Planning a Gulf Shores vacation and wondering how to spend your time? This Gulf Shores itinerary gives you four days of beaches, good food, outdoor adventures, and fun without making you feel like you need a vacation from your vacation.
We recently visited Alabama’s Beaches to celebrate my twin boys’ eighth birthday and stayed in Gulf Shores. I loved how easily we could mix relaxing beach time with actual adventures. The boys fed lemurs, spotted dolphins, danced on tables for their birthday, and flew down waterslides while I still got plenty of good food and time by the water.
But hear me when I say this. You do not need to pack every day with activities.
Use this four day itinerary as a guide rather than a minute by minute schedule. None of the restaurants we visited required reservations and our waits were around five minutes. That made it easy to change plans depending on the weather and how everyone was feeling.
Because at the end of the day this is a beach trip. Stay by the water longer. Skip an activity when everyone is tired. Switch days around when the weather changes.
The goal is to enjoy Gulf Shores. Not check every box.
**I want to extend a huge thank you to Alabama’s Beaches for inviting us on this lovely trip to Gulf Shores, Alabama for the purposes of this blog post review. While this post is sponsored by Alabama’s Beaches, all opinions are 100% honest and my own.
Your Gulf Shores Itinerary at a Glance
A quick note before you start planning. You don’t have to stay within Gulf Shores the entire time. Alabama’s Beaches includes Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Fort Morgan, so this itinerary takes you beyond Gulf Shores for some activities.
And while I experienced this trip with my kids, you don’t need kids to follow it. I’d happily do many of these activities on an adults only trip, couples getaway, or girls trip. Use the itinerary as a starting point and adjust it around the kind of vacation you want.
| DAY | THINGS TO DO |
| Day 1: Animals + Dolphins | Breakfast at Sunliner Diner Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo + lemur encounter Dolphin cruise Dinner at The Gulf |
| Day 2: Beach + Tropic Falls | Pool and beach time Lunch at The Hangout Tropic Falls at OWA Dinner at LuLu’s |
| Day 3: Gulf State Park | Bike the trails Fish or explore Lake Shelby Beach or pool time |
| Day 4: The Wharf + Family Fun | Explore The Wharf Get a milkshake at The Yard Mini golf or go-karts Finish at the beach |
And remember: switch these days around based on the weather, energy levels, and what everyone actually feels like doing.
If everybody wakes up and wants to spend the entire morning at the beach? Go to the beach. This is a guide, not a schedule!
Day 1: Animals, Dolphins, and Waterfront Dining
Our first full day was a good example of how you can fit several activities into a day without waking everybody up at the crack of dawn.
We had breakfast, spent some time with animals, got out on the water, and finished with dinner by the beach.
Start Your Day at Sunliner Diner
We started at Sunliner Diner, which was right down the street from our vacation rental at Gulf Place. Talk about convenient!
The restaurant has a cute 1950s theme with retro booths, vintage cars, and plenty of photo ops. The food was pretty good, too.
I had a shrimp salad, which was tasty, and my husband enjoyed the corned beef hash and French toast. One of the boys liked his grilled cheese, while the other ordered the chicken-fried chicken and wasn’t really feeling it. I think he ended up eating fries instead.
You win some, you lose some.
You win some, you lose some.
For us, the combination of the atmosphere, food, and location made Sunliner an easy way to start the day.
Feed Lemurs at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo
After breakfast, we headed to the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo.
We arrived around 1:50 PM and spent a little over an hour there. It’s a relatively small zoo, which I actually liked for this itinerary because we could enjoy it without committing half of our day.
The highlight for us was the lemur encounter. The boys got to feed and interact with the lemurs while learning about them, and the actual encounter lasted around 10 minutes for us. They also did some rock sifting because one of my boys loves that kind of thing.
The lemur experience does cost extra in addition to regular zoo admission. At the time of writing, the zoo lists the Lemur Adventure at $24.95 per person plus zoo admission, and animal adventures are weather permitting. Check the current schedule, age requirements, and pricing before your visit.
Look for Dolphins on an Afternoon Cruise
From the zoo, we headed out for our dolphin cruise at around 4 PM. We went aboard the Bama Breeze with Flora-Bama, and the cruise lasted until around 6 PM.
