Things to do

Foley, inland from the beach

Foley is the Baldwin County town about 11 miles north of Gulf Shores on Highway 59, home to OWA with the Tropic Falls water park, Tanger Outlets and Lambert's Cafe. Downtown, the railroad museum in the 1909 depot and the Holmes Medical Museum are open Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 3 pm. Graham Creek Nature Preserve has 650 acres of trails and a kayak launch.

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What to see

Checked November 5, 2026About 20 minutes from the beachMuseums Mon–Sat

Foley, Alabama · Photo: Dofftoubab / Wikimedia Commons, CC0 1.0 · Credits

What to see

Downtown museums and a nature preserve

Both museums are downtown on Laurel Avenue, a short walk apart.

Sources: City of Foley: depot museum, Holmes Medical Museum, nature parks, Coastal Alabama Farmers Market.

OWA and Tropic Falls

Tanger Outlets Foley

Rainy day ideas

Foley Railroad Museum: 125 E Laurel Avenue, in the 1909 depot. Monday to Saturday 10 am–3 pm; model train exhibit Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 10 am–3 pm; event train on Saturdays 10 am–3 pm, weather permitting, last boarding 2:45 pm. 251-943-1818
Holmes Medical Museum: 111 W Laurel Avenue, in the town's hospital from 1936 to 1958. Monday to Saturday 10 am–3 pm
Graham Creek Nature Preserve: 23030 Wolf Bay Drive. 650 acres with multi-use trails, a canoe and kayak launch, disc golf, playgrounds and an interpretive center. Trails open daily from dawn to dusk; nature center Monday to Friday 10 am–4 pm, Saturday 10 am–2 pm. Kayak launch at 23460 Wolf Bay Drive. 251-923-4267
Coastal Alabama Farmers Market: 781 Farmers Market Lane. Saturday 9 am–2 pm. 251-923-2122
OWA and Tropic Falls: 1501 South OWA Boulevard. Downtown OWA is free to walk; the theme park alone is $29.99, Tropic Falls $69.99, plus tax and fees. Free parking
Tanger Outlets: 2601 S McKenzie Street; 93 stores, open daily from 10 am

Where to eat

Four places to eat in Foley

Lambert's and Mugshots are on McKenzie Street near the outlets; Wacked Out Weiner is downtown; Wolf Bay is on Miflin Road.

Lambert's Cafe in Foley — Lambert's Cafe on McKenzie Street in Foley.Foley, Alabama · Photo: nola.agent / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Walmart and grocery stores

Lambert's Cafe: 2981 S. McKenzie Street; "Home of Throwed Rolls", open since 1996. Dinners come with two sides plus the "pass arounds"; kids' menu. Daily, Monday to Thursday 11 am–8:30 pm, Friday to Sunday 11 am–9 pm. 251-943-7655
Wolf Bay: 20801 Miflin Road; seafood and bar, kids' menu. Fall and winter 2026: Sunday to Thursday 11 am–8 pm, Friday and Saturday 11 am–9 pm
Mugshots Grill & Bar: 2802 South McKenzie Street; kids' menu, no dogs on the patio. Sunday to Thursday 10:45 am–10 pm, Friday and Saturday until 11 pm
Wacked Out Weiner: 215 East Laurel Avenue, a 3-minute walk from the railroad museum; kids' menu

History

A railroad town for South Baldwin County

Foley is named for John B. Foley of Chicago, who bought about 50,000 acres here in 1902 and pushed for a rail line. The first station opened in 1905; it burned in 1908, and the depot that now holds the railroad museum replaced it a year later. Foley became a city in 1915 and grew into the farm hub of South Baldwin County, storing and shipping crops, potatoes above all. Passenger and freight trains stopped running in the 1970s.

Source: City of Foley: city history.

Events

Free events in Heritage Park

The city holds its own events in Heritage Park, 101 E. Laurel Avenue, next to the railroad museum.

Source: City of Foley events.

All events in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach

Christmas in the Park
WhenFriday, December 4, 2026, 6 pmWhat it isCarols, the tree lighting and Santa, with hot cocoa; free
Let It Snow
WhenSaturday, December 5, 2026, 9 am–2 pmWhat it isMarket, kids' activities and the Christmas Parade from 10 to 11 am; free

Music and a Movie
WhenSpringWhat it isLive music, family activities and a free movie outdoors
Midday Melodies
WhenSpring and fallWhat it isLive music at lunchtime; bring a lunch or pick one up nearby

Distances

How far Foley is from the beach

Driving times without traffic, from the public beach at Gulf Place and from The Wharf in Orange Beach.

OWA
From Gulf Place11.1 miles, 21 minFrom The Wharf7.3 miles, 13 min
Tanger Outlets
From Gulf Place9.3 miles, 17 minFrom The Wharf9.0 miles, 16 min
Lambert's Cafe
From Gulf Place8.6 miles, 15 minFrom The Wharf8.3 miles, 14 min
Railroad Museum, downtown
From Gulf Place11.2 miles, 20 minFrom The Wharf11.3 miles, 18 min
Graham Creek Nature Preserve
From Gulf Place11.3 miles, 22 minFrom The Wharf7.5 miles, 14 min

Hotels

Hotels in Foley

Staying in Foley puts you near OWA and the outlets. Gulf Place is about 9 to 11 miles away by car.

Fairfield Inn & Suites FoleyFoley · 194 Aryan Court, FoleyTo Gulf Place8.7 mi driveBeachNot on the beachPrices
Holiday Inn Express & Suites FoleyFoley · 3155 Abbey Lane, FoleyTo Gulf Place8.7 mi driveBeachNot on the beachPrices
Hampton Inn FoleyFoley · 3152 Abbey Lane, FoleyTo Gulf Place8.6 mi driveBeachNot on the beachParkingFreePrices
Home2 Suites FoleyFoley · 2750 South McKenzie Street, FoleyTo Gulf Place8.9 mi driveBeachNot on the beachParkingFreePrices
Econo Lodge Inn & Suites FoleyFoley · 2682 S McKenzie St, FoleyTo Gulf Place8.9 mi driveBeachNot on the beachPrices
Cobblestone Hotel & Suites FoleyFoley · 2970 Koniar Way, FoleyTo Gulf Place9.3 mi driveBeachNot on the beachPrices
TownePlace Suites Foley at OWAFoley · 1070 North OWA Boulevard, FoleyTo Gulf Place10.1 mi driveBeachNot on the beachParkingFree on-site parkingPrices
The Hotel MagnoliaFoley · 119 N McKenzie St, FoleyTo Gulf Place11.1 mi driveBeachNot on the beachPrices

What people ask

Quick answers

What county is Foley, Alabama in?

Baldwin County. Foley grew up as the farm hub of South Baldwin County.

Where is Lambert's in Foley?

At 2981 S. McKenzie Street, about 15 minutes by car from Gulf Place. It opens daily at 11 am.

Where is the Walmart in Foley?

The Supercenter is at 2200 S McKenzie Street, open daily 6 am to 11 pm. Its pharmacy (251-943-3320) is open Monday to Saturday 9 am–7 pm and Sunday 10 am–6 pm; grocery pickup and a Murphy gas station are on site.

Is there a water park in Foley?

Yes: Tropic Falls at OWA has an indoor water park under a glass roof that opens. A ticket is $69.99 plus tax and fees; children 3 and under are free.