Your Guide To A Perfect 72 Hours On Alabama Beaches

You are just hours from spending a perfect 72 hours on those crystal white quartz sand Alabama beaches.

Imagine the waves, the multicolor blue of the Gulf of Mexico, outdoor activities, tantalizing food, amazing drinks, and shopping. It’s all right outside the door of your vacation rental, cabin, hotel, or campsite when you choose Gulf Shores and Orange Beach for your last-minute getaway.

The best place to start when building an itinerary for Gulf Shores and Orange Beach is to visit the tourism website.

Full disclosure: My visit was hosted by Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism. All opinions are my own

I recently returned from my perfect 72 hours on Alabama beaches. It’s late fall and although the temperatures didn’t warrant spending time in the water, I had no shortage of things to do in that three days. In fact, I favor visiting a beach destination during the off season. I love the cool temps, yet it is warm enough for many other outdoor activities.

How to spend a perfect 72 hours on Alabama beaches

Must see sights

Grab your stretch of sand to witness a spectacular winter sunset: I was skeptical when I heard there was nothing like a winter sunset in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. After seeing for myself, I would agree. My first night, I drove to the beach in Gulf State Park and had the beach to myself. It didn’t take long to be mesmerized by the changing pastel colors, pink, yellow, blue, and purple, turning into a final palette of bright orange, red, and yellow. It’s an inspiring show.

Spend a few hours at Fort Morgan: Fort Morgan began protecting Mobile Bay in 1834 and continued through four wars. The Civil War, the Spanish-American War, and World Wars I and II. It is now a National Historic Landmark and you can tour the sprawling property, and imagine what it was like to defend the mouth of the bay against enemy attack. 

Admission is free for all military. Admission for adults is $8, with special admission rates for students, groups, and events.

Incorporate wellness with these fun activities

Bike the 28 miles of trails inside Gulf State Park: In reality, you can easily spend all 72 hours in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach and never leave Gulf State Park. With over 6000 acres, a hotel, campground, cottages and cabins, restaurants, and educational buildings. It should have its own zip code!

The star of the park, besides the expansive stretch of coastal shoreline, is the trails. All the trails are well marked, paved or are boardwalks for inclusive accessibility. They are relatively flat, so most ability levels can enjoy them. No need to worry about bringing your own bike. There are bike share kiosks inside the park and a handful of bike rental companies outside the park. You can find a trail map online or in buildings around the park.

Explore Gulf State Park on a Segway: Coastal Segway Adventures offer two-hour tours riding the trails around Gulf State Park. This is the adventurous way to see the park, zipping along with a guide that’s equal parts informative and humorous. You get to stop and admire the view from the highest point in the park, look for wildlife, and wave at the others along the trail. I feel it’s the best timesaving way to get a taste of the different ecosystems within the park.

Paddle and Paint Kayak Excursion: Jackie McGonigal, Director at the Wind and Water Learning Center began this program in 2022. In the past, the learning center was known for youth sailing instruction, and still has this program. Her mission is to reach out to a broader audience of not only locals, but tourists, by offering yoga on the water, kayaking instruction, a women’s sailing workshop, and the Paddle and Paint. 

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Jackie combines a mini kayak lesson with using watercolors to capture the ever changing shoreline of Wolf Bay. I love how she also incorporated a bit of eco learning into the excursion. And no painting experience required. Just look at my result!

This 2 ½ hour class is $45

To email or call for more information, go to the programs page.

Pamper yourself with a spa day: I believe that no beach getaway is complete without some kind of pampering. At the Spa and Salon at The Beach Club, a part of Spectrum Resorts, you’ll enjoy a respite from your busy vacation. 

The Beach Club Resort and Spa is a spacious complex. A luxury resort that offers a community as well as all the amenities you need. 

The spa has a long menu of services. I enjoyed the Option One Spa Package, which combines a 50 minute Swedish Massage, with a 25 minute facial and scalp massage. Oo la la. I felt like buttah after.