We saw plenty of dolphins, which obviously was the main event, but I also liked how the crew interacted with the boys. They wore the provided life jackets, and the guide even got them involved in a cute drill during the cruise. There were even snacks and drinks available to purchase onboard.
Another unexpected part of the cruise was going around Ono Island, where our guide pointed out some waterfront homes reportedly owned by celebrities.
So we basically got a mini celebrity home tour with our dolphin cruise. I wouldn’t book the cruise expecting that to be part of every trip, but it was a fun little bonus for us.
Pairing the zoo and dolphin cruise also worked well because the experiences were completely different. After walking around the zoo, we could sit back, enjoy the breeze, and look for dolphins.
Have Dinner at The Gulf
After the cruise, we had dinner at The Gulf in Orange Beach. And when I tell you, the setting is gorgeous!
The Gulf is fully outdoors and beachfront, so this is not somewhere you need to get dressed up for dinner. It’s super casual, the views are beautiful, the drinks were good, and our food was really, really good.
What made it especially nice for us as parents was that the boys didn’t have to sit at the table the entire time. They ended up playing on the beach with other kids, including tossing around a football, while we could sit back and enjoy ourselves.
That’s my kind of family-friendly restaurant. The kids are having fun. The adults are having fun. Nobody is constantly asking, “Can we leave now?”
But I wouldn’t put The Gulf in the “just for families” category either. With the waterfront setting, cocktails, good food, and super-casual atmosphere, I could easily see coming back here without the kids for a casual date. You’re right by the water without needing to get dressed up or turn dinner into a whole production.
Basically, it works either way. Bring the kids and let them play, or come without them and enjoy the view and a drink.
Day 2: Beach Time, The Hangout, and Tropic Falls
Day 2 was definitely our busiest day, but we still started it slowly.
Because again…beach vacation.
Start With the Pool and Beach
We started the morning hanging out at the rooftop pool at Gulf Place.
The pool has nearly 360-degree views of the beach and Gulf Shores, plus loungers in the water, ping pong, Jenga, and plenty of space to relax. The boys spent some time at the beach while I met with someone from Alabama’s Beaches.
One of the best parts about where we stayed was that our pool, the beach, and The Hangout were literally next to each other. That made this part of the day ridiculously easy. We didn’t have to load everybody into the car to go to the beach, load up again to get lunch, and then load up again for the next thing.
Pool. Beach. Walk to lunch.
That’s it.
This is exactly why I think location matters when choosing where to stay on Alabama’s Beaches.
Walk Over to The Hangout for Lunch
When we were ready for lunch, we walked over to The Hangout.
The Hangout is one of those Gulf Shores restaurants that’s about way more than the food. And despite the name, don’t assume it’s just a place to take the kids.
There were plenty of adults there without kids having just as much fun as the families. An emcee—or hype man, because that’s really what he was—comes out about every hour to entertain the crowd, lead games, and keep the energy up.
Add in the music, outdoor games, photo ops, and the fact that The Hangout sits right in front of the beach, and the whole place feels like an experience rather than just somewhere you stopped for lunch.
Our food was good. We had things like burgers and wings, and I ordered a salmon salad. But the boys’ birthday made this stop even more memorable.
Birthday guests get called out and can stand on the table and dance, so of course the boys participated. Then we went outside and discovered a foam party.
This was their first foam party, and when I tell you those boys had a TIME…
They were dancing, playing in the foam, and completely living their best lives.
Meanwhile, the adults were enjoying the music, drinks, games, and crowd interaction. It’s one of those rare places where the kids can be having the time of their lives without the adults feeling like they’re simply supervising.
So whether you’re traveling with kids, with friends, or even without kids, give yourself enough time to actually hang out at The Hangout. Don’t schedule yourself so tightly that you’re leaving just as the entertainment is getting good.
Spend the Afternoon at Tropic Falls at OWA
After lunch, we finally loaded into the car and drove inland to Foley for Tropic Falls at OWA.
This was one of the boys’ favorite parts of the trip.
