Orange Beach, a city on the Gulf Coast in Alabama, offers white-sand beaches and ample swimming and fishing opportunities in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. In addition to miles of beaches, the Orange Beach area is also home to an alligator farm, a nature center, a zoo and scores of seafood restaurants. Nearby, Gulf State Park offers camping and access to more than three miles of beaches as well as the longest pier on the Gulf.
Instructions
1. Reserve a campsite via telephone at Gulf State Park in the city of Gulf Shores, which is adjacent to Orange Beach (see Resources). The park features 496 sites for recreational vehicles and tents with modern bathhouses nearby. Free Internet access is offered outside the campground's activity center. The campground is on the north side of the park about 1-1/2 miles from the gulf beaches and sits along an inland lake. The park does not accept email reservations, nor does it have an online reservation system. Campground reservation phone numbers are: 251-948-6353, 251-948-4704, 251-948-4570 or 1-800-252-7275. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
2. Bring a bathing suit, beach towels and toys for the kids to enjoy the 3-1/2 miles of the Gulf State Park's white-sand beaches. A large concession stand occupies the main beach pavilion and is open seasonally. The beach is open from 7 a.m. to sunset year-round.
3. Explore the park's fishing and sightseeing pier. Built after the previous pier was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan in 2004, the new pier opened in 2009 and extends 1,540 feet into the Gulf of Mexico. The pier features a concession area, souvenir store and tackle shop. Fishing or sightseeing permits are required to access the pier.
4. Hike back-country trails and scout out wildlife. Beautiful beaches are not the only stunning scenery in the Orange Beach and Gulf Shores area. Trails through the Gulf State Park back-country offer hikers the chance to tour marshes, swamps and oak woods. Look for alligators, turtles, lizards, frogs, raccoons, deer and rabbits.
5. Angle for either freshwater fish on the park's 900-acre lake or saltwater fish from the shore or pier.
Tags: Orange Beach, Gulf State, Gulf State Park, State Park, city Gulf