Sunset Properties Blog – Gulf Shores

December 10, 2009

Alabama’s Coastal Connection

One of the newest additions to the National Scenic Byways Program is the Alabama Coastal Connection. The Scenic Byways Program is a part of the Federal Highway Administration and the Department of Transportation. The program is an collaborative effort to preserve selected roads throughout the US. The selected roads run through protected areas or areas that are specifically American in their nature. These roads must be described by at least one of the following; archaeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational and scenic qualities (www.byways.com/org).

The Alabama Coastal Connection has all of these qualities and is right in our back yard, Literally!!! This trail begins ins Bayou La Batre a beautiful historic fishing village, where you can get some of the freshest seafood in amazing local restaurants. The trail continues on to Dauphin Island where you can again get wonderful seafood and enjoy the history of Ft. Gains, here you can also walk the Audubon birding trail and take a tour through the Dauphin Island Sea Lab Estuarium. The Sea Lab is a favorite of our guests as it is a fun place to get hands on education for adults and kids alike on our local wildlife. From Dauphin Island you catch the Mobile Bay Ferry over to Ft. Morgan where you can enjoy a tour of the fort. The most popular tour is done by candle light! From here you are minutes away from Sunset Properties and the beautiful beaches of Fort Morgan. The beautiful beaches of Ft. Morgan are quiet and secluded right at the end of the island. Fort Morgan is a great place to split your trip on the Coastal Connection and rest for the night.

From the Ft. Morgan beaches the trail continues on into Gulf Shores down Hwy 59 where you pass great shopping and restaurants on through to Foley. Once in Foley you travel west on Highway 98 to Fairhope another beautiful town with shopping, outstanding dining, wildlife around every turn, and history at your fingertips.

You can travel the coastal connection in one day but we recommend and extended trip to take in all of the great food, nature, culture, and history as you travel this beautiful byway. What a great way to relax and really get to know an area. Hope to see you soon.

November 25, 2009

Thanksgiving at the Beach

Thanksgiving at the beach is really a lot like any other time at the beach. You have beautiful sunny days, white sand, blue water and inspiring views. The big differences are it is much less expensive, there are fewer people, and the weather is a little cooler. You will still see families on the beach playing and exploring, and fishermen who are thrilled to show off their latest catch.

I had a chance to walk down to the water and watch some friends, the Colman’s, real in their second 38″ Red fish of the day. It was lots of fun everyone on the beach came down to cheer them on as Casey fought the fish in and his father helped him get it on the beach. It wasn’t a huge crowd but everyone was really excited. They even cheered as they released the fish to swim for another day. During the quiet Winter holidays it is easy to make new friends and everyone kind of seems like family here enjoying the quiet beauty of the beach together. It is a great time for famlies to get away.

From our family here at Sunset Properties we hope you have a wonderful holiday surrounded by the ones you are thankful for. Consider Thanksgiving at the beach sometime make some memories you will always treasure.

November 24, 2009

Sunset Properties Assistant Manager “Locked Up”

Most of you have met Katie our Assistant Manager. Usually at the front desk when she is not running in different directions, helping someone plan something special for their vacation or fixing a problem for an owner or guest. She is a little soft spoken and smiling always ready to help.

We were all a little shocked when she told us she was being locked up. the Katie explained it was for a great reason. Katie was recently part of the Foley MDA Excutive Lock Up! She was raising money for Jerry’s Kids. Being a former children’s minister and teacher, Katie loves working for and with kids, so she was very excited to help out.

Katie had been raising money for several weeks when the officer came in mid morning to take her away. She already had several hundred dollars in her hand to put toward her goal. Katie and Officer Cline of the Foley Police department traveled to Foley where she jumped on the phone and with the generosity of family, friends, and the owenrs that she works so closely with, Katie raised enough to send a child to camp and the some.

Later that afternoon Katie was dropped off by a limo at the office and she was back to work like she had never left. Katie mentioned that she really wanted to do this again and try to send a few more of these amazing kids to camp. We will certainly do everything we can to support her and Jerry’s Kids!!!

November 3, 2009

Ft. Morgan must see’s for Kids

Ft. Morgan is a beautiful family friendly place, but for new comers they don’t always know what to do with the kids and there are some definite must sees while you are here.

Dolphin!!!! You can see them feeding morning and evening just off shore. It is against the law to touch or feed these animals but they are beautiful to watch. In the spring you will often see entire families or pods teaching babies to feed. You can follow these beautiful creatures as they jump and play right in front of you.

Ft. Morgan!!! A civil war era fort only a mile from the Dunes Community. You and your family can explore through the fort on your own during the day and they have an outstanding museum. If you go in the evening you can do a candle light tour and they shoot off the cannons and do reenactments throughout the summer. Kids love the excitement of the cannons and they get a history lesson all at the same time…

If you come in the spring or fall don’t miss bird banding about 2 minutes from the condo near Ft. Morgan. There are a group of dedicated volunteers that take important information from these beautiful animals while giving the guests an education before they let them go again. The fun part about this is the visitors get to let them go!! Your kids will get to set a bird free and if it is Spring it will very likely be a humming bird.

If you visit in the fall be sure to try and see sea turtle nest hatching. It is an amazing site to see but it requires lots of patience and some free time at night. Again dedicated volunteers spend many free hours watching these nests and making sure all is well with the baby turtles. If you can spend the time and have the patience to wait and watch for the turtles this is certainly an experience you and your family will never forget.

