In 1869, the Florida panhandle was almost sold to Alabama and if anyone were left to stick around and complain about it – they certainly would. Along Alabama’s Perdido Key, there’s a hidden gem nestled within a portion of the 60 miles of shoreline that hugs the Gulf of Mexico. Orange Beach is a beautiful oasis of white, sandy beaches, incredible experiences and eateries, and among the most welcoming and kind people you can imagine.
By all accounts, the community held up exceptionally well during our visit, even with the mood swings and attitudinal fluctuations my kids can deliver. A weeks ago, Jen and I took the kids out of school during the droll of state testing, we hopped on Interstate 65 south from Nashville, and six (okay seven—we stopped at Bucee’s) hours later, we saw the big water tower welcoming us to Orange Beach, saw the speed limit change to the infamous 26, and pulled up for a week of sun and fun at Spectrum Resorts’ Turquoise Place (use code DADORALIVE during your checkout for 10% off through the end of 2024!).
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As the kids have gotten older, everyone’s crap continues to get smaller and smaller. I’m not lugging around pack ’n’ plays or strollers anymore – so we’ve perfected a duffle bag for each one. Generally, we need two bellhop carts to get everything to the room – but if a rival dad challenged me, I could get it done with one.
These turquoise towers soar 24 and 30 stories above the beach, respectively. I’m a big fan of the keyless wristband access to the property, which also allows charging privileges to the room. We stayed in a 3-bedroom suite – whether a 3,4 or 5-bedroom residence, they ALL have a Gulf-front balcony with a grill and jacuzzi hot tub. You’ve also got a full kitchen with enough crockery for a family of 20, plus a laundry room for the extended stay. OR if you’re like me and only brought one collared shirt, which caught a bath in the cocktail sauce while eating ‘reds.’ There’s nothing quite like spreading out across 2300+ square feet while on vacation.
It might catch you by surprise, but one of my favorite parts of the trip was breakfast each morning.
Spectrum Lounge hosts complimentary breakfast each day, with seating outside overlooking the Gulf of Mexico and inside, with room for the kids (and me) to play pool, ping pong, or Xbox while enjoying some breakfast tacos.
During the day, we split our time between the hotel amenities, relaxing on the beach, or an excursion.
Since our last visit two years ago, Turquoise Place has added a 300-foot, 4-story water slide, tennis courts, and a putting green on the front and side of the property.
And if you want to dodge the sun or wind, they’ve built a 450-foot lazy river on the 4th floor of the West Tower—and it is HEATED. We had one super windy day and chose to rent a cabana by the pool overlooking the beach.
Complete w/ A/C, TV, full bathroom, and sitting areas; it was a nice place to hide away and eat food from the poolside grill, Change of Pace. While we’re on it—order the Spicy Pickle Pizza Pie, the Carnival Corndog (a corn dog covered in flaming’ hot Cheetos), and the giant Memphis Charcuterie Pretzel—absolutely delicious.
You never need to leave the property – but if you’ve got a pack of children brimming over with ADHD and a sugar buzz, there are plenty of worthwhile excursions.
The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo and Fort Morgan are great places to take the kids. The zoo held an incredible history of being the only zoo to ever be fully evacuated due to Hurricane Ivan… The rescue of the animals garnered worldwide attention and was the impetus for the Animal Planet reality show. It’s back bigger and better than ever – offering animal encounters with sloths & lemurs, along with 120 species of animals, 21 endangered.
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Fort Morgan is a pentagonal bastion fort at the mouth of the Mobile Bay. It’s got an entertaining and educational museum but an exciting layout of batteries and structures to explore—you can take a picnic and collect shells on the beach.
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Speaking of shells, some of the best times we had during our week-long stay were at dawn and dusk, walking along the white sand beaches, collecting shells, and reconnecting.
Orange Beach and Turquoise Place have solidified their place in our hearts (and our calendar every spring break) and we can’t wait for our next visit!
If you’re thinking about visiting Turquoise Place, use code DADORALIVE during your checkout for 10% off through the end of 2024!
Editor’s Note: We were guests of Spectrum Resorts, however the thoughts, opinions and memories created above are all ours!
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