🏖️ What to Do · Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, AL
Things to Do in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, AL
52 real, currently-operating attractions across every category — beaches and state parks, dolphin cruises and fishing charters, golf, and day trips to Mobile Bay — so you can plan around what you actually want to see instead of scrolling a generic list.
🏖️ Gulf Coast Beaches
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🚤 Water Activities
🏔️ Adventure Parks
🐊 Wildlife & Nature
⛳ Golf
🎡 Family Fun
🛍️ Shopping
🏛️ Historic Sites
🚢 Day Trips
FAQ
Gulf Shores and Orange Beach sit on a barrier-island stretch of the Alabama Gulf Coast anchored by Gulf State Park’s sugar-white beaches and 28-mile trail network. Dolphin cruises and deep-sea fishing charters run out of marinas like Zeke’s Landing and The Wharf, Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge and Fort Morgan preserve the region’s natural and military history, and a short drive across Mobile Bay opens up day trips to the USS Alabama and Bellingrath Gardens. We checked each attraction directly against its own official site and current open status rather than a generic aggregator list.
5 Things to Do
Gulf State Park
6,150-acre state park with two miles of public beach, a lake, trails, and a LEED-Gold lodge.
Gulf State Park Fishing & Education Pier
1,540-foot Gulf-front pier, one of the longest on the Gulf Coast, for surf fishing and sightseeing.
Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail
28-mile paved multi-use trail network through nine coastal ecosystems in Gulf State Park.
Gulf Shores Public Beach
City-run main public beach access point with pavilion, showers, and parking.
Orange Beach Public Beach Access & Parks
City-managed beach access points and waterfront parks throughout Orange Beach.
14 Things to Do
Zeke’s Landing & Marina
Orange Beach marina hub offering deep-sea and offshore fishing charter bookings.
Cold Mil Fleet Dolphin Cruises
Long-running dolphin-watching and sightseeing cruise operator.
Cetacean Cruises
Dolphin, sunset, and sailing cruises out of Orange Beach.
Southern Rose Dolphin Cruises
Dolphin-watching cruises plus jet ski rentals.
Orange Beach Sailing Charters
Private sailing charters and sunset cruises.
Ike’s Parasail
Parasailing rides over the Gulf and Intracoastal Waterway.
Chute ‘Em Up Parasail
Parasailing operator in Orange Beach.
WildNative Tours
Guided kayak eco-tours through Bon Secour and coastal backwaters.
Southern Bend Charters
Inshore and deep-sea fishing charters.
Deep South Charters
Offshore and deep-sea fishing charters.
Getaway Charters
Deep-sea and family-friendly fishing charters.
Alabama Extreme Watersports
Jet ski and waverunner rentals.
2 Things to Do
Gulf Adventure Center at Gulf State Park
Zipline canopy tour and adventure course within Gulf State Park.
Adventure Island
Go-karts, mini golf, kiddie rides, and arcade in Orange Beach.
4 Things to Do
Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge
7,000+ acre U.S. Fish & Wildlife refuge with beach, dune, and marsh trails.
Alligator Alley
Alligator farm and wildlife park with gator encounters and swamp tours.
Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo
Full-service zoo with big cats and interactive exhibits.
Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
NOAA-designated estuary reserve with boardwalk trails and a nature center in nearby Fairhope.
5 Things to Do
Kiva Dunes Golf Club
Links-style championship course rated among Alabama’s best.
Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club
27-hole course in a nature preserve setting in Gulf Shores.
Craft Farms Golf Club
Arnold Palmer-designed courses (Cypress Bend & Cotton Creek) in Gulf Shores.
7 Things to Do
The Track Family Fun Park
Go-karts, kiddie rides, mini golf, and arcade.
OWA Parks & Resort
Foley theme park with the Tropic Falls indoor waterpark, rides, and the Downtown OWA entertainment district.
Pirate’s Island Adventure Golf
Themed mini golf course in Gulf Shores.
Breakout Games – Orange Beach
Live escape room venue at The Wharf.
The Factory Gulf Shores
Trampoline park and indoor entertainment complex.
5 Things to Do
Tanger Outlets Foley
Large outlet shopping center with 120+ stores.
The Wharf
Waterfront shopping, dining, and entertainment complex with a marina and amphitheater in Orange Beach.
SanRoc Cay Marina
Boutique shopping and dining marina village in Orange Beach.
Coastal Alabama Farmers & Fishermens Market
Regional farmers’ and fishermen’s market in nearby Foley.
Big Beach Brewing Company
Local craft brewery and taproom in Gulf Shores.
5 Things to Do
Fort Morgan State Historic Site
19th-century masonry fort spanning the War of 1812 through WWII, at the tip of the peninsula.
Foley Railroad Museum & Model Train Exhibit
Restored 1909 depot with a model train exhibit in nearby Foley.
Orange Beach Indian & Sea Museum
City-run museum on Native American and maritime history of the area.
Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach
Glassblowing, pottery, and arts studio and gallery run by the city.
Gulf Shores Museum
Local history museum operated by the City of Gulf Shores.
5 Things to Do
USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park
WWII battleship and submarine museum park in Mobile.
Bellingrath Gardens and Home
65-acre historic gardens and estate near Theodore/Mobile.
Alabama Aquarium at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab
Marine science aquarium on Dauphin Island, also known as the Estuarium.
Mobile Bay Ferry
Vehicle and passenger ferry connecting Fort Morgan to Dauphin Island across Mobile Bay.
National Maritime Museum of the Gulf
Maritime history museum in downtown Mobile.
Planning Tips for This Area
- Book dolphin cruises and fishing charters a day or two ahead in season. Summer weekends fill up fast at the major marinas.
- Gulf State Park’s trail network connects almost everything. The 28-mile Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail links the beach, the Lodge, and inland ecosystems if you’d rather bike than drive.
- Fort Morgan sits at the tip of the peninsula, about 30-40 minutes from Gulf Shores. Pair it with the Mobile Bay Ferry for a scenic way across to Dauphin Island.
- Hurricane season (June-November) can affect outdoor plans. Check forecasts and each operator’s cancellation policy before booking water-based activities far in advance.
What’s the best beach in Gulf Shores or Orange Beach?
Gulf State Park’s public beach is consistently rated among the best in the country for its sugar-white sand and clean water, and it’s free to access with plenty of parking.
Is Fort Morgan worth the drive?
Yes, if you have a few hours — it’s a genuinely well-preserved 19th-century fort with exhibits spanning the War of 1812 through World War II, and it pairs naturally with the Mobile Bay Ferry to Dauphin Island.
Can I see dolphins in Gulf Shores/Orange Beach?
Yes — dolphin sightings are extremely common on the area’s dolphin cruises, which run daily out of several marinas including Zeke’s Landing and The Wharf.
How does NME choose which attractions to feature?
We verify each attraction directly against its own official site and current open status rather than relying on aggregator lists, and we exclude anything we can’t confirm is still open. Read more on our methodology page.
Know an Attraction We Missed?
If you know a great thing to do in Gulf Shores or Orange Beach we’re missing, email us and we’ll take a look.
Heading to the Alabama Gulf Coast?
See the full trip guide — where to stay and where to eat, organized the same way, by category.
