What do sports art, naval aircraft, and model trains have in common? They’re all displayed in museums in the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach area, and they all make excellent rainy day activities.
I’d never been to any of these places until several years ago. I was vacationing in the area with some friends when the rain moved in and decided to stay for a couple days. So we
decided to check out some of the local museums—the American Sport Art Museum, the National Museum of Naval Aviation, and the City of Foley Museum Archives and Model Train Exhibit were my favorites, and are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to history in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach. See exhibits on hurricane hunters and lagoon fishing at the Gulf Shores Museum, view Indian and fishing artifacts at the Orange Beach Indian & Sea Museum, and get a glimpse of life on the river in the early 20th century at Swift-Coles Historic Home.
Not that you have to wait for a rainy day to visit these places, but this is how we spent those two rainy days that particular vacation and it was well worth it—educational and interesting. You also might visit places like the Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center (with its IMAX dome theater), or maybe take the kids to the arcade at Adventure Island or Shrimpy’s.
Now that it’s officially winter, these ideas could come in handy on those “cold” days when the temperature dips a little too low to enjoy the Gulf air.