Condos
    • Hotels
    • Pet-Friendly Vacation Rentals
    • Resorts
    • RV Parks & Camping
    Friends on the beaches in Alabama
    Should You Stay in Gulf Shores or Orange Beach?
    Tent camping in Gulf Shores, AL
    The Ultimate Guide to Campgrounds in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
    Children at Waterville USA in Gulf Shores
    How to Plan a Budget-Friendly Beach Vacation
    All Places to Stay
    • Beaches
    • Attractions
      • Arts & Culture
      • Coastal Crafters
      • History & Museums
      • Indoor Activities
      • Popular Attractions
      • All Attractions
    • Amusements & Entertainment
      • Mini Golf
      • All Amusements & Entertainment
    • Fishing
      • Fishing Seasons
      • All Fishing
    • Outdoor Activities
      • Back Bay Blueway
      • Biking
      • Birding
      • Gulf State Park
      • Hiking
      • Motorcycle Runs
      • Nature & Parks
      • Shelling
      • Tours
      • Trails
      • All Outdoor Activities
    • Water Activities
      • Boating
      • Diving
      • Equipment Rentals & Outfitters
      • Jet Skiing
      • Kayaking
      • Marinas
      • Paddleboarding
      • Parasailing
      • Sailing
      • Snorkeling
      • Dolphin Cruises
      • Cruises
      • All Water Activities
    • Shopping
    • Golf
    • Nightlife & Bars
    • Signature Experiences
    Gulf State Park Beach
    10 Fun Family Activities in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
    Bike Share Program Gulf State Park
    Ten Cheap & Free Things To Do in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
    Dad and kids hunting crabs on Alabama's beaches
    Take The Kids On A Catch & Release Crabbing Adventure On Alabama's Gulf Coast
    All Things to Do
    • Annual Events & Festivals
    • Community Events
    • Concerts
    • Events Calendar
    • Holiday Events
    • Live Music
    July 4th Fireworks
    Holiday Events
    Blue Angels
    Blue Angels
    Live Music
    Live Local Music
    All Events
    • Fan Favorites
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Dessert
    • Food Trails
    • Recipes
    • Seafood
    Perch at The Lodge
    The Best Restaurants for Fine Dining on Alabama Beaches
    Pouring a cup of coffee
    The Four Best Coffee Shops in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
    Cobalt the Restaurant Orange beach
    4 Beach Restaurants Perfect for Date-Night
    All Restaurants
    • Order a Vacation Guide
      • Order a Printed Guide & Brochures
      • View e-Guide
      • All Order a Vacation Guide
    • eNewsletter Sign Up
      • Couples Newsletter
      • Destination Newsletter
      • Fishing Newsletter
      • Golf Newsletter
      • All eNewsletter Sign Up
    • Maps
    • Getting Here
    • Weather
    • Welcome Centers
    • Couples Getaway
    • Family Vacations
    • Beach Safety
    Gulf Shores, Alabama
    Nine Things to Know Before Your Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Vacation
    Beach house kitchen
    5 Things I Learned From My Alabama Beach Vacation
    Dog Pond Lake Shelby
    Easy Options for a Pet-Friendly Beach Vacation
    All Planning Tools
    • 10 Family Activities
    • 14 Public Beaches
    • 21 Rainy Day Activities
    • 5 Things I Learned From My Vacation
    • 8 Things to Know Before Your Vacation
    Couple biking on the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail in Gulf Shores, AL
    Bike-Sharing at Gulf State Park: Share the Trails, Share the Wheels
    Teen friends on Sail Wild Hearts in Orange Beach, AL
    Six Teen-Approved Things to Do in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach
    Waterville USA
    5 Thrilling Amusement Parks Gulf Shores Orange Beach
    All Blogs
  • Deals
    All Deals
Visitors
    • Beach Houses
    • Bed & Breakfasts
    • Condos
    • Hotels
    • Pet-Friendly Vacation Rentals
    • Resorts
    • RV Parks & Camping
    Friends on the beaches in Alabama
    Should You Stay in Gulf Shores or Orange Beach?
    Tent camping in Gulf Shores, AL
    The Ultimate Guide to Campgrounds in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
    Children at Waterville USA in Gulf Shores
    How to Plan a Budget-Friendly Beach Vacation
    All Places to Stay
    • Beaches
    • Attractions
      • Arts & Culture
      • Coastal Crafters
      • History & Museums
