• Enjoy the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.beach image by Horticulture from Fotolia.com
  
  Miles of white sandy beaches, warm clear water and beautiful sunsets--this is what you will experience on the Gulf Coast of Alabama. Playing in the warm water with the family is always a great vacation idea, and Orange Beach offers recreational activities for everyone. Visit nearby Gulf State Park with more than 6,000 acres of dunes, forest and sandy beaches. Deep sea fishing in the Gulf of Mexico is a major attraction, and several tour companies are available to take you out. For the history buff in the family, take a trip out to Fort Morgan State Historic Site and visit this Spanish-American War fort. After a very busy day of exploring and recreating, try one of Orange Beach's restaurants to satisfy your hunger.
  
  

Calypso Joe's

• Calypso Joe's specializes in a Caribbean theme with exotic tropical drinks like Lava Flow 151, made with Bacardi 151 rum and pina colada mix. Begin your meal with raw oyster shooters served in a shot glass with a Caribbean cocktail sauce. Try a bowl of Caribbean black bean soup topped with sour cream and move on to one of Calypso Joe's speciality salads (which they refer to as seaweeds) such as Jamaican barbecue salad with slow-roasted pork over mixed greens. Entrees include grilled shrimp kabobs and softshell crabs tossed with island spices. Calypso Joe's also offers a kids menu.
  
  Calypso Joe's
  27075 Marina Road
  Orange Beach, AL 36561
  (251) 981-1415
  calypsojoes.com
  
  

Cosmo's Restaurant and Bar

• Open for lunch and dinner, Cosmo's (named after the owner's rescue dog) offers an eclectic menu. Lunch begins with appetizers such as firecracker shrimp or grilled vegetables served on lavish bread. Try duck and andouille gumbo for lunch filled with okra and traditional gumbo spices. Lunch entrees range from a Cuban pulled pork sandwich to grilled catfish fillet. Dinner appetizers feature favorites such as crab cakes and crawfish tails. Move on to a roasted red pepper Caesar salad and a bowl of the soup of the day. Dinner entrees range from seafood pasta to softshell crab and hand-cut 14 oz. ribeye steaks. An extensive wine and beer list is available.
  
  Cosmo's Restaurant and Bar
  25753 Canal Road
  Orange Beach, AL 36561
  (251) 948-9663
  cosmosrestaurantandbar.com
  
  

Geno's Fresh Catch Grill

• Geno's Fresh Catch Grill sits on the second floor of Zekes' Landing in Orange Beach and offers dining guests views of Cotton Bayou and the marina. Open for dinner, Geno's offers a menu of diverse seafood specialties. Every night Geno's features a daily catch that changes. Items on the fresh catch menu may include fresh grouper, yellow-fin tuna or flounder. Begin your dinner with a sushi appetizer or favorites such as gulf shrimp cocktail or fried green tomatoes. For a lighter fare, try a baby spinach salad with candied pecans and hot bacon dressing. A bowl of crab meat, corn and clam chowder can round out the salad dish. Entrees range from gulf shrimp scampi to jumbo lump crab cakes. Certified prime steaks are also available. Geno's offers an extensive wine list to round out the menu.
  
  Geno's Fresh Catch Grill
  26619 Perdido Beach Blvd.
  Orange Beach, AL 36561
  (251) 975-1388
  genosfreshcatchgrill.com