Plan THIS exciting getaway for your Nashville Dad
A 5-star DADCATION, planned by real-life dads
Drive time: 7 hours
This trip is perfect for a:
dads’ getaway or a guys’ weekend
Thanks to Visit AL Beaches for inviting us down to experience a #dadcation!
How to Plan The Ultimate Orange Beach Fishing Charters for the Best Guys Weekend Trip, with real-life dad tips from Angus Nelson
When life is busy with work, family, and life in general, we dads don’t make time for ourselves often enough… More importantly, we don’t develop relationships very well with other dads either. This is an area I’ve been trying to improve upon.
Then… add a world turned upside down by a pandemic and all of the things in 2020.
It was time to get away. And if you’re anything like us, you probably want to get away too!
As such, an opportunity arises for my pal, Adrian of Dad or Alive, and me to take a trip together. We wanted to find a fishing trip down to the beach.
So I ask Alexa, “what are the closest chartered fishing trips near me???”
It happens to be in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, Alabama.
Here is our ideal weekend trip to Orange Beach, Alabama - the destination for the best guys’ weekend trip... and fishing trip too.
We called it our #Dadcation! Here are the details.
For us, this is simply the best time we could make available for a guys’ weekend. However, if one of your buddies is seeking a birthday vacation, father’s day celebration, or a quest for great deep sea fishing charters, this is the best place for a guy's trip.
We both got out of work early on Friday morning, jumped into the car, and headed to the Gulf for some sunshine, saltwater, and good eats & drinks too!
But most of all, a guys’ fishing trip to remember!!!
Our boys fishing trip begins
Once in town, we rendezvous over at the Big Beach Brewing Company. This microbrewery/sports bar has a cool ambiance and vibe, with a wide variety of beers to choose from. I, of course, go with a flight to sample the offerings. I ordered a flight with an Irish Red, Creamy Ale, Milk Stout, and an Octoberfest (one of my favorites!)
Exterior of Big Beach Brewing Company, Gulf Shores, AL
Beer flight, Big Beach Brewing Company, Gulf Shores, AL
The brewery began in the garage of a local dentist – the Shamburgers.
The brewery began in the garage of a local dentist and is located in the heart of Gulf Shores. They brew all kinds of ales from IPAs and Stouts to Cream Ales and Belgian style beers. And they have enough fermenters to present up to 12 beers on tap at a time.
They pride themselves on having a "tank-to-tap" operation that ensures it is the freshest beer it can be. And one thing of note, this is a watering hole only and food is NOT on the menu... Unless you consider liquified hops and barley a meal, of course.
Guys’ weekend dinner option…on the water!
After a quick round, we’re ready to EAT! And between Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, the foodie world has accelerated quickly in the past few years… so come hungry!
We head to the historic Flora-Bama Yacht Club on the Alabama - Florida border, hence the name. This restaurant is part of a much larger campus of venues and entertainment options - located across the street from their main buildings on the bayside of the road.
First off, don’t let the name fool you. This “yacht club” is about as casual as they come! Located on Ole River, enjoy scenic views of the river and boats as they pass by. More on this in a moment, I want to fill you in on the history of this place.
Exterior of Florabama Yacht Club, Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, AL
The Flora-Bama, proper, has five stages for live music and features music of all tastes, so check the schedule on which stages have which bands playing - there are numerous stages. Also, the Flora-Bama also has several beach-front bars to enjoy their famous Bushwacker while the sun sets over the water.
This waterfront venue opened in 1964 and is legendary. The Flora-Bama is one of the last, great American roadhouses and many musicians have played here… have you seen the Kenny Chesney music video for the song he wrote about and filmed here? https://youtu.be/kqzM7bP6aRY
You can even go to church at this very bar on Sunday mornings - they have a beach service… whaaa?!?
Florabama Yacht Club, Restaurants on the water at Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, AL
Now, back to the Flora-Bama Yacht Club... it’s known for live music and its sandy beach towards the bay. They have a marina next to it so a great stop if you’re boating to simply pull in for a meal. And what makes this part of the Flora-Bama campus special is that it has a more family vibe - kid-friendly for sure. And, as responsible husbands and dads, we found this environment to be just perfect!
