Sunset Properties Blog – Gulf Shores

November 9, 2021November 9, 2021

10 Fun Things to do at Fort Morgan

Fort Morgan Historic Site located in the community of Fort Morgan, Alabama offers a day of fun filled opportunities for any family. Visiting an historic fort may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you plan a vacation to Gulf Shores or Orange Beach or anywhere along the Alabama Gulf Coast, however, we think you should really consider visiting Fort Morgan Historic Site while you’re visiting the area. Here are ten fun things to do at Fort Morgan, Alabama:

Learn About Alabama and US History

Located 23 miles from the heart of Gulf Shores on Fort Morgan Road, Alabama Highway 182,Fort Morgan sits on the historical site of Fort Bowyer which was active during the War of 1812. That sounds like a long way, but it’s really only a few songs into your Spotify playlist and the drive, which winds through old and new homes, along the lagoon, past Mobile Bay, and under the live oaks, is a super nice drive. If you’re lucky enough to own a convertible, open your top! This is definitely an outing for you! Fort Morgan is perfectly placed at the far west end of Baldwin County, in an area called Mobile Point, directly across Mobile Bay from Fort Gaines in Mobile County. Fort Morgan is a pentagonal shaped third masonry fort built between 1819 and 1833. Fort Morgan was an important venue during the US Civil War, specifically the Battle of Mobile Bay in August 1864. It was also operational during the Spanish American War and World War I and II. In 1946, after World War II ended, Fort Morgan was given to the State of Alabama, and it was designated as an historical site. Now the fort is open to the public seven days a week from 8 AM until 5 PM except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.

2. Tour the Fort

Once you arrive at the expansive venue and well-kept grounds that make up Fort Morgan Historical Site, touring the fort seems a logical thing to do. But how? There are two ways. The good folks who manage the area will provide you with a detailed map and description of several interesting areas around the grounds. A self-guided tour is a great way to spend a day. With Covid-19 still in the back of everyone’s mind, this may be a preferable way for you to explore the area. Gather with your friends and family and follow the map around the area. The maps are really easy to navigate, and, as you tour the fort yourself, you may just see something the map doesn’t discuss. Another way to tour the fort is to meet one of the skilled and knowledgeable staff members for a scheduled walk through. Check out the fort’s website for dates and times of scheduled tours.

3. Catch the Ferry

If visiting Fort Gaines, located directly across Mobile Bay from Fort Morgan, is something that appeals to you, be sure to catch the Mobile Bay Ferry right from the entrance of the grounds, and travel across the bay to Dauphin Island. While you’re on Dauphin Island, a tour of the Mobile Bay Estuarium should also be on your list. This public aquarium is a part of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab and is an excellent way to spend an afternoon. The Estuarium highlights the four key habitats of Coastal Alabama including the Mobile Tensaw River Delta, Mobile Bay, the Barrier Islands (which includes Fort Morgan, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach) and the Northern Gulf of Mexico. The Sea Lab is home to over 31 aquariums and has more than one hundred local species of plants and animals on display. The Estuarium is a great educational outing all wrapped up in fun things to see and do.

4. See Local Wildlife

Although Fort Morgan is inhabited almost daily by people, our local wildlife neighbors still call it home, as well. What will you see? Sea gulls live all around the area. Look up and you may see a flock overhead, or you may catch a glimpse of an osprey. Ospreys, also called sea eagles or river hawks, nest nearby. Look down and you may be lucky enough to see an Alabama Beach Mouse. This little mammal is named for our state because this particular species of mouse only lives here on our island. Walk out on the fort beaches and you’re likely to see dolphins swimming just offshores. They are avid fishers and spend a great deal of time in the warm waters of Mobile Bay where fishing is easy. Look on the sand, just above the tide line, and you’re likely to see jellyfish, starfish, sand dollars and other saltwater dwellers who found their way onshore. I’ve even seen a seahorse there. Alligators, snakes, coyotes, and deer also live in this area. The opportunities are limited only by the amount of time you spend looking. Local wildlife is all around. Just remember to look and not touch. When you’re out and about in the undeveloped areas of our island, you’re in the animals’ homes. Many of these animals are endangered. Some are poisonous. And some can be aggressive. Look, but don’t touch.

5. Walk the Beach

Fort Morgan is located along the beaches that touch both the Gulf of Mexico and Mobile Bay in South Baldwin County. Because these two bodies of water meet just outside the fort walls, beachcombers are given a unique opportunity to collect shells. Shelling is a popular pastime for locals and tourists alike. The waters of Mobile Bay are gentler and the waves less rough than those of the Gulf. This allows for unbroken shells to reach the shallow waters along the beaches and to be deposited up on the beach, itself. In addition to shelling, walking the beach is a great way to get exercise without feeling like you are exercising. Walking toward a sunset or sunrise along the fort beaches is a great experience. Cell tower signals are sometimes spotty along the beaches, but that’s not a problem for beach goers. As you walk along the beaches of Fort Morgan, turn off your ear buds and listen to the lapping sounds of the waves or the songs of the seagulls. You won’t regret it.

6. Exercise Your Dog

So many guests who visit the Alabama Gulf ask us Can I bring my dog? Where can I walk my dog? or Can I take my dog to the beach? Sunset Properties offers a number of beach homes that allow fur babies to bring their parents, so there is no reason to leave Fido at home. But where to walk him? I always suggest walking your dog at Fort Morgan. There is plenty of beach space for puppers and their parents to run and play. Dogs must be on a leash and parents are responsible for cleaning up after any potty breaks, but dogs are welcome on the beaches of Fort Morgan.

7. Take Great Selfies

If taking great selfies is on your vacation “must do” list, you must visit Fort Morgan. From the brick walkway that leads inside this historic venue, to the top of the granite stairs, to the deepest parts of the brick rooms that make up the interior of the fort, the spots for great selfies are almost endless. You’ll want to get a picture of the flags that greet you as you enter the fort. Each flag represents a time in the fort’s history when people, other than modern-day Americans, occupied the area. A cannon and large anchor greet you, as well. Both make great pictures. When you’re inside the fort, look up and around. I bet you’ll find a perfect spot to gather your family and make a memory. There is a nominal fee to enter the fort, but memories are literally priceless.

8. Visit the Museum and Gift Shop

What historic site would be complete without a museum? While you’re on the fort grounds, be sure to visit the Fort Museum and Gift Shop. Filled with relics and artifacts left by those who lived and worked in the area, the museum is a must-see for all who venture to Mobile Point. In addition to letters and old uniforms and even the top of a lighthouse, you’ll find tons of information about the fort’s many years of service. Many of the relics you’ll see were discovered by “treasure hunters” and scientists over the years. Today, metal detectors are prohibited on fort grounds. So is taking something from the structure itself, like a brick. However, there are plenty of items inside the Museum gift shop to purchase and take home. Souvenirs, unlike any found anywhere else on our island, are available at the Fort Morgan Museum Gift Shop. Be sure to grab a memento marking your day trip. Driving away without something from this special family day will surely leave you regretting that decision later.

9. Fish, Swim or Boat Mobile Bay

Fort Morgan offers water lovers a great place to launch a boat or personal watercraft. So not to mention fishing, swimming, or boating from the fort would be a disservice to anyone looking for something to do. Fishing and swimming are also permitted on the beaches that surround the historic site. Bring your fur baby and some sunscreen and you guys can swim together! No lifeguard is on duty, so you’ll enter the waters of the bay or Gulf at your own risk, but there is nothing better than to cool off in the water after a tour of the site on a hot summer day.

10. Enjoy the Tranquility

Ahhhh…. the tranquility. While you’re visiting Fort Morgan, be sure to take a minute and just stop. Listen to the sounds of the wind through the sea oats. Take in the melody of the gulls. Absorb the peacefulness of the lapping waves. On cool fall days, sit down on the grass and feel the warmth that blankets the fort grounds. And on summer days, breathe in the breeze that blows off the Gulf. It may sound ironic: looking for tranquility at a military fort. But without the sounds of gunfire and no one yelling, “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!” (General David Farragut) you’re sure to find a few minutes of relaxing, soothing “me time”. Everyone needs a little “me time”. You’re sure to find that here!

