For the Kids

I see a lot of families vacationing at the Gulf. It’s such a nice sight: young couples spending some much-needed quality vacation time with their children. It’s the epitome of a “family vacation."

And Gulf Shores/Orange Beach is an ideal spot for these types of getaways. The Wharf has a number of kid-friendly activities, such as the Ferris wheel (the tallest in the southeast), the zip line and ropes course, and the Build-a-Bear Workshop—always popular among young children. Mini-golf is another popular choice, and places like Pirate’s Island, The Track, and Shrimpy’s offer this plus other activities. Often it’s as simple as hunting crabs on the beach, or cruising down the lazy river at one of Phoenix condos (a personal favorite of mine).

If you need ideas on how to keep the kiddos entertained, check out OrangeBeachToday.com, which has a list of “Just For Kids” activities.

Summer Fun

It may not officially be summer yet, but school is coming to an end (if it’s not already over in some places), which means summertime family activities are beginning. And if your kids are like most, you’ll find the amusement parks in the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area to be a big hit.

The water park at Waterville USA opened on May 22nd, and will be open daily—not just weekends—starting May 29th. With the hot weather of the Gulf, this is refreshingly fun excursion for people of all ages, with waterslides and rides for the youngest of kids to the oldest of “kids.”

For some dry fun, you could check out The Track in Gulf Shores and Adventure Island in Orange Beach: sky coaster, bungee jumping, go-karts, miniature golf, and laser tag are some of the diversions at these locations.

Check out these and other attractions here.