If you’re looking for a vacation destination this year, be sure to add Alabama to your list of possibilities. While we may not be your usual vacation spot, we have some incredible places to visit. Whether you are planning a getaway with smaller children, one for older kids, or one just for the adults, Alabama has some incredible vacation spots!
Orange Beach – Located in Eastern Alabama, Orange Beach is home to gorgeous white sand beaches, and is home to a zoo, a thriving art community, and sea turtle nesting grounds. The weather is perfect here year-round, and even in winter, you shouldn’t need much more than a light jacket. The Orange Beach Event Center hosts concert events! Orange Beach is a great getaway for families, with AirBnB rates starting at $100 for family accommodations, and cozy rooms for a romantic getaway from just $50.
Oak Mountain State Park – Looking for a fishing vacation? At almost 10,000 acres, with three fishing lakes, Oak Mountain State Park brings just about the best of everything if you are trying to book a getaway that includes fishing. You can camp in the park, or you can drive just twenty miles and find a posh hotel in Birmingham. Oak Mountain State Park also has hiking, horseback riding, and swimming areas, making it the perfect destination even if everyone in your family doesn’t want to fish.
Opelika – If you are looking for a golf getaway, you can’t go wrong in Opelika. Home to the Grand National, with three highly ranked courses, Opelika is the perfect Alabama destination for an avid golfer. You’ll also find great shopping, an incredible movie theater, and intriguing historical sites in the area. There are a variety of hotels in the area, with three-star hotels averaging just over $125 per night. AirBnB also has multiple offers on rooms, lofts, and homes in the area if you are looking for something a little more cozy.
Gulf Shores – Beach vacations are part of Alabama’s charm, and Gulf Shores definitely delivers, with thirty-two miles of beaches. It’s the place to be if you’re in the mood for fresh seafood. The Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge is a destination for many migratory birds, making this a great fall destination. You can also get a history lesson at the Fort Morgan State Historic Site and go sightseeing in a bi-plane!
Huntsville – Huntsville is the perfect destination for science and space lovers! America’s space program was born there! The U.S. Space and Rocket Center is a fully interactive museum with a Saturn V Rocket! Burritt on the Mountain, Alabama Constitution Village, and the Harmony park Safari would round out a great vacation trip.
Mobile – Looking for Mardi Gras fun without the New Orleans crowds? Mobile is the birthplace of Mardi Gras, and even has a museum dedicated to the finery and floats. Mobile is also home to another Robert Trent Jones designed golf course, and the USS Alabama is open for tours. Mobile has an eclectic mixture of modern hotels and quaint B and B’s in historical buildings. Don’t forget to stop by Wintzell’s for Oysters!
Dauphin Island – If you’re truly looking to get away from it all, Dauphin Island is a great family destination! Dauphin is a barrier island located in the gulf of Mexico, and is perfect for deep sea fishing, and boasts and aquarium and bird sanctuary. Plus, you can spend a day exploring historic Fort Gaines. Barnacle Bill’s is a must for the crab cakes!
Birmingham – I know I already mentioned a destination in Birmingham, but the city itself is a foodie paradise that is not to be missed! Thrillist recently named Birmingham the best food city in Alabama. Experience French cuisine, Middle-Eastern fare, authentic soul food, and the best Thai you’ve ever gotten from a gas station.
Adventureland in Dothan – Adventureland is the perfect theme park; part amusement park, part water park, there’s no shortage of things to do at Adventureland! Make your theme park adventure authentic with Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs at the snack bar!
OWA Amusement Park in Foley – Perfect for a weekend getaway, OWA amusement park is still new enough that the lines for their twenty-one rides aren’t terribly long. There’s not much for smaller kids to do, but it’s a perfect place to take teens and tweens for some excitement and fun. The dining options are impressive, with a Wahlburgers, Cinnabon, and Hershey’s Ice Cream Parlor.
Alright, so now that I have shared all of these, I need to hop to it and go visit many of them myself with the family!
Sounds incredible, right?! Here’s to adventuring!
In His Grace,
Callie
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