Fort Morgan is so much more than just a spot on a map. Even though it has not been actively serving as a military fort for 75 years, it continues to serve visitors each day. And Sunset Properties is proud to be a neighbor to this structure that has stood so proudly for almost a century and to have rental homes located nearby. We offer you the convenience of being close to a family friendly venue, uniquely placed along the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico and Mobile Bay, while providing you with all the luxuries you need to enjoy your vacation home. We hope you’ll take some time and explore this timeless masterpiece, named for Revolutionary War Hero General David Morgan, that sits grandly at the end of the road that shares its name. And we hope you’ll go home each evening to a beach vacation home managed by your friends at Sunset Properties.

www.sunsetproperties.com

251-543-1370

November 1, 2021November 1, 2021

The Beaches in Gulf Shores, Alabama, ARE Open!

By: Raven Hunter

Before I write an article, I like to research our search engine metrics to find out what the people want to know about the Gulf Shores area. When I searched popular topics, I was struck with overwhelming sympathy for all of the people asking “Are the beaches in Gulf Shores open?” Being in hurricane alley, there’s always the chance that fun on Gulf Coast beaches could be threatened by sporadic and extreme weather changes; and let’s face it, the past two years has just added to the unpredictability of your favorite attractions being open. If you’re experiencing hurricane season or pandemic-related FOMO, rest assured that the best beaches the Gulf Coast has to offer are open for business and ready to provide you and your family with a safe, healthy, and fun vacation experience for the books, whatever your interests are.

Gulf Shores Main Public Beach (Gulf Place)

While there are many ways to experience the beach in Gulf Shores, traveling to the Gulf Shores Main Public Beach, or Gulf Place access, is for you if you and your family are looking for a wave jumping, sandcastle building day of fun. This access provides parking with no long haul, making it perfect for families to unload and carry their skim boards, boogie boards, buckets and pails, or whatever else they brought to make their beach trip memorable. And, along with four of the other seven beach accesses to Gulf Shores’ beautiful beaches, Gulf Place offers an affordable parking system that guarantees your family a spot for four hours or the whole day! You can come, park your car, set up your spot, and when hunger strikes, enjoy lunch at one of Gulf Shores’ convenient picnic areas! These are just a few of the amenities offered by Gulf Place and other beach accesses along Gulf Shores’ coast.

Say you’re staying for a few days and don’t want to have to lump parking into the already extensive list of expenses to consider. Sunset Properties is ready and waiting to provide you with one of their twenty eight beach front rentals to give you easy access to the beach of your choice. Click on over to see which rental option best suits you and your family for your trip to Gulf Shores!

Gulf State Park

If you prefer hiking along the flora and fauna of the beach to sitting out in the sand or swimming in the gulf, this article has probably bored you up onto this point. Props to you for continuing to read it! Your patience has paid off because Gulf State Park is exactly where you want to be to feed your outdoor spirit while appreciating all that Gulf Coast beaches have to offer.

When you’re looking to escape from the beach entirely, you can go kayaking or canoeing in Lake Shelby, go hiking on one of the many nature trails, or take the kids to the nature center or butterfly garden for some hands on educational fun! Many of the trails do eventually lead back to the beach, so you can take a break and refresh yourself before getting back to your beach adventures with fresh eyes!

Gulf State Park is encouraging social distancing, but with all the space the site offers, that shouldn’t be too hard! The park’s website offers plenty of information about the current COVID-19 preventative measures to help you decide how to keep your family safe and healthy on your beach retreat.

Gulf State Park Beach Pavilion

When you do make it back to the beach, the people at Gulf State Park know that sometimes you want to have the experience while still having the option of a roof over your head, especially during the season of five-minute torrential downpours that can happen at a moment’s notice. If that’s you, the Gulf State Park Beach Pavilion is here for you! This beautiful site offers close beach access from a pavilion that includes picnic tables for clean and easy family lunch breaks and bathrooms and showers for long, fun-filled days. So, if your view of the picturesque gulf is suddenly darkened by an oncoming storm, you and your crew can quickly run back to the pavilion and huddle for shelter, enjoying lunch from your picnic bag or the pavilion’s seasonal restaurant as you wait for the storm to pass by.

If you’re looking to get a little more out of your vacation than just fun in the sand, Pure Aloha Adventures also offers paddle boarding lessons at the pavilion. All ages are welcome, so enjoy some quality family time as you all learn a new skill that you can enjoy for years to come. The pavilion is also available for wedding rentals. So, if this beach trip is more a celebration than a vacation, the beach pavilion is still the place to be!

Gulf State Park Fishing and Education Pier

In addition to family fun and exploration, Gulf State Park also provides a space for anglers to take advantage of open access to the beach. The Gulf State Park Fishing and Education Pier offers sightseeing and fishing passes for twenty four hour access to the pier. Take the kids down to learn how to bait a hook and cast a line, or head out early with your fishing rod for some solo vacation time with Gulf Shores’ underwater biodiversity. You’ll be the hero of the day when you come home with lunch! The pier also offers Angler Academy if you or your family are new to fishing. Schedule a couple of hours into your vacation itinerary to learn from some of the experts, and the whole family could be reeling ‘em in like pros in no time!

Accessibility

The city of Gulf Shores is very dedicated to ensuring that all patrons have open and available access to its beaches. For this reason, the Gulf Place Public Beach access offers Access Mats, the Gulf State Beach Pavilion provides accessibility ramps, and the Gulf State Park Fishing and Education Pier is equipped with wheel-chair accessible rail fishing. No one wants to miss out on awesome experiences, so Gulf Shores opens opportunities for disabled patrons to seize the day!

As you can see not only are the beaches in Gulf Shores open, but they also have something for everyone to sink their teeth into and enjoy. Skip the FOMO and take advantage of the endless opportunities at your disposal in Gulf Shores, Alabama. We look forward to having you join us!

October 13, 2021October 13, 2021

Six Tips to Make the Most of Orange Beach, Alabama’s First Ever Freedom Fest

When we heard the Annual National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores was cancelled due to Covid-19 concerns this year, we were just as disappointed as you were. Then we realized Orange Beach’s Freedom Fest is just a few days away. While it is not as big as the Shrimp Festival, we believe it is certainly worth attending! But where is it? What should you expect? Will there be music, food, art? We, at Sunset Properties, did a little research for you and we believe we have the answers you need. Here are six tips to help you navigate this newly formed Freedom Fest scheduled to be held at The Wharf Saturday, October 9, 2021, from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM.

1. Get there early and plan to stay all day.

This is the first ever Freedom Fest and it will be held at The Wharf, located off Canal Road in Orange Beach where there is plenty of free parking so plan to come early. The Freedom Fest will be held at the west end of The Wharf, in the same location Orange Beach’s annual Seafood Fest is held in February. If overflow parking is needed, The Orange Beach Sportsplex is available. Oh, and if you are coming early, be sure to bring your sunglasses and sunscreen! Fall days along the Alabama Gulf Coast are usually clear and sunny. And fall sunburn skin is just as painful as any summer sunburn. To get an idea of what our weather is like each month, check out this link to our local tourism bureau’s weather page. We like to say, “it’s always sunny and seventy-five,” but sometimes we’ll admit, we can be a bit off. Our friends at the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism bureau are more accurate for monthly averages. And, for a current check on our local weather, follow this link for daily and weekly information.

