The best things to do in Orange Beach, Alabama, beyond lying on the beach are on the water: dolphin cruises and fishing trips out of Perdido Pass, clear-kayak tours on the back bays and parasailing over the Gulf. On land, add an evening at The Wharf, a ride on the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail, the free gallery at the Coastal Arts Center and a round of mini golf or VR when the weather turns.
Orange Beach is the eastern half of Alabama’s beach coast in Baldwin County, a mix of Gulf-front condo towers and older fishing communities along Cotton Bayou, Terry Cove and Wolf Bay. This guide focuses on Orange Beach alone; for both towns together, see our pillar guide to things to do in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.
Orange Beach at a glance
- Where: The east end of Pleasure Island, from Gulf State Park to the Florida line, with Perdido Pass connecting the back bays to the Gulf.
- Main roads: Perdido Beach Boulevard (Alabama 182) along the Gulf, and Canal Road along the bays.
- Public beaches: Alabama Point, Cotton Bayou, Romar Beach and Shell Beach, all with paid parking.
- Nearest airport: Pensacola International (PNS), about 45 minutes to an hour away.
- Best for: Boating, fishing, dolphin watching, evenings at The Wharf.
- Don’t miss: A dolphin cruise, a clear-kayak paddle, sunset at Perdido Pass and The Wharf after dark.
What is Orange Beach known for?
Orange Beach is known for its water: it is one of the busiest charter fishing ports on the Gulf Coast, with a large artificial reef program offshore that draws anglers and divers. Its protected back bays, from Cotton Bayou to Wolf Bay, are made for kayaking, paddleboarding and dolphin cruises. Our Orange Beach area guide lists every locally owned business we cover in town.
What are the best water activities in Orange Beach?
The best water activities in Orange Beach are a dolphin cruise, a clear-kayak tour and parasailing, in roughly that order of how easy they are for a mixed group. Book ahead in summer, when boats fill up.
Dolphin cruises
Bottlenose dolphins live in the bays and passes year-round, and an hour or two on a cruise boat is the easiest way to see them. Sunny Lady Dolphin Cruises leaves from The Wharf on Wharf Parkway West and traces its roots to 1965, when Olin Marler bought his first fishing boat. Its cruises run about 90 minutes, and its boats have a snack bar, restrooms and an air-conditioned and heated cabin. Dolphins Down Under, at 28101 Perdido Beach Boulevard, runs a daily 90-minute cruise on a glass-bottom catamaran with stable hulls, which helps on choppier days, plus sunset cruises and private charters.
Clear-kayak tours
Sea View Tours runs clear-kayak tours from Caribe Marina, using transparent kayaks so you can watch fish and grass beds pass beneath you. Tours run roughly an hour and include trips to Bird Island, a 6:30 p.m. sunset tour and later neon-lit night paddles. Calm mornings are the best time to paddle anywhere in Orange Beach.
Parasailing
Orange Beach has two locally owned parasail companies. Orange Beach Parasail flies from Sportsman Marina with two boats dedicated only to parasailing, and trips take about an hour from boarding to return. Flights start at $85, with optional photo packages. Sky Surfer Parasailing works from a dock across Alabama 182 from the Perdido Beach Resort with a 35-foot, Coast Guard certified parasail boat, and also rents kayaks, paddleboards and pontoons.
Fishing charters
If anyone in your group fishes, this is the town to do it. Charters leave from Zeke’s Marina, Orange Beach Marina and the docks around Cotton Bayou for inshore, nearshore and deep-sea trips. Our guide to Orange Beach dolphin cruises and fishing charters explains trip lengths, what is included and how to choose a captain, and the Orange Beach things to do page lists every charter in our directory.
What is there to do at The Wharf?
The Wharf is Orange Beach’s waterfront entertainment district on the Intracoastal Waterway, and it is where most visitors spend at least one evening. It has a marina, an amphitheater for concerts, a walkable main street of shops and restaurants, and a 112-foot Ferris wheel.
- Outer Limits VR at 4700 Main Street is a locally owned, air-conditioned virtual reality game room with more than six VR experiences and over 50 games.
- We Crush Wine @ The Wharf is a wine bar in the district for a glass before or after dinner.
- The Southern Grind Coffee House has served specialty coffee in Orange Beach since 2012.
Dolphin cruises with Sunny Lady also leave from The Wharf, so you can pair a sunset cruise with dinner and the Ferris wheel.
What can you do in Orange Beach with kids?
Orange Beach with kids works best with a mix of water time in the morning and a family entertainment center or The Wharf in the evening. Kids old enough to sit still for 90 minutes usually love a dolphin cruise.
- Adventure Island at 24559 Perdido Beach Boulevard has been family owned and operated for about 30 years. It has mini golf, go-karts, bumper boats and a large redemption arcade that runs on a reloadable game card.