      • Indoor Activities
      • Popular Attractions
      • All Attractions
    • Amusements & Entertainment
      • Mini Golf
      • All Amusements & Entertainment
    • Fishing
      • Fishing Seasons
      • All Fishing
    • Outdoor Activities
      • Back Bay Blueway
      • Biking
      • Birding
      • Gulf State Park
      • Hiking
      • Motorcycle Runs
      • Nature & Parks
      • Shelling
      • Tours
      • Trails
      • All Outdoor Activities
    • Water Activities
      • Boating
      • Diving
      • Equipment Rentals & Outfitters
      • Jet Skiing
      • Kayaking
      • Marinas
      • Paddleboarding
      • Parasailing
      • Sailing
      • Snorkeling
      • Dolphin Cruises
      • Cruises
      • All Water Activities
    • Shopping
    • Golf
    • Nightlife & Bars
    • Signature Experiences
    Gulf State Park Beach
    10 Fun Family Activities in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
    Bike Share Program Gulf State Park
    Ten Cheap & Free Things To Do in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
    Dad and kids hunting crabs on Alabama's beaches
    Take The Kids On A Catch & Release Crabbing Adventure On Alabama's Gulf Coast
    All Things to Do
    • Annual Events & Festivals
    • Community Events
    • Concerts
    • Events Calendar
    • Holiday Events
    • Live Music
    July 4th Fireworks
    Holiday Events
    Blue Angels
    Blue Angels
    Live Music
    Live Local Music
    All Events
    • Fan Favorites
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Dessert
    • Food Trails
    • Recipes
    • Seafood
    Perch at The Lodge
    The Best Restaurants for Fine Dining on Alabama Beaches
    Pouring a cup of coffee
    The Four Best Coffee Shops in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
    Cobalt the Restaurant Orange beach
    4 Beach Restaurants Perfect for Date-Night
    All Restaurants
    • Order a Vacation Guide
      • Order a Printed Guide & Brochures
      • View e-Guide
      • All Order a Vacation Guide
    • eNewsletter Sign Up
      • Couples Newsletter
      • Destination Newsletter
      • Fishing Newsletter
      • Golf Newsletter
      • All eNewsletter Sign Up
    • Maps
    • Getting Here
    • Weather
    • Welcome Centers
    • Couples Getaway
    • Family Vacations
    • Beach Safety
    Gulf Shores, Alabama
    Nine Things to Know Before Your Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Vacation
    Beach house kitchen
    5 Things I Learned From My Alabama Beach Vacation
    Dog Pond Lake Shelby
    Easy Options for a Pet-Friendly Beach Vacation
    All Planning Tools
    • 10 Family Activities
    • 14 Public Beaches
    • 21 Rainy Day Activities
    • 5 Things I Learned From My Vacation
    • 8 Things to Know Before Your Vacation
    Couple biking on the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail in Gulf Shores, AL
    Bike-Sharing at Gulf State Park: Share the Trails, Share the Wheels
    Teen friends on Sail Wild Hearts in Orange Beach, AL
    Six Teen-Approved Things to Do in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach
    Waterville USA
    5 Thrilling Amusement Parks Gulf Shores Orange Beach
    All Blogs
  • Deals
    All Deals
Meetings
  • Home
    All Home
    • Plan Your Conference
    • How Can We Help
    • Why Our Beach
    • Services
    • FAQs
    • Getting Here
    • Restaurants
    • Things to Do
    • Calendar of Events
    All Plan Your Conference
    • All Meeting Spaces
    • Unique Meeting Spaces
    • Accommodations
    All Meeting Spaces
  • Reunions & Weddings
    All Reunions & Weddings
    • Meeting Planner Toolkit
    All Toolkit
    • Connect With Us
    • Submit RFP
    • Subscribe Today
    All Contact Us
  • Stories
    All Stories
Sports
    • All Events
    • Book>Direct
    • Perfect Game World Series
    • Gulf Shores High School
    • Beach Races
    • Orange Beach High School
    All Events & Special Rates
    • All Restaurant Sponsors
    • On-the-Go Dining
    All Restaurants
    • All Attraction Sponsors
    All Attractions
  • Business Sponsors
    All Business Sponsors
  • Facilities
    All Facilities
    • Facility Info
    • Leisure Events
    • Our Services
    • Planner Toolkit
    • Contact Us
    • Newsletter
    All Bring Your Event
  • Sponsors
    All Sponsors
  • Stories
    All Stories

