Keeping the Kids Busy During Summer
on Alabama's Beaches
Sing it with me, y’all: "Schooooool’s out for summer!"
Now... what?
The school year is over, the kids are already claiming they’re bored, and we have roughly 11 weeks to create core memories before the morning bell rings again. Balancing your daily routine while trying to fill those long summer days can feel daunting (and expensive). Luckily, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach offer endless hours of adventure, learning, and family fun right in our own backyard.
How to Keep Summer Boredom at Bay
Start with the Obvious: The Beach
Start with the Obvious: The Beach
It’s easy to take the beach for granted when you live here full-time. The key for our family is breaking it up into short stints. Going for just a few hours in the early morning or late afternoon keeps the routine exciting and the sunburns at bay. Even for kids who grew up near the water, there is so much to do beyond swimming. Some of our days are dedicated to building sandcastles and hunting for unique shells. Others are spent playing beach volleyball, practicing on the skimboard, or, in my family’s case, learning how to surf!
Local Tip for Toddlers: If you have smaller children who are intimidated by the Gulf surf, Little Lagoon and Wolf Bay offer calmer, shallower alternatives. Head over to Mo’s Landing, Jeff Friend Trail, or Orange Beach Waterfront Park, where little ones can splash around and hunt for hermit crabs while the big kids fish or kayak.
Explore Outdoors Beyond the Sand
Explore Outdoors Beyond the Sand
When you want outdoor options that don’t involve shaking sand out of your shoes, head inland. The award-winning Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail offers 28 miles of paved paths inside Gulf State Park. With trailheads in both cities, it’s easy to explore on foot or by bike. Kids will have a blast keeping their eyes peeled for gopher tortoises, sunbathing alligators, and nesting bald eagles.
Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge is another fantastic spot for outdoor exploration. The kid-friendly walking trails offer a look at habitats unique to our coastal ecosystem, and several paths lead directly to Little Lagoon.
If you just need a quick spot to burn off some energy, we frequent the local parks at least once a week. Meyer Park, Sims Park, Waterfront Park, and Lake Shelby are perfect for short trips where the kids can climb, slide, swing, skate, or shoot hoops.
Want a change of scenery? Spend a morning at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. Go early before the temperatures peak to visit the nearly 150 species that call the zoo home. If you want to make it extra special, consider splurging on an up-close animal adventure with a giraffe or sloth.
Take Advantage of Community Programs
Take Advantage of Community Programs
Summer is the perfect time to plug into free local programs. For instance, the City of Gulf Shores kicks off the season with its annual S’mores by the Shore event. The Wharf hosts free family movie nights every Monday at Portside and other kid-friendly activities every week night during summer. Many of our local churches also host Vacation Bible Schools (VBS).
We are also completely obsessed with our local libraries! Both the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach libraries host fantastic summer reading challenges, weekly themed events, crafts, and storytimes that provide a much-needed, air-conditioned break.
Play Tourist
Play Tourist
Many of us spend so much time avoiding the summer crowds that we miss out on the world-class attractions people travel hundreds of miles to experience. A little local strategy can go a long way in giving your kids a vacation right in their own backyard. Here are a few options for playing tourist:
- Book a dolphin cruise or go parasailing.
- Hit the arcades, play mini golf, or spend the day at Waterville USA.
- Grab lunch at LuLu’s, The Gulf, or GT’s On the Bay.
- Buy a classic airbrushed t-shirt at one of the many souvenir shops.
- Ride the Ferris Wheel at The Wharf, then stick around for the nightly SPECTRA Laser Light Show.
You could pick one touristy adventure a week and still not experience them all by August!
Enjoy the Simple Moments
Some of my favorite core memories are from the beach vacations of my childhood, but I have just as many from simply doing ordinary kid things without any grand fanfare. Neighborhood bike rides, quick ice cream runs, late-afternoon dips in the pool, and running through the sprinkler in the front yard are just as valuable as a theme park ticket.
You don’t need a jam-packed daily itinerary for your kids to have an amazing summer. But boy, do we have a lot to choose from in our coastal playground!
Ashley Andrews
Ashley Rainer Andrews is a Gulf Coast local who writes from the perspective of someone who has experienced Alabama’s Beaches both as a visitor and as a place to call home. She is the Marketing Manager at Saunders Yachtworks in Gulf Shores and serves on the Junior Board of the Baldwin County Child Advocacy Center and the Session at First Presbyterian Church of Gulf Shores. She enjoys time with her family, reading, staying involved in the community, and never getting tired of a good sunset over the water.