Recent Blogs Posts

The Alabama Gulf Coast is known as a wonderful place for birding. In addition to natives, migratory guests make the beaches of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach a stopover or temporary home.

Of all the many types of birds that come and go, my favorite type is, of course, the snowbird! (For those who might not know, “snowbird” is the affectionate nickname given to those who spend the winter months in the South and the warmer months elsewhere; since they “fly south for the winter,” they are dubbed “snowbirds.”)

Any area visited part of the year by travelers welcomes guests during its off-season because that helps the local economy. But with snowbirds, there's so much more ...

Some folks think you have to book weeks or months at a time to take advantage of winter rates along the Alabama Gulf Coast, but that is not the case. You don't even have to make it a long weekend (although, frankly, I can't imagine why you wouldn't) to come for a visit during the winter months.

And what a great time to come! Everything seems to be just a bit more refreshing. Sunrise is an awesome display of colors, with hues of gold gradually brightening the sky. During the day, the steady rise of the sun is complemented by the steady rise of the temperatures, making the outdoors so appealing. And when dusk begins to set in, the blue sky turns to red and the sun slips behind ...

Tick-tock, tick-tock. That's the countdown to the National Shrimp Festival, which is
Oct. 9-12. It's not too late to plan a trip – although you will need to act quickly. To find out some special deals on rooms or other rentals, check out www.thebeachiscalling.org. From the home page, click on the “Packages & Deals” tab. In the center of the page, there's a link named “Special Events.” Follow it to find all sorts of deals on condos and other rental properties. If you've never been to Orange Beach and Gulf Shores during the festival, you should rectify that immediately. Come on down. We'll leave the tails on for you!

I spent several years in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores before Hurricane Ivan. The area was fun, but it didn't have any big-name appeal.

But on my last trip I went to this new development on the canal called the Wharf. It is shops and restaurants and a huge place for concerts.

And they are booking some really big shows. I just missed seeing Willie Nelson and BB King.

If you haven't been to Orange Beach recently you will be surprised just like I was.