Brandi Boykin

The most treasured memories don’t have to come from spending massive amounts of money. This is especially true when you are on vacation in Gulf Shores, AL, where there are plenty of unique things to do for budget-friendly prices. When you book your vacation at Young’s Suncoast, you can search through our diverse selection of Gulf Shores vacation rentals to find the perfect accommodation for your budget and needs.

10 Unique Budget-Friendly Things To Do in Gulf Shores, AL

1. Gulf Shores Museum: The Gulf Shores museum’s building history dates before World War II and was originally the beach house of Mobile, AL resident Valerie Cole before it was donated to the city in 1979.
2. Gulf State Park’s Nature Center and Learning Campus: This newly built facility at Gulf State Park offers immersive and hands-on educational experiences throughout the year for reasonable prices.
3. Visit the nearby Gulf Shores beaches: There’s nothing quite like a day on the beach to calm all your worries and stress away. Luckily Gulf Shores is surrounded by some of the most gorgeous beaches in the world.
4. The Coastal Arts Center: Take a gander at this 10,000-square-foot fine art gallery filled with stunning artwork from local Gulf Shores artists. You can even make your own art at the Clay Studio and classes offered throughout the year.
5. Gulf State Park Fishing and Education Pier.
6. Fort Morgan State Historic Site: Built in the 1800s, Fort Morgan has been crucial in protecting Mobile Bay from foreign invaders, such as the British military. Experience this critical site from history in Gulf Shores, AL.
7. Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge: Come to the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge to explore some of Alabama’s last remaining undisturbed coastal habitats. There are four trails to venture on with varying lengths and difficulty levels.
8. Alabama Coastal Birding Trail: There are plenty of amazing bird-watching opportunities in the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach area.
9. Dolphin Cruise: There are many amazing but budget-friendly dolphin cruise tours to enjoy in Gulf Shores, AL.

Book your stay today to explore the unique things to do in Gulf Shores, AL!

If you’re in Orange Beach, Alabama, for an adventurous vacation, Young’s Suncoast has got you covered with vacation rentals that meet your every need. Staying at one of our rentals also means you’re close to top attractions and activities. If you feel like you need a bit of retail therapy, chances are there are Orange Beach shops within walking distance from your home away from home.

Discover the Top 5 Orange Beach Shops

Orange Beach is home to a variety of shops, malls, and outlets for you to visit while on vacation, and besides, what’s a vacation trip without some shopping? As you go shopping around Orange Beach, you can’t afford to miss out on the following places.

Souvenir City

With two shopping locations in Orange Beach, Souvenir City, a family-owned business, is home to several unique items. From “Orange Beach” t-shirts, souvenirs, sea shells, and footwear to sunglasses. Souvenir City is one of the best Orange Beach shops for you. Watch out for their signature bright pink roof!

Treasure Chest Boutique

As you do your Orange Beach shopping at Sanroc Cay Entertainment District, stroll into the Treasure Chest Boutique. This women’s jewelry and clothing store offers delicately handcrafted and custom-made jewelry by owner Ryan Anderson. You can shop online or simply walk into the boutique and have your pick from the different jewelry.

Salty Palm

Salty Palm, located at Palm Pointe Shopping Center in Orange Beach, is a locally owned boutique with a Gulf-Coast theme. You can shop for apparel, gifts, home items, accessories, and jewelry at the fine coastal boutique.

Alvin’s Island Orange Beach

Alvin’s Island has about 36 retail stores, and one of these outlets is in Orange Beach. This tropical store chain has everything to help with having a good time at the beach, from labeled bikinis and swimwear to casual sportswear to souvenirs and gifts. 

The Wharf

The Wharf is an entertainment district with unique stores for your Orange Beach shopping and restaurants where you can grab a meal. The Wharf at Orange Beach has an amphitheater that hosts entertainers and a marina that houses one of the largest in-water boat shows on the Gulf Coast. Locals also visit this spot as it organizes several family-friendly events all year round. 

Be Close to It All with a Young’s Suncoast Rental

With so many things to do and see when vacationing in Orange Beach, from exploring shops to playing mini-golf, you want a centrally located vacation rental. That’s exactly what you get when renting through Young’s Suncoast.

Browse our Orange Beach vacation rentals to find your perfect home base. We also offer luxurious accommodations in Gulf Shores and Fort Morgan. Let us assist you with any questions; contact us online or call 800-826-1213 today.

One of the most amazing things about travel is the opportunity to experience the cuisine of a new place. The Gulf Coast of Alabama is home to an incredible food scene, especially seafood, that can sometimes be overlooked. While your vacation rental from Young’s Suncoast comes with a fully-equipped kitchen, sometimes it’s nice to leave the cooking to someone else. Explore Gulf Coast cuisine as you eat your way through “food trails.”

Explore Gulf Coast Cuisine on a Food Trail

The food trails throughout Gulf Shores and Orange Beach feature a range of cuisines. However, thanks to their waterfront location, some of the most popular options are made up of world-class seafood restaurants.

Oyster Trail

From fried to grilled, steamed to raw, these restaurants will sate your cravings for oysters. Enjoy a plate of Mexican oysters at The Steamer and Baked Oyster Bar, and move to the Fish River Grill #3 for their infamous basket of fried oysters alongside their swamp soup. Stop for dinner at The Royal Oyster Place, a small restaurant in Gulf Shores.

The Crab Trail

You can’t get enough fresh crab meat on the Gulf Coast. Start with breakfast at Brick and Spoon in Orange Beach. Everything on their menu screams for attention, but you can’t go wrong with the soft-shell crab benny and an adventurous bloody mary. Hop over to Ginny Lane Bar and Grill at the Wharf for lunch. Order a mouthwatering plate of pasta made with crab, shrimp, and peas with creamy Alfredo sauce. End your trail at Gulf Shores’ Mikee’s Seafood Restaurant with their crab cakes appetizer and finish with the crab claw dinner.