Tropic Falls gives you both a theme park and water park experience, so there is a LOT you can do here. We started on the amusement park side, where my husband and the boys got on a ride near the entrance that took them high into the air and upside down.
They said it was scary.
They also had a blast.
I was perfectly happy handling photography duties from the ground.
Then we headed into the water park. One of the stars of the show was Tangerine Scream, a 75-foot-tall free-fall body slide.
Basically, you’re going almost straight down…So naturally the boys did it multiple times. Apparently, nearly free-falling 75 feet is their idea of a good vacation.
There are plenty of other waterslides, plus Coastal Curl, an outdoor surf attraction where you can try riding the water. Outside, you’ll also find Big Water Bay, a large wave pool with a huge screen overlooking it and plenty of room to lounge when you need a break from the slides. And trust me, the adults may need that break even if the kids don’t.
There’s also a game room, so there are options when you’re ready for a little break from the water.
After the water park, the boys headed back to the amusement park for more rides, including Rollin’ Thunder—OWA’s large steel roller coaster, with a vertical lift followed by drops, twists, loops, inversions, and corkscrew movements.
In other words, exactly the kind of ride I can happily photograph from the ground.
On our way out, we stopped to play some of the carnival-style midway games before finally calling it a day.
One thing to know before you go is that Tropic Falls is just one part of the larger OWA Parks & Resort. Downtown OWA has restaurants, shopping, an arcade, a theater, and other entertainment, so you could easily make OWA a full-day experience instead of moving at our pace.
If your family loves amusement parks, slow down and stay longer; it’s one of the best activities to enjoy in Gulf Shores with kids.
Have Dinner at LuLu’s
After OWA, we headed to LuLu’s for dinner.
This is another restaurant that works well with kids because there’s a children’s play area where they can burn off even more energy while you’re waiting for your food. Because apparently the amusement park and water park weren’t enough.
For me, LuLu’s was more about the family-friendly atmosphere than the meal itself. I thought the food was okay, but I did enjoy the smoked tuna dip with chips. The hush puppies and greens were okay, too. And I’m telling you that because not every popular restaurant on a trip has to become your new favorite restaurant!
The boys had fun, we ate, and after everything we’d done that day, we were more than ready to call it a night.
Day 3: Slow Down at Gulf State Park
After everything packed into day 2, I’d make day 3 intentionally slower.
Remember, this is still a beach vacation. You don’t have to wake up every morning with a full schedule and a list of places you need to check off.
We’re actually planning to spend more time exploring Gulf State Park on our next trip because there’s so much to do there beyond the beach. This is one of the days I’d adjust based on what your family enjoys most.
Bike the Trails at Gulf State Park
One thing on our list for our next visit is biking through Gulf State Park.
The park has more than 28 miles of trails through nine ecosystems, making this a nice way to get outside and explore without turning the day into a strenuous hike.
The Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail runs through several different ecosystems, so this is more than simply riding bikes from Point A to Point B. You may spot wildlife along the way, and there are places to stop and take a break when you need one.
One important note if you’re traveling with younger kids: the park’s complimentary bike-share bikes are intended for older riders, so families with elementary-age kids will want to bring bikes or look into local bike rentals with children’s bikes and other family options.
For families, I especially like that this gives everyone something active to do without requiring a full-day excursion.
Ride for as long as your crew is having fun, then move on.
Go Fishing or Spend Time Around Lake Shelby
Fishing is another activity we’re considering for our return trip.
If your family enjoys fishing, you could make that the main activity for the day instead of biking—or do a little of both. Otherwise, spend some time around Lake Shelby or explore more of the park.
This is exactly the kind of day where I wouldn’t create a strict morning-to-afternoon schedule.
Leave Room to Do Absolutely Nothing
Yes, I am officially putting doing nothing on the itinerary.
After biking, fishing, or exploring Gulf State Park, head back to your vacation rental and see what everybody feels like doing. Go to the beach. Get in the pool. Take a nap. Find somewhere casual to eat. Or do absolutely nothing for a while.
Especially if you’re traveling with kids, every day doesn’t need to be an eight-hour adventure. Day 2 was a lot, and my boys loved every minute of it. But part of enjoying Alabama’s Beaches is giving yourself enough downtime to actually enjoy being at the beach.
