Large Groups
Family Reunion on the Alabama Gulf Coast: A Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Planning Guide
By Avara Stays · Updated November 2, 2026
A family reunion asks a lot of one place: room for grandparents to rest and cousins to run, a table long enough for everyone, and a beach that photographs well. Gulf Shores and Orange Beach do all three. This guide covers how to pick your dates, how the family can sleep across our beachfront duplex and our Gulf-front condo, where to hold the big dinner, and the rules for a group photo on the sand, using the cities’, the parks’ and the venues’ own published information.
Picking your reunion dates
Start with the calendar of the busiest people in the family, then weigh the season. The tourism board’s reunion planning guide says fall and winter bring fewer crowds, while summer is the easy answer when everyone needs the kids out of school.
| Season | Good for | Plan around |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | School-age cousins and long beach days | Summer stays at the Beachfront Duplex run Saturday to Saturday. The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30. |
| Fall | Smaller crowds, per the tourism board | NOAA puts the peak of hurricane season around September 10. The National Shrimp Festival fills Gulf Shores October 7–10, 2027, which its organizers describe as a weekend with nearly 250,000 people. |
| Winter and the holidays | Multi-generation holiday gatherings and long stays | See our Christmas and New Year’s guide and our winter guide. Gulf State Park’s Beach Pavilion is not rented on major holidays. |
| Spring | Easter and spring break weeks | Gulf Shores bans alcohol on its beach sand during spring break; see our beach rules guide. The Sand in My Boots festival is May 21–23, 2027. |
Two more planning notes. Minimum stays can be longer in peak season and on holidays, so check the calendar before you send the save-the-date. And if you want a park pavilion for the big day, Gulf State Park takes picnic pavilion reservations up to a year ahead.
Where everyone sleeps
Most reunions want the family under one roof, with somewhere for each branch to retreat to. Our two Gulf Coast homes do that in different ways.
| Beachfront Duplex, Gulf Shores | Oasis Unit 2201, Orange Beach | |
|---|---|---|
| Sleeps | 27 (8 bedrooms, 6 full baths) | 10 (4 bedrooms, 4 full baths and a half bath) |
| Layout | A beachfront duplex of two side-by-side homes, each with its own entrance, kitchen and living room. Also bookable one side at a time: Dolphin View A sleeps 14, Dolphin View B sleeps 13 | Gulf-front corner condo; every bedroom has its own bathroom |
| Beds | 4 king master bedrooms, a double bedroom, a twin room, two bunk rooms, a queen sofa bed on Side A and a pull-out sofa on Side B | 3 king bedrooms and a bedroom with two queen beds |
| Gathering space | Two kitchens, two living rooms, Gulf-view decks, outdoor grills and picnic tables, and a beachside in-ground pool (heated on request at no extra charge) | Large Gulf-front balcony with an outdoor living room; resort lazy river and slide, kids’ splash pad, indoor pool with hot tubs, charcoal grills and an outdoor pavilion |
| For little ones | Porta-cribs, high chairs and safety gates | Kids’ splash pad, game room and courts at the resort |
| Parking | Up to 6 vehicles (3 per side); large trucks and SUVs may not fit under the carport | HOA parking passes required, 2 vehicles maximum |
Home details are from the owner’s listing. See each home’s page for photos of every bedroom.
Three ways to arrange the family
- Up to 27: the whole duplex. One branch of the family takes Side A and the other takes Side B. Each side has its own kitchen and living room, so two households can keep their own rhythm and meet at the pool. Both sides have a bunk room, which keeps the cousins together.
- Up to 37: the duplex plus Oasis. The two homes are about 6 miles, or roughly 13 minutes, apart by car with light traffic. Oasis suits the relatives who want a quieter Gulf-view retreat with a private bath for every bedroom. Each home is booked separately.
- Up to 14: one side of the duplex. A smaller reunion fits in Dolphin View A (sleeps 14) or Dolphin View B (sleeps 13). With 15 or more, book the whole duplex.
For a closer look at how 20 to 27 people use the duplex, see our beachfront duplex guide. To compare the two towns, read Gulf Shores vs. Orange Beach.
