If you are heading to Gulf Shores & Orange Beach during Memorial Day Weekend, check out our list of things to do during your stay at the beach.
Every Memorial Day, families make their annual trip to Alabama's white-sand beaches to kick off their summer. Before you make a break for the beach, check out these exciting activities to add to your fun-in-the-sun holiday vacation agenda.
Here are a few fun ideas to add to your Memorial Day Weekend itinerary along Alabama's Beaches!
1. Travel Back in Time at Historic Fort Morgan
Filled with history, this third-system masonry fort built in the early 1800s stands guard on the Fort Morgan Peninsula, where the bay meets the Gulf of Mexico. Historic Fort Morgan played a role in several wars and conflicts and is now a State of Alabama Historic Site. Self-guided tours are a great way to experience the grounds, including natural areas, a boat launch, a picnic area, and beaches. It's the perfect place to kick off Memorial Day weekend.
2. Cool Off in the Water
Nothing screams summer like hitting the water, and Alabama's Beaches offer plenty of opportunities to make a splash with your whole family. Spend your day lounging on soft sands, kayaking or parasailing under the warm sun, or diving into the clear waters for a refreshing swim. For thrill-seekers, a variety of cool watersports await. Experience the thrill of jet skiing the Gulf waves or paddleboarding the scenic coastline.
3. Picnic at Bon Secour Wildlife Center
Is it really Memorial Day if you don't have a picnic? Grab lunch-to-go from a local Alabama's Beaches restaurant and head to the gorgeous Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge for a relaxing meal. We suggest picking up a beautifully crafted charcuterie board from Lauria’s. Once at Bon Secour, you can view endangered species in their natural habitat and indigenous plants while feeling the warm sun on your face. Pine Beach Trail leads to a sweet little white-sand beach perfect for picnicking.
4. Embark on a Dolphin Cruise
What better way to explore Alabama's Beaches than aboard a boat or kayak searching for dolphins? You'll be able to see these friendly creatures and learn about their habitat and behaviors from your guide. Dolphin cruises are great fun for couples, families, and solo travelers.
5. Cast a Line Along Alabama's Beaches
Early summer is prime fishing time on Alabama’s Beaches! Embarking on a fishing charter is one of the best ways to fish in the area while also experiencing the pristine waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Orange Beach boasts the largest fishing charter fleet on the Gulf Coast, so you’re bound to reel in an impressive catch. Best of all, red snapper season in Alabama opens on May 23.
And don't miss out on the excitement of the Mobile Big Game Fishing Club’s Gulf Coast Masters, where anglers compete for the biggest catches and prizes. It's an event you won't want to skip!
6. Memorial Day Weekend Concert
Live music in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach is nothing short of epic. On May 22, kick off your Memorial Day weekend festivities with Keith Urban and special guests Alana Springsteen, Chase Matthews, and Karley Scott Collins at The Wharf. Then, rock out at the OWA Theater with Tuesdays Gone: The Ultimate Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute on May 24.
7. Splash Into Fun
Slip, slide, and splash at Waterville USA. This iconic waterpark has been a staple of Alabama’s Beaches for decades, and on Saturday, May 24, it officially opens for the summer season. If heart-racing waterslides and lazy rivers aren’t your thing, head into Waterville’s arcade and practice your swing at the swing suites or play a round of bowling.
