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Celebrate your birthday in Gulf Shores with beach mornings at Gulf State Park, zoo encounters, Tropic Falls thrills, sunset bonfires, waterfront dinners, and live music.
Planning a Gulf Shores vacation and birthday celebration.
Planning a Gulf Shores vacation and a birthday celebration at the same time? There's nothing like celebrating another trip around the sun on Alabama's Gulf Coast.
As I like to say, there are birthdays... and then there are birthdays at the beach. In Gulf Shores, the Gulf does most of the decorating for you. You can turn the white-sand beaches into the stage for a unique celebration and easily adapt it for kids, teens, or adults. Or plan a birthday bash around seriously good food at the region's stellar dining spots, get a dose of adrenaline at a theme park (ideal for teens), celebrate with a beach bonfire, and so much more.
At Vacation Homes Collections, your comfort and happiness are our top priorities. With a wide variety of holiday homes in Gulf Shores and amazing vacation rentals in Orange Beach, Alabama, we've been creating dream vacations for years, ensuring you and your family have the best time possible.
As experts in the area, we're always sharing insider tips on our destination blog. There, you'll find tips on cultural attractions in Gulf Shores, family-friendly activities in Orange Beach, and a complete insider guide to both towns, plus Fort Morgan and Perdido Key.
In this guide, I've rounded up some fun, ready-to-steal ideas for celebrating a birthday in Gulf Shores, tailored to every generation, from cake-loving kids to thrill-seeking teens and grown-ups who know how to do it right.
Let's jump into the details!
Birthday Fun for Kids
For younger visitors, birthday celebrations are serious business. Fortunately, Gulf Shores is home to plenty of memory-making options that feel like an upgrade from the usual backyard bash.
Make It a Beach Morning
Start with the simplest pleasure in Gulf Shores: a morning on the sand at Gulf State Park. You can get creative to shape it into a full day of celebration. For example, organize beach games, kite flying, and sandcastle competitions. The wide, quiet shoreline is the perfect stage for this kind of outdoor fun.
Bring cupcakes in a cooler, stake out a colorful umbrella, and there you have it: a simple, unique, and scenic birthday celebration the little ones will certainly remember.
If you want to elevate the sandcastle situation, book a private lesson with a local sand sculptor who can turn a birthday theme—mermaids, sea turtles, even pirate ships—into an impressive shoreline centerpiece.
Animal Encounters & Wild Adventures
Few birthday surprises top a close-up animal encounter, and the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo is the perfect place for that. At this lively zoo, kids can meet sloths, lemurs, and kangaroos through supervised animal experiences. The experience is interactive and educational, and it makes for cute photos that stand out from the usual party snapshots.
For more thrills, head to The Track Family Fun Park, where the little ones will have a blast with go-karts, mini golf, bumper boats, and arcade games. Here's a tip: let the birthday kid choose the first race lane and the playlist for the drive over.
Lunch with a Side of Energy
For a celebratory meal that doubles as entertainment, book a table at The Hangout. This local favorite hosts lively music and foam parties (in season), is just a few steps from the beach, and features a menu with treats kids will love. The Hangout offers birthday party bookings, where you can reserve space and work with their event staff to plan details like food and timing. You can also bring your balloons to make it a true birthday party.
Teens & Tweens: Keep It Cool
Planning a birthday celebration for teens takes a bit more thought. The goal here is to give them enough freedom to feel independent, while keeping just enough organization in place so the day runs smoothly and still feels special.
Beach Day, Upgraded
Instead of sandcastles, what about turning a birthday celebration into something that feels more adventurous? At Gulf State Park, teens will certainly enjoy a fun bike ride along the Backcountry Trail, kayaking or paddleboarding in the calm waters of Lake Shelby, before shifting into hangout mode at a shaded picnic spot, where you can enjoy cold drinks, special snacks, and a beautiful birthday cake. Don't forget to ask your favorite teen to prepare a birthday playlist with the tunes they love.
If your teen is the adventurous type who likes a bit of adrenaline, book parasailing along the shoreline. It's a moment you can share, and the views above the Gulf are truly a gift.
