I am crazy about Christmas. My tree is already up at home and I am really enjoying decorating our office slowly. Our very beachy area has one fun event after another for locals and visitors to the Gulf! A list of some of my favorites is below.
| COASTAL CHRISTMAS EVENTS AS OF DECEMBER 5, 2012 To get the whole scoop on Coastal Christmas, please visit www.alabamacoastalchristmas.com |
I don’t know about you but I am ready for a break. Thankfully, Thanksgiving is just around the corner and I can’t wait. Between the election , the looming fiscal cliff, the hurricane in the North East and one national scandal after another good new doesn’t come along nearly often enough. My personal plan is to spend at least some of my little bit of time off helping the economy! We don’t have much to spend but I will be looking for few special things for those I love. My Plan is to not only hits the Black Friday Sales, but do A little unconventional shopping as well let me give you and your girlfriends a few great ideas!
If you and your girlfriends are heading this way to do some shopping this is the best time and one of the best places areas to shop. We have your traditional stores that are all over the country but we also have Tanger Outlets where you can find almost anything you want if you are shopping for fashion or for your home.
Tanger offers great coupons and they are having a Midnight Madness Sale starting Thanksging night. I may spend a little time at the outlets but my shopping tends to be a little less traditional.
I like to give and get gifts of experiences, maybe a romantic dinner, or a glass blowing, or painting class. The Alabama Gulf Coast is a treasure trove of experience gifts to give. My Dad is history buff, and my Mom loves genealogy. I know some great places to send both of them. There are museums where I can find the perfect book for dad or maybe even get him involved with volunteering for an archeology dig in the area. I think a day trip for my mom to the Creek Indian Reservation in Atmore will help her to add some much needed information to our family tree.
My sister in law is starting a new career now that her boys are all in school and she is in need of a little wardrobe update. I think I am going to get her the biggest bang for her buck. There are tons of resale shops across the area. A gift certificate or two or a preloaded debit card, maybe even cash would be great for her and of course a baby sitter for her and a shopping buddy.
For my little nephews, I think either movie tickets or zoo tickets, although they are big fans of toys like every other little boy.
Maybe a little online shopping for that. For my brother well he is a little more tricky. A planned guys night for him and buddies, or brother in law or a trip golfing with some friends. My husband is the most tricky of all. He is kind of techie but loves new experiences too! So I think I will be getting him something for his current technology and maybe a great new sweater or scarf and well I don’t know but I’ll figure it out.
In this area there are tons of unique stores, outlets, thrift stores, antique stores and specialty shops. Basically you can find anything you are looking for in this area for everyone on your list! So pack up your shopping shoes, your girl friends and your beach towel. Knock out your shopping and then relax and enjoy the rest of your girls getaway in the sun!
This is this first in a series of Blog Posts from and article by Annette Thompson of Sweet Home Alabama site. She has some fantastic ideas for family friendly vacations across the Gulf Coast!
Some of the best family memories are made on a beach vacation. Ditching your regular routine and setting out for Alabama’s 32 miles of sandy seashore welcomes a bit of magic into your lives. The special times aren’t simply limited to the beaches though. The entire coastal region – the wetlands, rivers, and bays – is a rich playground full of a variety of adventures.
Youngsters will not only like to play in the surf, but they also will soak up the culture of the coast. So plan your trip with a healthy mix of downtime combined with several outings to explore the watery ecosystem and the region’s role in American history. And don’t leave out a few squeal-producing activities.
Until your teens or tots sink their toes in the sand, you haven’t really arrived at the beach. So make haste down AL Highway 59 (Gulf Shores Parkway) to land’s edge where you can slather on the sunscreen and catch a wave. All of the major resorts in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach maintain beach services with lounge chairs and umbrellas (typically about $25 per day), and some even rent kayaks or catamarans (typically about $50 an hour).
Look beyond the high-rises to discover less-crowded strands, where you’ll feel as if the entire beach belongs to your family. At these tranquil spots, you’ll need to bring your own blankets, chairs and umbrellas for comfort (don’t forget a cooler with cold drinks, snacks and wet cloths to wash hands and faces). One of the best sites along AL Highway 182 is Gulf State Park (20115 AL Highway 135; 251–948–7275 map). The 3.5 miles of sugary sands separate Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. The park features the second-longest fishing pier (1,540 feet) anywhere along the Gulf of Mexico. (Kids younger than 16 don’t need fishing licenses, but adults do. They can be purchased right on the pier.)
