HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY from Sunset Properties. Join us at the beach this Mother’s Day weekend two nights only $299.00 in a 1 bedroom, 2 bath condo that sleeps up to 6 people!!! You deserve a getaway for taking care of everyone in your life so drop a hint to your loved ones and then let them take care of you in the sunny weather at the beach. Fort Morgan is the perfect quiet getaway for your family or just you if you want a getaway by yourself! Be sure to take advantage of this special before we booked up!

We look forward to celebrating with you! See you soon.

As I move closer to when my little one is due my mind is wandering to the beautiful weather outside and how I will get ready to take my sweet little boy down to the beach once he is old enough to go. I grew up on the beach going with my family and friends as often as possible when I was a child. We certainly didn’t have the high end of everything to protect us but we absolutely had a fantastic time and have wonderful memories from every childhood trip to the beach. I remember my dad setting up a parachute with a long bamboo pole in the middle and stakes around it to protect us from the sun while we played near or in the water. We always had fishing pole, and sunscreen most of the time we camped out and had an amazing amount of fun. But I certainly remember getting some terrible sunburns as a child and that is a terrible thing to happen on vacation so I wanted to give you a few hints to keep you little ones safe, burn free, and with lots of happy beach memories.

There are some fantastic new products for kids now that were not available when I was a child in the 70’s and 80’s to help keep them from being sunburned. The first is clothing with SPF. You can get hats, shorts, shirts and swim suits with a great SPF to help protect your little ones from the sunburns. Be sure to look for the proper sunscreen for your little ones as well this will give you that little bit of extra protection. Apply sunscreen before you head out to the beach and often while you are in the sun! When I was a child my parents were creative with the sun protection. Notice my little brothers turban or cloth diaper to protect his little head.

Make a safe spot for your little one to enjoy the water too. When my brothers and I were kids my parents dug us a little lagoon just past the major break in where the water washes on to the beach. They made a small wall with an opening for some water to wash in then closed it up so we weren’t trying to fight with the waves as they came in. Or if they left it open it was just a small bit so a trickle of water could get in to our little pool area. I have seen mothers bring small blow up pools down to the beach they fill those with beach water and put them near the water and under the shade so the little ones can enjoy the beach but not be over whelmed by waves and too much sun.

Instead of a parachute which is awesome if you are up for the work! You can now rent umbrellas and chairs so you don’t have to worry about taking lots to the beach beyond your sunscreen and a bag with snacks and sunscreen. I remember everyone carried an armful of things when we went to the beach but we had a fantastic time most of the time. I have a few extra suggestions of things to throw in that beach bag to help keep your little ones cool calm and collected.
1. Inexpensive beach toys, dollar store is perfect for these! Something to build a sand castle and pour and sift, sand and water will keep them busy for hours.
2. A plastic zipper bag for treasures. I would suggest something that will trap smell just in cast they pick something that is still alive and you don’t find it right away!!!
3. Baby powder will help get all pesky sand off as you head in for the evening.
4. SUNSCREEN, don’t forget it!
5. Flip flops for the walk back if they are walkers.
6. Wagon to pull them in if they are not walking.
7. Hats, sunglasses, clothing with SPF material.
8. Water, fruit, cooler, to stay hydrated.
9. White Vinegar, just in case jellyfish are nearby. Even broken parts of them can cause stings.
10. Trash bags. For diapers or trash you may make. You always want to leave the beach cleaner than it was when you got there.
11. Camera for those irreplaceable candid moments in the sun!

A visit to the beach with little ones can be fun and educational for all involved just remember to tap in to that inner boy scout or girl scout and BE PREPARED! This will make your trip so much more enjoyable and memorable! See you at the beach!

My boss recently forwarded me a blog recounting the experiences of people who have visited Fort Morgan and had supernatural experiences. These experiences included hearing voices and noises, seeing apparitions and lights, and having doors slam or reliving long over battles as they exit the Fort. The most common experience was an uneasy feeling or a feeling of dread or fear. I for one and very

skeptical of these experiences! Not to discount anyone’s personal experience as we all are on very individual journeys that are make up who we are and are built on an individually unique history for each person. I for one have never had anything even close to what these people are describing. Far from feelings of dread or fear the feelings that I experience here are mostly ones of peace, joy and contentment, and restfulness. This area has a long history of battle and lives lived in difficult circumstances. The end of the island was long inhabited by a native population prior to the military presence which began early in the 1800’s.

The natives were adept at living in this harsh climate but the settlers who came with the military struggled with the constant storms and lack of fresh water. They did thrive however after utilizing several fresh water springs in the area and fortifying the structures to withstand the seasonal storms that pummel the peninsula.

Unfortunately, many lost their lives as this was a military installation and battles were inevitable. Some lost their lives in naval battles while some were lost in accidents or in battles near the fort. People have mentioned seeing soldiers, slaves who built the unique star shaped Fort, and even spirits of women who may have lived at the fort with the officers.

As I mentioned I have never had experiences like this when exploring the beaches or the Fort in the decade I have lived and worked in this area. I have heard echoes that were a surprise but were explained and doors closing because of the constant high winds that pop up any time of the day and night. I have even seen lights there were unexplained by the average visitor. The locals know some are boats in the bay and some are from the light house beacon that flashes through periodically. The weather also adds to the mystery of the area. The island near the fort is only about half a mile across so more often than not in the winter months we get fog that will hang over the end of the island for days at a time. It seems more like you are vacationing in the old movie Brigadoon than it does a beach vacation. My husband chalks the other worldly experiences to the drinking habits of the visitors and the distance between the local “watering hole” to Fort!

No matter your beliefs or experience whether they are peaceful, sunny like mine or a little creepy and exciting like some of the visitors to our area Fort Morgan they are all worth a visit! Check out our specials and make your way to the Alabama coast this year. Spring is almost over so we have some great last minute deals. Summer is booking fast and the days are full of

sunshine here and the nights well you might get a little fright or you could experience the most breathtaking sunset you have ever seen off of the end of the peninsula. Fall weather is PERFECT the crowds are small and the prices are low and you can’t get a better time to visit! Looking for ward to seeing you soon or hearing your ghost stories from your visit to Fort Morgan!!!!

We are so excited to announce a new partnership with Preserve at Soldier’s Creek Golf Club! What does this mean for you? Well if you are a golfer this is for you! All you have to do is contact us at the Sunset Properties office and we can book a reservation for you for only $49.00 total for a morning or afternoon tee time!

Give us a call for this special offer only through Sunset Properties!!!! We look forward to seeing you and making your tee times for this Spring.

Congratulations to John Bobe who received Trulia’s Top Agent Award. This is based on client reviews, ratings and sales in 2014. John is not only one of the owners of Sunset Properties, he is one of our Brokers and a Real Estate Agent. So while you are here on your sunny vacation and are considering a beach property of your own just give us a call 251-543-1370! John will offer a no hassles sales list or meet and show you whichever property that interests you.