10 Tips for Planning a Homeschool Vacation

Gulf Shores & Orange Beach

April 22, 2020

When a homeschool family takes a vacation, it is often more than a vacation. It is about family and fun, plus a healthy dose of learning. How does a homeschool family pull off a great family vacation that can be fun and educational at the same time? It's all in the planning.  Use these tips for stress-free planning and a great trip to Gulf Shores!

child holding an alligator at alligator alley Foley al
Ask Your Family for Homeschool Vacation Destination Ideas

When planning a homeschool vacation, you might have an idea of where you want to go and what you want to do. Your family members might have totally different ideas. Have a family meeting and gather all the ideas. Decide which destinations are within reach and concentrate on those. If you’re having trouble deciding, look at the destinations that have something for everyone. The Gulf Shores and Orange Beach area of Alabama offers a great mix of beach, outdoor fun, museums, art, food, shopping and family fun. It is the perfect place for your family’s homeschool vacation.

Do Your Research

Once you have decided on your homeschool vacation destination, do your research. Look at local tourism sites such as GulfShores.com and request a vacation guide to be mailed to you. Guidebooks and brochures can be easier for the whole family to share and can be taken in the car on your road trip. (You can, also, access the interactive Gulf Shores Vacation Guide online!)

Look at accommodations and activities that your family might like. Use the guides and websites to get your family excited about the trip!

Make A Budget

Most families have a vacation budget. Know this number going in. This will help you decide your type of accommodations and activities, and how long you will stay.

In my experience, the Alabama Gulf Coast is one of the most budget-friendly family vacation destinations available. It is easy to find affordable places to stay and there are many inexpensive and free activities for the whole family. You can find great deals on everything from accommodations to dining to activities on the Deals page at GulfShores.com.

child on the Mobile Bay Ferry Gulf Shores AL
Make a List of Possible Activities

Family vacations should have something fun for every member of the family. Have each person make a list of activities they would like to take part in based on the research you all did previously.

If you are planning a homeschool family vacation, you are probably going to want to mix a little education in with the fun. The key is to find activities that are so awesome that the kids don’t realize they are learning. The Alabama Gulf Coast has a ton of educational activities that will fit the bill.

You might want to explore a recent topic your kids just learned about or you might want them to learn something completely new. At the beach, they can learn about history, learn about the sea turtles that nest on the beaches, have an animal encounter at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, visit an estuarium, learn about art, and more.

Plan Downtime

Destinations like Gulf Shores and Orange Beach have so much for families to do that you can easily overbook yourselves. Plan designated downtime. Relax on the white, sugar-sand beaches or at the pool. Allow extra time at meals. Family vacations should be time to do fun things together, but sometimes it is more fun to relax.

family at the zoo in Gulf Shores AL
Let Your Kids Help Plan the Route

Nothing teaches map skills like planning a trip! Make a homeschool lesson out of mapping out your travel route. Use paper maps and atlases to allow kids to determine what roads to take and how long the trip will be. By the end of the trip, your kids will be pros.

