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Family building sand castle

Fall Family Itinerary

Gulf Shores & Orange Beach

Warm, sunny beaches and great weather make fall the perfect time to keep on summering on Alabama’s white-sand beaches. After the summer crowds are long gone, bring your family back to the beach for long weekends, holiday breaks and even weeklong escapes from the classroom. If you’re planning a fall beach vacation, browse our three-day itinerary for ideas on how to spend your time in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

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Day 1

Sassy Bass donuts Orange Beach

Breakfast

Get crazy this morning and order up a fun breakfast at Sassy Bass Crazy Donuts. Order a unique combination of doughnut, plus breakfast sandwich for a Gulf Shores breakfast to write home about.

Sassy Bass Crazy Donuts
Pirate Ship Cruise

Morning

Arrrr you ready for fun? Then board the Pirate Ship Cruise at Hudson Marina for swashbuckling fun in Orange Beach. The young and young-at-heart will enjoy this interactive dolphin cruise.

Pirate Ship Cruise
Sunliner Diner Gulf Shores

Lunch

Take the family for a blast to the past at Sunliner Diner in the heart of Gulf Shores. Decked out in 1950s style, the whole family will love this happening hangout for hamburgers, cherry pie and good-old rock-n-roll.

Sunliner Diner
The Wharf Ferris Wheel

Afternoon & Dinner

Spend the afternoon exploring The Wharf in Orange Beach. With miniature golf, the tallest Ferris wheel in the Southeast, laser tag, specialty boutiques and even a spa, there’s something for everyone in the family. When hunger strikes, pop into one of the awarding-winning restaurants at The Wharf for fresh, Gulf seafood or brews and burgers. Be sure to stay till dark and enjoy the SPECTRA Sound and Light Spectacular, a choreographed light show featuring musical favorites.

The Wharf

Day 2

Balcony breakfast Orange Beach

Breakfast

On day two, chow down with breakfast on your balcony. Enjoy the early-morning views, or even the sunrise, from the best seat in the house at your Gulf Shores beach house or Orange Beach condo. Pack a cooler with bottled water and protein-filled snacks, then load your beach bag with sunscreen, sunglasses and hats for your morning adventure.

Family Fishing trip Orange Beach

Morning

Orange Beach is the charter fishing mecca of the Southeast. Treat your family to a day of adrenaline-pumping fun aboard a fishing boat. For those new to deep-sea fishing, a four-hour charter fishing trip is ideal. There are also eight-hour trips available, as well as overnight trips.

Charter Fishing
Cook your Catch

Lunch

After your epic fishing adventure, take your fresh catch to one of the destination’s cook-your-catch restaurants. Numerous restaurants in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach will cook your fish just how you like it!

Cook your Catch
Kids playing in Orange Beach

Afternoon

After all that work reeling in your catch, use the afternoon to relax on the sandy shores of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Build sandcastles, splash in the surf and create memories the kids will remember for a lifetime.

Lulu's Cheeseburger

Dinner

Combine dinner and family fun at LuLu's in Gulf Shores. Order up a cheeseburger in paradise while you sit sand-side as the kids build sandcastles or play in the Fountain of Youth. The tweens and teens in your group can challenge each other to a game of beach volleyball or test their courage on the Mountain of Youth.

LuLu's

Day 3

The Diner Omelet

Brunch

Fuel up for your last day of fall beach vacation with traditional diner grub at The Diner in Gulf Shores. Shrimp and grits will hit the spot or opt for a traditional Southern breakfast of grits and eggs.

The Diner
Family Biking Backcountry Trail

Morning

If you haven’t hiked or biked the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail, it’s a can’t-miss activity. Bike through more than 25 miles of trails and six different ecosystems. Keep a look out for Lefty the alligator along one of the trail’s waterways. New boardwalks and overpasses easily take you from the Gulf State Park Pavilion to Lake Shelby.

Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail
Ahi Poke Nachos

Lunch

Take the family to The Hangout for a fun, throwback experience that includes a wishing wall, a huge collection of Pez dispensers, tabletop dad dancing, and foam parties every day.

The Hangout
Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

Afternoon

If you’re never taken selfies with a lemur or played with a baby kangaroo, here’s your chance! Visit the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo and say “hello” to all of our “wild” friends. If you plan to purchase tickets for animal encounters, including the lemur and kangaroo encounters, call ahead to learn the best times to interact with the animals.

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo
GT's on the Bay Key Lime Pie

Dinner

Say farewell with a dinner at GT's on the Bay. The whole family will enjoy the one-of-a-kind menu. A stone hearth pizza oven and loaded salad bar will hit the spot. The kids will love the outdoor play area and pirate ship, too!

GT's on the Bay

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