- The Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail is paved, flat and largely shaded, which makes it ideal for kids on bikes. The trail system reaches into Orange Beach and continues west through Gulf State Park.
- Outer Limits VR at The Wharf is a good rainy-day or too-hot-to-be-outside option for older kids and teens.
- Sea View Tours’ clear kayaks let younger kids see marine life without snorkeling.
For treats, City Donut on Perdido Beach Boulevard has been family owned since 2013, opens early, and also serves ice cream, milkshakes and boba drinks. Del’s Ice Cream is an independently owned Gulf Coast scoop shop with classic sundaes and milkshakes and late hours on weekends.
Where can you see art and local history in Orange Beach?
The Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach, at 26389 Canal Road on four acres overlooking Wolf Bay, has a free fine arts gallery of Gulf Coast artists, a glassblowing Hot Shop and a Clay Studio. Hands-on classes require a reservation and start at $95 per person. Nearby, the city’s Indian and Sea Museum at 25805 John Snook Drive is free and tells the story of the area’s Native American history and early fishing families. It keeps limited hours, so check with the city before you go.
Where should you shop in Orange Beach?
Skip the souvenir chains and look for the locally owned shops along Perdido Beach Boulevard and Canal Road.
- The Orange Beach Store on Perdido Beach Boulevard sells apparel, drinkware and gifts carrying its trademarked Orange Beach branding and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- J&M Tackle on Canal Road was founded in 1988 by brothers John and Mike Giannini. It has an in-house custom rod shop, a reel repair department and frozen bait, which makes it the stop before a pier or surf fishing session.
- Gulf Coast House of Jerky is a specialty food shop in town for road-trip snacks.
Orange Beach also has several independent clothing boutiques in our directory, including Love, JUDE and Wildflowers Boutique.
What should you do in Orange Beach when it rains?
When storms roll through, head indoors to Outer Limits VR at The Wharf, the arcade at Adventure Island, the Coastal Arts Center gallery or a long lunch. Summer storms are often short, so check the radar before you cancel a boat trip; your captain will tell you if weather means a reschedule. In nearby Gulf Shores, The Factory and Jurassic Golf add more indoor options, and our pillar guide lists them.
Where should you eat in Orange Beach?
Eat Gulf seafood, ideally somewhere you can see the water. A few locally owned favorites:
- Cobalt, The Restaurant sits beneath the Perdido Pass Bridge with views over Terry Cove, a raw bar, an outdoor patio and Sunday brunch.
- Doc’s Seafood Shack & Oyster Bar has served fried seafood on Canal Road since 1984.
- Cosmo’s Restaurant & Bar on Canal Road has a sushi bar, a full bar, live music and a patio; reservations are recommended.
Our guide to the best seafood in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach has more.
A one-day Orange Beach plan
- Early morning: Doughnuts at City Donut, then a clear-kayak tour or a bike ride on the Backcountry Trail before the heat builds.
- Late morning: Beach time at Alabama Point, where you can watch boats run Perdido Pass.
- Lunch: Fried seafood at Doc’s Seafood Shack on Canal Road.
- Afternoon: The free gallery at the Coastal Arts Center, or parasailing if the water is calm.
- Evening: A sunset dolphin cruise from The Wharf, dinner, then the Ferris wheel.
When is the best time to visit Orange Beach?
September and October are the best months for most visitors, with warm water, calmer crowds and lower prices. Late spring is the other sweet spot. Summer brings the most boat traffic and the highest prices, and winter is quiet, mild and popular with snowbirds. Our guide to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach in October covers the fall season in detail.
FAQ
What is there to do in Orange Beach besides the beach?
Take a dolphin cruise, paddle a clear kayak on the back bays, go parasailing or book a fishing charter out of Perdido Pass. On land, spend an evening at The Wharf, ride the Backcountry Trail and visit the free gallery at the Coastal Arts Center.
Where do dolphin cruises leave from in Orange Beach?
Sunny Lady Dolphin Cruises leaves from The Wharf on Wharf Parkway West, and Dolphins Down Under leaves from 28101 Perdido Beach Boulevard near Perdido Pass. Both run cruises of about 90 minutes.
What is there to do in Orange Beach with kids?
Adventure Island has mini golf, go-karts, bumper boats and an arcade, and the paved Backcountry Trail is great for kids on bikes. Dolphin cruises, clear-kayak tours and an evening at The Wharf round out a family day.
How much does parasailing cost in Orange Beach?
Orange Beach Parasail flights start at $85 per person, with optional photo packages, and trips take about an hour. Confirm current prices and weight limits when you book.
Is Orange Beach or Gulf Shores better?
Orange Beach is better for boating, fishing and nightlife at The Wharf, while Gulf Shores is better for young families who want the public beach, Gulf State Park and the zoo close together. Our Gulf Shores vs. Orange Beach comparison breaks it down.