Food Truck Festival in Gulf Shores!

Hey friends! Everything on the Alabama Gulf Coast is winding down and cooling off ( a little anyway!). Now is a great time to come down and visit before it gets chilly in a few months.  Food Truck Festivals of America are back for another year in Gulf Shores. They will be back to the Town Green area on November 11 and 12 from 11-5 pm! They have an amazing lineup this year full of different styles of food like Venezuelan Latin Food, Mediterranean, Roasted Mexican Street Corn, and West African Caribbean. Then of course you have your food truck essentials; gourmet hot dogs, Memphis style BBQ, American Pub Style, and fair foods! This is a great way to get some of your favorite foods but also to try something new. They are planning to have booths set up of artists selling handcrafted goods and food products as well. Plan on bringing your chairs and hanging around to enjoy the atmosphere they are creating. They will have a DJ and lawn games for people to enjoy. While admission is free, they will be preselling a beer package online leading up to the festival. Click the link here to check it out.

Need a place to stay? Sunset Properties has you covered! Check us out online at www.SunsetProperties.com or give us a call/text at 251-543-1370 and let us do the hard work. Come check out our Ocean House I 1301 property that sleeps 8. This property has a beautiful view of the gulf! Do you need pet friendly? Campbell Cottage is a pet friendly 3 bedroom house that would be perfect for you! Give us a call and let us get you booked today!

5 GO TO Ice Cream Stops!

Hi Friends, Happy Labor Day Weekend! We have compiled a list of the 5 BEST ice cream stops here in Gulf Shores. Be sure to check them out and let us know what you think.

  1. Matt’s Homemade Alabama Ice Cream

Coming in at number 1 is Matt’s Homemade Ice Cream. This place has got it down… everything from sundaes, banana splits, and fun flavors. Something for everyone to choose from!

If you are looking for a milkshake this place has what you are looking for. Extravagant Milkshakes with 33 flavors to choose from and, of course, you can’t forget the 8 flavors of cookie dough. This months specials are Brown Sugar Blast, Frosted Cake ( this has a WHOLE cupcake on it!), and Peanut Buter and Pop Tarts. They also have normal milkshakes and regular cups of ice cream!

We couldn’t leave out our Scoops! This is one of our favorite spots to grab ice cream from during the summer. Quick, easy, and always sooo good!

Pelican Scoops is located at the Fort Morgan Marina and has Blue Bell Ice Cream. They also have virgin daiquiris, milkshakes, and snowcones!

Spoonz is a hand rolled Ice cream spot! Take the kids to experience something new as they watch their ice cream being made in front of them!

Need a place to stay? Check us out online at www.sunsetproperties.com or give us a call or send us a text to 251-543-1370!

Gulf Shores Seafood Festival 2024!

Hey Friends! Shrimp Fest is back and celebrating their 50th anniversary on October 12-15th, 2023! They have such a good list of things for you to try and experience. Come down and celebrate with 250,000 of people from all over the country. They will have everything from gourmet burgers to (of course) shrimp! Make sure to look for the “Best of the Fest” for the booths that have won awards from previous festivals.

The festival has a wonderful selection of handmade goods and jewelry vendors! They have over 200 arts & crafts and fine arts booths registered that will line the beach. It’s always nice to give back to the locals and support them when you can. Live Music from the Alabama Music Hall of Famer Wet Wille on October 12th to start off the weekend. To see the full lineup click here. There will be plenty for the kids to do as well. Things like a rock wall, bungee jumping, and a rock wall! Miss Shrimp Festival is open to all Baldwin County students and will be located at Erie Meyer Civic Center on September 24th.

Ike’s Beach Service will be sponsoring a Sand Sculpture Contest with the grand prize being $100 for both Family and Adult Categories and $50 Cash prize for the 5-10 yrs old and 11-15 yrs old categories! You can have up to 4 members per team and you will fall into a year category or you can just join the family category. Registration begins Saturday at 11:00 am and judging begins at 3:00 pm.

Need a place to stay? Sunset Properties has you covered! Check us out online at www.SunsetProperties.com or give us a call/text at 251-543-1370 and let us do the hard work. Come check out our Ocean House I 1301 property that sleeps 8. This property has a beautiful view of the gulf! Do you need pet friendly? Campbell Cottage is a pet friendly 3 bedroom house that would be perfect for you! Give us a call and let us get you booked today!

September at the Beach!