Grandparents, little ones and everyone between
- Stairs and bedrooms. The duplex sits above its parking, so expect stairs. Side B has a king master bedroom on the main floor for guests who prefer fewer stairs. Oasis Unit 2201 is a condo in a resort tower; a few guests have mentioned elevator waits on busy check-in days, so send luggage up in waves.
- Beach access with a wheelchair or walker. Gulf Place in Gulf Shores has a 20-foot-wide concrete promenade and four beach access mats. The mats stop short of the water because of the slope, and the city says its beach safety officers and lifeguards are happy to help. The tourism board lists mats at Gulf State Park’s Beach Pavilion and at Cotton Bayou in Orange Beach too. Ike’s Beach Service rents and delivers beach wheelchairs.
- Little ones. Children are welcome at all our homes. The duplex has porta-cribs, high chairs and safety gates, and its pool sits on the beach side, so younger children can move between sand and pool with an adult close by. Beach towels are provided; beach chairs are not, so rent them from Ike’s.
- Beach safety. Check the flags every time. Double red means the Gulf is closed, and our beach rules guide explains each color.
- Bringing the family dog? Dolphin View A and B allow 1 pet each (a pet fee applies; more pets or a dog over 20 lb need our approval). Oasis Unit 2201 does not allow pets, and neither city allows pets on its sand beaches.
Group activities for every generation
The tourism board suggests reunion outings such as a dolphin cruise, mini golf and a sandcastle-building class. These are the ones we could confirm on the venues’ own pages, with a note for each age group:
- Sand Castle University: private sand sculpting classes that come to your beach house, condo or a public beach. The one-hour Sand 101 class is recommended for all ages, family members who only want to watch aren’t counted, and the company says it can take up to 40 participants per class for large groups.
- Gulf State Park Pier: open 24 hours, with covered seating, comfort stations at the midpoint, rod and reel rentals and wheelchair-accessible rail fishing. Anglers need an Alabama saltwater fishing license. 3.5 mi, about 9 min by car from the duplex and 2.9 mi, about 6 min by car from Oasis.
- Gulf State Park Nature Center: free, open Monday to Saturday from 9 AM to 4 PM, with guided nature, beach and pier walks and animal ambassadors such as owls, turtles and alligators. It sits inside the campground, which charges $5 per vehicle to enter.
- Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail: the tourism board describes wide, paved paths and boardwalks suited to wheelchairs, strollers and walkers, with benches, bathrooms and water fountains along the way.
- Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo: open daily 9 AM to 4 PM. Groups of 15 or more get 15% off regular admission with a reservation at least 48 hours ahead, and there is a separate senior rate. Giraffe feedings run 10 to 11 AM and 2 to 3 PM. 7.3 mi, about 17 min by car from the duplex.
- Ferris wheel at The Wharf, Orange Beach: 112 feet tall, with 24 gondolas holding up to 140 people, so the whole family can ride at once. One gondola is wheelchair accessible. 7.7 mi, about 14 min by car from Oasis.
- Fort Morgan State Historic Site: the 1834 fort and its museum. The commission says the museum, restrooms and the fort’s ground level are accessible, and groups book through the commission. 23.8 mi, about 37 min by car from the duplex.
Group ticket rules for Waterville USA and OWA are in our things to do with a big group guide.
The reunion dinner
Most reunions build toward one big meal. You can host it at the home, book a private room, or take over a beachfront pavilion. Our Gulf Coast homes don’t host weddings or events, so if your get-together goes beyond the people staying with us, plan it at a venue and tell us about it before booking.
At the house
The duplex has two full kitchens, outdoor grills and picnic tables, so two cooking crews can work at once. Two local services make a seafood night easy:
- 5 O’Clock Seafood Boil Service buys the seafood from local merchants and cooks the boil in your vacation rental. It says the in-home process takes a couple of hours, everything is served on disposable trays, and it prefers groups of 15 to 40.
- Topsail Steamer on Gulf Shores Parkway sells ready-to-steam Party Pots for 20, 25 or 30 people for pickup, with a burner included. Ask us before you plan an outdoor boil at the home.
