Gulf Shores, AL 251-543-1370

Category: Vacation Hints

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5 Best Places to Back-To-School Shop in Gulf Shores

We know you’re on the last few weeks of summer vacation and school starting back is already on your mind.  After all, it’s literally just a calendar page turn away.  While you’re visiting our beautiful beaches and great summer destination venues here on the Alabama Gulf Coast, why not take advantage of our Alabama state back-to-school sales tax holiday weekend and save on your back-to-school purchases?  Enjoy a state tax free shopping experience for most of your back-to-school items from Friday, July 19 through Sunday, July 21, 2019.  Here are some of our favorite places to do back-to-school shopping here in beautiful Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Foley.

  • SanRoc Cay Marina

Have you been to SanRoc Cay?  This uniquely upscale outdoor mall is a great place to begin your back-to-school apparel shopping.  Located in Orange Beach on Perdido Beach Boulevard, SanRoc Cay not only offers great boutique shopping, but also great places to take a snack or beverage break.  School clothes and shoes are on the list of approved items eligible for the sales tax  holiday.  SanRoc Cay has some lovely boutiques and we encourage you to visit them.  Jane Loves Shoes (JLS) at SanRoc Cay offers a variety of beautiful trendy footwear.  Along with the great shoes they stock, be sure to check out their clothing.  You won’t be disappointed. Jane Loves Shoes and we think you’ll love JLS! Another place that always makes us smile is Too Hot Mommas.  With a classy and fun-to-wear selection of both clothing and accessories, Too Hot Mommas should also be on your shopping list.  Remember many accessories do not qualify for the sales tax holiday, but you’ll probably want to splurge and get jewelry and a handbag to match your new school outfit.  After all, the best way to go back to school in your hometown is wearing some of the trendiest coastal fashions available today.

  • The Wharf at Orange Beach

You were planning to visit The Wharf in Orange Beach anyway to ride the Ferris Wheel and go to the Luke Bryan Concert at the Amphitheatre.  Why not do some school shopping while you’re there? With a host of great shops like Khloe and Kate Children’s Designer Boutique, Sand Dollar Lifestyles, and Ocean Eddie’s , we know your whole family will find some terrific clothes to wear when you welcome back the fall.  While you’re at The Wharf, be sure to play a round of mini-golf and visit Villagio Grille.  You’re going to need a break from all this shopping and the good folks at Villagio Grille serve everything from pizza to steaks to seafood.  When you’re making your list of special spots to shop for those necessities to make the school year start off exceptionally well, be sure to have The Wharf in Orange Beach at the top!

  • Tanger Outlets in Foley

When you’ve done all the shopping you can do at The Wharf, head north on the Foley Beach Express to Tanger Outlets in Foley.  We can’t say enough good things about Tanger Outlets.  The stores are stocked with the most highly sought-after fashions, the sales folks are extremely helpful, parking is easy and the conveniently located restrooms are clean.  With over 50 trendy clothing stores to shop, shoes in over 20 stores and plenty of places to eat when you’re all shopped out, Tanger Outlets really should be on your back-to-school list.  If you need one more reason to shop Tanger Outlets during our sales tax holiday, how about planning to attend their back-to-school shopping block party?  On Saturday, July 20, Tanger Outlets in Foley will be hosting a block party. There will be lawn games, balloon animals and a DJ.  There are also extra deals to be had, including saving an additional 25% off on some items.  Contact the mall office for details.

  • Downtown OWA

Did you know OWA has a shopping district?  That’s right!  Downtown OWA is home to Alvin’s Island and Parker & Co.  Everyone knows Alvin’s Island is chock full of trendy coastal tees, shorts, shoes and other fun apparel items our families love to wear at the beach.  We say you should wear them in the fall, too. After all, isn’t the beach your happy place?  Why not take a little of our local happiness home with you?  Parker & Co. is an affiliate of Utopia which is a hip little boutique in Orange Beach.  Parker & Co. offers fashion-forward boutique clothing at affordable prices.  While you’re at OWA, be sure to check out the beautiful fountain show choreographed to music.  The fountain’s water dances each night at 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30.  Bring your camera along on this shopping adventure.  We’re sure you’re going to want to capture some great pics of the kids in front of the fountain.  We cannot leave out the Park at OWA with so many thrilling rides.  We know this blog is about shopping for school items, but, hey, if you can squeeze in a roller coaster ride while you’re at OWA, we say go for it!