If everyone is happy playing in the sand while you sit there doing nothing with a drink in your hand, I’d call that a successful day 3.
Day 4: The Wharf and Classic Beach Vacation Fun
For day 4, I’d head to Orange Beach and spend some time at The Wharf. We’re planning to visit on our next trip, and I like it for the last day because you can make it as busy or as relaxed as you want.
Remember, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are close to one another, so don’t hesitate to explore both during your Alabama’s Beaches vacation.
Explore The Wharf in Orange Beach
The Wharf is more than one attraction. It’s an entertainment district where you can walk around, shop, eat, and find different activities depending on what your crew is in the mood to do.
One of the most recognizable attractions is the Ferris wheel, which stands 112 feet tall. There’s also an arcade, shopping, restaurants, and entertainment, so you don’t necessarily need a detailed plan before you arrive.
That’s exactly how I’d approach it. Walk around. See what catches your attention. Let everyone choose something they want to do.
Grab an Over-the-Top Milkshake at The Yard
One thing I already know we’re doing on our next trip is stopping at The Yard Milkshake Bar.
These aren’t your basic milkshakes. The Yard is known for those ridiculously over-the-top creations piled with things like cookies, brownies, whipped cream, candy, and other toppings.
With two eight-year-olds?
Yeah, we’re going.
I’d make this your afternoon treat rather than trying to plan another sit-down meal around it. And depending on the size of the milkshake you order, you may want to share.
Pick Mini Golf, Go-Karts, or Whatever Sounds Fun
If everyone still has energy after The Wharf, this is a good time for some classic beach-vacation fun.
You could head to The Track in Gulf Shores for go-karts, mini golf, an arcade, and rides. But I wouldn’t go into it thinking you have to do everything.
Let everyone choose what sounds fun. Mini golf? Do it. Go-karts? Race each other. Everyone is tired and wants to go back to the beach? That’s an equally valid choice.
Spend Your Last Evening at the Beach
I wouldn’t plan a big finale for your last night.
Go back to the beach. Let the kids play in the sand or get in the water. Take a walk. Catch the sunset. Grab dinner whenever everyone gets hungry.
One thing I loved about our trip was that we didn’t have to plan our meals around reservations. None of the restaurants we visited required reservations, and our waits were around five minutes. That gave us the freedom to decide what we wanted to do without constantly watching the clock.
And that’s how I’d approach your entire four days.
This itinerary gives you plenty of ideas, but please don’t feel like you need to pack every single day. At the end of the day, you’re on a beach vacation.
Relax. Go with the flow. Have fun. And if you spend an extra two hours at the beach and completely ignore something I put on this itinerary?
I support that decision.
…and don’t forget all of your beach essentials for traveling with kids!
Where to Stay on Alabama’s Beaches
Alabama’s Beaches spans Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Fort Morgan, so don’t assume you have to stay in Gulf Shores just because that’s the primary focus of this itinerary.
We chose Gulf Shores, and our location worked perfectly for our family. But there are accommodations throughout all three areas, so it’s worth comparing your options.
Instead of getting hung up on the city name, think about the type of vacation you want, what you want within walking distance, the activities you plan to do, and the accommodation that works best for your budget and family.
Why We Loved Staying at Gulf Place
We stayed at Gulf Place, and honestly, the location was one of my favorite things about it.
Our vacation rental was a gorgeous three-bedroom, three-bathroom condo right on the beach and next to The Hangout. The living room had huge windows overlooking the beach, and each bedroom had its own bathroom and an oceanfront balcony.
Waking up to those views? *Chef’s kiss.*
Want to see where we stayed? Watch my Gulf Place vacation rental tour on Instagram.
But as much as I loved the condo itself, the location was a huge part of what made it work so well for us.
The beach, our rooftop pool, and The Hangout were literally right there. On Day 2, we could go from relaxing at the pool to playing on the beach to walking over for lunch without loading everybody into the car.
The rooftop pool was another highlight. It had nearly 360-degree views of the beach and Gulf Shores, loungers in the water, ping pong, Jenga, and plenty of space to hang out.