2. Be sure to try the food.

Many of us are accustomed to attending the Annual National Shrimp Festival during this first full weekend of October. With the postponement of this year’s Crustacean Celebration until 2022, we encourage you to plan to enjoy some of your favorite food vendors who will be at the Freedom Fest. Be on the lookout for delicious festival cuisine including Cajun pistols, jambalaya, barbeque, shrimp tacos and kettle corn. Is your mouth watering yet? Pepsi is a sponsor, so you should be able to find plenty of one of South Alabama’s favorite sodas there, too! If you just cannot find something at the festival you like, there are plenty of great places to grab a delicious meal, snack or cup of coffee at The Wharf. The friendly folks at the Villaggio Grill and The Southern Grind would love to see you! There will be so much to choose from, no one should leave hungry!

3. Visit with the artists and crafters.

We are expecting to see nearly 100 artisans at the festival. With fine artists, crafters and those who fall somewhere in between, we are sure you will find something that makes your heart smile. Take a little time to stop and get to know the artists and crafters. They are such interesting folks! And, why not do your Christmas shopping while you’re here? In addition to the fine retail shops whose home is at The Wharf year round, during Freedom Fest, you’ll find booths containing unique and one-of-kind art pieces on display and for sale at the festival. What better souvenir is there from the Alabama Gulf Coast than a handmade original piece of art? We can’t think of one! And for the best view of the whole festival, catch a ride on the Wharf Ferris Wheel. The Ferris Wheel is 112 feet tall, one of the tallest in the Southeastern United States. The view from the top is spectacular. Fall skies are always picturesque along the Alabama Gulf Coast and the view from this Ferris Wheel is one everyone should enjoy.

4. Plan to enjoy a day filled with great live music.

What is a festival without live music? Pretty boring, huh?! Well, Freedom Fest planners agree. Be sure to put on your dancing flip flops because the music starts early and lasts all day! Here is the lineup and a little about each entertainer:

9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – Strickly Rivers – an entertaining and fun local duo – get ready to sing along!
10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – Tres Amigos – an enjoyable and upbeat band – get ready to merengue!
12:30- 2 p.m. – Brown Barnes Band – a wonderful performer – sit back and let the sweet sound of Brooke Brown’s voice fill the air around you.
2:15-3:45 p.m. – Cole Sitzlar – an amazing country music entertainer from Southeast Tennessee – a perfect ending to a perfect festival day!

5. Come for the festival. Stay for Brooks & Dunn!

That’s right! Brooks & Dunn will be performing at The Wharf Amphitheatre after Freedom Fest. We know you are going to really enjoy all the music during the festival, but who can resist a Brooks & Dunn Concert? Not us! We have our tickets! Do you have yours? Check out all the latest information on the Brooks & Dunn Concert at The Wharf Box Office website.

6. Make your accommodations reservations now!

Many people thought that because the Shrimp Festival was cancelled this year, that they should not come to Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan. Because of this, some wonderful beach homes have opened up. As fast as they become available, however, they seem to get reserved again! Don’t wait! If you want to stay near The Wharf in Orange Beach, check out take a look at Moorings 414. This gorgeous one bedroom, one bath condo has a fabulous view of Alabama Point and is only a few minutes away from The Wharf.

If staying a bit farther away appeals to you, give Island Sunrise 468 a look. Located right on the Gulf of Mexico in Gulf Shores, your living room is only steps from the pristine white sandy beaches our island paradise is known for. Evening walks on the beach in the fall are certainly ones for the memory books. Did we mention how beautiful the fall skies are? (I think we may have). Be sure to bring along a beach blanket or two. It’s always nice to have one to sit on, and sometimes in the fall, you’ll need one to wrap up in, too. The air just feels nicer, and the waves seem to sound clearer in the fall. When you’re lounging right outside your beach home, see you if you get those vibes, too. It’s easy to see why we love it here all year long!

A third option you should consider is The Dunes condos and neighborhood. Located all the way at the end of Fort Morgan Road, this area is perfect for a calm, relaxing evening following a busy day of activities! The Dunes condominiums sit back just a bit from the water and will leave you in awe as you watch the sun rise and set over both the Gulf of Mexico and Mobile Bay. The views are truly unmatched. The Dunes subdivision is filled with welcoming, cozy beach homes like Dolphy Dunes East, a three bedroom, two bath home that sleeps up to eight people and Shellchase, a stunning five bedroom home that sleeps up to twelve. Some of these beach homes allow dogs to stay with their people. If you’re just coming to enjoy a quick weekend getaway, as a last-minute decision, this may be just the thing you need to make your stay a little easier. Pack up your pup and come on down!

We hope you are planning to come to our little island paradise this fall. If you’re not coming to the Freedom Fest, remember Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival is right around the corner! We, at Sunset Properties, hope your fall is filled with toe tapping, knee slapping, art and crafting fun! Let us be a part of your fall vacation and we know we will see you again next summer!

www.sunsetproperties.com

251-543-1370

September 24, 2021September 24, 2021

Sunset Properties Has the Perfect Rental for Your Gulf Shores Couple’s Weekend

By: Raven Hunter

So, you and your spouse are planning a weekend to get away from the constant demands of everyday life and have some long needed “us” time. Good for you! But you may be asking yourself, “Now what?” Sunset Properties is way ahead of you with the perfect beachfront rental to give you and your sweetheart your own place to fall in love all over again. Boardwalk 1085 is a beautiful, well-located property that provides a stunning view of Gulf Shores’ gorgeous beaches. The convenient location of the rental will allow you and your sweetheart to kick off your quality couple time with a long, romantic walk in the soft, pure white sand. If the weather isn’t cooperative, Boardwalk 1085 also comes with a full kitchen, living room, and dining area if you two want to hone your cooking skills together or just enjoy each other’s company!

When the sun starts to go down, it’s time to take advantage of Boardwalk 1085’s accessibility to Gulf Shores’ nightlife. You two will be looking for somewhere to eat after spending some time settling into your rental and soaking in the beach’s irreplaceable sights and sounds as a couple. Fortunately, highly rated Sea and Suds Restaurant and Oyster Bar is just down the boardwalk from Boardwalk 1085. You lovebirds can take a leisurely stroll down to this homey restaurant for a night of enjoying the local color over fresh seafood and drinks. As a bonus, Sea and Suds also allows you to keep the beach view as you watch the sunset on your beautiful night in Gulf Shores. If you two are looking for a more lively atmosphere for the evening, The Hangout Restaurant is just down the road! You can take a quick ride down the street from the rental and show up for a night of good food and entertainment. You might even catch an event or a live show!

While nightlife is good, you and your honey might be looking for a more intimate place for your couple’s night away. If that’s the case, The Wharf has you covered! Just a short drive over to Orange Beach will take you to The Wharf’s myriad of places to spend the evening. For your relaxing dinner date, Mile Marker 158 Dockside is the perfect restaurant with indoor and outdoor dining and a wonderful view of the marina. This quiet and casual atmosphere will provide the ideal place for your much needed one-on-one, adult conversation. Once you’ve finished up dinner, the Wharf also provides many shops and boutiques for you and your love to peruse. Depending on your taste, you can treat each other to a new outfit or maybe a new tea blend to commemorate your magical couple’s weekend in Gulf Shores!

At the end of the night, you two will likely want to unwind. That’s where your rental comes in again. Boardwalk 1085 comes with a wonderful balcony for you and your sweetheart to sit together and reflect on the wonderful times you had while immersed in the quiet, serene nighttime atmosphere of the beach. Listen to the crashing of the waves sweep through the night air as you two recharge for another day of time to yourselves.

If you’re wanting all of the fun of Gulf Shores but not looking to stay directly on the beach, Sunset Properties also offers Beachview 223, another one-bedroom condo rental just a few blocks from Boardwalk 1085 that’s just as central to many beloved locations (and right across the street from the beach!). Either rental is just a click away to begin planning your weekend getaway in the beautiful Gulf Shores, Alabama.