  • Pelican Place at Craft Farms

If Target is on your list of places to shop for school supplies, then you’re in luck!  Pelican Place at Craft Farms in Gulf Shores should be your next stop.  Target is a unique place to find not only clothing and shoes, but also all the paper, pencils and laptops you might need.  All these items are listed on the tax-exempt list and Target is your one-stop-store for these commonly needed items.  Pelican Place is also home to Books-A-Million.  Many of us have AP reading assignments and BAM is a great place to pick up those popular American novels.  Finally, don’t forget about the clothing boutiques at Pelican Place.  Visit The Beach House Boutique where you’ll find a diverse selection of upscale beach outerwear and footwear for the ladies in your family.  We know your time in our little island paradise is limited, but your wardrobe doesn’t have to be.  And what better time to shop than when you’re avoiding taxes?

  • Shops at Original Oyster House Boardwalk

Last on our list, but not least is the Boardwalk at the Original Oyster House in Gulf Shores.  This has been one of our life-long favorite places to get our retail therapy.  To say this is a local’s favorite is an understatement.  Perhaps it was the consistently well-prepared food served in the Original Oyster House that first drew us to this unique shopping venue.  Maybe it was the cool view of the alligators swimming below.  We really cannot remember what first caught our attention here, but we are sure we love to shop the Boardwalk Shops and eat at the Original Oyster House!  Geez Louise Boutique is definitely one of our faves!  And we’re pretty sure you’ll love this store, too!  They have everything from great tees, to cute dresses, to flip flops, and even fun souvenirs you won’t find anywhere else along the Alabama Gulf Coast.  

We hope you enjoy our school sales tax holiday weekend while you’re staying with us at Sunset Properties.  At Sunset Properties, we manage wonderfully decorated and fully stocked beach homes in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan.  We offer condos like Lighthouse 607, single family homes like 4 Shore and penthouse condo homes like Caribe C Penthouse 14.  We manage several homes that allow small dogs and homes that will sleep from 2-20 people.  So, if you’re planning your back-to-school shopping adventure, why not skip ahead to Spring Break 2020.  That’s the next time you’ll be visiting our area, right?  Go ahead and call us today to make your reservation early.  Or better yet, stop by our office on Gulf Shores Parkway across from The Track and visit with us!  If you’re not already a part of our guest family, we’d love to add you!

Happy shopping and we are looking forward to meeting you!

www.sunsetproperties.com

251.543.1370

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Things to do On July 4th in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan

Things to do On July 4th in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan

Here on the Alabama Gulf Coast, we love celebrating birthdays and our nation’s birthday is no exception!  Welcome to our Island Paradise.  We are so excited you’ve chosen to spend this Independence Day 2019 with us!  We know you’re looking forward to the awesome fireworks display sponsored by The City of Gulf Shores on July 4, 2019 at 9PM, but what will you do until the fireworks start?  Here are some suggestions on how to spend your Independence Day with your family:

  • Breakfast with Pirates and Princesses

This is a great way to start off any vacation day.  Dress the kiddos (and Mom and Dad) in their best pirate or princess costume and stop by The Hangout located at Gulf Place in Gulf Shores for a great breakfast buffet with Pirates and Princesses.  Costumes are not required, but are always fun!  Breakfast is served from 8AM until 11AM.  While you’re at The Hangout, you’ll most likely meet some of our local maidens and scallywags.  Be sure to ask one of them to help you search for buried treasure on a guided treasure hunt.  And bring your camera along, too.  The photographs you’ll catch are sure the be the most valuable treasures of the day!

