Location 4: Orange Beach, Alabama

By Betty JohnsonDecember 13, 2019

OBA or Orange Beach, Alabama is located between Gulf Shores, Alabama, and Pensacola, Florida. Named for days past when oranges were a common crop, Orange Beach is a happy little Gulf Coast town abundant with sugar-sand beaches, fishing piers, fresh fish and seafood, biking paths, state and national parks and all the restaurants a person might want. The intercoastal waterways are a highlight that fascinates boaters, fisherpeople, and kayakers.

We spent two weeks here enjoying the mild temperatures of 50-70s with lots of sunshine. There are several RV resorts around and we booked in at the Heritage Motor Coach Resort and Marina, a pleasant park among live oaks with cobblestone streets lit by gaslights. Amenities include a marina, pool and hot tub on the intercoastal waterfront. Dogs are very much welcome, like most places. Many folks here own lots with casitas, outdoor living areas, and golf carts. We happily rented one of these small but well-provisioned lots. The social scene is friendly and inclusive. We took part in Friday night sunset cocktails at the clubhouse. We toured the Gulf State Park and thought that would be another great place to stay in a motorcoach.

We traveled to local towns of Fairhope, AL, Pensacola and Pensacola Beach, FL. The latter two are on the Gulf Coast and seem to be typical shore towns. Fairhope is a delightful gem on Mobile Bay that reminds me of South Haven.

We were intently focused at the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola. As we parked the car we were wowed with the Blue Angels flying over in training exercises. What an awesome sight.

Sadly, a couple days after we visited there was an attack at the Pensacola Naval Base and three young sailors lost their lives. Rest in peace Mohammed Sameh Haitham, Cameron Scott Walters, Joshua Kaleb Watson. Thank you for your service and sacrifice.

Biking and Birding at Gulf State Park

Fun Times and Foods

Orange Beach did not disappoint when it came to fresh seafood. Favorites include shrimp and grits from the Fish House in Pensacola and crunchy grouper sandwiches from The Gulf in Orange Beach. Perhaps our #1 favorite was cooking fresh shrimp at home. We purchased directly from the Joe Patti market in Pensacola. This market tops all fresh seafood markets we have seen anywhere, Ever had fresh Red Royal shrimp? This is a deepwater shrimp that’s red when raw and tastes like lobster – wow!

Brian has a goal of playing top golf courses in the areas we visit throughout this road trip. In New Orleans, it was TPC Louisiana which is where the PGA tour stops. It was a 6/10 on his rating scale – nice but ordinary. In Orange Beach, he played Kiva Dunes which is BAMA’s top public course – 7/10, a nice links style course in good shape with enough driving room to handle his power fade (or slice if you want the truth). He also played Craft Farms which is a nice pair of Troon managed courses, also rated 7/10 on the Brian Johnson scale. Betty got back to tennis with some lessons and clinics at a community tennis center. We both enjoyed biking the Gulf State Park with paved paths set in the beauty of the state park. This park is a biking destination for sure.