NOTE, while there’s plenty of seating - in the summer, these seats fill up fast. You want to get there early or you’ll be in for a long wait.
Bushwackers at Florabama Yacht Club, Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, AL
I started our meal with one of their famous Bushwackers - imagine an Arby’s Jamocha Shake with plenty of Rum in it!!! Delicious and dangerous - two of these and you’re a chatty-Cathy! (for some, maybe even one) Be sure to order a bushwacker! It’s the beach’s signature drink and you won’t find a better one than at Flora-Bama.
Oysters with the guys at Florabama Yacht Club, Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, AL
Coconut Shrimp at Florabama Yacht Club, Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, AL
What was on the beachy menu?
To eat, we tried all the things - Firecracker Coconut Shrimp, Firecracker Calamari, Greek Shrimp Nachos (super unique), and as I always like to partake of at the beach - Raw Oysters.
And for our main courses, my buddy, Adrian, orders the Blackened Gulf Tripletail while I get the Wasabi Pea Crusted Seared Tuna… it’s delicious.
Wasabi Tuna, Florabama Yacht Club, Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, AL
Tripletail, Florabama Yacht Club, Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, AL
The perfect beachside place to stay in Orange Beach for a guys’ trip
Once we finished, we headed to our hotel, The Hilton Garden Inn at Orange Beach. This beachside hotel is perfect for being both on the beach and centrally located to all of the activities you might want to partake in. They have two pools, one is inside, and a sizeable hot tub with a path leading straight out to the beach.
Poolside, beach view from the Hilton Garden Inn at Orange Beach
Stylish lobby, Hilton Garden Inn at Orange Beach
Free Breakfast, Hilton Garden Inn at Orange Beach
In addition, they have a free breakfast feature… not just continental, but custom omelets, fresh fruits, and other options.
This amenity ended up being a GREAT ADDITION to our stay.
Yo, that was only day one! You won’t believe the day two adventures!
When these dads get the chance to get away, it’s usually not anything complicated in our planning. To keep it simple we sought out Reel Surprise Charters at San Roc Cay Marina and Reel Surprise Charters offers a fleet of 14 boats for deep sea fishing from Orange Beach for inshore trips and even overnight trips.
Fishing Charter - the guys’ trip must-do activity!
We connected with Captain Scott at Hooked Up Inshore Charters. While we obviously look like adults, Captain Scott told us he’s also happy to work with families and kids... Good thing, because I’m sure our snarky behavior likely leaned more childish than his typical clients.
We had him shaking his head and laughing quite often throughout the morning.
And thankfully, Captain Scott always carries enough live bait to keep the fishing exciting and enjoyable… we certainly tested that boundary. The best part, you don’t need anything but to show up. Captain Scott provides great fishing equipment, knowledge of the best fishing spots, and the patience to guide even the most inexperienced if necessary.
Recommended - if you have preferences for snacks or drinks, be sure to bring them along. It’s a long time being out on the water and you’re going to want to be hydrated and nourished.
Our fishing brought in over two dozen fish and kept the morning active and fun. We thoroughly enjoyed our adventure.
Deep-sea fishing vs. inshore fishing, which is better for you?
The inshore experience is ideal for those with motion sickness, lower budgets, and a short trip (like this one). However, after this fantastic experience, we’re ready to up our game to the big waters. We want to go for even bigger fish on bigger rigs. This trip was perfect for getting started and getting into the experience. We’ve now been bitten by the sea fishing bug and can’t wait for MORE!!
Day two, where to eat in Gulf Shores?
Afterward, we skipped down the road just a little bit to grab lunch at The Gulf. Admittedly, this is one of my favorite restaurants in the area. It’s all outdoor seating with palm trees, sand, and artistically placed grass. Created exclusively with steel storage containers, they’ve continued to evolve this restaurant into a beautiful, relaxing, and family-friendly destination.
Lounge around with a cocktail and watch the yachts come in and out of the bay channel.
Or grab some food and enjoy the shade of beautiful palm trees. And this is where they excel - not an extensive menu, but enough options that they have finessed into the delicious best. From seafood to burgers, my favorite is the grouper sandwich. It’s very delicious!!! We also threw in an order of tuna poke too.
Lunch at The Gulf, Gulf Shores & Orange Beach places to eat
After lunch, it was playtime on a Cat Boat!
