Planning An Orange Beach Vacation

Looking for a long weekend get-away? Hoping to escape the cold?  Luckily for you, we recently planned an Orange Beach, Alabama vacation- the perfect mix of action for adults and fun for the kids.

Orange Beach and Gulf Shores sits peacefully on the Gulf Coast and sports beaches of silky white sand. The surf is calm to moderate most of the year and the area is packed with fantastic foodie joints, action packed adventures, artsy shops, and fantastic fishing. We can’t say enough good things about the area, but we will save that for a future article — stay tuned.  In the meantime, here is a down-and-dirty itinerary planned especially for you! Think of Hook & Barrel as your personal travel concierge. Safe travels and don’t blame us if you drink too many Bushwackers!

When to go to Orange Beach and Gulf Shores? We suggest late April to coincide with the legendary Mullet Toss. This year (2022) the toss happens April 22-24.  Don’t know what that is? Google it, you’ll be happy you did, or watch the video below. Yes, it will be a bit more crowded than normal, but the chaos of the toss is simply left behind at the Flora-Bama. Retreat back to your hotel for some long-needed R&R. Where do you fly into? You have 2 choices:  Pensacola is the best (rent a car and drive from there) or Destin. Try to arrive no later than Thursday evening. You want this long weekend to last as long as you possibly can!

Here is your Orange Beach and Gulf Shores itinerary. We can guarantee that all of this is a must-do!

Thursday Evening

Stay Here:
 Turquoise Place Official Onsite Management by Spectrum Resorts
 26302 Perdido Beach Blvd.
 Orange Beach, AL, 36561
 Tel: 877-422-5249
 Website: https://turquoiseplace.spectrumresorts.com
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TurquoisePlace
 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spectrumresorts/

Friday

06:00 AM
 Depart condo for the fishing trip: Fort Morgan Marina
 1577 Hwy. 180 W.
 Gulf Shores, AL, 36542
 Tel: (251) 981-4007
Your inshore fishing trip will be departing from Fort Morgan Marina which is about a 45-minute drive from the Turquoise.

07:00 AM
 Inshore fishing trip with Intercoastal Safaris :
 Orange Beach, FL, 36561
 Tel: (850) 375-2223
 Email: [email protected]
 Website: https://intercoastalsafaris.com
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/intercoastalsafaris
 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/intercoastalsafaris/
Description: Guide Stephen Lee and Captain Perry will be taking you out for inshore fishing along some of our area’s bays north of the Gulf of Mexico.

11:00 AM
  Lunch

While you are out on the Fort Morgan Peninsula, you may want to stop for lunch at Sassy Bass, where local farm-raised Navy Cove Oysters are served, or stop at Hazel’s Nook in Gulf Shores for a true local diner experience.

01:00 PM
  Free Time

Description: Enjoy the beach, the pools or lazy river at your condo, spend the afternoon exploring Gulf State Park’s fishing pier, or check out the high-end boats and shopping at The Wharf.

06:30 PM
 Dinner: Fresh Off The Boat
 27627 Perdido Beach Blvd. Unit D1
 Orange Beach, AL, 36561
 Tel: (251) 273-7374
 Website: https://www.freshoba.com

Description: It is only fitting that at least one meal be at a local marina! Fresh Off the Boat is one of the newer restaurants in Orange Beach and is a perfect option after your day of fishing because they will cook your catch.

Saturday

08:00 AM
 Breakfast: City Donut
 26651 Perdido Beach Blvd., Ste. A
 Orange Beach, AL, 36561
 Tel: (251) 981-3688
 Website: https://www.citydonutob.com
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/City-Donut-385859758182546/
Description: The condo is close to a great donut shop called City Donuts. Just be sure to get there early because they are known to sell out!

09:30 AM
 Enjoy an epic day at Flora-Bama Mullet Toss: Flora-Bama Lounge & Oyster Bar
 17401 Perdido Key Dr.
 Perdido Key, FL, 32507
 Tel: (850) 483-6266
 Website: https://www.florabama.com/oyster-bar.html
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/florabama
 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_florabama/

11:30 AM
 Lunch at Flora-Bama Yacht Club: Flora-Bama Yacht Club
 17350 Perdido Key Dr.
 Perdido Key, FL, 32507
 Tel: (850) 492-0611
 Website: https://www.florabamayachtclub.com
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/florabamayachtclub
 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fbyachtclub/
Description: You can head across the street to Flora-Bama Yacht Club at whatever time you want – it is tucked away behind the Waffle House. This is the place with the outstanding Bacon Barbecue Grilled Oysters.

