If you’re ever able to travel to the Alabama Gulf Coast with your girlfriends, do it! Our trip was full of food, fun, sand, sun, and the beautiful emerald waters of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach - check out all the amazing things we did and add them to your vacation list!
First off- let’s talk about where we stayed because this place was unbelievable!
Located right on the beach and directly next to one of the hottest local spots in
town- Gulf Place Condos in Gulf Shores was the epitome of beachfront luxury. These recently built condos are chic and modern while each unit provides unbelievable views
with floor-to-ceiling windows and sunny balconies- you can see for miles down
the beach in each direction! Each condo comes equipped with designer furniture,
and other amenities including free wifi, smart tv’s, and a washer and dryer.
The most luxurious feature is the rooftop pool which all guests have access to. The
view can’t be beaten and it’s what really sets Gulf Place Condo apart from other
properties – there is no other complex like this in Gulf Shores! These Condos are
in the heart of Gulf Shores’ best entertainment options and just steps from the Gulf Place Beach Pavilion and The Hangout Restaurant. One of the perks of
staying here is that once you arrive, everything is at your fingertips or just a short walk away – no car is needed! If you need to pick up last-minute items you
forgot, The Island Market- Trade Company on the first floor of the building is
loaded with grocery items, beach toys, and even souvenirs. On-property, you’ll
find open air pavilions, picnic areas, beach volleyball, and miles of sugary white
sand. You’ll be blown away by Gulf Place Condos and will want to stay here year
after year! Click Here to watch the video!!
Here at Arkie Travels we LOVE food and there is nothing comparable to fresh
seafood from the Gulf. Our first night we dined at Zeke’s Landing and Marina in
Orange Beach, Alabama and oh my seafood goodness!!!! Recently reopened in the fall
of last year after the devastation of Hurricane Sandy in 2020, Zeke’s is stunning in
every way. Everywhere you look there is beautiful local art. From a wall of fishing
rods to the masterfully crafted wood and resin dining tables, each with its own
unique color and design. Try the Chargrilled Lamb Lollipops for an appetizer- they
are decadent, and the Blue Angel is the perfect beach cocktail.
For those of you who survive on coffee, The Southern Grind Coffee House located
at The Wharf in Orange Beach is excellent! They recently expanded the space
and feature wifi and usb ports for customer comfort and convenience. On display
and for sale, you’ll find a unique array of gifts and home décor throughout the
store and special treasures can be found in a charming antique boat. As far as
drinks and food, you’ll find gelato, pastries, desserts and everything from coffee,
teas, and smoothies. Be sure to try a local favorite, the Avocado Egg Melt, it’s
delicious!
Just a few doors down and across the way from Southern Grind, you can create
your very own bath products at High Cotton Bath with their Signature Experience
package. I’m a sucker for all the luxurious things when it comes to bath time, and
this was what I was looking forward to the most! It was the perfect activity for
our girls’ trip and the ladies in the shop were so helpful and sweet! Each
Signature Experience can include up to 8 guests, and you can get creative as
their staff teaches you how to mix and match over 250 essential and fragrance
oils to create your own individualized scent which they can customize into over
50 bath, body, and beauty products. With this experience you are welcome to
bring in food/beverage as desired (adult friendly included) and decorate to the
event’s theme, if any. Visit their website or call to book the Signature Experience
for your next trip- I’ve got a family trip scheduled for this coming summer and I
can’t wait to take my daughter and Mother-In-Law!
After creating your very own luxury bath and body products, head to one of the
coolest places in Gulf Shores- High Tide Daiquiris & Mimosas. This beach
restaurant and daiquiri bar has the most delicious daiquiri and mimosa flights,
and the charcuterie board is just what you’ll need to fuel up for the rest of the
afternoon. You can enjoy your drinks while paddling around the cove in a giant
rubber duck, flamingo, or swan boat and don’t forget to get a daiquiri pouch
before you leave. This is our new favorite way to partake in tropical beverages-
it’s a pouch you wear so its hands-free for your photo needs! Be sure to get the
signature drink of Gulf Shores, Alabama, The Bushwacker...it’s delicious! Click here to watch the full video!!
It’s safe to say we made new friends on this beach trip and Captain Glenn, owner
of Hammock Time Tiki Tours in Orange Beach, is now a lifelong one of ours! He
has gone above and beyond to create an authentic tiki boat tour around Orange
Beach and the surrounding islands. His boat comes fully stocked with grass skirts
and leis you can wear while you sit at the tiki bar and sip on something fruity and
refreshing. (This is BYOB so bring your favorite!) With two double hammocks, you
and yours can relax and sway in the coastal breeze, and the convenience of a
restroom is greatly appreciated. The captain will direct you to many points of
interest while slowly cruising the water before taking you to a gorgeous sugar
sand island where he’ll set up chairs and an umbrella for your comfort and fun
games to play like cornhole and Twister. This was such a blast- our daiquiri
pouches were perfect for our time here! We watched hermit crabs scuttle about
in the shallow water and played a somewhat friendly game of cornhole. It was so
peaceful on the return journey to the marina that one of us fell asleep in a
hammock! Hammock Time Tiki Tours is great for all and is a family-friendly tour
with a maximum of 6 passengers. They offer private island tours and 2- or 4-hour
island tours as well and be sure to send our love to the captain when you book,
you’ll have a great time!
Click here to watch the video!!
