A visit to the Alabama coast may be just what the doctor ordered to shake the winter blahs this spring. Get a dose of fun, sun, sand, and water when you choose Gulf Shores for your Spring Break retreat. There are plenty of fun activities and attractions in Gulf Shores and the surrounding area, with plenty that appeal to anyone of all ages in the group. Make sure to book a private vacation rental with Poole & Associates to get plenty of rest and relaxation along with your action-packed Gulf Shores Alabama Spring Break vacation. If your fur babies need a break this spring too, ask about pet-friendly rentals!
Beach Time
You’ve planned plenty of beach time just by coming to a beach destination like Gulf Shores for Spring Break. Choose from activities like sunbathing or swimming. Change up your exercise routine with a run or walk on the sand. Explore beneath the waves on a snorkeling or SCUBA trip, or up the adrenaline with jet skiing or parasailing.
XIT Escape Room
It’s one of the newest past times and can be enjoyed by everything this spring. Choose your favorite topic, or make your selection based on the number of people needed to complete it, difficulty, how scary the topic may be, and other factors. Rooms include Insane Asylum, CSI: Gulf Shores, Movie Night, and others. Solve the clues to break out in 60 minutes to win. Book online and arrive ten minutes before your appointment time to avoid a crowd in the waiting area.
Souvenir City
Part of your activities may include shopping, either to beat the heat or look for fun souvenirs. Remember your trip with a treasure from a Gulf Shores staple. The shop has been a Gulf Shores fixture since 1956 and is open daily. While you’ll collect souvenirs from the things you do, like beach adventures and other experiences, the shop boasts “thousands of gifts for everyone on your list” so you and your traveling companions are bound to find something to remember your time here.
Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo
Take a walk on the wild side this Spring Break! You and your loved ones will see over 100 species, including 22 critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable, or near-threatened species. Marvel at residents including the African grey crowned crane, a Eurasian lynx, lemurs, a number of different reptiles, and more. For everyone from the littlest guests to guests young at heart, there’s a petting zoo where everyone can pet goats, sheep, donkeys, and deer. Ask about close-up private encounters where you can touch, hold, feed, and learn about animals like two-toed sloths and others.
Gulf State Park
Enjoy the beach on your Spring Break beach vacation. Wander two miles of Gulf beachfront, swim, surf, build sandcastles, and enjoy any and all of the beach activities you can think of. The park also has a beach pavilion where you can picnic or gather together to celebrate spring. If there are anglers in the group, they’ll want to bring along some gear and spend some time at the pier. For vacationers looking for an extra adventure, try kayaking, parasailing, and more.
Fort Morgan Road Trail
Lace up the hiking shoes or rent some bikes, grab plenty of water and your sun gear, and head out for exploration and adventure. The 5.6-mile asphalt trail starts just outside the western border of Gulf State Park and stretches west through Gulf Shores. The path runs parallel to Fort Morgan Road/Highway 180, through tree-lined areas and neighborhoods, and finally ending at the Peninsula Golf Club. The trail is an easy hike or bike for most, as it’s mostly a flat surface with only a few gentle climbs at the eastern end. Bring a camera and plan on a few stops to take in the scenery. If everyone is up for it, add some difficulty on the eastern end and continue on through Gulf State Park’s Hugh Branyon Backcountry Trails.
Gulf Shores Museum
Kids in the group won’t necessarily enjoy history outside of school, but Gulf Shores has a rich one you’ll want to learn more about. The Gulf Shores Museum is located in a house that dates back to before World War II. The structure was the beach house of Valerie Cole’s family from Mobile. Originally built in West Beach, the family donated the house. It was moved from that original location to its current home after Hurricane Frederic in 1979. The museum features a number of permanent and temporary exhibits that tell the story of Gulf Shores’ history, along with programs and activities for all ages.
Take a Break in Gulf Shores
When you book a getaway with Poole & Associates, you won’t be short on amazing activities to fill your Spring Break. We have homes all the way up to four bedrooms, so you can share a Spring Break with all your loved ones. Savor the taste of home when you prepare a home-cooked meal in the unit’s fully equipped kitchen.