  • Midmorning Mini Golf and Ice Cream -Crustacean Style

After breakfast, be sure to head over to Shrimpy’s Mini Golf & Ice Cream located only a couple of blocks from The Hangout at 204 East 2nd Avenue.  This super cute fishing village themed 18 hole mini golf course will be a bit of challenging fun for your whole family.  We know its hot to play outside on the 4th of July, so that’s why we suggest mini golfing at Shrimpy’s in the morning.  As soon as you’ve mastered all 18 holes, you can go inside to cool off with something delightfully frozen.  Shrimpy’s is home to more than 20 flavors of ice cream.  And the good folks at Shrimpy’s make a delicious Bananas Foster ice cream treat you’re sure to enjoy.

  • Lunch at Lulu’s

Lucy Buffett’s Lulu’s in Gulf Shores , located at 200 East 25th Avenue in Gulf Shores, is more than just a great dining experience.  It’s an entertainment experience, also.   We don’t have to tell you how great the food is at Lulu’s.  We know that by now, you’ve already heard.  But did you know Lulu’s offers menu items specifically for folks with seafood and other allergies?  Yep!  They do.  Just ask your server to tell you about it.  While you wait for your table, you and the kiddos will love the arcade.   If video games don’t appeal to you, load up on the sunscreen and head outside to the rope courses.  There is a course for the tiny tots and one for bigger kids.  Both are challenging and fun.  If waiting for a table today doesn’t appeal to you, you’re in luck!  Lulu’s has a “go online and get in line” option that will allow you to get your name on the waitlist from a “Beat the Wait”  link on the website.  So plan to have lunch at Lulu’s on the 4th of July and don’t forget to get one of their iconic t-shirts while you’re there.

  • Be Lazy and Cool All Afternoon

As the heat of the day takes over, all we want to do is be lazy.  Why not do it in the Crystal Waters River at Waterville USA?  This slow moving water ride will allow you to simply relax on your tube and float the ⅓ mile course around the park.  This is a great way to cool off from the mid-summer heat while still enjoying the outdoors of our island paradise.   While the kiddos enjoy the fast paced waterslides like the Screamin’ Demon and Rainbow Falls, the adults can just kick back and relax.  Don’t forget your sunscreen.  Maybe chilling in your own private cabana appeals to you.  Rent your own space at Cabana Cove inside the park.  Enjoy seating for up to eight people including two beach recliners.  You’ll have a server assigned to your cabana and your server will bring your food and drink orders right to you.  As a bonus, each cabana rental comes with two free beach towels that are yours to keep.  That’s a pretty cool souvenir to take home after a fun afternoon enjoying one of the oldest, and yet most modern,  theme parks in Gulf Shores. 

  • Dine at Doc’s

After a long day that included everything from pirates to screamin’ demons, you’re gonna need a comfortable, casual place to have dinner.  Give Doc’s Seafood Shack located on Canal Road in Orange Beach a try.  For some of the best local seafood, the nicest servers and one of the most laid back atmospheres around, Doc’s is sure to please.  If you like raw half-shell oysters or fresh fried shrimp, you’ll love Doc’s.  Not a seafood lover?  That’s okay!  Doc’s serves fried chicken that’s so good, we’ve heard the Colonel is jealous.  If you’d like to peek at their menu before you go, follow this MENU link for a look.

  • Finally Fireworks

The City of Gulf Shores will once again this year host a fireworks show unlike any other around.  Beginning at 9PM, fireworks will be shot from the Gulf State Park Fishing and Education Pier.   Fireworks will be shot from the southernmost end of the 1500 foot long pier making viewing from most any point in Gulf Shores or Orange Beach pretty amazing.  For a great vantage point, find a spot on one of our State Park Beaches, or watch from your vacation home atBare Foot, Flip Flop or Ellie Fish II.   If you’d like to stay a little more out of the hustle and bustle of Gulf Shores and just come into town for the day or to see the fireworks, check outSpunky Sandpiper, Imagine, Pelicans Rest and Wits Inn.  All of these immaculate beach homes are fully stocked with linens and kitchen accessories, exceptionally clean, and ready for your arrival.  Sunset Properties rental management company manages a wide variety of beach homes around the island, ranging from condos to houses with sleeping arrangements for up to 20 people.  Many of our beach homes are dog friendly and we will be happy to recommend a great 4th of July outing for your fur baby, as well.  We want your whole family to enjoy America’s Birthday Celebration.

