Orange Beach: A Beautiful Destination with Pleasant Weather
Orange Beach is a picturesque destination in Alabama on the Gulf of Mexico’s shores. It has a relatively small number of permanent residents, but a healthy tourism industry, due to its miles of powdery, white-sand beaches and plentiful opportunities for swimming and water sports. Many visitors book hotels and decide to spend relaxing holidays there. Until 1920, it was known for producing citrus fruits, but then a salesperson introduced diseased seedlings that caused blight. Mild winters and hot, humid summers made Orange Beach a practical place for citrus groves, and now make it an attractive destination to visit.
Tempting Places to Eat and Drink
Orange Beach has popular dining establishments to please even people who are characteristically picky eaters. Due to the nearby ocean, many restaurants serve freshly caught seafood, ranging from fried oysters to shrimp and grits. It’s also easy to find Cajun and Creole dishes, many of which are hard to find outside this region. Treat your taste buds to a saucy serving of jambalaya or a heaping dish of Cajun seafood gumbo, and don’t forget to order a side of hush puppies! Complement your meal with a delightful house cocktail. Keeping with the beachside theme, many of the specialty drinks feature names inspired by the ocean. If you’d prefer another kind of beverage to wet your whistle, restaurants typically have extensive wine and beer menus so it’s not hard to find something that strikes your fancy. The area also has numerous tiki bars serving up alcoholic and non-alcoholic tropical mixtures, so if you’re looking for something to sip as you gaze at the water, there are lots of mouth-watering possibilities.
Take a Themed Tour in Orange Beach
If you’re looking for some guidance while exploring what Orange Beach has to offer, consider booking a ticket for one of the many tours in the area. You might head out on a dolphin cruise that allows you to get up close to the well-known mammals. Many cruise operators limit the number of guests permitted on each cruise. That increases the likelihood you’ll see the creatures without having a very crowded experience. Alternatively, you might marvel at Orange Beach from above by embarking on a thrilling helicopter tour. Most companies cater to private groups, so if you’re travelling with a partner or members of your family, everyone can go on the trip together, and the pilot and support staff will give personalised experiences. Even if you have never flown in a helicopter before, expect a thoroughly enjoyable excursion, especially since things will be explained during every part of the trip, including the significance of places you’re flying over.
Spend Time in the Marina District
Orange Beach has a bustling marina district collectively known as The Wharf. Browse what’s for sale in locally owned boutique shops or relax tired muscles by getting a massage. You can also stop into a daiquiri bar or linger in night-time hotspots that sell upscale cigars or offer roomy spaces for dancing under a disco ball. While exploring the marina, you might discover there’s a special event going on, such as a boat show or fishing competition. This destination hosts the Blue Marlin Grand Championship, which is known as “the greatest show in sport fishing.” It also regularly presents Spectra, an extravagant performance featuring dazzling lights displays and energetic music. Performances happen throughout the year, and there are special shows during the holiday season. As soon as the sun goes down, the night lights up around the marina. Many guests arrive in this district from their hotels and find they could easily stay here for days without running out of things to do.
Kid-Friendly Activities in Orange Beach
Orange Beach’s excellent weather means it’s full of things that appeal to outdoors-loving kids. Rent bicycles for yourself and accompanying youngsters and discover what awaits in Gulf State Park. You might go on the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail, a paved path that takes you near swamps and lakes. There are numerous public toilet facilities along the trail, so if your kids need to take bathroom breaks, there’s no need to disrupt your bicycle journeys too much. Also, make your way to Adventure Island, a family fun park that includes indoor and outdoor diversions such as two miniature golf courses, go-karts, an arcade and bumper boats. Some of the attraction’s rides are open to children as young as five. A five-storey imitation volcano acts as a centrepiece of this theme park, and it regularly delights guests with powerful vibrations, plus steam that spouts from its top. If volcanoes fascinate your kids and you’d rather not let them get too close to a real one, Adventure Island has a good substitute.