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Started By
Message
Pros & Cons of Orange Beach, AL
Posted on 6/25/25 at 6:07 pm
Posted on 6/25/25 at 6:07 pm
As a beach destination in August with kids under 10.
Go.
Go.
11
Posted on 6/25/25 at 6:16 pm to PenguinNinja
Assuming you are in Louisiana.
Pros:
Half-day trip, family friendly, white sand/blue-green water.
Cons:
Can get crowded, touristy trap
Pros:
Half-day trip, family friendly, white sand/blue-green water.
Cons:
Can get crowded, touristy trap
Posted on 6/25/25 at 7:24 pm to PenguinNinja
Pros: Crowds aren't as bad as June/July
Cons: It's damn hot
Cons: It's damn hot
Posted on 6/25/25 at 7:51 pm to PenguinNinja
My biggest concern, and why we go further east , is the unpredictability of the ester.
I’ve had trips where it is clear, and trips where I can’t see 6inches below.
I’ve had trips where it is clear, and trips where I can’t see 6inches below.
Posted on 6/26/25 at 9:21 am to PenguinNinja
Also looking with young kids. What are well regarded properties with maybe something extra for the very young ones like a splash pad or lazy river, playground etc? The options are overwhelming.
Posted on 6/26/25 at 9:24 am to PenguinNinja
I've never really understood the obsession with OB, when the water is infinitely prettier just a tad further east. Don't get me wrong, I adore the beach, in general, and OB is fine if that's where everyone wants to go. I just prefer consistently blue water.
Just take them to the Portofino in Pensacola. Huge pools, fireworks at night, and the beach isn't really crowded because those are the only high density buildings (nature preserve to the east and beach houses to the west).
Also, the Naval Air Museum in town is awesome for kids that age. They can sit in a Blue Angel plane and take a pic, watch an IMAX (in the a/c), and walk to the top of the lighthouse on base, if nobody's afraid of heights.
Just take them to the Portofino in Pensacola. Huge pools, fireworks at night, and the beach isn't really crowded because those are the only high density buildings (nature preserve to the east and beach houses to the west).
Also, the Naval Air Museum in town is awesome for kids that age. They can sit in a Blue Angel plane and take a pic, watch an IMAX (in the a/c), and walk to the top of the lighthouse on base, if nobody's afraid of heights.
Posted on 6/26/25 at 12:01 pm to TheChiefHasArrived
When we wanted properties with the extras, we would stay at Phoenix V. The crowds and elevators can get a little hectic, but the pools and splash pads were a nice change of pace for the little ones.
Right now, we just go to Oasis because the kids are a little intimidated by the gulf. They lose out on their playtime in the sand, but I just built them a sandbox in the backyard because I'm not spending a premium for a hotel on a beach for them to just play in the sand
Right now, we just go to Oasis because the kids are a little intimidated by the gulf. They lose out on their playtime in the sand, but I just built them a sandbox in the backyard because I'm not spending a premium for a hotel on a beach for them to just play in the sand
This post was edited on 6/26/25 at 12:04 pm
Posted on 6/26/25 at 2:29 pm to PenguinNinja
Con: absurdly overpriced due to its popularity
Posted on 6/26/25 at 3:23 pm to HouseMom
Stayed at Portofino years ago. It was nice. Only thing is beach is across the highway, but it wasn’t a big deal.
Posted on 6/26/25 at 9:35 pm to PenguinNinja
Been previously with young kids (under 5). Going again in late August. Did not find it to be crowded and it was relaxing.
Caribe is a good place to stay. Nice pools, lazy river, convenient location to get to Pensacola or back into OB/GS.
Caribe is a good place to stay. Nice pools, lazy river, convenient location to get to Pensacola or back into OB/GS.
Posted on 6/26/25 at 9:43 pm to TheChiefHasArrived
quote:
Also looking with young kids. What are well regarded properties with maybe something extra for the very young ones like a splash pad or lazy river, playground etc? The options are overwhelming.
Its been a few years since I went last but we always stayed at Turquoise Place. Before that we stayed at The Beach Club in Fort Morgan. Now, living in Austin its either the terrible Galveston beaches or we hop on a plane and fly to Destin.
Posted on 6/26/25 at 11:03 pm to gonecoastal
quote:
Caribe is a good place to stay.
It is indeed a good place, but getting to the beach is a pain if you are going tk want to spend a lot of time on the gulf side beach.
OP, have a look at Perdido Beach Resort. It’s pricy, but nice.
You also might consider The Beach Club in Fort Morgan.
Posted on 6/26/25 at 11:05 pm to Mingo Was His NameO
quote:
Con: absurdly overpriced due to its popularity
This can be said about everywhere from Gulf shores all the way east to Panama City Beach.
Posted on 6/27/25 at 12:48 am to Weekend Warrior79
Why anyone would go to the beach and stay at a 250 unit condo is beyond me. Four rows of beach chairs and people setting up 5 feet from you. And OB keeps on building.
Posted on 6/27/25 at 7:02 am to notiger1997
quote:
You also might consider The Beach Club in Fort Morgan.
Yep.
Posted on 6/27/25 at 8:11 am to PenguinNinja
The Holiday Inn Express has a nice pool. The breakfast was good both times my family stayed there
Posted on 6/27/25 at 8:54 am to PenguinNinja
Pro: It's not Gulf Shores
Con: It's not Perdido Key
Posted on 6/27/25 at 10:22 am to notiger1997
Good point. Our kids are younger than OP's.
We didn't spend much time at the beach. The shuttle is nice for getting across, but if you are there for maximizing beach time and want to duck out for lunch real quick, it is inconvenient
We didn't spend much time at the beach. The shuttle is nice for getting across, but if you are there for maximizing beach time and want to duck out for lunch real quick, it is inconvenient
Posted on 6/28/25 at 5:11 am to gonecoastal
Drive an extra hour. OB is basically Louisiana brown water.
Posted on 6/28/25 at 5:31 am to PenguinNinja
Unfortunately the best warer slide and/or lazy rivers are phoenix propertie. The big Oasis used to be Phoenix west 2!
Phoenix properties are good if you can get a lower floor because elevators are inexplicably too few. My first and only trip to the oasis was a 14th floor unit and 35-40 minute waits for elevators wasn’t uncommon and on check out day forget it. Look into Phoenix gulf shores. Same beach/water. OB has the perdido pass right there so heavy rains can cause issues with clarity so being further away into the edge of gulf shores isn’t so bad, just not so far you are getting stained water from mobile bay (fort Morgan issue)
IF you’re not going to live on the beach, there is a phoenix on the bay property that has great water fun, but you have to drive to the beach.
Phoenix west 2/oasis was first on the beach with lazy river and slides and indoor pool, so became very over saturated 5 years ago and if you can get a lower floor unit, would probably be a great option for you based on your requests.
Phoenix properties are good if you can get a lower floor because elevators are inexplicably too few. My first and only trip to the oasis was a 14th floor unit and 35-40 minute waits for elevators wasn’t uncommon and on check out day forget it. Look into Phoenix gulf shores. Same beach/water. OB has the perdido pass right there so heavy rains can cause issues with clarity so being further away into the edge of gulf shores isn’t so bad, just not so far you are getting stained water from mobile bay (fort Morgan issue)
IF you’re not going to live on the beach, there is a phoenix on the bay property that has great water fun, but you have to drive to the beach.
Phoenix west 2/oasis was first on the beach with lazy river and slides and indoor pool, so became very over saturated 5 years ago and if you can get a lower floor unit, would probably be a great option for you based on your requests.
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