 

Check out the spa menu.

The Beach Club is about a 20 minute drive from Gulf Shores and Orange Beach on the way to Fort Morgan. 

Great Orange Beach and Gulf Shores restaurants

You gotta eat, right? Gulf Shores and Orange Beach have a literal smorgasbord of places to eat. It’s a culinary adventure to eat your way up and down the beach. In fact, you could probably spend all of your 72 hours on Alabama beaches, eating your way through both Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

Breakfast

Don’t you love a satisfying breakfast when you’re on vacation? Just enough to fuel the morning for whatever activities you have on your itinerary.

Here’s a few that you must try.

Ruby Slipper Cafe has a delectable breakfast/brunch menu. Originating in New Orleans, Ruby Slipper Cafe has an Orange Beach location that you have to try. They re famous for their creative twist on brunch as I found out when I devoured a Croque Madame Benedict from the winter menu. Only Ruby Slipper can come up with their own spin on this French classic! Breaking into that bright yellow yolk was divine.

Woodside Restaurant in Gulf State Park serves a great locally sourced breakfast in among the trees in Gulf State Park. Dine inside, on the screened-in porch, or outside, Woodside is perfect for those staying in the park and with its convenient location right inside the main entrance, is easily accessible for those staying at other locations.

Pro tip: Enjoy a healthy breakfast at Woodside Restaurant before you explore the bike trails. The kiosk for bike rentals is located right by the restaurant.

Buzzcatz Coffee and Sweets was like catnip to me from the time I walked in the door. I’ll confess, I’m more of a dog person, but I fell for the feline vibe here. Brightly colored walls of their signature colors of teal, purple and black, fun signs and cat themed artwork, Buzzcatz, is a fun place for breakfast. I had the special, a slice of quiche and a big mug of chai latte. 

Don’t leave before you grab something sweet. The pop tarts are incredible!

Lunch

A little wacky, a lot fun, Tacky Jacks has three locations around the area. It’s a popular place, as you’ll see from all the neon strips of duct tape with patrons’ names on them all over the outside and inside. There are daily specials (I had tacos for $4 each on Monday).

High Tide Daiquiris and Mimosas is more than just the name implies. Serving up fabulous Sammies, charcuterie boards, and more, this is a great place to stop for a beach atmosphere. Sip away the afternoon with a Key Lime Daiquiri while nibbling on a fabulous panini and you feel officially on a beach vacation.

Dinner

 Zeke’s Restaurant at Zeke’s Landing Marina is back open after extensive renovations. It is a perfect spot for enjoying that fresh gulf catch. Every single thing from the house made Cornbread with Crawfish and Conecuh Gravy, the Tuna Tartare, to the Shrimp Scampi with those finger sized gulf shrimp is delectable.

Villaggio Grill at The Wharf is a great dining choice after you’ve done a little shopping at The Wharf. I chose a classic Seafood Pasta. The pasta was incredible and contained perfectly cooked scallops, gulf shrimp, and crab. The bread was warm and served with olive oil with added capers and herbs. My server, Leann, had a welcoming smile on her face and was attentive. If you’re not in the mood to dine in, they also offer takeout meals.

Don’t all roads lead to Gulf State Park? Again we find ourselves inside the park at The Lodge and Perch for an upscale dining experience with a beautiful view of the Gulf. If you dine at the right time, you have a front row to the most gorgeous fall and winter sunset imaginable. Perch now offers a full menu, with a mix of seafood, chicken, and steak offerings. My Herb Roasted Chicken Breast had a sauce with an abundance of wild mushrooms. 

Also, please save room for dessert!

Trying to narrow down all the things to do, places to see, and food to eat while spending the perfect 72 hours on the Alabama beaches of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach can be a daunting task. I hope with this guide; you find that task a little easier. 

And remember, you can return to Alabama’s amazing beaches on the Gulf of Mexico again and again. 

What’s that saying? “The beach is calling and I must go.”