Your First-Time Guide
to Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
Digging your toes in the sand, biting into fresh seafood, or watching the sunset – these are a few of the “must-dos” during a vacation on Alabama’s Beaches. Whether you’ve booked your trip or are still exploring, you’ll soon discover all the incredible experiences Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Fort Morgan offer. Prepare for your next beach vacation by reviewing all there is to know about the area, and check out these tips for a first-timer’s guide on Alabama’s Beaches!
A First-Timer's Guide to Alabama's Beaches
Start with a Day on the Sand
The 32 miles of gorgeous shoreline are the heartbeat of Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Fort Morgan, and why so many visitors come to the area. The best part about the beach is that you can spend the entire day by the water or just a few hours - it’s all up to you! From sunbathing and swimming to playing beach games and reading, there is no limit to how you can spend your time on the sand.
Know the Beach Flags Before You Swim
Understanding Gulf conditions is one of the most important parts of a first visit, even when the weather looks inviting. Before you break for the beach, review the daily beach flag and familiarize yourself with rip current safety tips. Make your vacation easier by signing up for daily texts that share current conditions by texting ALBEACHES to 888777. At the end of your vacation, opt out of the text alerts by texting STOP.
While on the beach, adhere to all posted instructions and remove all your belongings at the end of the day. Review all the beach rules and regulations here to ensure you have a safe and successful trip!
See the Coast from the Water
Hitting the water should be at the top of everyone’s beach bucket list for a first-time visit to Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Fort Morgan! Alabama’s Beaches is home to an array of beautiful waterways and so many unique ways to experience them. Peaceful watersports like kayaking and paddleboarding allow for wildlife watching, while thrilling adventures such as Jet Skiing, parasailing, and charter fishing offer a whole lot of excitement. Boat rentals, dolphin cruises, and sunset sails are perfect for groups of all ages, as they offer the ideal mix of comfort and fun. It’s impossible to fit all these watersports into one trip, so find one that speaks to you!
Explore Beyond the Beach
Don’t limit your vacation to just the beach. Just beyond the shoreline is Gulf State Park, a 6,150-acre park that connects Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. 32 miles of paved, accessible trails wind throughout the park’s nine distinct ecosystems, giving visitors plenty of opportunities to explore the unique flora and fauna of the Alabama Gulf Coast by foot, bike, or even Segway. Gulf State Park is free to visit and has multiple trailheads around Alabama’s Beaches.
Tip: Spots like Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, Historic Fort Morgan, and local golf courses are also fabulous spots for off-the-beach activities.
Make Gulf Seafood Part of Your First Visit
From white-sand shorelines and turquoise waters to delicious, fresh seafood, the Gulf is the gift that keeps on giving. Dining out on Alabama’s Beaches is a crucial part of the vacation experience, as the area is home to over 200 restaurants, most of which are locally owned or operated. Fresh Gulf seafood is the star on most menus, with tantalizing options like shrimp, fish, oysters, and crab served just about any way you like. Visit one of the incredible outdoor restaurants and enjoy a meal alfresco, or pick up dinner at a local spot and dig in back at your accommodation. You’re guaranteed to be craving more!
Tip: Look at restaurant menus for options like royal reds, blue crab, farm-raised oysters, and fresh catches, as these are local delicacies!
Choose Your Stay Around What You Want to Do
Different travelers have different lodging needs. Thankfully, accommodations on Alabama’s Beaches aren’t one size fits all, as the area boasts an array of hotels, private beach houses, spacious condos, campgrounds and RV parks, and resorts. Before booking a place to stay, determine what features and amenities you’re looking for in a lodging property. Consider factors like beach access, kitchen facilities, living areas, accessibility features, and proximity to attractions and activities. From kid-friendly lodging and places to stay with lazy rivers to wheelchair accessible accommodations, there’s a place for you on Alabama’s Beaches.
Check How You Will Get to the Beach
Staying at a Gulf-front accommodation with beach access gives visitors convenient, direct access to the shore. If your lodging is off the beach, no worries! There are 15 public beach accesses across Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Find the closest one to your accommodation to determine the easiest way to get to the shore. Keep in mind that you may need to drive to reach the beach, but most of these accesses have spacious parking lots and boardwalks to reach the water.
Tip: If you want lodging with beach access, double-check that your accommodation has direct access to the Gulf. A stay with “Gulf views” doesn’t always guarantee beach access, as it may be across the street!
Confirm What Is Provided with Your Stay Before You Pack
Before packing for your trip, check out your accommodation’s amenities. Many condos and beach houses are individually owned and come with perks like beach towels, beach toys/equipment, and umbrellas. Kitchen equipment and laundry facilities are other key features to look for. Unlike hotels, vacation rentals like beach homes and condos do not typically include daily cleaning services, so make sure you have enough items like toilet paper and paper towels to last throughout your stay.
Tip: If your lodging doesn’t have beach equipment or you aren’t able to bring your own, you can rent umbrellas and chairs from local outfitters that will set them up for you!
Book the Experiences You Most Want to Try
With so many fantastic things to do in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Fort Morgan, you likely won’t be able to fit everything you want to do into one trip. For your first visit to Alabama’s Beaches, pick the top attractions you’d like to experience and try to incorporate those into your vacation. During spring break and summer, make reservations for scheduled activities like fishing charters and cruises, as these can fill up fast. Before booking watersports, confirm departure location, duration, age requirements, and weather cancellation or rescheduling policies.
Tip: Check out the events calendar to see what’s going on during your vacation!
Leave Room for a Change of Plans
It’s tough not to fill up your vacation itinerary but leave room for spur-of-the-moment adventures! You may discover new places you want to visit once you’ve arrived, or want to stretch your beach day out longer to soak up the sun. Beach conditions and weather can also alter your plans. There are lots of great rainy-day activities and places to swim on red flag days; however, rain in the forecast doesn’t automatically mean you’ve lost an entire day.
Tip: Weather on the Gulf Coast can be unpredictable. Save a few indoor activities, like the Coastal Arts Center or Tee Off, for pop-up rain showers.
Keep Your Arrival Day Simple
Whether it’s dropping your bags in your room, running out of the car to the beach, or the first bite of seafood, those initial moments of a vacation are ones to savor. When arriving on Alabama’s Beaches, double-check your check-in time and instructions before heading to your accommodation and don’t rush straight into your itinerary. Take time to settle into your lodging, pick up groceries, or just relax for a bit. The beach isn’t going anywhere.
Tip: Stop by the Alabama’s Beaches Welcome Center to learn more about the area from knowledgeable locals and pick up a free travel guide.
Your First Visit Is Just the Beginning
A first-time visit to Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Fort Morgan is one to remember. Make plans for a few of your vacation “must-dos,” but leave room for unexpected coastal discoveries throughout the trip. For more planning inspiration, order our free vacation guide to discover more about the attractions, restaurants, and events on Alabama’s Beaches. Your first visit won’t be your last!
Sydnie Lee
A Gulf Coast native and Travel Marketing Professional, Sydnie is Alabama's Beaches Content Specialist (AKA taste tester and destination researcher.) She spends time visiting restaurants, attractions, activities, and events in the area to get the inside scoop on all things happening in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Fort Morgan.