Shrimp Trail

Shrimp can be enjoyed in diverse ways, and there are plenty of Gulf Coast restaurants that feature them. You should start your shrimp trail journey at The Ruby Slipper Café in Orange Beach with a hearty breakfast of mimosa and BBQ shrimp and grits. Enjoy the scenic view at Lucy Buffett’s Lulu’s over a lunch of summer shrimp salad. Unlike your typical salad, this one is prepared with shrimp, red onions, celery, bell pepper, and eggs tossed in mayonnaise sprinkled with Lulu’s crazy creole seasoning mix. 

Try Something New on Your Alabama Getaway

Vacations are sometimes the best time to get outside your comfort zone. Whether trying a new cuisine on a Gulf Coast food trail or experiencing Mardi Gras for the first time, the possibilities are endless, especially when you stay at a vacation rental from Young’s Suncoast.

From cozy one-bedroom options to condo complexes or spacious houses, you’ll find the perfect getaway for you. Our vacation rentals in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are ideal if you’re traveling with a group, planning a family or friends’ reunion, or being a solo tourist. Call 800-826-1213 for help with your reserving your Gulf Coast rental.

Gulf Shores, Alabama, is home to generations of history waiting to be discovered. While it can be easy to get preoccupied with the sugar-white sand beaches, emerald green waters, golf courses, and fishing charters, everyone should carve out some time to learn about the area’s rich history.

If you’re interested in learning about the history of Alabama, Gulf Shores is a great place to stay. Young’s Suncoast offers well-appointed vacation rentals in both Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, Alabama. To help you learn the area’s history, we’ve put together a guide that will help you determine which of Alabama’s historical sites and museums you want to add to your vacation itinerary.

Gulf Shores Alabama History

Many historical sites are near Alabama’s Gulf Shores and Orange Beach beaches. From forts to museums, there’s a lot for history buffs to check out in this region. Here are some historical attractions worth exploring, even if it means giving up a few hours of relaxing on some of the best beaches in the country.

• Fort Morgan: A double-header that any Civil War buff simply must visit. This fort is located on the site of Fort Bowyer, an important place during the War of 1812. Fort Morgan – and Fort Gaines, which is out on Dauphin Island and reachable from Fort Morgan via ferry – played considerable roles in the Civil War.
• Indian & Sea Museum: Orange Beach, Alabama, is home to the Indian & Sea Museum, which is heavy on artifacts from the Civil War and explores the history of the local Native American populations.
• Foley: Kids will love the Foley’s Railroad Museum. Here, they can step into the caboose of a 70-year-old train and live the history of the railroad.
• Gulf Shores Museum: The best way to know a place is through its people and its history. The Gulf Shores Museum shows how life in Gulf Shores, Alabama, has progressed through history and is well worth a look.
• Mobile, Alabama: This is a fascinating city with substantial historical significance. Don’t miss The History Museum of Mobile (over 90,000 pieces in the collection from every era of Mobile’s history) or the Mobile Carnival Museum, an ode to Mardi Gras in the city of the iconic festival’s birth.

Vacation Rentals in Gulf Shores, Alabama

Deciding to visit Gulf Shores, Alabama, and learn about the region’s history is easy. Just as easy is deciding where to stay as Young’s Suncoast has a vacation property to match every need. From one-bedroom condos for couples right on the beach to huge family units with heated pools, we have hundreds of units from which to choose. Book your stay with us today by calling 800-826-1213!

There are few better ways to idle away a late afternoon or early evening than by playing a round of golf. There are plenty of golf courses in the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach region within a stone’s throw of your vacation rental from Young’s Suncoast. However, sometimes a leisurely game of mini-golf with the family hits the spot. For a kid-friendly golf outing, make your way to the best mini-golf courses in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores for a challenge that you and your kids will love.

A Guide to Best Area Mini-Golf Courses

You know that mini-golf in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores is the real deal when you see the number of courses in the area. The golf may be mini, but the fun and memories made as you see your kids working out angles, delivering clean putts, or fluking a hole off one of six different walls and the leg of a stegosaurus, will last a lifetime. Check out these courses for some prime mini-golf action.

• Adventure Island: More than just a mini-golf course, Adventure Island also features bumper boats, laser tag, and go-karts. The course is set in a lush, forested area with two courses and a five-story volcano.
• Beachside Mini Golf: This ADA-accessible course is immediately noticeable for its 50-foot lighthouse and having players putt around a fishing charter to make birdie.
• Jurassic Golf: If the heat in the summer is oppressive, then make a stop at this mini-golf course in Gulf Shores. Enjoy 5,000 square feet of indoor, glow-in-the-dark, dinosaur-themed madness.
• Pirates Island Adventure Golf: Test your skills on this Gulf Shores mini-golf course that takes you back to the time of pirates. This course boasts caves where pirates “buried their booty” and is complete with waterfalls, streams, and bridges to access all 18 holes.

Relax and Unwind on Your Alabama Escape

Exploring everything Alabama’s Gulf Coast has to offer, such as mini-golf courses in Orange Beach, is easy from a Young’s Suncoast vacation rental. There are over 70 different complexes on our books, meaning wherever you want to stay in the region, we likely have a beach house or condo loaded with modern amenities just waiting for your arrival. No matter which rental you choose, you’ll have a comfortable place to call home. Call 800-826-1213 to learn about our vacation rentals and which one fits your group best.