Start planning now for your next beach getaway! We hope to see you soon.
The Beach is not the first place you think of to celebrate Thanksgiving. Let me tell you the Top 10 Reasons to Have Thanksgiving At The Beach!
10. You can bring your traditions with you or leave them home. Turkey at the Beach is great but seafood is our speciality here. You can pick up your seafood Thanksgiving to go and enjoy the afternoon at the beach.
9. No fancy china! If you come to the beach for Thanksgiving your vacation rental is the fully equipped with all you need for the simplest to the fanciest dinner.
8. No Decorating! You don’t have to worry with holiday decorations when you have the beautiful beach scenery just out your door.
7. No Snow! Escape the cold weather for warm sunny days and cool evenings.
6. Swimming on Thanksgiving Day! Some of my favorite memories are swimming on Thanksgiving with all of my cousins before and after dinner.
5. Sales, Sales, Sales at the Tanger Outlets only 40 minutes away.
4. No cleaning prior to company coming and no big cleaning after they leave. Do your dishes take the trash out and put the dirty linens by the washer. Your Done!
3. Invite the family. There are houses available if you want to stay together or everyone can have their own condo and go their separate ways.
2. Cooking or not when all is done you are still at the beach! Warm days, beautiful sunsets, sandy toes, and salty air.
1. Great memories are guaranteed any time of year at The Beach!
Our favorite High Fliers are heading home this week! The Homecoming Air Show is held at Pensacola Naval Air Station, Florida, on Friday and Saturday, November 2 and 3, 2012. Gate admission is free. Gates open at 8 am each day.The show begins at 9 am, with the Blue Angel Flight Demonstration Team scheduled to fly around 2 pm. The Blue Angel pilots do sign autographs after the show. Over 100,000 people are expected to view the show daily. Visitors are directed to the air field parking from both gates, but are encouraged to use the shuttle parking lot to avoid very long walks. Buses will make the rounds, taking patrons to and from the air show site. The show includes static displays of aircraft of all types, food, beverage and vendor booths, virtual reality experiences and other attractions that make this show a favorite excursion for folks from all over the country. There will be a Kids’ Zone, virtual games and bungee jump to entertain children of all ages. For those who have never attended an air show, be advised the aircraft can be VERY noisy and young children need protection for their ears. It can also be windy on the tarmac and layers of clothes are recommended. Patrons may bring blankets and chairs, however, no coolers, backpacks, food, drinks or pets are allowed. (Baby and infant needs are allowed – but no glass bottles) Small camera and diaper bags are allowed but subject to search. A handicap area is set aside for wheelchairs and an accompaniest only.
Admission: Gate admission is free. Bleacher seating is available for pricing and to buy tickets visit Blue Angels Website . https://www.naspairshow.com/
A must see while you are here was recently unearthed during Hurricane Isaac. Hal Scheurich recently wrote the article below for Fox10tv.com. Be sure to visit the ship while you are here. It will be covered up again soon!
GULF SHORES, Ala. (WALA) – Only a shell of what she once was, the 150 foot sailing vessel thought to be the Rachael, is attracting attention again on Fort Morgan. Word had spread that the storm surge from Hurricane Isaac had uncovered her once again and plenty of folks came with their cameras.
The Rachael was an early 20 th century schooner that ran aground. Buried for decades, hurricanes expose what’s left of the vessel every few years.
“It’s just something that you really have to go see,” said Adriana Mutan as she walked around the burnt wreckage taking pictures. “I mean, I’ve seen so many pictures…heard so many stories and now I’ve seen it.”
According to the Alabama Historical Commission, the three mast schooner met her fate in 1930 while carrying a load of timber. Commission archeologists Amanda Hill said the belief is the vessel ran into a storm and had too few crew aboard to maintain control. According to interviews with witnesses that were alive at the time of the wreck, the ship was looted of its cargo and set on fire.