Make sure you take the maps along on the trip. GPS is great until you don’t have signal or you just get tired of looking at the tiny screen. You never know when you might need a map! Let the kids follow the route on the map as you travel, or ask them from time to time to find where you are on the map.

Make A Clothes Packing List

One good reason to determine your homeschool vacation activities ahead of time is that it helps you know what clothes to pack. Think about what clothing is necessary for each activity and write each item on your packing list. If you are staying at a condo or a house with a washer and dryer, remember you can pack lighter.

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are very relaxed, so shorts and T-shirts will get you in just about everywhere. You will probably spend most of your time in a swimsuit, so don’t forget your suits and beach towels!

Pack for Adventure

Homeschool family vacations are usually full of adventure. If you are heading to the Gulf Shores area, make sure you pack supplies for the beach, including things like buckets, shovels, nets for catching crabs at night on the beach or little fish in the water, binoculars, and field guides.

There are, also, great hiking and biking trails in the Gulf Shores area. You might even want to rent a kayak. Pack the right shoes and clothes for these types of outdoor adventures. And don’t forget the sunscreen and bug spray!

Pack for The Road Trip

No matter how far your family is traveling, you will want to pack for the road trip. A few well-thought-out supplies can keep everyone happy and make the trip go so much smoother.

Put some water, fruit and other snacks in a small bag or box in the backseat so the kids can grab something whenever they need it. Pack some old favorites and add a few surprises. Everyone is happier when they are well fed!

You might want to pack a few books, guides and maps that pertain to the trip and your destination. Throw in an ocean coloring book or colorful picture books about sea turtles or dolphins for the littles. Family games like travel bingo and the old standard license plate game can keep everyone busy for a long time.

Dolphin Fun Facts

With Captain Bill Mitchell of Orange Beach, AL

Educational and fun, Orange Beach dolphin cruises offer a peek at the world of the native bottle-nose dolphins and a window into nature’s beauty and other wildlife. Come aboard for a trip that’s truly magical.

Experience A Whole New State of Adventure
Orange Beach Dolphin Cruises

Icon of a hotel
Find Your Perfect Place to Stay
Places to Stay Search Lodging Options
icon of a guide
Where Your Journey Begins
Order a Vacation Guide Order a Free Vacation Guide
Email icon
News from the Coast
Subscribe to Our E-Newsletter Subscribe to Our Enewsletter

Share This

Marci Goodwin blogger
Marci Goodwin (1323 Posts)
Marci Goodwin's blog, The Homeschool Scientist, exists to equip and encourage homeschool parents by taking the fear out of and putting the fun into science education. Visit the website at…
  • https://facebook.com/TheHomeschoolScientist
  • https://twitter.com/HSScientist

You May Also Like

Gulf Shores Beach

A Midwest Road Trip to Explore Alabama’s Beaches

Cool Shots Selfie Museum Orange Beach

Six Things to do in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach in January

Dolphins Gulf Shores

Things to Do in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach in March

Cool Shots Selfie Orange Beach

7 Things to Do in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach in February

The Yard Gulf Shores

How to Plan a Family Reunion at the Beach

Young Family walks along Alabama's white sand beaches at sunset

Why Young Families Love Alabama's Beaches in the Fall

Order a Vacation Guide Subscribe to our Enewsletter
Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism Logo
  • Facebook
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Trip Ideas
  • Press
  • Partners
  • Responsible Tourism
  • 1-800-745-SAND
  • [email protected]
  • Privacy Policy
  • Linking Policy
  • Employment Opportunities
Copyright 2022 Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism. All rights reserved.
  • Subscribe to Enews
  • Vacation Guide
  • Chat With Us