If you want a little road trip during your Gulf Shores or Orange Beach vacation, these three cities can offer you a whole day or a few hours of entertainment, all within driving distance of your vacation rental!
Fairhope
Drive from Gulf Shores: 50 minutes
Known for its downtown, the ever-charming Fairhope is a perfect day trip from Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. In less than an hour, visitors can wander down the picturesque Fairhope Pier, and get up-close-and-personal with the birds at the park in the same location. Spend the day perusing antique shops, plus home décor, children’s toy and clothing stores, and fashion boutiques. Take time to stop by Fairhope Brewery for a local craft beer, one of the many restaurants downtown for lunch or dinner, and Punta Clara’s Candy Kitchen or Mr. Gene’s Beans for a sweet treat.
Foley
Drive from Gulf Shores: 25 minutes
From the unique, local shops and artists of Foley’s quaint and historic downtown, to intriguing museum exhibits and laid-back water adventures, this destination in beautiful coastal Alabama provides plenty of activities and sites to choose from. Take time to look through the many antique shops lining the streets of Historic Foley. After you’ve found your treasures and worked up an appetite, choose from more than 70 dining options that will satisfy any cuisine craving.
Pensacola
Drive from Gulf Shores: 55 minutes
One of four military forts designed to protect Pensacola in the 1800s, Fort Pickens is a great place for history-buffs to spend time. Located on the Gulf Islands National Seashore, Fort Pickens is accessible by foot and boat and is open year-round from sunrise to sunset. The National Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola Lighthouse, Pensacola Children’s Museum, and Pensacola Museum of Art provide an arts-and-culture aspect to your vacation that history-buffs, art-lovers, and the like will truly enjoy.
For more information about what to do and where to go during your Gulf Shores and Orange Beach vacation, check out our blog at BenderRealty.com/blog.