Spread out in spacious living areas and private outdoor spaces like patios and balconies. Unwind in private bedrooms or gather some snacks and enjoy your favorite movie or TV show together on a flat-screen TV.
If you’re in search of a way to celebrate spring, the shores of Alabama and Orange Beach are the perfect place! An Orange Beach spring break is full of fun, sun, sand, and springtime festivals for you to enjoy. No matter what your interest, you can likely find a celebration for it. If it’s not available in the spring, check back throughout the year to see exactly when we celebrate some of your favorite things.
Festival of Art
Celebrate spring and the colors of the season – and the artists who portray them. The 49th annual festival has been considered the island’s first right of spring and is filled with plenty of visual, performing, musical, and culinary arts displays and activities. There are two stages for the liver performances. If you’re looking for an art show to celebrate spring, this is definitely it: the show has been ranked #25 nationally in the top 100 list of fine art and design shows. The free festival takes place March 11 and 12 at the Coastal Arts Center. Hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on the 11th and 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on the 12th.
Ballyhoo Festival
Head to Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores for an event like no other. The annual festival features the fine art of over 100 artists and combines it with a truly unique focus on cultural exchange. Learn more about the history and culture of the Poarch Creek Indians at the festival, which features a historical narrative and original tribal dance, complete with ceremonial regalia. The PCI Cultural Director will be on hand to describe the meaning of each dance. There’s also an Early Americana music presentation with Fiddle/Banjo competition and performances by some of the best musicians in the region. Take the kids to the children’s art pavilion, or wander in search of delicious foods, art demonstrations, and more. The festival is March 4 & 5.
The Wharf Boat and Yacht Show
Make the “Top Boat Buying Show” in the northern Gulf part of your visit. The show at The Wharf in Orange Beach features over $100 million in boats and marine products, as well as over 120 exhibitors. Tour a display of 80 “wet slip” boats and yachts or keep your feet firmly on the ground and check out over 300 sport and console boats on land. Add in live music, kids’ art classes with marine artist Larry Packley, instructional seminars, and more. Ticket sales benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and are available at the event website. This year’s event takes place March 17-19.
Bama Coast Cruisin’
Another event that takes place at The Wharf in Orange Beach features keeps you firmly on land. The annual event features beautiful classic and muscle cars, as well as dining, shopping, events, entertainment, and activities. The show takes place April 27-29. A schedule and more information, including how to make your vehicle part of the show, is available at the event website. For spectators, admission and parking for the event is free!
Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival
The free event is family-friendly and takes place at The Park at OWA, a themed amusement park with over 20 rides and attractions. The festival features children’s activities, artesian and food vendors, live music, as well as (weather permitting) tethered balloon rides, balloon glow, and the more than 40 balloons taking flight at dawn and dusk each day. For a fee, gain access to the VIP area where you can eat, rest, and enjoy each day. Get the full schedule, order tickets, and more at the event website. The festival takes place May 4-6.
The Hangout Music Festival
Prepare for a beachfront music festival like no other! The award-winning festival takes place May 19-21 at Gulf Shores Public Beach and is considered a vacation in itself in addition to a concert event. Enjoy the music, as well as activities like beach volleyball, carnival rides, relaxing in Gulf front hammocks, and chowing down on delicious local seafood. Headliners for the event include the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Paramore, Lil Nax X, Skrillex, and others, along with plenty of rising stars in between. See the full lineup, as well as purchase tickets at the event website.
Celebrate Orange Beach Spring Break
When you and book a getaway that includes the fun of an event or festival with Poole & Associates, you’re sure to have a fun, relaxing stay. Enjoy the water, lounge around your rental, or enjoy all of the festival’s daily activities and create a vacation that is uniquely yours with memories to last a lifetime. For a celebration that’s just for you or you and your sweetheart, choose a one-bedroom unit. If you’ve chosen an event that appeals to all of your loved ones, book a four-bedroom unit. Savor the taste of home when you prepare a home-cooked meal in the unit’s fully equipped kitchen. Enjoy spacious living areas and private outdoor spaces like patios and balconies. Unwind in a private bedroom or gather some snacks and enjoy your favorite romantic movie together on a flat-screen TV.
