Alabama’s beaches are a perfect destination for a romantic weekend getaway. Whether you’re longing for luxury, craving adventure, or wanting to dabble with a little of both, we have your itinerary. We recently visited Gulf Shores and Orange Beach and have a new list of favorites to share.
Perdido Beach Resort: Loving Luxury
If your idea of a luxury getaway is falling asleep to piano music and waking up to white sand beaches, consider booking a room at Perdido Beach Resort. Our room featured a walk-out balcony with a 180-degree Gulf front view, a comfy bed, and a 37-inch flat-screen TV. Even though this was a luxury property, there were no hidden resort fees (including free parking) and even discounts for Alabama residents.
The broad sugar-sand beach was beautiful, with extra calm water sheltered behind the Perdido Pass Jetty. Behind the beach, we could play in the large indoor/outdoor pool, work out in the fitness center, or relax in the indoor hot tub.
Dine at Voyagers
You can eat at many places in Orange Beach, but Voyagers is a top destination for fine dining. Yet another benefit to staying at Orange Beach’s most luxurious resort property, Perdido Beach Resort.
We were torn between the dry-aged steaks and Gulf-caught seafood, but the promise of an exquisite champagne Bearnaise on top of an intensely flavored hanging tenderloin won us over to team steak.
Relax in Ms. Nancy’s Lobby Lounge
Before or after dinner, grab a cocktail at Ms. Nancy’s lobby lounge. It’s surprisingly cozy and unpretentious—a great place to unwind and listen to skilled pianists playing your favorite songs. We stopped for a song or two every time we passed through the lobby.
Breakfast at Latitude 30 or Coastal Coffee
We started every morning at Perdido Beach Resort with a vanilla latte from Coastal Coffee. The resort calls it “brew with views: our scenic lobby coffee haven.” We call it a real cup of coffee in the morning and a great option for grab-and-go food.
Since we were on beach time, we chose Latitude 30 for a sit-down breakfast without having to leave the resort. The food quality was excellent at a very reasonable price point.
Picnic on the Beach
Sometimes, the simplest moments are the best, like a romantic picnic on the beach watching the waves crash against the shore. We had Beachside Blankets set up our picnic, and honestly, it was a game-changer. They took care of everything—from cozy cushions and low tables to lanterns and rugs—so our setup was as comfy as it was Instagrammable. Be sure to order the charcuterie; it was delicious and perfectly suited for grazing while watching the waves roll in. There’s something about salty air and sand between your toes that makes even a casual afternoon feel special.
Sail Wild Hearts
Getting out on the water is a must down here, and Sail Wild Hearts made it memorable. The catamaran is spacious, and the crew strikes that perfect balance between laid-back and knowledgeable. We were torn between choosing the dolphin cruise or the sunset cruise, but ultimately, we decided to do a romantic sunset cruise, which was the perfect way to end a beach day. It didn’t hurt that the Sail Wild Hearts dock is directly across the street from Perdido Beach Resort.
Live music at Flora-Bama
Our day wasn’t done when the sun went down because we went out to enjoy some of coastal Alabama’s incredible music scene. If you know, you know—Flora-Bama is legendary. We followed the “Bushwacker Trail” (yes, that’s a real thing!) and landed ourselves in one of the South’s most iconic beach bars. The music spills out from multiple stages, and there’s a come-as-you-are vibe that’s hard to beat. Grab a Bushwacker (just one; they’re stronger than they look) and let the night unfold.
Jet Ski at Flora-Bama Marina
While the bar might get most of the attention, there’s a full-blown watersports operation across the street. We rented jet skis and tore around the bay—it’s equally thrilling and scenic. Bonus: you can tell yourself you earned that extra Bushwacker. One of the real perks of launching at Flora-Bama Marina is direct access to the channel on the south side of Ono Island. It’s primarily out of no-wake zones but off the Intracoastal Waterway and much larger than it looks on the map. It took nearly an hour to explore our way to the far east end of Ono Island.
Lunch at Cobalt or The Gulf
Even with six restaurants at Perdido Beach Resort, we still wanted to get out and explore lunch spots with a different view. You can’t go wrong with Cobalt or The Gulf; both are within walking distance from the resort. Cobalt leans a bit more refined, with great seafood and cocktails. The trip to Cobalt takes you over (and under) the Perdido Pass Bridge, where you can watch the boats come through the pass as you eat.
The Gulf feels fun and breezy with its shipping container setup, a wide selection, and many daily specials. It’s a neat concept and next door to the resort.
