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Places to Have Family Reunions in Alabama

Hosting a family reunion is often nothing short of a huge ordeal. While it sounds easygoing and fun on the surface, a family reunion can be a lot of work when you are the one having to plan it. If you’re planning a reunion in Gulf Shores, Alabama, you are probably scouring the internet for resources.

Luckily, the selection of Gulf Shores vacation rentals is vast, so you can rent one or two for a reasonable price and manage to get your family members staying in close proximity to one another. This makes it easier to keep everyone connected so that daily outings can be organized and feel more relaxing.

A large family enjoying a meal together

Things to Know

Gulf Shores beach houses are highly recommended by many people who have had family reunions there. These rentals make it easy to get to the shopping centers and restaurants in Orange Beach without the hassle of trying to deal with its crazy traffic jams. There are also plenty of things to do in Gulf Shores alone, so your family will never get bored.

Driving in is simple since you can take Interstate 10 and Interstate 65 to get to the beaches in Alabama. If you fly in, you can land at Mobile Regional Airport or Pensacola International Airport, both of which are around an hour away from Gulf Shores.

Gulf State Park is a massive park with a ton of things to do, making it one of Gulf Shores’ best attractions You can grab a spot on the two miles of shoreline and watch the kids go wild in the serene Gulf waters. Of course, you will probably be tempted to join them for a swim.  There are some fees you need to be aware of though.

For those with a family full of fishermen (and fisherwomen), you can fish off the pier for free as long as you have an Alabama saltwater and pier fishing license. You can get one of those for just $9 per day, $41 per week, or $81 for an entire month. If you plan on being here longer, semi-annual and annual passes are also available. You can also rent rods and reels for $10 for 4 hours or $20 for the entire day.

There is also a gorgeous pier that you can walk down for $3 in one go-round, or even better, for just $4 for the entire day. The pier makes for a relaxing walk for adults, and it is a great way to help kids burn off all that excess energy.

Left something behind that you realize you need? No worries! There are plenty of places to shop for all your beach vacation needs. Sandals, hats, sunglasses, bathing suits, and more can all be found in Gulf Shores’ souvenir shops.

Bear in mind that, even during the off-season, Gulf Shores is busy. You will want to consider making all your reservations in advance so that everything will go off without a hitch.

Gulf Shores vacation with Kids

How to Plan

Speaking of reservations, it is important to know how to plan for your Gulf Shores vacation. Vacation rentals on Gulf Shores can book fast, especially the always-coveted waterfront rentals. Start planning by finding the right home (or homes) that will comfortably fit your family members. You will want to find something that has the best group rates. Also, know that the best time to get great deals is during the fall. The shoulder season sees rates dropping, but the temperature outside is still just right.

Summer is totally idyllic if your budget is not restricted. There are a ton of concerts, water-based activities, and the ever-popular Waterville USA to keep you busy.

You will want to plan your eating expenses accordingly. A lot of area restaurants prefer that you book in advance, especially if you have a large group. You can also hit up the food truck food court at The Village Lawn on Fort Morgan Road. You can choose what you’d like while your family checks out other food trucks. There’s a little something for everyone, and live music will be playing in the background.

If you are looking for event space to rent, restaurants like Orange Beach’s Cobalt offer event space to rent for private parties.

What to Do

Aside from just having fun on the beach, you can rent all sorts of watercraft and take the entire family out on the beautiful ocean waves. There are many wonderful boat rental companies in Gulf Shores, so you can take your pick of whichever sounds the most appealing to you.

Wallace Boat Rentals is a popular pick, especially since they let you be the captain and drive the boat! You will not need a license, as a trained captain will show you how to operate the boat and where to go on it. You can simply sail along the waters, visit multiple islands, check out the bayfront restaurants in the area, go fishing, ogle the Ono Island mansions, and watch dolphins go swimming by. Bring your kids, your dogs, and your coolers! These boats have wheelchair accessibility so that everyone can come on board.

Take in a concert with your family in Gulf Shores. The C Spire Concert Series brings in a ton of popular and lesser-known artists at The Wharf Amphitheater. If you go in May, you can check out The Hangout Music Festival that is held every year at Gulf Shores Public Beach. It is a weekend-long event that is packed with music, food, and activities.

The Gulf Coast Zoo is a fantastic place full of wonder and wildlife, perfect for children and adults alike. The zoo works hard at protecting endangered species from around the world. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for your family to see a grey parrot, yellow-footed tortoise, and a black leopard up close. Their new location is just opening in March of 2020, so you will get to see all of the amazing changes that have taken place.

If you’re bringing a service dog along, know that they are welcome but are on a by-appointment basis at least 24 hours in advance. Groups of 15 or more get 15% off the regular price of admission, but a reservation needs to be made at least 48 hours in advance.

Fort morgan vacation rental with pool
The Banana Split duplex offers plenty of room for everyone.

Where to Stay

One of the smartest ways to go for a large family reunion is to go for the Banana Cabana family of homes located in Fort Morgan. Banana Split East is part of a duplex that offers an outdoor Cabana Bar and private pool to each side of the duplex. Like the Banana Split East, Banana Split West can sleep up to 19 people in comfortable beds! For larger groups, a place like this is pure bliss. You won’t have anyone fighting over who gets the bed and who is forced to sleep on a cot or roll-out sofa. 

You will also find a lot of other lavish 5+ bedroom Fort Morgan rentals in the area. They put you right up on the beach or very close to it and will give you a breathtaking view of the Gulf waters. These homes can accommodate between 14 and 20 people, and in-home entertainment abounds. Kitchens come fully stocked, and there are massive decks you can sit on to watch the sunrise and set over the coast.

Plan Your Visit

There are plenty of beautiful and spacious Gulf Shores beach houses to rent. But you do have other options. Nab yourself a beach house in Fort Morgan since this area offers some tranquil beaches where you can enjoy some delicious ice-cold adult beverages, which you cannot do in Gulf Shores.