Six Must-Experience Gulf Shores Water Sports Activities

When summertime temperatures soar, many beach goers look for alternate ways to cool off. Both Gulf Shores and Orange Beach offer a multitude of activities for water-loving visitors. Get ready to splash in the surf, paddle off into the sunset or even soar high above the water on your next beach vacation with these must-try Gulf Shores water sports activities.

Cat Boats in Orange Beach

Orange Beach Cat Boat Tours is a unique experience in a zippy, yet stable boat with a tour guide who fully narrates the one-and-a-half-hour adventure. It’s a great way to get back to nature, see some wildlife and spend time on Alabama’s coastal waterways. You pilot your own vessel, which adds to the excitement. Each cat boat seats two people. Established in 2017, cat boat tours have quickly become one of the most popular water sports in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

• Call Orange Beach Cat Boat Tours at (251) 980-8410

SUP and Kayaking

Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) is all the rage in water recreation, as is kayaking. Both of these water toys can be rented from various outfitters for watersports in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. If balance and adventure are your strong suit, SUP may be just the thing for fun in the sun. Kayaking is also an exciting way to explore the waterways in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Both SUPs and kayaks are available for rent directly in front of Turquoise Place by Perdido Beach Services. There’s no reason to leave the resort to enjoy a day of water adventure.

• Call Perdido Beach Services at (251) 981-4807

If you prefer a guided tour rather than going solo, there are plenty of options available. While on an Orange Beach vacation at Turquoise Place, call Captain Glenn of Coastal Kayak Excursions. The captain will lead you on a three-hour guided eco-tour of the back bays in Orange Beach. You’ll likely see dolphins swimming nearby and other local marine life, as well.

• Call Coastal Kayak Excursions at (251) 253-2430 

For those vacationing in Fort Morgan rentals at The Beach Club Resort & Spa, don’t miss the opportunity to kayak with WildNative Tours. Float along the waters of the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge and enjoy a peaceful afternoon on the water. Bring your camera (and a dry bag) to capture picture-perfect shots of the flora and fauna of this protected area.

• Call WildNative Tours at (251) 272-4088

Parasailing and Jet Skis

Parasailing is as much fun to watch as it is to participate. Flying high above the beach offers a bird’s eye view of the area. Hop aboard a boat and soar the length of five football fields in the sky. Typically, you can ride single, double or triple. At The Beach Club, you don’t even have to leave our Fort Morgan resort to get your adrenaline pumping. It’s available right from the beach.

Jet Skis are a fun adrenaline rush with waves splashing and the thrill of driving your own watercraft. Just like parasailing, Jet Ski rentals are located onsite at The Beach Club Resort & Spa.

• Call 251-616-3613 to book a parasail or Jet Ski adventure at The Beach Club

Orange Beach Catamaran Adventures

At Turquoise Place, you may recognize Perdido Beach Services for their beach chair rentals, but did you know they rent catamarans (oversized, cool-looking rafts with sails on them)? Exploring the waters of Orange Beach has never been so exhilarating! Perdido Beach Services also gives surfing lessons. Yes! You can hang 10 with other surfing newbies and learn to ride the waves with style.

• Call Perdido Beach Services at (251)981-4807

There are so many fun ways to spend time on the water during a Gulf Shores vacation. You could choose a new adventure every day! Start your adventure by booking your Gulf Shores vacation rental.