Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism

It’s always tee time along Alabama's Gulf Coast! Championship-caliber golfing is just a stroke away at any of the area's renowned courses. Creatively designed and strategically placed, our courses have been designed by some of the greatest names in golf–Arnold Palmer, Bruce Devlin, Jerry Pate, Robert Von Hagge, and Earl Stone. With more than 200 holes to play, we’ve got the best game on the coast. From Scottish-style links to beachside greens, we promise to meet and challenge every level of skill. Dust off your clubs and swing into our action! Courses in the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach area: - Cypress Bend at Craft Farms (www.craftfarms.com) - Glenlakes Golf Club (www.glenlakesgolf.com) - Gulf Shores Golf Club (www.gulfshoresgolfclub.com) - Kiva Dunes Golf Club (www.kivadunes.com) - Lost Key Golf Club (www.lostkey.com) - Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club (www.peninsulagolfclub.com) - Cotton Creek at Craft Farms (www.craftfarms.com)

While visiting the area for meeting-related happenings, be sure to cast your line for deep-sea adventures for time frames that will suit just about anyone's schedule! With some of the best captains anywhere to guide you on your voyage, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach fishing promises some of the best fishing anywhere. Alabama’s Gulf Coast is home to one of the largest charter fishing fleets on the Gulf with more than 100 experienced captains ready to help you reel in the catch of a lifetime. Add to that the fact that we have the only trolling alley in the Gulf, the nation’s largest artificial reef, and something biting year round, and you’ll find that any time is a great time to come play “hooky." Charter fishing options: Four-hour trolling trip: - Ideal for first-timers and those who are not sure they want to venture too far from land - Catch Spanish mackerel, cobia, and bull redfish - Expect to pay $600 to $1,200 for a boat that serves six people and $900 to $1,200 for a group of up to 10 people, depending on boat size and amenities Six-hour (half day) deep sea trip: - Leave the dock around 7 or 8 a.m. and head 12-20 miles into the Gulf - Catch red snapper, triggerfish and vermillion snapper - Expect to pay $1500 to $1800 for a group of 10 on a six-hour trip - Some boats can take up to 20 people Walk-ons: - Prices range from $60 to $95 per person depending on the length of the trip - Pay a per-person rate and share the expense of the charter with other individual passengers - Requires more flexibility in your schedule since it is based on when there are openings available - Likely to be on a larger boat and with many more people - Walk-on trips are most often available through area marinas Inshore: - Explore the areas around Perdido Pass, Fort Morgan, and the back bays - Catch speckled trout, white trout, flounder, and redfish - Both four- and six-hour trips are available with groups usually limited to six people - Expect to pay $400 to $800 depending on the size of your group and the length of your trip Longer trips: - For adventurers or serious fishing enthusiasts - Venture out into the Gulf for anywhere from 12 hours to two days

The Wharf is a 225-acre multi-use development showcasing numerous stores, restaurants, a marina, a mile-long boardwalk, SPECTRA nightly light shows on Main Street, a 10,000-seat outdoor amphitheater that continuously hosts music’s biggest names, and more. Guests staying on property have the opportunity to lounge at The Oasis, a luxurious water park. For more information, visit www.alwharf.com. Also, The Wharf – a multi-use resort property in Orange Beach – is home to the Orange Beach Event Center, an 18,000 square foot facility equipped to accommodate a variety of events from corporate conferences and tradeshows to wedding receptions and plays. The entire exhibit hall holds 2,500 people standing, 2,000 for theatre productions and receptions, 1,000 for banquets, and 1,800 for dinner. Other amenities include space for up to 100 vendor booths, optional segmented spaces for breakout sessions or smaller events, a catering kitchen, and state-of-the-art audio/visual technology.

Discover the best brand names and guaranteed low prices at over 120 outlet stores including Gap Outlet, Polo, Banana Republic, Tommy Hilfiger, and more!

On the east end of Pleasure Island, guests in Orange Beach can browse SanRoc Cay, which offers several retail stores, a handful of restaurants and a breathtaking marina.

The Hangout is the place for great food and family fun. Come hang out, enjoy live entertainment, relax by the fire pit, let the kids play, and share good times! The restaurant and nightlife hotspot is also home to The Hangout Music Festival, attracting the top names in entertainment. The annual festival entertains 35,000 avid fans with three days of non-stop fun directly on sugar-white sand.

You won't want to miss a stop to this restaurant owned by Jimmy Buffett's sister, Lulu. LuLu's is known for great food, great music, and good times. Arrive by land or water. Come and enjoy the sunset from the outdoor deck.

Nestled between Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, this Gulf Coast gem boasts 6,500 acres of land. The park is home to 2.5 miles of beachfront, three fresh water lakes, the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail, a beach pavilion, the second longest pier on the Gulf, picnic area, campground, cabins/cottages, golf course, and much more.

Many captains along Alabama’s coast offer dolphin and nature cruises where guests are able to spot and learn about beloved dolphins as well as other coastal creatures and their native habitats. Some dolphin and nature cruises in the area are designated as Dolphin SMART businesses. Dolphin SMART is a voluntary participation program for businesses that seek to educate people about responsible viewing of wild dolphins. The program was developed by The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Marine Sanctuary and National Marine Fisheries Service, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society and the Dolphin Ecology Project. The acronym “SMART” is a reminder of the basic principles of dolphin-viewing etiquette as follows: - Stay at least 50 yards from dolphins - Move away slowly if the dolphins show signs of disturbance - Always put your vessel engine in neutral when dolphins are near - Refrain from feeding, touching or swimming with wild dolphins - Teach others to be Dolphin SMART For more information about Dolphin SMART, visit www.sanctuaries.noaa.gov/dolphinsmart.

Explore the grounds of historic Fort Morgan. Guides and enactors will explain how the Spanish used Fort Morgan in the 1500s, then rebuilt it in the early 1800s as protection against Native Americans. Standing atop the fort with a view of the once-embattled bay, visitors can imagine the summer of 1864 when Confederate and Union naval forces fought for control of the harbor entrance. You may even hear the echo of Admiral David Farragut's immortal words, "Damn the torpedoes; full speed ahead!" A living history program is conducted daily during the summer. Candlelight fort tours are held Tuesday evenings in the summer. Children's day camps are offered during various times throughout the summer. Eight miles across the bay on Dauphin Island, more history was written at Fort Gaines, which also battled - and was overtaken by - Union forces. A ferry shuttles across the bay during the day, linking the two fortresses once joined in a common cause. Museum Hours: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily Fort Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily; 8 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays in June and July (weather permitting) Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day Admission: $7 for adults, $5 seniors (65 and older) and students, $4 for children 6-12, free for active duty, veterans, and children under 6; Family Pass: $18 for 2 adults/2 children; call 251-540-5257 for group rates

At the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to go wild! The zoo is the place to discover, explore, and get up close and personal with more than 250 exotic animals and birds. From Siberian tigers and black bears to gators and pythons, the zoo lets you get in touch with your wild side. For more information, please call 251-968-5731 or visit www.alabamagulfcoastzoo.com. Hours: daily from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and admits the last guest at 3:30 Admission: $10 for adults (ages 13-54), $8 for seniors (55+), and $7 for children (ages 3-12); children 2 years of age and under are admitted free of charge

The National Naval Aviation Museum features nearly 375,000 square feet of displays and is one of the world’s largest aviation museums. Located aboard Pensacola Naval Air Station, the Museum boasts more than 190 beautifully restored aircraft representing Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard aviation. Among the countless things to touch, see, and experience are the thrilling flight simulators, incredible exhibits and exciting IMAX® films. Hours: Closed on Mondays; 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday Admission: free