Private and semi-private rooms
| Venue | Published capacity | What the venue says |
|---|---|---|
| Coast at The Beach Club, Fort Morgan peninsula, Gulf Shores | Veranda up to 80; whole restaurant up to 130 | Gulf-front, with custom or regular menus. Parties over 30 are handled by its catering team. |
| Original Oyster House Boardwalk, Gulf Shores | Lighthouse Room up to 45; Pelican’s Landing (semi-private, waterfront) up to 40 | Rooms available in non-peak seasons and confirmed through management. Private party menus and seafood buffets. |
| Voyagers, Orange Beach | Not published | Gulf-front group dining and special events; full restaurant buyouts may be available on select dates. |
| Cobalt, The Restaurant, Orange Beach | Not published | Bay views under the Perdido Bay Bridge, a private dining room and a large outdoor deck. It names reunions among the events its team caters and says it can host parties at a location of your choosing. |
| Barometer, Orange Beach | 75 upstairs; 40 on the patio; 250 for the whole venue | On the water. |
| The Port at Zeke’s, Zeke’s Landing Marina | Up to 350 | Marina views, indoor and outdoor space, in-house catering by Zeke’s Restaurant only; lists family celebrations among its private parties. |
Capacities as published by each venue on November 2, 2026. Ask each venue about your date, menu and minimums.
For a casual night out, The Hangout, across from the Gulf Shores public beach, says family reunions are always welcome, with plenty of seating and entertainment for everyone from toddlers to grandparents. It is 2.2 mi, about 6 min by car from the duplex.
Under a pavilion at Gulf State Park
- The Beach Pavilion rents for evening events from 5 to 10 PM, with accessible ramps and climate-controlled restrooms. Outside caterers need a $40 vendor permit from the park at least 7 days ahead. Grilling and boils are allowed in the designated space, but frying is not. The park asks you to contact its special events office about any alcohol, and the pavilion is not rented on major holidays. Rental fees and the deposit are on the park’s page.
- The Lake Shelby picnic pavilions rent from 8 AM to sunset for a lakeside lunch. Each has at least four picnic tables and a charcoal grill (bring your own charcoal and utensils), there is no power, and the swimming area has no lifeguards.
The family photo on the beach
The tourism board’s photographer directory lists local family photographers and notes that sunrise and sunset sessions are popular, and that sessions typically run 45 minutes to an hour. Before you book, know the local rules:
- Your own photos need no permit. The City of Gulf Shores production permit covers paid film, video and audio work and exempts recording for private or family use.
- Book and pay your photographer before the trip. An Orange Beach 2025 ordinance prohibits soliciting business, booking reservations or taking payment on the beach. Ask your photographer to confirm they hold whatever city license or permit their work requires.
- No drones. The tourism board says recreational drones are prohibited on Gulf Shores and Orange Beach beaches.
- Keep the setup simple. Gulf Shores does not allow tents larger than 7 by 7 feet and 4 feet tall outside the designated area at Gulf Place, and asks that no chairs, gazebos or arches be placed on its public beaches for weddings. Orange Beach caps tents at 12 by 12 feet. Everything must come off the sand an hour after sunset, and the dunes are off-limits in both cities, so pose on the beach, not in the sea oats.
Parking and arriving
- The duplex parks up to 6 vehicles, 3 per side. Large trucks and SUVs may not fit under the carport.
- Oasis Unit 2201 allows 2 vehicles with HOA parking passes, bought through The Oasis HOA before you arrive. We send the registration link in your check-in email, guest wristbands are required, and oversized vehicles and trailers are not allowed.
- Carpool. With relatives driving in from several cities, agree a car plan before the trip. Pensacola International Airport is 39.3 mi, about 72 min by car from the duplex and 33.3 mi, about 60 min by car from Oasis.