Contact us today to book your festival-filled trip to Orange Beach!
Getting out of town and heading to the Gulf Shores of Alabama is always a delight, especially when you’re road tripping your way this direction in the spring! When it’s time to turn plans into a reality, the following stops and activities are well worth adding to your itinerary when you reach your final destination, and there’s plenty more on top of these. Happy travels!
Visit Gulf State Park
Spring in Gulf Shores, Alabama is the ideal time of year to make your way to scenic Gulf State Park and enjoy nature at its finest. Located at 20115 State Park Road in Gulf Shores, this park is open from sunrise to sunset year-round. Park offices are accessible between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm Monday through Friday for questions and inquiries, but trails and picnic areas are open for enjoying. A visit here offers up an array of options for outdoor adventurers no matter how you plan on spending your time in the fresh air. Gulf State Park is home to over 2-miles of pristine beach to enjoy where the sand is sugar-white, and the shoreline is often dotted with sea gulls as well. Many visitors come to make the most of time on the biking and hiking trails that wind through dunes and offer up sweeping Lake Shelby views as well. Gulf State Park even hosts its own golf course and pier and provides guests looking for adrenaline-pumping fun with access to a zip line experience that goes over the inspiring dunes! Those headed this way to learn more about the biodiversity of Gulf Shores will appreciate the option to sign up for an educational program led by a local naturalist nearly every day of the week.
Gulf State Park is the perfect place to pack a lunch and enjoy a spring picnic thanks to its many tables and pavilions. The nature center is a fantastic drop-by location for those visiting with kids and canoes and kayaks are readily available to rent for those who can’t wait to get out on Lake Shelby for themselves. This park showcases a spectacular butterfly garden as well as trails linked to geocaching adventures if you’re up to the task!
Enjoy Time at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo
With temperatures on the rise in the spring, the animals at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo find their post-winter energy and are ready for encounters when you make your way this direction! Located at 20499 Oak Road East, the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo is open to the public daily between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm. Since first opening in 1989, this zoo continues to inspire new generations of animal lovers and conservationists who walk through its doors. One of the highlights of a spring visit here is the chance to book a one-of-a-kind animal encounter. These close- up experiences with unique species are great opportunities for visitors to learn about and appreciate animals from across the globe! Whether you’re cuddling a kangaroo or feeding an anteater, it’s a chance to do something inspiring and motivational.
Stroll and Shop the Wharf
While getting into nature and wildlife is always a spring treat when visiting Gulf Shores, a trip this way wouldn’t be complete without some well-deserved time shopping and dining in style too! That’s where a stroll along The Wharf becomes the ideal addition to your spring itinerary. The Wharf is an open-air shopping and entertainment area in Gulf Shores where visitors can enjoy walking down Main Street and browsing the variety of local shops, restaurants and bars that dot the path in savory style. When you’re looking to enjoy a performance or two, The Wharf Amphitheater welcomes top names in the music industry each year with tickets available to be purchased well in advance of your spring road trip arrival. If you’re simply looking for a new perspective in this season of rejuvenation, take a spin on the Ferris Wheel for a bird’s eye view on the terrain. The nightly SPECTRA laser light show is also worth sticking around for after the sun goes down.
Rent a Boat and Explore the Waves
While land-based attractions abound for spring revelers in Gulf Shores, time on the water is just as inviting. When you’re looking to get out on the waves, head over to Gulf Shores Boat and Paddleboard Rentals where you can pick up the equipment or vessel needed to make the most of your adventures. This stop is open daily between 8:00 am and 9:00 pm and offers free gear delivery upon request. Guests can also book sailing cruises and private cruises when you’re looking for a more guided on-the-water experience.
Book Your Gulf Shores Adventure Today
There’s never been a better time to enjoy a Gulf Shores adventure. Reach out to Poole & Associates today to learn more about our many Gulf Shores vacation rental property options across the area and how we can help you start planning your next trip!