August 31, 2021

Choose the Alabama Gulf Coast for Your Next Homeschool Fieldtrip

By: Raven Hunter

Homeschooling offers many appealing advantages to a child’s education, among those being schedule flexibility and creative license. Not only can homeschool families organize schoolwork around family plans without having to worry about makeup work or excuse notes, but they can also use those family plans as educational opportunities to broaden their students’ learning horizons! With the COVID-19 pandemic making virtual school a popular schooling option, many public school families are also experiencing these benefits, and Alabama’s Gulf Coast gives all at-home learners the opportunity to make the most of them. If your student is learning at home, here are some destinations in the Gulf Shores and Fort Morgan area that will make your next educational vacation one to remember:

Fort Morgan State Historic Site

Fort Morgan is a historical preservation of the fort built to refortify its predecessor, Fort Bowyer, in 1819. The site offers a detailed account of the site’s complicated history from the war of 1812 to World War II through a series of information panels spread throughout the site that will allow you and your students to absorb the history while being immersed in the location itself. As a result of COVID-19 restrictions, tours of Fort Morgan are currently self-guided. While this change may seem disappointing initially, this independence will give your at-home learner the opportunity to explore and learn at their own pace. What better way to develop a love of learning? Sunset Properties offers several rentals on Alabama State Highway 180 that are just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Fort Morgan, making the site perfect for an early morning start to a full day of educational fun! Admission is only $5 for children and $8 for adults with a $20 deal for families of two adults and two children. Prepay for your family’s tickets today!

Nature Exploration

If at-home learning has you always looking for opportunities to explore the outdoors, Alabama’s Gulf Coast offers many places for you and your kids to connect with nature! Also on AL 180 is Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge. This refuge contains four different nature trails and offers your young learners multiple different avenues to experience the coastal wildlife, such as birdwatching (seasonal for spring and autumn), interpretive material and activities, photography, and fishing if you have anglers in the bunch! Over in Gulf Shores, Gulf State Park also offers many opportunities for your children to discover a love for wildlife with attractions such as the Interpretive Center, the Nature Center, and the Forest Pavilion & Butterfly Garden as well as many trails with rest stops to make for a relaxing and bonding nature experience. The park also encourages you to teach your children about the importance of conservation with their many initiatives! Make sure to include a day immersed in the wonder that the coastal flora and fauna has to offer to your family’s learning vacation!

Family Fun, Dinner, and Dessert

After a long day of learning and fun, you may be looking for a fun place to unwind as a family. Alabama’s Gulf Coast has no shortage of family-friendly hangout spots! Hangout, appropriately named, in Gulf Shores offers live bands and seafood for the whole family. Come and attend an event, or just relax and enjoy dinner accompanied by the sounds of the band of the evening. For dessert, you can head over to Chocolate Corner & Ice Cream for a quick to-go treat of ice cream or chocolate. Rated five stars on Yelp, this parlor offers takeout and delivery services for sweet treats from milkshakes and frappuccinos to truffles and chocolate bark! These delicacies will be perfect for you and your family to wind down and remember the fun times you had on your family field trip.

If you’re looking to seize the creative spontaneity made possible by at-home learning, then Alabama’s Gulf Coast is the place to go to give your family relaxing and educational fun!

August 23, 2021

Should I rent a beach home or a hotel room in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach or Fort Morgan?

Someone who knows I write blogs for Sunset Properties asked me, “Do you always stay in a condo or house when you go on vacation? Don’t you ever stay in a hotel?” To answer honestly, I had to say “yes”. Like everyone else who has ever traveled and stayed overnight somewhere, I have stayed in a hotel. Do I like it for longer than one or two nights? Absolutely not. I like to spend my money wisely. I like having my privacy and I enjoy the luxury of staying in a home away from home instead of just having a bedroom. For business travel, a hotel is ok, I guess. But for vacation, I much prefer having all the amenities I am accustomed to in my personal home available to me in my vacation home.

Here are five reasons why staying in a beach house or condo can be a better choice than renting a hotel room:

1. Comparing the costs, beach homes are the better deal.

Oftentimes we are fooled into believing a hotel room is cheaper and therefore it is the better deal. For years, our brains have been conditioned to think that way. The fact is, that when we compare apples to apples (I mean, as close as we can compare said apples) the beach condo or house is the better deal. Let me prove this. For the week of August 9-13, 2021, which would be for four nights, we have the following options. A large internet booking site posts a hotel that is right on the beach in Orange Beach for $1226 total cost including estimated 13% taxes and fees. That sounds pretty good, right? This is probably a nice hotel, too. It’s part of a well-known chain with a great reputation. And this room has a pool view. Can’t beat that, can ya? So for right at twelve hundred dollars, you can rent a two-bed room (not a two bedroom) right on the beach in Orange Beach. Breakfast is not included with this reservation. Then I searched Sunset Properties for the same time period. I found this: for about $1263 (all fees included) only about $40 more than the hotel room I mentioned, you can book a one bedroom condo with a sleeper sofa and a private balcony that overlooks the beach in Gulf Shores. That’s right! For almost the same amount of money, you can bookIsland Winds West 177 in Gulf Shores. Like the hotel room, this condo doesn’t come with breakfast, either, but, unlike the hotel room, it does come with a fully stocked kitchen that has full size appliances. All you have to do is stop by Rouse’s and get some breakfast groceries or go out to eat breakfast. But let’s face it, you were going to have to do that anyway, if you rented the hotel. So, maybe you can beat the hotel deal!

2. Privacy matters for private matters.

So, we’ve all been in a hotel room when we overheard our neighbors. Maybe they were talking, or singing or the kids were playing loudly. It happens, right? We sort of expect it. But when we are on vacation, do we really need to know what our neighbors are doing? As for me, I’d rather not. And hotel turndown service and restocking the toilet paper is great for a couple of days. But after that, when I’m on vacation, I don’t always want to pre-clean my room before the housekeeper comes. I’d rather just relax a bit and leave my clothes on the floor if I am tired from a long day of beaching. A beach home is definitely the way to go for longer stays! When you book a beach home, house or condo, you get so much more privacy during your vacation. When you reserve a condo, like Gulfside Townhome 31, much like an apartment, some neighbor noise does filter through. But when you reserve a beach house, like Alta Vista, for example, it is like being in your own home. When you’re cooking that great local Alabama Seafood you purchased right off the boat from one of our amazing seafood retailers and you are singing along to your favorite Jimmy Buffett song, your neighbors won’t be able to hear you. No one will come and turn down the covers for you each day while you’re away and no one will come and restock the toilet paper, but the overall benefits really outweigh the inconvenience of having to buy your own restock roll. And, once your seafood is ready, you can enjoy it right on your own balcony overlooking some of the most beautiful beaches that surround the Gulf of Mexico.

3. Amenities like well-stocked kitchens with full size appliances alleviate stress.

I love to dine out when I travel. I love to dine out in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan. That’s no secret. I actually will admit to being a Destination Dinner Diner ( a little term I coined which is actually quite fitting!). Like a lot of folks I know, I will look ahead to find the best places to eat before I travel. And we do have some great places here along the Alabama Gulf Coast! Want to know where to have a memorable breakfast or brunch? Check out my breakfast/brunch blog. How about a great place for a Bushwacker? I have a Bushwacker blog. The list goes on. At Sunset Properties, we are happy to make recommendations on our favorite local spots. But what about those days when you don’t want to wait in line at a restaurant to be seated? When you’re not feeling especially people-ly and you just want to go in for the night and cook your own seafood and have your own adult beverages? In vacation peace and serenity. We can’t really do that in a hotel, can we? But if you were staying a few days in Happy Clam, located just two streets from the beach, you can have it all. This lovely beach house has a great kitchen, stocked with everything you need to cook any meal, except your menu items. It also has a grill for your use. And if you have too much of your favorite adult beverage, you won’t have to drive home after dinner, because you’ll already be there! So to review, you can get a really nice private beach home, with a great kitchen and grill, that’s a five minute walk to the beach, for about the same cost as a hotel. I’d say that’s a win, win, win, win, stress-free WIN!