The boys could stay entertained while we actually got to relax a little, too.
If you’re traveling with kids or a larger family, I especially like having a condo because you get more space to spread out. Having three bedrooms and three bathrooms definitely didn’t hurt either.
You can browse condos and vacation rentals throughout Alabama’s Beaches to compare properties in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Fort Morgan.
Prefer a Hotel? Check Out Embassy Suites Gulf Shores
If you’d rather have hotel amenities, Embassy Suites by Hilton Gulf Shores Beach Resort is another option to consider.
I haven’t personally stayed there, so I can’t give you a firsthand review as I can with Gulf Place, but it definitely caught my attention during our trip for two reasons: the location and the fact that it’s basically brand new.
The hotel opened in July 2025 and sits right across the street from the Gulf Place area, putting you within easy walking distance of the beach and The Hangout. It’s an all-suite hotel with Gulf views, on-site dining, and an outdoor pool overlooking the beach.
If you prefer hotel amenities over a vacation rental, I’d definitely compare the two.
For me, the biggest selling point is still the location.
Whether you stay in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, or Fort Morgan, pay attention to how your accommodations fit with the kind of vacation you’re planning. Being able to walk to the beach, pool, restaurants, and entertainment gave us more time to enjoy ourselves and less time loading everybody into the car.
And on a beach vacation, I’ll take less time in the car every single time.
How to Get to Alabama’s Beaches
One of the things that makes Alabama’s Beaches an easy family getaway is that you have options. You can drive, fly directly into Gulf Shores, or fly into a nearby airport and rent a car.
We drove from New Orleans as a family, and it took us around three hours. And somewhere along the way, we made our family’s first-ever stop at Buc-ee’s.
The boys thought Buc-ee’s itself was amazing. But the dinner we grabbed there? Let’s just say the experience was better than the food.
But if you’ve never been, it’s definitely an experience.
Driving to Alabama’s Beaches
If you’re within driving distance, Alabama’s Beaches can make for a pretty easy road trip.
Approximate drive times from the Alabama’s Beaches information we received include:
- New Orleans: 3 hours
- Montgomery: 3 hours
- Jackson: 3.5 hours
- Birmingham: 4 hours
- Huntsville: 5.5 hours
- Atlanta: 5.5 hours
- Nashville: 6–7 hours
- Memphis: 6–7 hours
I like having our own car because it gives us the freedom to change plans without worrying about transportation. That’s especially helpful when you’re traveling with kids.
Flying Directly Into Gulf Shores
Don’t automatically assume you need to fly into Pensacola and drive over. Gulf Shores International Airport (GUF) now has commercial passenger service through Allegiant Air.
Allegiant’s nonstop destinations can change, and some routes are seasonal, so I wouldn’t plan your flight based on a static list in a blog post. Instead, check the current routes for your travel dates when you’re planning your trip.
Flying directly into Gulf Shores can be especially convenient for a shorter trip because you aren’t spending part of your first and last days driving from a more distant airport.
Do You Need a Car on Alabama’s Beaches?
It depends on where you’re staying and what you want to do.
If you stay somewhere central like we did at Gulf Place, you can walk to the beach, The Hangout, and other nearby businesses. There were portions of our trip when we didn’t need to get into the car at all.
Uber is also available in the area, although I wouldn’t expect the same nearly instant pickup you might be used to in a larger city.
But for this itinerary, I’d want access to a car.
Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are relatively close—we found it was about a 15-minute drive between the two—but some attractions are farther out. Tropic Falls at OWA, for example, is in Foley, so you’ll need to travel farther inland.
Having a car gives you the freedom to head to Orange Beach, Foley, Gulf State Park, or wherever else you decide to go without planning your entire day around transportation.
That said, if your version of an Alabama’s Beaches vacation is mostly beach + pool + restaurants within walking distance, you may not need to drive nearly as much as you think.
Visiting Gulf Shores FAQ:
Yes, I think four days gives you a good amount of time to enjoy Gulf Shores and explore more of Alabama’s Beaches without feeling like you’re rushing from one attraction to another.
