10 Fun Things To Do In Gulf Shores Alabama WIth Kids (beach Fun Ahead!)

This post may contain affiliate links. We may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase. Read Disclosure.

Finding a beach destination in the USA that’s not crazy expensive or crowded is like finding a needle in a haystack, but thankfully there’s the Gulf Shores in Alabama, a city that offers pristine beaches and a laid-back atmosphere.

We were pleasantly surprised with how much we enjoyed our three day beach vacation there.

I didn’t even know Alabama had beaches, especially nice ones, and it reminded me so much of the Gold Coast in Australia.

In fact, Alabama has 32 miles of white sand beaches, and as it turns out, the best things to do in Gulf Shores in Alabama revolve around the water!

If you’re not sure what to do in Gulf Shores, then this guide is all about what we got up to, including where to eat and drink, and where to stay!

Things To Do In Gulf Shores, Alabama

1. Hang out on the beach

We know you’re here for a family beach vacation, so pack your lounge chairs, towels, and beach toys and find a spot on the miles of wide open Gulf Shores beaches.

We actually stayed in Orange Beach, a 10-minute drive from Gulf Shors, and it had a lovely section of soft white sand out the front of our beach cottage connecting to the Gulf of Mexico.

Gulf Shores has a slogan, Leave Only Footprints, which encourages people to make sure they have removed all their beach gear by one hour after sunset each day. It’s why it has some of the most beautiful beaches in the USA.

It’s made a huge difference in cleaning up the public beaches.

The rule was created to keep the Alabama beaches pristine, but also to protect the nesting turtles who may lose their way due to a beach umbrella being in the way.

And it’s very kid-friendly here, with a cool toy box on the sand.

The surf was a little rough when we visited so we didn’t swim, but we were told it’s typically calmer and great for swimming. It’s the perfect place for water sports, such as parasailing and wind surfing. Or if you prefer to stay close to land, sea kayaking.

Check out more of our fun family beach getaway to Gulf Shores Alabama in this video:

2. Learn how to build sandcastles at Sand Castle University

While you’re at the beach, why not finally learn how to make a real sandcastle?

I’ve always wondered how my…