Consider Orange Beach, Alabama for your family’s next beach vacation. This quaint oceanfront town boasts pristine, white-sand beaches, a variety of excellent dining options, a marina filled with charter boats, and an abundance of incredible Orange Beach vacation rentals. Whether your kids enjoy building sand castles or exploring the deep blue sea, Orange Beach has something for everyone in your family to enjoy. Check out the top family-friendly activities in the Orange Beach area.
1. Go to the Beach
Grab your beach gear and get ready for some fun in the sun. Pack your towels, a beach blanket, and sunscreen so your family can spend the entire day at the beach. While you’re there, let the kids jump over small waves, build sand castles, and look for seashells — keep the nicest ones as souvenirs of your trip.
Orange Beach is home to two stunning public beaches, so you won’t have to venture far from your vacation home to spend the day at the beach. Orange Beach Waterfront Park sits along Wolf Bay. It has a big kids’ park for your littlest ones to enjoy, and older children often spend days at Orange Beach Waterfront Park fishing off the pier. If you prefer lounging near the Gulf, visit Alabama Point East. This beach runs the length of Perdido Pass, extending out into the Gulf of Mexico.
2. Visit Adventure Island
Play a competitive game of miniature golf or take your littles on a relaxing paddle boat ride across the Lost Lagoon Lake at Orange Beach’s Adventure Island. The small amusement park caters to children of all ages. Big kids can battle it out during a game of laser tag, shoot family members with water guns while riding in the bumper boats, or fulfill their need for speed in a go kart, while younger children and toddlers enjoy spinning in the mini tea cups and riding the frog hopper.
3. Take a Dolphin Sighting Cruise
Take a cruise on the Sunny Lady, which you board at The Wharf, for the opportunity to spot dolphins and other sea creatures. The 1.5-hour cruise takes you through the back bays of Orange Beach where it’s easy to spot dolphins in their natural habitat. Even the tiniest children will be excited to leave the vacation home for a boat ride complete with potential dolphin sightings. If you dolphin cruises aren’t your thing, consider taking your family on a sunset cruise for some amazing photo ops.
4. Ride a Ferris Wheel
Gulf Coast vacations aren’t complete without a Ferris Wheel ride, and The Wharf’s Ferris Wheel just happens to be one of the tallest in the area. Before your ride, spend some time shopping, grab a burger for dinner, and enjoy a scoop of ice cream from The Sugar Shack. Also, while you’re at The Wharf, you might as well challenge your family members to a fun-filled game of miniature golf.
5. Charter a Boat
Charter a boat for a private tour of the waters surrounding Orange Beach. In addition to having the opportunity to see dolphins in their natural habitat, a private boat tour from A-Pair-of-Dice includes deep sea fishing and shrimping—an experience for older children to enjoy. If they’re lucky, the crew may even let the kids drive the boat.
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6. Rent a Paddle board
Gulf Coast Paddle Company rents paddle boards to people vacationing in the Orange Beach. In fact, they’ll even drop your rental off at your vacation home. If you have big kids and teenagers, you can rent paddle boards for the whole family. The company has lessons available for anyone who isn’t comfortable on a paddle board. Keep in mind; beginners can paddle while seating or sitting on their knees until their balance improves enough to stand while paddling.
7. Go Kayaking
Rent kayaks to kayak your way around Wolf Bay. Older children, teenagers, and adults can navigate the bay’s water on their own, and small children can share a kayak with a parent. Remember, small children need to sit between an adult’s legs in a kayak —after all, there’s only one seat. To keep things interesting for young members of your clan, make sure you let them paddle the kayak for a bit.
8. Look for Sea Turtles
From May through October, female sea turtles make their way onto the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach beaches to make nests for their eggs. The eggs take about 60 days to hatch, and then, the new babies make their way into the sea. Spend time with your family exploring all of the area’s beaches looking for sea turtles and their nests.
9. Tour the Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach
Discover local artists at the Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach. The gallery includes a variety of watercolor paintings, pottery, photographs, and sculptures made by artists who live in the Orange Beach area. Don’t forget to stop by the gift shop before you leave for a souvenir.
10. Discover Local History
The Orange Beach Indian and Sea Museum is located in an old schoolhouse, which is still furnished. Take your family to the museum to learn about the local area’s history, as well as the history of Indians native to the area, and the preservation of the Gulf Coast sea.
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