Shop ’Til You Drop: Insider’s Guide to Orange Beach Shops

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.

Gulf Shores is the ultimate beach destination on the Alabama Gulf Coast, attracting beach bums from far and wide. But, Gulf Shores is also an excellent destination for adventurers looking to hike, paddle, and bike through scenic landscapes. One of our favorite places to embark on adventures can be found at Gulf State Park. In the park, you can find miles of paved and backcountry bike trails in Gulf Shores, AL. Within these trails, you can explore nine distinct ecosystems that showcase the diverse beauty of Alabama. And when you need a break from the trails, you can relax in your spacious Young’s Suncoast vacation rental!

Gulf Shores Bike Rentals

Before exploring the local trails, you will need a bike rental for the day. The Camp Store next to the Nature Center in Gulf State Park offers bike rentals for your convenience. If you prefer to begin your biking in Orange Beach, we recommend starting at the Rosemary Dunes trailhead. You can find bike rentals adjacent to the trail at Beach Bike Rentals.

Bike Trails in Gulf Shores, AL

The Gulf State Park features 28 miles of paved paths and seven trails in the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry complex. These bike trails in Gulf Shores, AL, offer diverse landscapes from coastal hardwood swamps to freshwater marshes. Read on to discover the available trails and plan your cycling route before you arrive.

• Rosemary Dunes: Begin at this trail from Beach Bike Rentals and cycle past cattails, wildflowers, and pine trees. Keep an eye out for alligators and reptiles on the marsh banks.
• Catman Road: This easy trail is great for families with views of maritime forests and marshy ponds. We recommend stopping at Boulder Park for rock climbing and then heading to the Pavillon and Butterfly Garden next to the park.
• Twin Bridges: This one-mile trail connects Catman Road to Gulf Oak Ridge. This route will take you through draping oaks, past native plants, and over a scenic wooden bridge.
• Gulf Oak Ridge: Ride under the canopies of ancient mossy oaks on this trail until you reach a picturesque overlook of the valley below.
• Rattlesnake Ridge: Rattlesnake Ridge is the perfect trail for those who want to spot some local wildlife. As you ride through the dense trees, keep an eye out for tortoises, armadillos, rabbits, snakes, salamanders, and various bird species.
• Cotton Bayou: This route is the perfect gateway to access the rest of the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trails.
• Coyote Crossing: This trail is the newest route in Gulf State Park, connecting Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. You can access the Fort Morgan Road Trail from here for an even longer bike ride.

The Best Gulf Shores Vacation Rentals

Start planning your vacation on the Alabama Gulf Coast and unlock your adventurous side on the local bike trails. You can find the best bike trails in Gulf Shores, AL, just a short drive away from your Young’s Suncoast vacation rental. From large homes to beachfront condos, we have over 200 properties in Gulf Shores. If you need assistance finding the right rental property, you can contact us at 800-826-1213.