If you have little guys or nature lovers, take time and visit Dauphin Island Sea Lab, and Estuarium. You can view local wildlife, and they have great touch tanks and preserved animals for the kids to handle. You can watch sting ray, and all different sorts of fish, and a beautiful shell collection to compare your shells to.

These are just a few of the local thing not to miss while you visit the area. If you need a few more ideas stop by the office we always have a list of local events to attend while on vacation.

October 29, 2009

The Best Pizza in Ft. Morgan

Imagine it you get in after a long day of traveling to your beach vacation. everyone is tired and hungry and the last thing you want to do is go to the store 20 minutes away and then come back and cook. Pizza would be perfect but you are staying at the end of the world, in Ft. Morgan!!! Don’t worry there is amazing pizza just minutes away and they will deliver!!! Call Ocean’s Pizza, 540-star, from your local phone. The pizza is hand made with the best ingredients.

Oceans, takes pride in their pizza creations and they truly are artists at baking them. All pizzas are made with hand tossed crusts, and they have a huge variety of toppings. Everyone will find something they love from vegertiarians to meat lovers. The pasta meals are enough to feed a small family and just as wonderful as the pizzas. Great salad choices, yummy appetizers, and hot sandwiches should be sampled too. The bacon wrapped sea scapllops are a local favorite, along with the laguna pizza, or Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo. Save room for dessert too, Cheese cake and Key Lime Pie are always on the menu.

I personally have heard countless people say “this is the best pizza I have ever had, or I would have skipped the grocery store if I had known about this at the beginning of the week.” As a rental company we take it it very seriously when people thank us for telling them about the Pizza Place. Don’t miss out on Oceans Pizza while you are visiting Ft. Morgan!!!

October 23, 2009

Dolphin Watching

As I have said many times before we live and work in an amazing place, Ft. Morgan! It is wonderful for many reasons but the one I want to talk about today is Dolphin. Just step out on your balcony or take a walk down to the beach and you are practically guaranteed to spot one if not a whole pod playing, fishing or just swimming by. We have great views from our condos and houses so you can definitely sit at peak times, in the morning and evening, when all manner of fish and sea life are out feeding, and enjoy the dolphin. You can enjoy a view of them in the gulf from your balcony or in the bay from the front of the buildings or on a boat.

Also, there are many local charter captains who will take you for an adventure with these amazing creatures. Be sure to take time to stop and watch the dolphin while you are here!!!

October 23, 2009

Damage Fees…How to avoid them!

It’s pretty basic knowledge but let me give you a few helpful hints on how not to be charged damage fees while on vacation. Just a few things I have learned over the past couple of years working for owners and an amazing rental company at the beach.

10. Put breakables up high, out of the reach or bumps of little children. Just don’t forget to put things back the way you found them so you will not be charged for items housekeeping believes are missing.

9. If you don’t know how to use something ( like an elevator or appliance ) Ask!!!!! It costs nothing to ask how to use something and a lot to fix or replace it.

8. It is true honesty is the best policy. If you happen to damage or break something, be honest about it!!!! Just tell the owner or rental agency, they expect some things to be damaged throughout the year and appreciate your honesty. They may not even charge you if you come clean and admit you accidentally broke it.

7. Look through your room when you arrive! Document anything damaged or broken and let the owner or rental company know immediately. They will not charge you for damage that you find when you immediately arrive. However, they may if you don’t tell them, so be sure to do walk through.

6. Instant tanner, and tanning lotion TANS EVERYTHING!!!!!!! Including sheet, and towels. Just get a tan while you are on vacation, or put this on before you come on vacation. This also goes for HAIR DYE!

5. Don’t try to fix it yourself! No matter if it is a stuck disposal, broken blinds, or a remote that is not working . Call the person who rented you the unit & they will have a maintenance person to fix that problem.

4. Don’t take things from the condo out to the beach. Sand, salt air, and suntan oil damages everything from fabrics to metal items. Bring your own beach towels, and leave the owner ‘ s things in the condo.

3. If you bring your pet, make sure they are allowed. A pet fee is much cheaper than a damage fee, and sometimes they are refundable.

2. Elevators and beds are not trampolines! Jumping on a bed or in an elevator can cause serious damage – sometimes even thousands of dollars worth of damage. Just a note, most elevators have hidden cameras too, so be on your best behavior!

1. The most important suggestion I can give is treat your beach rental like your own or better. If you do this the rental company will love you and may even make special deals for you to come back every year, because you were such a great renter!!

Have fun on vacation!!!!!!

October 23, 2009

Dogs at the Beach!!!

I have a great job!!!! I get to come to the beach to work! I also have the added perks of working with my family who keep me laughing and who I have adventures with all the time. Another added perk of the job is that I work at one of the few beaches in the area that allows dogs on the beach, and in some of the houses, and condos. It is always fun to see our fuzzy four legged friends having adventures on the beach with their owners. I have seen dogs so excited to be at the beach they couldn’t keep still the closest comparison is a really excited 3 year old. Their whole bodies wag not just the tail. Most of the dogs like the sand and the water. They have plenty of room to run and there is always something to investigate on the beach, weather it is a piece of drift wood to carry, or a crab to do battle with, adventures abound.

A few winters ago was my first one here with our winter guests and many of them with their dogs. I would have daily visits from my four legged buddies coming by for a treat. Sometimes there were more dogs in the office than people which is always fun. I will be sure to post more pictures of my doggy friends as soon as they get here this winter.