4. Everyone, including the dog, has their own space.

Most of us like to travel with our dogs. They are as much a part of our family as our human relatives are. Frequently, unless your dog is a service animal, this is not an option when staying in a hotel. Leaving our dogs at home while we go away on vacation can get expensive. If you have to rent a space at a doggie spa or vet, your vacation cost can go up exponentially. If you have to get a neighbor, friend or relative to doggy-sit, you also face extra charges. Both are great options, and we have all tried them, but they also cause stress on our fur babies. Not only are they sad because we are away from them, but they are left in the care of semi or total strangers, and that can make them terribly uncomfortable. Why not pack up Spot’s favorite toys and bed and bring him with you? When your family stays in adog friendly Sunset Properties beach home, everyone can enjoy their vacation. When I say everyone, I actually literally mean “everyone”. Check out the dog friendly breath-takingly beautiful beach home Grace. Up to twenty humans can stay here. And dogs, under certain restrictions, are welcome, too. There are so many things you can do with your dog along the Alabama Gulf Coast, I can’t think of one reason to split up the family and leave your fur baby at home.

5. The staff gets to know you by name and can help you customize your vacation.

While some hotels do have consistency in staffing, many, many do not. When you call in to check on a reservation or for assistance at your hotel, often you’re just a “last name and a room number”. But at Sunset Properties, a small family-owned company, our staff turnover is very low. That works to our guest’s benefit! We get to know you by name and many of our guests become our friends. We learn about your family’s wants and needs and are able to help you customize your reservations to line up with your vacation goals. Where do you want to stay in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach or Fort Morgan? Do you prefer a condo or a house? Pool or beach front or both? Bay front or boat slip needed? These are things we learn about our guests, and we are able to offer vacation homes to meet each of these wants and needs. Again, for a less personal experience and for a quick on night stay, a hotel is probably the way to go. But if you want a vacation that specifically meets your family’s lifestyle, reserving a beach home from Sunset Properties is probably going to provide you with the memories you’re hoping for.

Though there are too many to list them all here, this little blog outlines some reasons why I prefer staying in a vacation home instead of a hotel. If you have questions about a home you’re considering booking, reach out to us. At Sunset Properties, we are very familiar with all of our available homes, and we are happy to answer questions you may have. Remember, if you’re looking for someone to turn down your covers and restock your toilet paper during your stay in one room, that’s not us. But if you’re looking to be the King or Queen of one of the nicest “Sand Castles” on the Alabama Gulf Coast, reach out to us at Sunset Properties. We can definitely get you a key to a castle that will fit your whole family’s needs.

www.sunsetproperties.com

251.543.1370

July 12, 2021

What to do if a Hurricane Threatens Your Gulf Shores Vacation Fun

Now that the Alabama Gulf Coast is open for business and we are all rebounding from last year’s pandemic closures, we know you are ready to book your beach vacation getaway or flexcation soon! Your friends at Sunset Properties want you to make the most of your beach vacation experience. We want you and your family to enjoy all the great restaurants and attractions available here on our Alabama Gulf Coast. We want you to dip your toes in the welcoming waters of the salty Gulf of Mexico and enjoy listening to the seagulls chatter and watching the dolphins play in our back bays of Orange Beach. We want you to enjoy walking on our sugary sandy white beaches in front of the Hangout in Gulf Shores. We hope you get to go boating and fishing and parasailing in Mobile Bay, if those things appeal to you. But we also want you to be prepared just in case the weather doesn’t cooperate. Here are some tips on What to do if a hurricane threatens your vacation fun in Gulf Shoes, Orange Beach or Fort Morgan:

Know where you are

Keeping up with exactly where you are on a map is so important. Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico tropical weather, whether you’re dealing with a tropical storm or a hurricane, may not affect all parts of the Gulf Coast with the same severity. What can be considered a major storm in one area of the Northern Gulf can be little more than a rain event just a few miles away. Know where your vacation home is in relation to any severe weather that may be in the expected or affecting the Northern Gulf Coast. Just because there is tropical weather in The Gulf of Mexico doesn’t necessarily mean your vacation has to be altered. Sometimes, all it means is there is no swimming allowed in The Gulf for a day or so due to rip currents/tides. And if that’s the case, you will still have a great time staying with Sunset Properties. Most of our vacation homes have pools either right on site or only a short walk away.

Know exactly what you’re dealing with

Tropical weather can appear in several different forms. The ones that seem to catch our ears here on the Alabama Gulf Coast are tropical storms and hurricanes. What’s the difference? As defined by www.weather.gov a tropical storm is a tropical cyclone that has maximum sustained surface winds ranging from 39-73 mph (34 to 63 knots). And a hurricane is a tropical cyclone that has maximum sustained surface winds of 74 mph or greater (64 knots or greater). Both usually only last a day or so. It’s the strength of a storm that determines whether our island roads and businesses remain cautiously open or have to close temporarily for safety. While no one likes to deal with tropical weather, knowing what you’re dealing with will make things more manageable. And understanding that when authorities determine the situation is severe enough to ask residents and guests to leave or delay returning to our island home, we all must comply.

Be weather aware

Weather reports are often available a week or so out and it’s a good idea to check out our local weather within a couple of weeks of your arrival. Not only will this help you plan what to bring to wear, but it can give you an idea if severe weather is possible or likely during your vacation. While we love to say it’s always “sunny and 75 here” sometimes, we have to admit, it’s neither sunny nor seventy-five. We urge you to get a weather app for your phone that will allow you to not only track out local weather here in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan, but will also allow you to get alerts that follow you while you’re in our neighborhood. Sometimes the weather at The Dunes near Fort Morgan is perfectly sunny under breezy blue skies, while the weather in Gulf Shores at Lighthouse 607 or Harbor House 30 can be rainy and over in Orange Beach, at Seaside Beach and Racquet 2104 or Caribe C Penthouse 14, they may be looking at the brightest rainbow in memory.

Buy travel insurance

When you book with Sunset Properties, long before you check in to Navy Cove 2113 or Hangar Outer, we will offer you the option to purchase travel insurance. Get it. Go ahead and purchase the insurance. You insure everything else important in your life, why would you not insure your vacation? This is the one big leisure expense you saved for and planned on all year. Make a small investment in travel insurance and guarantee yourself a financially secure vacation. For details on all the different travel insurance options, take a look at our blog detailing reasons you really do need this.

Develop a Plan B

All business savvy folks have a Plan B, just in case Plan A falls through. Great vacation planners do this, as well. We cannot overstress the importance of purchasing travel insurance. You save all year for your beach vacation; the kids are so excited and hyped up; you have your four legged baby all vaccinated and ready to roll, then you realize the weather will just not cooperate with your plans. If you cannot check into your vacation rental because it is simply not available, check with Sunset Properties about rescheduling for a different date. Call as soon as you know you cannot arrive on time! Do not delay notifying our staff with this request. With some restrictions, this may be an option. Also, try not to get fixated on only one of our great properties. Be sure to look at all of our inventory, just in case you have to change your beach home address. While this may never happen to you, and we sincerely hope it doesn’t, it is always good to have your Plan B in place. After all, no one likes an unfamiliar, unexpected vacation surprise. Book your favorite home, but go ahead and take a look at all we have available, and decide which of our amazingly family and dog friendly beach homes could be your second or third choice.

Expect the unexpected

Expect the unexpected and plan for it. No one likes that guy Murphy who has all those gloom and doom (if-it-can-go-wrong—it-will-go-wrong) “laws” and we are convinced he is related to Mayhem, because he seems to pop up at the most inopportune times. We don’t like him and most of our guests don’t care much for him either. But there’s no harm in preparing for the worst. While none of us can stop a hurricane or a tropical storm, we can at least prepare. And tropical weather or not, it is always a good idea to throw in a rain poncho when you’re coming to your beach home. While it doesn’t rain all day every day during the summer months along the Alabama Gulf Coast, it usually rains for a few minutes, most days. Be prepared for afternoon showers as you enjoy your stay with us. Ponchos and flip-flops are totally normal in our neighborhood!