Drive times from the duplex
| To | Distance | Drive |
|---|---|---|
| The Hangout (Gulf Shores public beach) | 2.2 mi | ~6 min |
| Gulf State Park Pier | 3.5 mi | ~9 min |
| Waterville USA | 2.9 mi | ~7 min |
| The Wharf (Orange Beach) | 8.1 mi | ~16 min |
| Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo | 7.3 mi | ~17 min |
| OWA Parks & Resort (Foley) | 12.6 mi | ~22 min |
| Fort Morgan State Historic Site | 23.8 mi | ~37 min |
| Pensacola International Airport (PNS) | 39.3 mi | ~72 min |
Approximate driving distance and time with free-flowing traffic, from OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM), checked October 23, 2026. Summer weekends, spring break and the Highway 59 corridor can add a lot of time.
What families say
“Our family stayed at Sarah's home for 3 days while we attended my niece's wedding on the beach just a few houses down. The house was perfect - plenty of room for our party of 11. We enjoyed the beach and the pool. Plenty of parking for our 3 cars. Sarah communicated proactively, and responded quickly. I highly recommend this home...and Sarah.”
“Overall, we had a great time staying at Sarah’s place! Great views and we loved the pool. Plenty of space for our group! Close to a lot of great restaurants!”
“We had a wonderful time staying here! This is the perfect condo to bring the whole family to! We will definitely be back!”
Quoted exactly from Airbnb. These guests stayed in one home, not across both. Dolphin View A is rated ★ 4.78 from 9 reviews and Oasis Unit 2201 ★ 4.81 from 16 reviews on Airbnb, as shown October 23, 2026.
Book your reunion
How to book all 27 guests
- Pick your dates in the Beachfront Duplex calendar. It books both sides together.
- See your full total with nightly rates, fees and taxes before you pay.
- Pay 50% to book through our secure OwnerRez checkout. The balance is due 30 days before arrival.
- Questions first? Email host@avarastays.com and the owner will answer.
Adding Oasis for up to 10 more? Choose your dates in the Oasis Unit 2201 calendar; it is booked separately. Our cancellation policy for direct bookings: a 100% refund more than 30 days before check-in, a 50% refund from 30 to 15 days before check-in, and no refund within 14 days.
Why book direct with the owner
- No Airbnb or Vrbo guest service fee. You check out with the owner's own booking system, OwnerRez, so no booking-site service fee is added. The calendar on each home's page shows nightly rates, fees and taxes before you pay.
- Talk to the owner. Questions about beds, pets, parking or your group go straight to us at host@avarastays.com.
- Clear cancellation. Cancel more than 30 days before check-in for a 100% refund. Cancel 30 to 15 days before check-in for a 50% refund. No refund within 14 days of check-in.
- Pay in two parts. 50% at booking, and the balance 30 days before arrival.
- Same homes, same owner. These are the same homes you may have seen on Airbnb or Vrbo, run by the same family.
Quick answers
How many people can stay together for a family reunion?
The Beachfront Duplex in Gulf Shores sleeps 27: a beachfront duplex of two side-by-side homes, Dolphin View A (sleeps 14) and Dolphin View B (sleeps 13), each with its own entrance, kitchen and living room, with 8 bedrooms and 6 full baths in all. Oasis Unit 2201 in Orange Beach sleeps 10. The two homes are about 6 miles apart and are booked separately, so a family of up to 37 can stay across both.
Is the Beachfront Duplex one big house?
No. It is a duplex, not a single house: two side-by-side homes, each with its own entrance, kitchen and living room, that share a beachside pool. Booked together, the pool is yours alone.
When is the best time for a family reunion in Gulf Shores?
It depends on your family. The tourism board says fall and winter bring fewer crowds, and summer works when you need the kids out of school. The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, peaking around September 10, according to NOAA’s National Hurricane Center. Summer stays at the Beachfront Duplex run Saturday to Saturday.
Where can a family reunion of 30 or more have dinner together?
Several venues publish room sizes for private parties: Coast at The Beach Club (veranda up to 80, the whole restaurant up to 130), the Original Oyster House Boardwalk (rooms for up to 45 and 40 outside peak seasons), Barometer in Orange Beach (75 upstairs, 250 for the whole venue) and The Port at Zeke’s (up to 350, catered in-house). Gulf State Park also rents its Beach Pavilion for evening events from 5 to 10 PM.