Arcade Nights & Amusement Thrills
Teens usually like high-energy experiences, so give them the gift of a visit to Tropic Falls at OWA in Foley, just a 20-minute drive from Gulf Shores. This award-winning theme park and all-new indoor water park will definitely make for a birthday celebration packed with adrenaline and laughs.
Tropic Falls has it all for a birthday bash. This entertainment haven combines an indoor water park with 75-foot water slides and classic theme park rides like roller coasters, plus a state-of-the-art arcade.
Local tip: You can plan a birthday party with them and take the celebration to a whole new level. Tropic Falls offers different packages that can include food and free passes for up to 10 guests.
Extra tip: Back in Gulf Shores, an evening ride on the Ferris wheel at The Wharf offers skyline views and a low-key moment to mark the occasion. Add boutique browsing, ice cream, and maybe a group dinner at one of the waterfront restaurants, and you've nailed the balance between fun and cool.
Sunset Beach Bonfire
Is there anything more fitting for a birthday celebration on the Gulf Coast than a beach bonfire? It's a great option for teens celebrating their new age by the shore.
Local companies handle the permits, set up the chairs, and bring the s'mores. Add a special playlist and extra snacks, and the birthday party is ready. Time it to begin just before sunset so nature can gift you a spectacular show
Adults: Low-Key Luxe or Full Celebration Mode
For grown-ups, a good way to celebrate is to plan a full day that mixes a restorative retreat, a culinary crawl, and dance-until-midnight fun.
Start with Self-Care
Book a treatment at a local Gulf Coast spa or keep it simple and claim a quiet stretch of sand with a good book and a barefoot walk along the shoreline (a great opportunity to contemplate and feel grateful for one more trip around the sun). At sunrise, Gulf Shores feels calm and almost private, especially outside the height of summer.
A Birthday Dinner to Remember
Book a table at The Gulf for a waterfront dining celebration in a relaxed, modern setting built from repurposed shipping containers. This is one of the trendiest spots in Orange Beach, just a short drive from Gulf Shores, and it lives up to the hype.
There's nothing like a seafood feast for a birthday celebration on the Gulf Coast. Order Gulf shrimp, fresh oysters, and a round of craft cocktails as boats drift by in the marina, and toast with your loved ones.
If you're looking for something more elevated and less casual, reserve dinner at Voyagers, where you can celebrate with refined coastal cuisine, an extensive wine list, and floor-to-ceiling views of the Gulf.
Live Music & Legendary Nights
After dinner, it's time to hit the dance floor and grab a couple more great cocktails. Flora-Bama is the go-to place to shift the mood into something louder (but not too wild). This iconic beach bar is known for excellent live music, a vibrant atmosphere, friendly locals, and a lineup of incredible cocktails.
If you prefer something more low-key, a sunset sail or a private pontoon rental in nearby Orange Beach turns the Gulf into your personal party venue. Champagne, sea breeze, golden light: it's hard to top that!
Multi-Generational Birthdays
Traveling with grandparents, cousins, toddlers, and teens all at once? No worries, in Gulf Shores, you can handle group dynamics surprisingly well. Here are a few tips:
- Spend the morning at the beach.
- Break off for age-specific activities in the afternoon.
- Reunite for a seafood feast and cake at your rental.
Vacation rentals make it easier to coordinate meals, decorations, and downtime. You can hire a private chef for one night, or arrange grocery delivery so the fridge is stocked with celebratory essentials upon arrival.
For group photos, hire a local photographer to capture golden-hour portraits on the sand, so you can enjoy a fun photoshoot with everyone and have a great keepsake for yourself and for the person celebrating the birthday.
Let the sea breeze lead the way — happy birthday on the Gulf Coast!
If you're chasing sunshine, stunning views, and nonstop fun, the Gulf Coast will provide you with unforgettable experiences. ☀️
With years of experience in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, we at Vacation Homes Collections are experts in crafting unforgettable experiences. When you stay with us, all you need to do is soak in the coastal beauty and let it whisk you away, because it surely will!