Understand your cancellation or rescheduling options

We know that sometimes you just have to cancel or reschedule your vacation. Things come up. While we do our best to accommodate our guests and make changing plans as easy as possible, we hope our guests will do their part, as well. Ask your reservationist for specifics on rescheduling your trip if the need arises. Know your options. There may be fees associated with this and the property you were initially hoping for may or may not be available for your new dates. Get all the details when you make your initial booking. We, at Sunset Properties, are only a click or call away and we will be happy to help you understand all of the options that are available to you when you make your reservation.

Consider changing your destination city

If vacation home choices in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach or Fort Morgan become unavailable during your scheduled time, how about considering visiting an alternative location? Sunset Properties also has a lovely vacation home in Park City, Utah. While Park City is obviously a long, long way from the Alabama Gulf Coast, our vacation home Silver Saddles is as spectacular a home as you have come to expect from us. It is a three bedroom, three and a half bath 2,000 square foot ground floor condo located in this beautiful mountain resort area. Vacations in Park City, in both summer and winter, are memorable! Rescheduling your summer trip away from the Gulf of Mexico and visiting Park City, located about thirty miles from Salt Lake City, Utah, may just be one of the best vacation decisions you and your family ever make!

If you have questions or need suggestions on what to do while you’re staying with us on the Alabama Gulf Coast, check out or blog on Romantic Things to Do in Gulf Shores or Things to do With Your Kids in Gulf Shores. We live, work and play right here in beautiful south Alabama and we would love to offer suggestions on how to make the most of your time in our area. And if a summer stay in the stunning Utah mountains appeals to you, we can help you get your Park City vacation set up, also! See you soon!

www.sunsetproperties.com

251.543.1370

June 18, 2021

It’s time for a Girls’ Weekend at The Beach in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach or Fort Morgan as we Welcome Alabama to The Wharf!

The Alabama 50th Anniversary Tour Concert at The Wharf on August 6, 2021, and you scored some great tickets for your friends and yourself. Congratulations! Now it’s time for you to plan your Girl’s Weekend Getaway to the Alabama Gulf Coast. We think that’s an awesome idea! We all remember when Alabama, featuring Randy Owen, Teddy Gentry and Jeff Cook from Fort Payne, Alabama were new to Country Music. It’s hard to believe we have been enjoying their distinct sound for this long. But we have. We grew up with them! And now that we are a bit more mature than we were 40 plus years ago, our tastes have changed. But our love of Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan, just like our love of Country Music, has just grown sweeter than Momma’s tea over the years. While you’re visiting our island paradise, you and your girlfriends should really try the following:

1. A Luxury Penthouse Stay

Years ago, we would go to a concert and be happy to just sleep in the backseat of our Mom’s station wagon if we didn’t have a place to stay. We’ve even gone so far as to head to the beach with nowhere to stay in mind, and, after spending the whole day on the beach, found ourselves too tired to drive home, so we slept in a car all night. But now we’ve got real adult lives and real adult jobs and our tastes have changed significantly. While the old wagon’s backseat was alright for the younger versions of us, today we like a little more comfort when we travel. I know I do! I, too, am planning to see Alabama at The Wharf. (The first time I saw them was in the 70s…the nineteen – seventies… at the county fair… in Tuscaloosa! Yes…I am that old! And wow! We’ve all come a long way since then….but I digress…) This time I am excited to see them play at The Wharf in Orange Beach. And, because I want to spend the weekend away from my house, just like you, I already have the perfect place to stay reserved. I am sleeping, not in my car, but in a wonderful beach home near Fort Morgan. Where are you ladies staying? Sunset Properties has the perfect penthouse condominium beach home in Orange Beach or luxury beachfront condo in Gulf Shores already ready for you and your besties. Would you rather stay in an exquisite single family beach home located right on the beach? Check out Eden’s Waters where you will see first-hand what spending a weekend in a luxury Gulf-front beach home feels like. Go ahead! Spoil yourself! And your girlfriends! After all, this may be the last time you all come to Gulf Shores to see Alabama in concert. Might as well make it the absolute best possible weekend you can! Do it up right!

2. A Spa Day

Speaking of spoiling yourselves, how about planning a spa day while you’re in town? Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are home to some of the best day spas in the state. Eden Spa and Salon in Orange Beach offers a wide variety of services and it is easy to find. Eden Spa is located right in the Palm Point shopping center in Orange Beach. Don’t want to leave your luxurious beach home? Call them, they will come to you! They offer services to help you with hair, nails, skin and body care. Serenity at the Beach, also located in Orange Beach, is another great option for some top-notch spoiling. They offer services from pampering your hair and nails to pampering your whole body with deep tissue, stone and stress relief massages. This is a must-do for any girls’ weekend. Be sure to reach out to these wonderful day spas and make an appointment ahead of time. Don’t wait or you might miss your opportunity to enjoy this important part of any girls’ weekend.

3. A Personalized Souvenir

You probably have all the koozies, magnets and airbrush t-shirts you can stand already at home. How about taking home an “adult souvenir” from this trip? Your girls’ weekend out to see Alabama may just be a once-in-a-lifetime event. And since you’re doing this weekend with your ride-or-die sisters, you want to make the best memories possible, right? Then be sure to visit the Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach while you’re on our island. The talented and professional group at the Coastal Arts Center offers classes on making blown glass original art. You can literally make your own souvenir! Create something especially beautiful with your besties and make a great memory in the process! The Coastal Arts Center also hosts visual arts classes and pottery demonstrations. This is a great way to pass an afternoon either before or after your day spa outing.

4. A Delicious Dinner

After a spa trip or making the perfect souvenir, you will definitely be hungry. There are so many great restaurants to choose from on our island. New restaurants squeeze their way in, and some are well received, and some seem to leave on a Gulf breeze. And while we all have our new favorites, I suggest you try at least one of our restaurants that has been here for many years. If you’re looking for “tried and true” as we say, enjoy dinner at DeSoto’s in Gulf Shores. DeSoto’s Seafood Kitchen is a local favorite. How good is this place? Sunny 105.7 FM, our local island radio station, holds a People’s Choice Award contest each year for locals to vote on their favorite places to eat, play, etc. Sunny 105.7 has done this for many, many years. And DeSoto’s has won this award many, many times! Another local favorite is Doc’s Seafood Shack located on Canal Road in Orange Beach. When you hear the word “shack” you might shy away from eating here. Don’t let the name fool ya! The good folks at Doc’s have been serving up some of the best seafood on our island for over 35 years. You don’t stay relevant for that long if you aren’t doing something right. Both of these are great suggestions for a fun girls’ night out dinner. These two restaurants prepare their seafood a bit differently, but both are amazing places to eat! Hey, why not try one on the first night you’re in town and the other for lunch or dinner the next day?!

5. A New Look – Head to Toe

What girls’ weekend trip is complete with a little shopping? With the Foley Tanger Outlets just a few minutes away, there is no excuse why you all can’t spend some time soaking up some retail therapy. Last year, the pandemic seemed to rob us ladies of our customary relaxing shopping experiences. For months, many of our favorite stores were closed or the items we could buy were limited. Welcome to post pandemic outlet mall shopping! While you’re in south Baldwin County for The Alabama 50th Anniversary Tour Concert at The Wharf in Orange Beach, be sure to visit one of our favorite pedestrian malls located in Foley, Alabama. The Tanger Outlets in Foley are open and shopping is encouraged. With great stores featuring Kate Spade New York, Polo/Ralph Lauren and Coach just to name a few, why would any shopaholic deny herself the opportunity to “get her fill” of upscale bargains? I can’t think of one reason! Be sure to check out all of the ninety-seven stores that make this mall one of a kind in Coastal Alabama.