Hey Friends! OWA is throwing a Labor Day Weekend party September 1st-3rd. They have quite the lineup with live music, their 6th annual car show, and even a hot dog eating contest! Make sure you bring the kids out to see the fun. They have live music from Stormfolk, Ryan Dyer, and Ben Loftin lined up for the weekend. To register for the hot dog eating contest, click here

Bulls on The Beach is back September 7-9th, 2023! This year they will be having 3 action packed nights of professional cowboys and cowgirls from all over the country come out and compete. Thursday night is for the junior riders on miniature bulls, a coloring contest with two winners, and ending the night with the Professional Riders in the adult competition! Tickets are available for purchase online and are $30 for adults,  15 for children 7-17 years old, and children 6 and under are free! Gates will be opening at 6 PM every night and the rodeo begins at 8 PM. Parking is extremely limited, so they strongly suggest you arrive early. The Flora Bama will be donating a portion of proceeds from Bulls on the Beach to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Need a place to stay? Sunset Properties has you covered from houses for the whole family to condos for two. Come spend the weekend in a fabulous unit at Phoenix West II! This is a 3-bedroom unit that sleeps 12 comfortably.  This unit has tons of amenities for the kiddos to enjoy while you are here as well. Make sure they check out the game room! Don’t need as much room?  Check out our unit at Grand Caribbean! This unit is a 2 bedroom that sleeps 6 and is located directly across from the public beach access. Visit us online at www.sunsetproperties.com or give us a call at 251-543-1370 and let us get you booked! We’ll See Ya at Sunset!

Fun Events coming to Gulf Shores

Hi Friends! With school about to be back in session here are a few fun events you can try to sneak in before… or maybe even on a quick weekend trip!

  1. Paddle and Paint Kayak Excursions

This 2.5 hour excursion gives you the opportunity to not only learn how to kayak, but also gives you the chance to practice your watercolor techniques as you float down Wolf Bay! Starting from Wind & Water Learning Center this activity needs at least 2 participants and is capped at 6. This unique experience is $45 per person and runs from July 7- August 30th  each Wednesday.

  • Make your own Glass or Clay Pottery lessons

The Hot Shop and The Clay Studio have classes at The Coastal Arts Center most weekdays. They are both by appointment only, so make sure you give them a call before heading over.  On most Fridays, they have a flame-working class for beginners. The class uses most of the same tecniques from the hot shop, but really fine tunes it. People that enjoy things that have a high level of detail will enjoy this class. Plus, if a class isn’t your thing, you can hang out in their gallery and browse the makings! 

  • Pickle ball

The Rec Center will be hosting Pickleball for Novice- Advanced players beginning on August 7th and running through December 19th. The schedule will be Monday- Friday 8:00 am to 1:00 with 6 courts available. This would be a fun place for anyone looking to meet new people and get in their exercise for the day! Come check it out for the day or get a membership to play for the whole fall season. 

Need a place to stay? Sunset Properties has you covered! Whether it’s a gorgeous beachfront condo or a house for the whole family we can make it work. Phoenix I 1108 is a 3 bedroom 2 bath that sleeps 8 corner unit that has an unobstructed view of the Gulf! This unit is perfect for the family that wants to sit on the balcony and sip their coffee while listening to the waves crashing. Need a little more room? Shellchase is a 5-bedroom 3.5 bath home that sleeps 12. One of the best things about this house is that its pet friendly! Be sure to give us a call at 251-543-1370 or visit us online at www.sunsetProperties.com

Upcoming events at the Wharf!

Hey Friends! The team here at Sunset hope you are having a fun filled summer break. We have a few fun events coming to The Wharf in the coming months! Not only is the Summer Concert Series still going on to finish off the season, but things like fishing tournaments, kids parties, and more!

This summer The Wharf is hosting themed events for the kiddos! Wild Wild Wharf is a western kids night that will have a mechanical bull, water slide, pony rides, bounce houses, face painting, and more! Kids that wear their best western themed costume will be entered into a costume contest. The wharf knows how to put on an event for the kids, so this is something not to miss! On Thursdays, they are having a surprise theme that is revealed the week before the event. Be sure to check out their calendar to see what this weeks event theme is! Some big names are coming to the Amphitheater in August! Eric Church, Three Doors Down, and Jason Aldean are all on the lineup and put on the BEST show. The Wharf amphitheater hold around 10,000 people and there is not a bad seat in the place. Whether you are front row to see your favorite artist or the only seat you could get was at the top you wont be disappointed. Visit this link to see the updated lineup for the rest of this year! Plus, Caribe B Penthouse 4 is a three bedroom 3 bathroom bayside unit that overlooks Robinson Island and is only about a 6 mile drive from The Wharf. Prep the boat and get those fishing poles ready! The Orange Beach Open is rolling into The Wharf on August 3-7 hosted by Galati Yachts Sales. Boats will leave on Thursday and the weigh- in will take place on Saturday. This is a trolling only tournament and no live bait is allowed to be used. This is a no-kill tournament and all Billfish are released! Be sure to come check out the weigh in on Saturday to see all the fish caught!