Can we have a seafood boil at the rental?
Yes, two local options come to you or go home with you: 5 O’Clock Seafood Boil Service cooks a boil in your vacation rental and prefers groups of 15 to 40, and Topsail Steamer in Gulf Shores sells pickup Party Pots for 20, 25 or 30 people. Ask us before you plan an outdoor boil at the home.
Do we need a permit for family photos on the beach?
Not for your own photos. The City of Gulf Shores production permit applies to paid film, video and audio work and exempts recording for private or family use. If you hire a photographer, book and pay them before your trip: Orange Beach prohibits booking or taking payment on the beach, and neither city allows recreational drones on the beach.
Are the beaches accessible for grandparents with limited mobility?
Gulf Place in Gulf Shores has a 20-foot-wide concrete promenade and four beach access mats, and Gulf State Park’s Beach Pavilion and Cotton Bayou in Orange Beach have mats too. The mats stop short of the water, and Gulf Shores beach safety officers and lifeguards will help. Ike’s Beach Service rents beach wheelchairs.
Are children welcome?
Yes, children are welcome. The duplex has bunk rooms on both sides plus porta-cribs, high chairs and safety gates, and the Oasis resort has a lazy river, slide and kids’ splash pad.
Can we hold a party or event at the home?
Our Gulf Coast homes don’t host weddings or events. Tell us about your reunion plans before booking, and use one of the venues in this guide for a larger get-together.
Get notified of openings and group deals
Planning a group trip? Join our list and we'll email you when dates open up and when we have group deals. Occasional emails only.
Stay with us
Our homes are owner-managed by Avara Stays and booked directly with the host:
- Beachfront Duplex: sleeps 27, 8 bedrooms, Gulf Shores
- Dolphin View A: sleeps 14, 4 bedrooms, Gulf Shores
- Dolphin View B: sleeps 13, 4 bedrooms, Gulf Shores
- Oasis Unit 2201: sleeps 10, 4 bedrooms, Orange Beach
Sources
Checked November 2, 2026. Rules, prices and hours change, so confirm with the venue before you go.
- Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism: Plan a family reunion (updated Aug. 28, 2026)
- Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism: Reunions and group vacations
- NOAA National Hurricane Center: Tropical cyclone climatology (Atlantic season June 1 to November 30)
- National Shrimp Festival: 2027 dates (October 7–10, 2027)
- Sand in My Boots: 2027 dates (May 21–23, 2027)
- City of Gulf Shores: Beach Rules & Regulations
- City of Gulf Shores: Commercial film, video and audio production permit (family use exempt)
- City of Gulf Shores: Beach accessibility
- City of Orange Beach: Leave Only Footprints beach rules
- City of Orange Beach: Ordinance 2025-1506, commercial activity on beaches
- Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism: Beach rules and drones (updated Sept. 9, 2026)
- Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism: Family and event photographers
- Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism: Wheelchair-accessible beaches and trails (updated Sept. 25, 2026)
- Alabama State Parks: Gulf State Park Beach Pavilion
- Alabama State Parks: Gulf State Park picnic pavilions (Lake Shelby)
- Alabama State Parks: Gulf State Park Pier
- Alabama State Parks: Gulf State Park Nature Center
- Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo: Tickets and group rates
- Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism: Ferris Wheel at The Wharf
- Alabama Historical Commission: Fort Morgan, plan your visit
- Sand Castle University: Sand sculpting classes
- The Hangout: Gulf Shores
- Original Oyster House: Group events
- Coast Restaurant at The Beach Club: Private events
- Voyagers: Group dining and private events
- Cobalt, The Restaurant: Catering and private dining
- The Port at Zeke’s: Waterfront event venue
- Barometer Orange Beach: Private events
- 5 O’Clock Seafood Boil Service: How it works
- Topsail Steamer Gulf Shores: Party Pots
- Ike’s Beach Service: Beach equipment and beach wheelchair rentals
- OpenStreetMap / OSRM routing (drive times)