The Alabama 50th Anniversary Tour Concert at The Wharf will certainly be a great event to attend. I, for one, cannot wait! I am looking forward to spending the weekend in my Sunset Properties “home away from home”. Even as a member of the Sunset Properties Team, I enjoy the luxury of staying in a perfectly stocked, tastefully decorated beach vacation home now and then. Like an amazing Sunset Properties beach home, coastal spa days, DeSoto’s and Doc’s never disappoint. And shopping at Tanger in Foley always leaves me smiling! Enjoy your stay. Enjoy your outings. Make lots of memories. Take lots of pictures! And, if you haven’t already booked your vacation home, be sure to give us a call. We have your getaway home ready for you and your group!

We wish you a safe and fun concert weekend. And…hey… we might just be the folks singing right beside you at the concert! We’re glad you’re planning to make Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan your “home in Alabama” even if it’s just for a couple of nights!

www.sunsetproperties.com

251-543-1370

June 10, 2021

Post-pandemic Golfing in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan – Top Five Courses

Now that the Covid-19 case numbers have decreased and we are starting to hang out with our friends again, we golfers are excited to get back out on the courses! Here along the Alabama Gulf Coast, our amenities are starting to open back up fully in our island home. A post-pandemic golf weekend in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach or Fort Morgan may be just what the doctor ordered to help you get over those pandemic lockdown blues! There is no better time than now to make up for all the missed tee times from last year and according to Sports Show , golf ranks among the ten most popular sports in the world, so it is no coincidence that some of the best golf courses in the world are found right here along the Alabama Gulf Coast. But how do you know which course is right for you? To make your decision easier, we have listed the top five golf courses in our area:

Peninsula Golf and Racquet Club

Located just off Fort Morgan Road, Peninsula Golf and Racquet Club is another of our local favorites. Peninsula offers three separate 9 hold courses: Lakes, Cypress and Marsh and we encourage you to play all three. Combine two of the three to make an 18-hole round. Each provides a distinctly different challenge and reward. Finding this type of variety in one resort location is not always easy. Make sure to visit the Peninsula Golf and Racquet Club website to learn about tee times and fees. Sunset Properties is proud to offer the golfer with discerning taste an elegant beach home located about ten minutes from Peninsula Golf and Racquet Club. Coquille at Martinique is a six-bedroom, five bath gorgeous beach home located in the golf cart friendly gated community of Martinique just off Fort Morgan Road. After a day of golfing and enjoying the sun and breezes that flow through the Peninsula Golf Course, you’ll only be a short trip from a relaxing shower and a private sunroom or deck where you can enjoy your evening cocktail.

Craft Farms Golf Resort

Every serious golfer knowsCraft Farms Golf Resort is one of the top resorts in the country. The Cotton Creek Course and The Cypress Bend Course were both designed by the legendary golfer Arnold Palmer, making them extremely appealing to anyone who swings a club. With perfectly trimmed fairways and surrounding areas unmatched in beauty, these 18-hole courses are a must for any golfer, pro or otherwise. Craft Farms, located at 3840 Cotton Creek Circle in Gulf Shores, about fifteen minutes from the beachfront luxury home Lighthouse 607, offers beautifully furnished clubhouses managed by a knowledgeable and professional staff. These courses are both challenging and entertaining. To book your tee time, visit the Craft Farms online. To get a closer look at the exquisitely decorated Gulf front beach home called Lighthouse 607, visit Sunset Properties. Make sure you give Craft Farms a serious look, too. After all, you may find Arnold Palmer designed the perfect course for You!

One Club Golf

For one of the most distinctive golfing experiences around, try One Club Golf. Along with traditional day time golfing outings, One Club Golf offers golfing after dark. That’s right, you can experience this glowingly fun way to golf, after the sun goes down. With Sunset Golf, Glow Golf and Golf Happy Hour, we are sure everyone in your family will have a blast. So much of what we think of when we consider visiting a beach resort town, revolves around enjoying sunny days. Well, with this new twist on a favorite sport, starry nights are in style, too! Conveniently located at 4000 Gulf Shores Parkway in Gulf Shores, One Club Golf is just a short drive to the Bon Secour River area where Hangar Outer is located. If enjoying the stars is something that appeals to you, be sure to consider Hangar Outer. This special beach home was constructed out of an old airplane hangar and it is perfectly and appropriately located for any sky watcher. Surrounded by 380 feet of water, the views of both water and sky are unmatched! So after a day or night of golfing at One Club Golf, come home and continue your fun experience of enjoying twenty-four hours of fun at Hangar Outer!

Gulf Shores Golf Club

Located in the heart of Gulf Shores at 520 Clubhouse Drive, Gulf Shores Golf Club is a semi-private club. Guests are welcome to play this top rated Alabama golf course, along with members. This beautifully kept 18 hole course is home to several local non-golfing residents. Raccoons, squirrels and alligators can be found on or near the course. The course has some challenging holes, as well. Trees and ponds make navigating this local favorite fun and exciting. While you’re here, be sure to visit the Pro Shop and clubhouse. Gulf Shores Golf Club, built in the 1960s, is an icon in our area and we know you will want to visit it while you’re in our neighborhood. Speaking of neighborhoods, one of our favorites is the Fort Morgan Community. Just minutes from Gulf Shores Golf Club, Tetherdown is a Mobile Bay front beach home just waiting for you and nine of your friends. If a guy’s or girl’s golf weekend that includes fabulous views of the water is your goal, be sure to give this beach home a look. Tetherdown, like Gulf Shores Golf Club, is surrounded with the natural wildlife that makes the Alabama Gulf Coast so inviting. Be on the lookout for dolphins in Mobile Bay and possibly raccoons, squirrels or alligators near the home. Also, if you see any of our Alabama Beach Mouse friends, please don’t disturb them. They are endangered and we need them to help us keep our dunes intact.

Kiva Dunes Resort and Golf

The Golf Course at Kiva Dunes has just over 7,100 yards of play area and is one of the top courses in Alabama. Located just off Fort Morgan Road at 815 Plantation Road near Gulf and Golf East and Gulf and Golf West, Kiva Dunes is a completely public course. In April 2018, it was ranked the top public course in Alabama by Golf Advisor. The golf course, itself, as well as the professional staff, constantly receive rave reviews from guests and locals alike. We are quite partial to them, as well! Because of the novel location of this amazingly manicured course, which is literally between The Gulf of Mexico and Mobile Bay, the winds that pass over it change frequently. Winds blow across the course from both the Gulf and Mobile Bay. As every golfer knows, as the winds that blow across a course change, the course, itself, changes. This makes each golfing experience at Kiva a unique one. If you’re looking for a course that is constantly a challenge, well-kept and managed by super friendly folks, and is within walking distance from beautifully decorated beach homes that sleep up to seventeen of your closest golfing buddies, Kiva Dunes Resort and Golf is perfect for you! For tee times and fees, visit Kiva Dunes online.

If you’re looking for a great place to practice and just hit a few balls around, be sure to visit The City of Orange Beach’s Orange Beach Golf Center located at 4700 Easy Street in Orange Beach. Easy Street is just off Canal Road near The Wharf in Orange Beach. The Orange Beach Golf Center features 9-Hole, Par-3 Course, lighted driving range, practice putting/chipping greens, practice sand bunker, and Pro Shop. This golf venue is so lovely and well-kept. We encourage island guests to visit The Orange Beach Golf Center for a relaxing afternoon.

Many of you have heard about the great courses in our area, but you’re not sure which one or ones to visit. As locals, we’ve tried them all. We are happy to recommend these courses, managed by our neighbors and friends, to you, our guests. We believe you will fall in love with Golfing the Gulf Coast, just like thousands have before you. And if you’re a repeat guest golfer, welcome back!