We ended our first day with the most fun beach activity that I’m absolutely going
to book for my family on our next trip. At Sand Castle University we put our
listening ears on and pulled artistic abilities out while the amazing and
unbelievably talented Janel taught us step-by-step, easy instructions on how to
craft beautiful sand creations. You get to choose between a traditional sandcastle,
turtle, crab, or shark and she’ll teach you the best tips and tricks for building
amazing sandcastles. There are two classes offered: a one-hour class for all ages
and skill levels or a two-hour class for those looking to up their sandcastle game
and your castle creation choses are the traditional sandcastle, sea serpent, or a mermaid tail. The best part is she brings all supplies and comes to YOUR beach! SandCastle University currently offers classes in Gulf Shores, Fort Morgan, and Orange Beach. Book your class now and tell Janel Arkie Travels sent you! Click here to watch our sandcastle making fun!!
Once you’ve played all day at the beach and mastered sandcastles, you’re going
to be hungry and there’s a spot in the gulf you MUST eat- Cobalt, The Restaurant.
Cobalt in Orange Beach features authentic dishes crafted by renowned chefs and
is nestled under the Perdido Bay Bridge, where patrons can enjoy a spectacular
view of the bay from every table.
This was my third time dining at Cobalt and each time I’m blown away by the
beauty of the bay, the delicious food, tasty drinks, and wonderful service. You’ll
find such delicacies as Shrimp Fra Diavolo sautéed with roasted mushrooms,
chargrilled lemon, fresh spinach and arugula, a Tuna and Avocado Stack served in
a sweet Asian sauce and their legendary Firecracker Shrimp with a spicy
remoulade- GET THIS! This is another place that its so breathtakingly beautiful at
sunset so time your reservation accordingly for the perfect ending to your day.
If you’re a cat lover, then our next breakfast spot is for you! From simple
breakfast fare and home-made pastries to ice cream and delectable delights,
BuzzCatz Coffee & Sweets is simply delightful. Enjoy locally roasted coffee,
breakfast, baked goods and made from scratch goodies to get your day started off
right. Pastry Chef and General Manager Kimberly Asbury creates the most
delicious food and treats, and we were lucky enough to meet her so be sure to
say a big ‘Hello’ from us! You’ll love the beautiful artwork and décor of cats in
various forms around you as you dine on their homemade biscuit bites and fruit
preserves, any kind of omelet you can imagine, or a local favorite- cinnamon rolls!
The coffee was amazing, and I could’ve sat on the cozy loveseat sipping and
eating yummy food all day. Do yourself a favor and make sure to stop in at
BuzzCatz for breakfast or lunch and get some sweet treats while you’re at it!
Do you have ‘Kayaking with dolphins’ on your bucket list? At WildNative Tours in
Gulf Shores you will have the time of your life on their Dolphins and Wildlife
Kayak Experience with their awesome nature guide Chris, who is incredibly
knowledgeable of every creature and its impact on the local ecosystem. The
bottlenose dolphins were a bit shy the day we went and kept their distance from
us, but what a magnificent sight to behold! If you enjoy bird watching, you’ll see
many different kinds throughout the tour, such as Osprey, Belted Kingfisher,
Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Cormorant, and Brown Pelicans. You’ll come away
with an appreciation, understanding, and newfound knowledge of dolphins and
other native creatures as you learn about their life, history, feeding behaviors,
intelligence, and communal nature. This incredible experience lasts about three
hours and is a must-do for anyone vacationing in the area!
If you’re wanting some rest and relaxation after a day full of fun in the sun, look
no further than Anonyme Cruises in Orange Beach, Alabama. For our girls’ trip, we took an evening cruise around the canals on the ultra-luxurious Anonyme II, a Duffy electric boat which has been the worldleader in the electric boat industry since1970. This cruise is gentle and relaxing, “it’s not about going fast or going far. It’s about spending time with your friends and family while you cruise in silent luxury, taking in what is around you and who is beside you.”- Anonyme Cruises. You can further heighten your experience like we did by having Southern Charm Picnic Co
create a memorable picnic setting for you with gorgeous flower arrangements,
adorable throw pillows, and beautiful table settings. To go with this fantastic
picnic spread you can have a wonderful charcuterie board with fresh kiwi,
strawberries, local honey, fresh preserves, crackers, cheeses, and meats from
Martha May's. I can’t tell you how peaceful and outright decadent this cruise is,
you’ll enjoy every moment coasting along the water, sipping wine, and snacking in
style. All in all, this was the most relaxing and luxurious time on our trip and I’m
truly thankful for every moment.
And top off your evening by finding the secret speakeasy...8 Reale OBAL
Click here to watch the video!!
Once your bags are packed and your trip has come to end, do yourself a favor and
stop in at Foam Coffee Shop in Gulf Shores before heading home and order an
iced lavender honey latte and the toast flight. You’ll have plenty to share with a
friend or two, and this flight comes with the most beautiful and delicious toast
I’ve ever had. With it you get a slice of avocado toast with everything bagel
seasoning, peanut butter with sliced banana, coconut flakes, and honey, and
Nutella with sliced strawberries and powdered sugar. Yes, they are all as amazing
as they sound. Foam Coffee is Gulf Shores first craft coffee shop and serves fresh,
locally roasted coffees, smoothies, and yummy treats. They also have ‘grab and
go’ options for a quick and easy pick-me-up if you’re in a bit of a hurry so be sure
to stop in and try them out, you’ll love it! Click here to watch the video of all our favorite places to eat in the Gulf area!!
I don’t have the words to describe how truly thankful we are to have experienced
these incredible local places in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama, and can’t wait to return to each of them in the future. We had the most amazing girls’ trip and I hope you stop in at these incredible places we were fortunate to go to and that you’re able to check a few things off your bucket list. Be sure to send our love to each one of the above, they
are all amazing people who love their home and are proud to share its beauty
with you and as always, happy adventuring!
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