Timberline Glamping: Adventures on the Edge of Gulf State Park
Gulf State Park is a natural gem that sets Alabama’s beaches apart from other Gulf Coast destinations. Twenty-eight miles of paved trails wind through all five key coastal hammock zones and a chain of inland lakes. The campground has over 500 sites, but Timberline Glamping on the edge of the park offers something a little more romantic. Think plush beds inside safari-style tents, twinkle lights, and your own little deck under the trees. It’s camping, sure—but with A/C, a fridge, full bathroom, and no backaches.
Campfire and S’mores
Whether you’re camping or glamping, no trip is complete without a crackling campfire and gooey s’mores. Timberline made this easy for us with convenient add-ons that included firewood, fire starters, roasting sticks and s’mores with square marshmallows. Using round marshmallows for s’mores makes as much sense as buying a pack of ten hot dogs for a package of eight buns. Other add-ons include camp games and beach cruisers to get out and explore the park.
Bike Hugh S Branyon Backcountry Trails
Timberline is adjacent to the Rosemary Dunes Trailhead with direct access to the Hugh S Branyon Backcountry Trails inside Gulf State Park. We brought our own bikes instead of picking up beach cruisers. There was about a 1/4 of gravel trail that challenged our narrow tires, but through that section, it was an incredible ride. The trails include several waterbeach access points and scenic overlooks. There are enough bike rides in the area that you can spend your entire weekend in the saddle and still have more to explore.
Segway Tour at Gulf State Park
Coastal Segway Adventures offers segway tours through Gulf State Park if you’re looking for an easy way to get out and explore. These tours introduce you to the area’s history and natural beauty. If you’re lucky, you may even see nesting eagles.
Kayak Lake Shelby
Tucked inside Gulf State Park, Lake Shelby is a calm, protected waterway ideal for beginner kayakers. The park also offers kayak rentals to explore the chain of lakes from the water. The kayak-specific launch docks make getting in and out of your boat super easy, so you’ll be spotting turtles and herons in no time.
Breakfast at The Southern Grind / City Donuts
Timberline Glamping’s convenient location allowed us to sleep in and still make it to breakfast. The Southern Grind at the Hotel Indigo was just on the other side of the Rosemary Dunes Trailhead. We walked there for a hot breakfast with plenty of coffee. We also had to try City Donuts, which has won many awards for Alabama’s best donuts. They were so sweet and yummy that it was worth taking an extra lap through the park to burn off the calories.
Lunch at Picnic Beach
Maybe it was donut guilt, but we wanted something healthy for lunch, so we visited Picnic Beach. Their selection of bowls was outstanding, so we had no problems finding a delicious, high-protein, low-carb option. The bike access from the park is easy, with a pedestrian bridge and light to cross to the Gulf State Park Pier, as well as bike lanes along Beach Blvd to travel the mile into town. There’s also ample free parking at the restaurant if you want to take the car.
Dine at CoastAL
CoastAL sits right on the sand and gets bonus points for having live music most nights. The food is solid—fresh seafood, Southern twists, cold drinks—and the setting does a lot of the heavy lifting. Get there early for a front-row sunset view.
We went for breakfast and watched surfers catch some waves at the Four Seasons Pier. Coastal is only three miles from Timberline, so it’s a short enough drive that you can come for breakfast and dinner if you like. There’s also trail access through the park via the Cotton Bayou trail and nice bike lanes on Beach Blvd so you can bike there and spend the weekend car-free.
Beachfront Resort or Luxury Glamping?
With amazing beaches and a high-quality state park, Coastal Alabama has the best of both worlds. You can have both, no matter where you stay. Flora-Bama is only a 15-minute drive from Timberline Glamping, and Perdido Beach Resort includes complimentary e-bike rentals with your stay. The price point for glamping is unbelievable for a beach vacation, and you can never go wrong with a private balcony overlooking the Gulf. Decisions…Decisions…
Disclosure: A big thank you to Alabama’s Beaches for hosting us and setting up a fantastic itinerary! For more Alabama Beaches travel inspiration, check out their Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube accounts.
As always, the views and opinions expressed are entirely our own, and we only recommend brands and destinations that we 100% stand behind.
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Hi! We are Jenn and Ed Coleman aka Coleman Concierge. In a nutshell, we are a Huntsville-based Gen X couple sharing our stories of amazing adventures through activity-driven transformational and experiential travel.
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