You can have a couple of more active days with things like the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, a dolphin cruise, and Tropic Falls, then balance those with Gulf State Park and plenty of beach and pool time.
Could you stay longer? Absolutely. We already have things we want to do when we return. But with four days, you can experience more than just the beach while still leaving time to actually enjoy the beach.
There really isn’t one best time for every family because it depends on what you want to do.
Summer gives you classic beach-vacation weather, but it’s also a popular time to visit. Spring and fall can be great options if you want to enjoy the beach and outdoor activities without planning your trip around peak summer.
Just remember that some attractions and activities may have seasonal schedules. If there’s something your kids absolutely have their hearts set on doing, check its operating calendar before booking your trip.
For us, Gulf Shores was a great spot for a family vacation. What I like about Alabama’s Beaches is that the kids aren’t limited to the beach.
During our trip, the boys fed lemurs, went dolphin watching, played on the beach, danced in a foam party, rode amusement park rides, and repeatedly went down a nearly vertical waterslide. Meanwhile, we still got good food, beautiful views, and time to relax.
That’s the balance I want from a family vacation. I want the kids to have fun without every single thing we do being exclusively for them.
I wouldn’t get too caught up in choosing one and ignoring the other.
Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are both part of Alabama’s Beaches, along with Fort Morgan, and you can easily experience more than one area during the same trip.
We stayed in Gulf Shores and loved being near Gulf Place and The Hangout, but we also drove into Orange Beach for activities and restaurants.
Rather than deciding which destination is “better,” I’d choose where you stay based on the type of accommodations you want, your budget, and what you want within walking distance.
A lot—which was one of my favorite things about this trip.
You have animal encounters at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, dolphin cruises, amusement and water park rides at Tropic Falls at OWA, biking and outdoor activities at Gulf State Park, plus mini golf, go-karts, arcades, and other family entertainment throughout the area.
So if your kids reach the point where they’re temporarily over the beach—and yes, apparently that’s possible—you have plenty of other options.
Don’t assume a rainy forecast means your entire day is ruined.
This is where I’d keep the itinerary flexible and move things around. Tropic Falls has indoor attractions in addition to its outdoor areas, and you can also use a rainy stretch for shopping, an arcade, a long lunch, or simply relaxing at your hotel or vacation rental. Then, when the weather clears, head back outside.
That’s another reason I wouldn’t book every hour of this Gulf Shores itinerary. A little flexibility makes it much easier to adjust for weather, tired kids, or those days when everyone votes for the pool instead.
Ready to Visit Alabama’s Beaches?
Alabama’s Beaches gave us exactly what I want from a beach vacation: beautiful beaches, good food, plenty to do, and enough variety that everyone can have fun.
Traveling with the boys meant we naturally gravitated toward some kid-friendly activities, but there was very little on this itinerary that I wouldn’t also do on an adults-only trip. In fact, when we return, we’re bringing the grandparents so my husband and I can sneak away for a date night!
So don’t look at this as a Gulf Shores itinerary that’s only for kids and families. The restaurants, beaches, dolphin cruise, Gulf State Park, The Wharf, and plenty of the other things we did—or plan to do—work just as well for a couples’ getaway, girls’ trip, or adults-only vacation.
The boys could go from feeding lemurs to spotting dolphins to flying down waterslides, while we could still slow down, enjoy the beach, and eat somewhere with a gorgeous waterfront view.
And with 32 miles of beaches spanning Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Fort Morgan, there’s plenty more for us to explore when we return.
But if you take one thing away from this Gulf Shores itinerary, let it be this:
Don’t try to do everything. Use these four days as a starting point. Move things around. Skip something. Stay at the beach longer than you planned. Let the kids go down the same waterslide for the tenth time if they’re having the time of their lives.
You’re at the beach.
Act accordingly.
If you’re ready to start planning your own trip, explore Alabama’s Beaches for more information on Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Fort Morgan, accommodations, activities, and everything else you need to plan your getaway.
And if you’re traveling with kids and want help with everything from packing to keeping them entertained along the way, my Traveling With Kids Encyclopedia can help you spend less time stressing over the logistics and more time actually enjoying the trip.
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