Make sure to check out Sunset’s newest property, Believe! The team has been working hard to get this property ready for you and your family. This house can sleep 12 people with 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms plus its only a 300 yard walk to the white sandy beaches of Fort Morgan! We would love to host you and your family in this beautiful newly renovated home and show you why Fort Morgan, AL is the perfect place for you to vacation. If you aren’t in the market for a 5 bedroom home check out our website or give us a call at 251-543-1370 and let us help you find something smaller! We’ll See Ya at Sunset!

Fourth of July on the Alabama Gulf Coast

Hi Friends! Summer is in full swing around here with perfect beach days and beautiful weather. Now is the perfect time to bring the littles down and enjoy everything this beach town has to offer!

 If you like the sand between your toes and the sound of waves crashing as you watch the fireworks, then you have the right spot. The City of Gulf Shores will be setting off their firework show at 9 pm from the Gulf State Park Fishing Pier. Let the kids see a show they won’t ever forget! They begin setting up at 7 am and the fireworks will be shot from the middle of the pier this year. This means either The Gulf State Park or the eastern area of the Gulf Shores Public Beach will be the best viewing areas!

Ready to Run on vacation? The Wharf is hosting their 8th annual SHARK 5k Run/ Competitive Walk and 1 Mile Fun Run on July 4 beginning at 7 am. Register before June 18 and get a early bird discount. The first 350 people to register will receive a custom shark run shirt!

Have kids you need to keep entertained during the day? The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo will be having a hands on habitat hosted at Tacky Jacks Gulf Shores! While the event itself is free they are asking that everyone has reservations to attend. It begins at 11 am and they are asking you arrive 15 minutes early. Follow the link here to RSVP!

Need a place to stay? Sunset Properties has you covered! We have a 4 bedroom 3 bath house called Julia’s by the Sea at Martinique. This property is located in a gated community and comes with a golf cart to use! Our new property Believe is available. Believe is a 5 bedroom 4 bathroom house located in Fort Morgan. This property is perfect if you have family you want to bring with you. Andrews Cottage is located in Gulf Shores and is 2 bedroom 2 bathroom. This house has access to its own private pier on the lagoon! Give us a call at 251-543-1370 or visit us online at www.sunsetproperties.com.

Hangout Festival 2023 Tips and Tricks!

Hey Friends! With Hangout Fest coming up in a few weeks we thought it would be a good idea to compile a list of Sunset’s Hangout Essentials to help you make it through the weekend. They have a lot of great artists this year and you do NOT want to miss someone you’ve waited months to see!   

  1. Sunscreen!!  

You do not want to be the lobster red friend running to hide from the sun at any given chance. Make sure that you put on your SPF before you leave the condo so that you’re prepared! Liquid sunscreen in non-aerosol containers of 3 oz or less is allowed into the festival.   

  1. Drink Plenty of Water  

Make sure you keep hydrated. Being in the sun all day can be exhausting, so making sure you are properly hydrated is essential to having a good time! You are allowed to bring in a single pocket camelback hydration pack or 1 non-glass water container up to 2 liters in size into the festival to refill at their water stations. It must be empty when going through security!  

  1. Bring a portable phone charger  

You’re going to want to take all the instagram pictures, Snapchat stories, and live videos so that everyone knows how much fun you are having. That takes a lot of battery and phone storage to do! Make sure that you have a portable charger, that you made sure to charge beforehand (haha), so that you don’t have a lapse in content! 

  1. Don’t forget tickets/ comfortable outfits 

Number 1 essential that normally can’t be rebought when you get here is your wristband! Make sure you pack it in a safe spot or go ahead and put it on before you leave the house. Also, make sure you are dressing to be comfortable during the day! You will be out and about for the whole day so you do not want to regret your outfit or shoe choices!  