Remember, your vacation home is just as important as finding the perfect place to tee off. Visit us at Sunset Properties and we can help you find those perfect accommodations for you and your family or you and your golf buddies. From private pools to dog friendly options, to vacation homes with places to park your golf cart or your personal watercraft, at Sunset Properties, we have them all! And we can’t wait for you to see them!

www.sunsetproperties.com

251.543.1370

June 5, 2021

Ten Ways to Know You Love About the Alabama Gulf Coast – Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan

Lots of us are participating in social media challenges these days. We, at Sunset Properties, are fans of many of these. One of our favorites is the “tell me you love (something) without telling me”. Here’s ours:

Tell me You Love the Alabama Gulf Coast without Telling Me You Love the Alabama Gulf Coast

1. I daydream about playing mini golf at Pirates Island.

Mini golf is something we all did as kids. As adults, we tend to gravitate to larger courses like those at Craft Farms or Gulf Shores Golf Club. But sometimes we do admit, we find ourselves daydreaming about those warm spring and early summer afternoons when all we wanted to do was sink a purple ball into a silly hole as we golfed our way around a pirate ship shaped mini-golf course. Pirate’s Island Adventure Golf located just north of the Intracoastal Holmes Bridge still offers fun and silly adventures for the whole family. Time to make your daydreams a reality!

2. My favorite picture on my camera roll has my bestie getting tossed off a giant flamingo by a rolling wave.

The waves of the Gulf of Mexico are unpredictable at best. As long as the red flags are not flying, swimming in the Gulf is usually a wonderful experience. The warm, salty water can make most achy joints feel nice. Floating with the kiddos or you sweetheart is a great way to pass an afternoon. With private beaches attached to great beach home subdivisions like The Dunes, enjoying the Gulf can be a daily indulgence while you’re in Gulf Shores. That image, however, of your best friend tipping not-so-gracefully off that giant flamingo is still one for the record books! We know. We all have an image similar to that one on our camera roll, too!

3. I have walked through the mouth of a shark.

Not everyone can say they’ve walked right through a shark’s mouth without getting so much as a scratch. If you can, you are one of the special folks who really loves the Alabama Gulf Coast. Souvenir City, located in the heart of Gulf Shores since 1956, is one of our favorite gift shops. With everything from magnets to fudge, t-shirts to coffee cups, they pretty much have something for everyone. We can’t think of one person who loves the Alabama Gulf Coast and hasn’t walked through the shark’s mouth.

4. I know exactly how long it takes to get from Tanger Outlets to the Intracoastal Bridge.

About 15 minutes. That’s the answer. It takes about 15 minutes on an average day to get from everyone’s favorite coastal outlet mall in Foley to the WC Holmes Intracoastal Waterway Bridge that leads onto the island if you enter via Alabama Highway 59 (Gulf Shores Parkway). If you choose to stop and shop at the Tanger Outlets in Foley, you’ll find more than eighty retailers ready to help you with some retail therapy. But if you love the Alabama Gulf Coast, you already know that! Just like you already know that when we leave the mall, we’re only about fifteen minutes away from the most beautiful coastal scenery anywhere surrounded by 32 miles of sugar white beaches.

5. There is still sand in my backseat floorboard from my last visit.

Speaking of beaches, if you truly love our coastal paradise, there is still some sand in your backseat floorboard from your last trip down. We ask that you watch out for the sea oats and Alabama Beach Mice and please stay off the dunes when you visit the beaches. Please take your trash with you and leave only footprints when you visit the beautiful shoreline in Orange Beach, but those who love the Alabama Gulf Coast tend to take flip flops full of sand home with them. And it ends up in the backseat floorboards. There is seemingly no way to get all the sand out of a car. But, honestly, who would want to? Why not carry around a few grains of one of your favorite places on earth? After all, it’s just a tiny reminder of where your heart longs to be. You love the beach and little island just like we do.

6. I look forward to visiting two-toed sloths.

Like those of us who live on Island Time, two-toed sloths move at their own pace. Usually, it’s a much slower pace than everyone else. But that’s ok. And like you, we love our friends, the sloths, who live at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. We stop by to see them as often as we can. They remind us to slow down, chill out, and enjoy all that our wonderful island home has to offer. Speaking of slowing down, did you know there is a lazy river at Caribe B Penthouse 4? Enjoying that makes for a wonderful afternoon. But, if relaxing in a penthouse condo’s lazy river isn’t your thing, how about relaxing in a beach home right on the beach in Gulf Shores? Check out Castaways 7B. If you want to slow it down even a little more, take a look at Tortuga Bay, which is perfectly placed in the quiet Fort Morgan community.

7. I have library cards for both the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Public Libraries.

While we’re on the topic of relaxing, we know sitting on a balcony overlooking the gleaming waters of the Gulf of Mexico, listening to the melody the waves make while reading a great book makes you smile. The beach and books just seem to go together. But, there’s no need to bring a book from home when you can borrow one from the Orange Beach Public Library or the Gulf Shores Public Library. You already know the good folks at both the Orange Beach Public Library and The Gulf Shores Public Library only require a valid form of identification (a driver’s license) to get your library card. We know your library cards have been safely parked in your wallet since last year and you’re itching to use both! Our local libraries have great hours and are serving patrons in spite of the pandemic. Check out The Gulf Shores Library’s website for their hours and The Orange Beach Public Library’s website for their hours.

8. My all-time favorite gumbo comes from Sea-N-Suds.

Your mouth starts to water each time you think about an ice cold beer perfectly placed beside a big ole bowl of Sea-N-Suds gumbo. Admit it: you can almost see that super cold condensation rolling right down that superbly chilled bottle as the amazing aroma of your favorite gumbo floats by your nose. Inhale the goodness! Since 1975, this uniquely styled restaurant has been serving up some of the freshest Alabama Seafood and coldest beers around. Parking is sometimes a challenge for this wonderful local eatery, so why not consider staying at Lighthouse 607. You can walk to Sea-N-Suds from that impeccably decorated beach front luxury condo.

9. I know swimming at Alabama Point East can be challenging, but the fishing is amazing.

Fishing is more than a sport. It’s a lifestyle. If you are a professional angler at heart, but choose to make your living some other way, we know you love to fish on the west side of the bridge at Alabama Point. The swift waters that rush into and out of our back bays of Orange Beach offer some of the best fishing anywhere. The beach at Alabama Point East Park is also a great place to spend a day with your family. We don’t recommend swimming too far out in the swift waters, but the easy waves that touch the sandy shore are always perfect. With restrooms nearby, you know you can’t go wrong enjoying a day here. You might even catch a hermit crab or two.

10. When I pass Shell Banks Baptist Church, Fort Morgan is just a few more songs away.

Fort Morgan Historic Site is a place locals and guests fall in love with after just one visit. It may seem a long drive from the heart of Gulf Shores out Fort Morgan Road to the Fort, but if you pass the trip by enjoying our local radio station Sunny 105.7FM and noticing local landmarks, the drive doesn’t seem so long. One such landmark is Shell Banks Baptist Church. About eight miles west of the intersection of Gulf Shores Parkway and Fort Morgan Road, is the location of Shell Banks Baptist Church and Cemetery. This particular place is extremely special because before any Europeans inhabited our island home, the Native American (Indian) village of Achuse was located on the site. The first Spanish Explorers recorded a visit with these early inhabitants in 1539. But anyone who loves our Alabama Gulf Coast already knows this. Once you pass this landmark, you know you’re almost half-way to Fort Morgan. Turn up your radio and sing along as you finish your drive to the end of Fort Morgan Road. Just outside the fort gates, you’ll pass The Dunes and The Indies. Your perfect vacation home might just be inside one of the condo complexes. Once you reach the fort, get ready for a fun-filled day of exploring both inside and outside the historic walls. Inside the fort, you already know you’ll find years of history and memories just waiting to me made. Outside, the beaches of magnificent Mobile Bay await you.

We know you love our family-friendly Alabama Gulf Coast just as much as we do. If some of these ways don’t ring true with you, we’d love for you to tell us You Love the Alabama Gulf Coast Without Telling Us. Use our comment section below for your thoughts! At Sunset Properties, we listen to our guests. We listen and respond. We are a family-owned company and our guests become our extended family. When you’re ready to return to your Island-Home-Away-From-Home, give us a call and we will be happy to help you find the perfect place to stay! And if you’d like to own your own Island-Home-Away-From-Home, we can help you with that, too!

www.sunsetproperties.com

251.543.1370