The ship has been exposed several times over the decades from beach erosion during hurricanes. The last time was during hurricane Ike several years ago. There was always speculation as to its origin. Many even thought it may have been a blockade runner during the Civil War. Assistant Professor, Greg Cook of the University of West Florida helped put those rumors to bed after doing a study of the vessel in 2008.
He noted that many of the riggings were post Civil War and dated to the early 20 th century. After some more digging, it’s believed that the Rachael was designed and built in Moss Point, MS in 1919.
Billy Berrey grew up in Gulf Shores and remembers seeing the ship as a child. It’s now closer in than ever and he’s worried about the amount of attention it gets.
“I’ve always thought it would be kind of cool for them to excavate this thing and move it…preserve what they can and take it to the museum,” said Berrey. “The last time it was uncovered, people were pulling things off of it.”
There is a problem. The ship now rests on private property and the folks that own the homes are concerned about liability in the event someone gets hurt by the wreckage. They would like to see, at very least, the ship covered up.
The Alabama Historical Commission looked into that after hurricane Ike but found that it would cost too much to do anything with it and since it’s on private property, the owners would have to foot the bill. They did say they would assist if someone else funded the effort.
For now, the ship will sit until Mother Nature decides to cover her back up once again. Owners just ask that sightseers like Dusty Bones and his family respect their property while they visit.
“We really like history. We like going to see things like the Battleship and stuff like that, so to see a piece of this is really interesting.”
Although much is now known about the ship than just a few years ago, there is still much mystery and intrigue. Who was on board and where were they going? Was it a hurricane or just a bad storm that caused her to run aground? They’re all questions that keep visitors coming to the little stretch of beach with they’re cameras ready to capture a little piece of
I have said it so many time but I’ll say it again. The fall is the absolutely the best time to be at the beach. Warm day cool evenings and so much to see and hear. At the Sunset Properties office we leave the doors open most days. This of course invites all sorts of flying friends in. We are regularly shewing out dragon flies and bugs of all sorts sometimes even a bird on occasion. The birds are loving the weather as well. You can hear them singing constantly.
This great weather and the plentiful food and shelter makes the Ft. Morgan area the perfect place for a lay over for our feathered friends. They are heading south but they are enjoying the beauty of the Fort Morgan area before they keep going south. Our tiny piece of land is a major landing strip for migrating birds twice a year. When they land a dedicated group of volunteers take time to weigh measure and count each of these creatures. This valuable information is shared with researchers all of the world studying birds. We feel truly blessed to play host to the birds traveling through the area.
If you are here right now you can witness all the excitement in Ft. Morgan. Just head toward Fort Morgan, and head off to the right when you start seeing vehicles. The friendly volunteers will give information about what they are doing and information about each bird you see. If you are very lucky you may even have a chance to let this gorgeous creature fly again, right out of your palm. Try to come down in the next couple of weeks and join the bird banding team.
We’ve talked about this several times in the past, but we wanted to call attention to one of the most beautiful sites to see in the area. We visited their website and found this useful information. This is a definite “must see” for anybody with a green thumb!
If you decide to venture over to Dauphin Island via the Mobile Bay Ferry, be sure to head on over to Mobile to smell the flowers at Bellingrath Gardens and Home. The garden features 65 acres of fragrant flowers that bloom year-round.
Bellingrath Gardens and Home was the creation of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Bellingrath. The Gardens were first opened to the public in 1932 while a national garden club meeting was taking place in Mobile, Alabama. Mr. Bellingrath placed an ad in the Mobile newspaper announcing that anyone who would like to see the spring garden could do so free of charge. After an overwhelming response, the couple decided to keep the gardens open year-round beginning in 1934. Throughout the year, this 65-acre garden estate is in full bloom with camellias in the winter, azaleas in the spring, roses in the summer, chrysanthemums in autumn and Magic Christmas in Lights during the holiday season.
In addition to the self-guided walking tour through the gardens, you can also enjoy a 45-minute cruise aboard the Southern Belle, and a tour of the 10,500 square foot home with its original furnishings. You can experience the Bayou Boardwalk, Mirror Lake, the Great Lawn, the Asian-American Gardens. Don’t forget to stroll through the Butterfly Garden and view the formal garden terraces. For more information, visit https://www.bellingrath.org/home/ for events, admission rates and hours of operation.
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