  1.  An Awesome place to stay!  

You want to be able to check in to your unit and enjoy yourself. Let us take the hard work out of it for you! Get your insta worthy pics and then head on over to the festival without a care in the world. Sunset Properties has you covered! Gorgeous beach front units like Crystal Shores West 901. This condo is a 3 bed/3 bath that sleeps 9 and is only 1 mile from The Hangout! Wanting to be in a house instead of a condo? We have Beach Time available that is also a 3 bed/2 bath sleeping 8. This house is 2 miles from the festival!  Give us a call at 251-543-1370 or check us out online at www.sunsetproperties.com and see what we have available!  

Make sure to say hello if you see any of us at the festival and get your hands on a Sunset Properties bracelet! Have a fun and safe time and, “ We’ll See Ya at Hangout!”  

2023 Hot Air Balloon Festival

Hey Friends! We have a super cool event coming back to Foley this year. Hot air balloons will be taking over the grassy area beside OWA on May 4th-6th! The festival kicks off at 5 pm on Thursday with live music and lawn games for the kids and ending the night with Balloon Glow. May 5th begins at 11 am with a meet and greet from the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo and a balloon artist on OWA island. From 2:00-4:00 pm they will be having an interactive hot air balloon display! If you enjoy live music, make sure you stick around for sounds from Grits and Greens, Ryan Dyer Band, and D Play. As long as the weather allows, they will be having tethered Hot Air Balloon rides and Balloon Glow night. How fun would it be to go up in a hot air balloon ride? Saturday is going to be filled with so many fun events for kids and adults alike! The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo will be out again on Saturday as well as a kids Balloon Building contest and balloon races on OWA island. Starting at 2:30 pm they will be hosting a Hot Air Balloon Pilots Meet and Greet! Following that there will be live music from Bangarang Peter, Ben Loftin & The Family, and The Red Clay Strays. Admission for the festival is free, but you can purchase tickets to ride in the Hot Air Balloons online here.  

Needing a place to stay? Sunset Properties has you covered! Maybe you want somewhere you can fish from every evening. Stars Align is a 3 bedroom that sleeps 10 with a private pier. Does your family prefer the Phoenix condos? Phoenix West 701 is a 4 bedroom that sleeps 10 and overlooks the Gulf with breathtaking views. Need something a little smaller? Check out Boardwalk 584. This is a one bedroom unit that sleeps 4 located right near Sea n’ Suds! Check us out online at www.sunsetproperties.com or give us a call at 251-543-1370 to plan your perfect vacation!  

BEach SAFE in Gulf Shores

Hey Friends! Spring Break is just around the corner meaning that warmer weather is coming! Now is a good time to refresh your memory on beach safety and what to do if you encounter rip currents. You should always remember to swim with a friend and to always play it safe. Always make sure that you check conditions before getting in the water. You can even get text alerts now, test ALERTBALDWIN to 888777 to enroll.

Rip Currents are one of the easiest ways to get sucked out in the Gulf. They are powerful narrow channels of water moving quickly away from the shore. You will find that they are most common where waves are crashing perpendicular to the beach. My family’s rule was that if it looked like a “washing machine” there was most likely a rip current there. You can also look for discolored water near the shore. When rip currents form, they are dragging sand from the bottom of the ocean or gulf. Now that you are familiar with Rip Currents. How do you escape one? The first thing you must do is remain calm. If you try to fight the current, you will get tired very quickly. To get out of a current you need to swim parallel to the shore. Once you feel that you are out you can swim to safety. If the current is too strong to escape, you should float or tread water until you feel it weaken. Then you can swim back to shore. If you see someone caught in a current, you should call 9-1-1 and look for a lifeguard. If a lifeguard is not around, you should throw them something to float on and yell instructions. DO NOT put yourself in danger trying to rescue someone else!

Sun Safety is another big need to know around here! You should apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before sun exposure and reapply at least every 2 hours or after getting wet. You should also wear clothing that has SPF in it and hats to keep the sun off. Especially for children! Make sure that you are drinking plenty of water throughout the day. Heat Stroke is very common down here. You should watch for hot, red, dry skin; changes in consciousness; rapid, weak pulse; and rapid, shallow breathing. If you see someone having these symptoms, call 9-1-1 and keep the victim lying down with ice packs on them.

Need a place to stay? Sunset Properties has you covered! Check us out online or give us a call at 251-543-1370 and let us find the perfect spot for you. Kids like lazy rivers? Caribe B Penthouse 4 may be the spot for you! Like to be away from the hustle and bustle? Dunes 501 would be perfect. Do you really want that beautiful Gulf view? Make sure you check out Crystal Tower 706!