Just on the other side of the bridge is Orange Beach Cat Boat Tours… yes, I know you’ve likely never heard of a “cat boat”... imagine strapping a lawn chair to a couple of paddleboards and putting a motor on the back. That’s pretty close.
The experts can guide you on a narrated and guided two-hour tour in the waters of Orange Beach... We, however, chose to go solo and explore on our own.
The boats sit really close to the water and though they say you can boat in regular clothes, grab your swimsuit or board shorts - you should be prepared to get a little wet. Especially if you like to jump the wakes and play. We’re dudes… of course, that’s what we’re going to do!
And of note, there is a small compartment for dry storage to keep your valuables from getting lost or wet. In addition, be mindful of time as the marina is in the middle of a no-wake zone and it will take you about 10-15 minutes just to get to where you can open up the throttle… and then you’ll need another 10-15 minutes on the way back in.
We spent our remaining hours at the beach doing some of our favorite things…eating and drinking!
A restaurant that came recommended is called Luna’s Eat & Drink. (don’t be distracted by their website, the food and ambiance are far better than the pics and graphics represent)
Luna’s has one of the largest selections of craft beer on tap on the island, including beer from local brewers like Big Beach Brewing Company (our earlier stop) and Fairhope Brewing Company in nearby Fairhope, AL.
Luna’s is known for its twist on Southern/Soul Food classics. For your fried chicken fix, be sure to try the Nashville Hot Chicken and ask what the deviled egg of the day is!
I did a flight of beers to start - Serda Jumilator, Big Beach Porter, Left Hand Stout, Westbrook PB Shake, and Bell’s Expedition Stout.
Beer flight at Luna’s Eat and Drink in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach
Appetizers at Luna’s Eat and Drink in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach
Our favorite appetizers at Luna’s
Pimiento Hush Puppies - Fried, fluffy and delicious. Served with housemade blueberry pepper jelly.
Deviled Eggs - Four Chef's choice deviled eggs served with housemade pickles, seasoned pork skins and a scoop of pimiento cheese.
Crab and Artichoke Dip -Blue crab and artichoke hearts baked with Swiss and Parmesan cheeses. Served with grilled pita bread
For entrees at Luna’s:
Stuffed Gulf Grouper - Fresh Gulf Grouper stuffed with housemade cornbread, bay shrimp and Conecuh sausage over a bed of fried Brussels sprouts and topped with Creole BBQ cream sauce.
Braised Beef Pot Roast - Braised chuck roast and roasted vegetables cooked in pan jus over mashed potatoes. Served with garlic bread.
Side of Mac n’ Cheese - A skillet of Cavatapi pasta, oven-baked in a rich cheese sauce and topped with seasoned bread crumbs.
For dessert:
Holy Smoke - A jar with layers of chocolate pudding and sweetened cream cheese over a pecan shortbread crust. Topped with whipped cream and sweet heat pecans.
Caramel Pecan Cheesecake - exactly what it says!
After full bellies and a full day, it was back to the Hilton Garden Inn at Orange Beach.
I wish I could say it was a late night of poker and cigars, but we were worn out… so off to bed it was.
Before we departed for home…we stopped at one more Gulf Shore restaurant!
Upon sleeping in a little the next morning, we headed to Tacky Jack’s, the self-proclaimed “best breakfast on the island.” If you’re REALLY hungry, indulge in the Farmer’s Omelet. It’s more than enough food, for sure. As for me, I ordered the shrimp & grits and customized it with two fried eggs on top… it was DELICIOUS!
They have three locations on the island and the Gulf Shores restaurant offers views of the Intracoastal Waterway. The Orange Beach and Fort Morgan locations are your waterfront options.
Be sure to ask for a piece of duct tape and a sharpie to leave your name on the wall! I found the tape from our family’s visit of two years ago still on the wall.
This place has a fun, beachy atmosphere, and during the day, super chill and family-minded.
Ultimately, it was a great trip. And we hope it inspires other dads, moms, families, or whatever group you can gather to take time in this beautiful area of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores for your next getaway!
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#RoadTripUSA, #BestWeekendRoadTrips: A weekend getaway just for dads.
*please call ahead to book reservations and inquire about COVID19 closures and restrictions
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