05:30 PM
 Dinner at Fisher’s Upstairs: Fisher’s at Orange Beach Marina
 27075 Marina Rd.
 Orange Beach, AL, 36561
 Tel: (251) 981-7305
 Website: https://fishersobm.com/upstairs
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fishersatobm
Description: One of the best restaurants in the area, Fisher’s Upstairs is led by Chef Bill Briand, a 5-time James Beard semi-finalist. Chef Bill trained under Emeril Lagasse in New Orleans for many years before moving to the beach to open Fisher’s.

Sunday

08:00 AM
 Breakfast: Sunliner Diner
 100 E. 2nd St.
 Gulf Shores, AL, 36542
 Tel: (251) 937-6590
 Website: https://www.sunlinerdiner.com
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunlinerdiner
 Instagram: @sunlinerdiner
Description: Step back in time at this vintage 1950s-style diner where pancakes reign supreme. There likely will be a wait to be seated because this is a popular spot.

10:00 AM
 Bike the Backcountry Trail: Beach Bike Rentals
 22989 Perdido Beach Blvd.
 Orange Beach, AL, 36561
 Tel: (251) 968-1770
 Website: https://www.beachbikerentalsorangebeach.com
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeachBikeRentals/
 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beachbikerentals

Description: Explore the 28 miles of Gulf State Park’s Backcountry Trail. Be on the lookout for Lefty the Alligator at her favorite spot (the bike shop folks can mark it on the map for you) and try to get to the Overlook on Gulf Oak Ridge Trail, the highest spot in this 6,150-acre state park. Gulf State Park encompasses nine different ecosystems and is home to a variety of wildlife.

12:00 PM
 Gyrocopter experience: Beach Flight Aviation
 1215 Commerce Dr.
 Gulf Shores, AL, 36542
 Tel: (251) 597-5999
 Email: [email protected]
 Website: https://www.beachflight.com
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeachFlightAviation

Description: Way more adventurous than a standard helicopter tour of the island, these open-air copters give an added adrenaline rush. Ask them to fly over the Mullet Toss!

01:30 PM
 Lunch: Doc’s Seafood Shack & Oyster Bar
 26029 Canal Rd.
 Orange Beach, AL, 36561
 Tel: (251) 981-6999
 Website: https://www.docsseafoodshack.com/seafood-menu/
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/docsseafoodshackorangebeach
Description: There is always a wait to try out the “Best Fried Shrimp in the Entire Civilized World,” but Doc’s Seafood is a legendary favorite spot for visitors and locals alike, serving up seafood since 1984.

03:00 PM
 Free Time
Description: Enjoy the beach, the pools or lazy river at your condo, spend the afternoon exploring Gulf State Park’s fishing pier and bike trails, or check out the high-end boats and shopping at The Wharf.

06:00 PM
 Dinner: The Gulf
 27500 Perdido Beach Blvd.
 Orange Beach, AL, 36561
 Tel: (251) 424-1800
 Website: https://www.thegulf.com
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegulfal
 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegulfal/
Description: For your final night at the beach, this outdoor dining spot offers fabulous views of Perdido Pass where boat traffic goes in and out to the Gulf of Mexico. A very laid-back island vibe mixes with fantastic craft cocktails.

One additional thing you will want to squeeze in one night is a bowfishing adventure with Fish-Kabob Bowfishing. With over 12 years of bowfishing charter experience and adventures offered from both Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, this is a great opportunity to explore the water at night in search of everything from fish to rays.

Tel: (251) 504-4709
 Website: www.fish-kabob.com
 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fishkabobbowfishing

Monday

09:30 AM
 Check out of your condo

09:30 AM
 Breakfast on your own: OSO Early
 5749 Bay la Launch Ave
 Orange Beach, AL, 36561
 Tel: 251-345-6738
 Website: https://www.osobearpoint.com/
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OSOatBearPointHarbor
 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/osoearly/
Description: We saved this special new breakfast place for last. As you will have learned by the time you leave, the Bushwacker is the drink of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, and this great spot offers their special breakfast take on this with Bushwacker Pancakes!

11:30 AM
 Depart for airport

All we will say, is “you’re welcome”. This is a great trip to Orange Beach and Gulf Shores and the above suggestions are some of the best the area has to offer. Each stop proved to be amazing and fun for the whole family.

Let us know how it was!

Safe travels!