As you plan your 4th of July Independence Day Celebration in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach or Fort Morgan, we hope you’re planning to stay with us at Sunset Properties.

Happy Birthday, America!  God bless you!

www.sunsetproperties.com

251.543.1370

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5 Fun Family Things to do in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan

5 Fun Family Things to do in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan

So you’re headed to Gulf Shores, Orange Beach or Fort Morgan for a week in June and you want to do some outside stuff with your honey and the kiddos.  You’ve already been to The Track and, even though you love Waterville USA, you want to do something just a little different.  Remember the old days when you went biking around the island with your parents?  Looking for some ideas similar to that?  Well, you’re in luck!  We, at Sunset Properties know and appreciate the importance of spending quality time with those you love because we are a family-owned, family oriented company.   Here are our suggestions for 5 Fun Family Things to do Together in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan while you’re vacationing in June.

  1.  Beach Volleyball

Ok, so you’re at the beach and the first thing you want to do is feel the sun on your shoulders and the sand between your toes, right?  Well, why not turn those wonderful feelings into a fun family game of beach volleyball?  There are a couple of nets around our island already set up and waiting for you to arrive.  Bring your own ball, plenty of sunscreen and some cool water and you’re all set.  For a list of suggested items to bring to the beach every day, check out blog about things to put in your beach bag.  Volleyball nets are located at The Public Beach in Gulf Shores and at Cotton Bayou, a part of Gulf State Park, in Orange Beach.  Gulf Shores is a great place to go watch the NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship games held in May and it is a great place for us to all be beach volleyball champions all summer long!

  •  Geocaching

Since 2000, the global hide-and-seek treasure hunt game of Geocaching has taken off.  More and more places to hunt for treasures are being added all the time.  Did you know you can search for treasures right here in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan?  The Coastal Alabama Cashers have hidden lots of treasure boxes or “caches” around our island and they are just waiting to be discovered.  Learn about our island and its ecosystem.  Discover lesser traveled places and find treasures!  What a great way to spend a summer day!  To join the Geocaching craze, visit www.geocaching.com and sign up.  It’s an easy-to-use fun free app.  Kids and adults alike enjoy this interactive game.  Your fist find is right off Fort Morgan Road!  Make memories unlike any others.  So set aside some time, open your app, load up the kiddos and head out for adventure.   Explore our area in this unique way…and to quote Dr. Seuss:  oh the places you’ll go!

  •  Escape Room

One of the newest attractions on our island are the Escape Rooms.  If working as a team to solve clues sounds like fun, you and your family will love the challenge of an Escape Room.  This activity is one that will take the whole family working together to complete.  There are several scenarios from which to choose. Some Escape Rooms allow younger children and some have age restrictions, so its best to use our links provided here to determine which family outing will work for yours.  You’ll need to make reservations and choose your game scenario, so start by checking out Gulf Coast Escape Room for all the details of their Escape Room experiences.  Another option is XIT Escape Room located at Pelican Place at Craft Farms. A third option is the Escape House located at Waterville USA.  Located on the site of the world famous waterpark in Gulf Shores, the Escape House is sure to thrill your whole family.  Make sure you add this fun family outing to your “to do” list this Summer 2019 while you’re vacationing along the Alabama Gulf Coast.  Your whole family will enjoy this unique experience and you’re sure to take home some memories like no others.

  •  Mini Golf

What is a trip to the beach without a game of mini-golf?  It is one of the most economical and entertaining ways to spend some time playing with your family.  There are several places to play mini-golf around our island.  Pirate’s Island Adventure Golf is a fun course that is built with a pirate ship theme.  Tiki’s Mini Golf and Bike Shack, located right next to the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo is also a favorite.   Once known as Zooland Mini Golf, this course is a timeless classic for any tourist or local alike.  A third option for mini golf is Adventure Island Mini Golf. Adventure Island is so easy to find.  Just drive East on Beach Boulevard, toward Florida, and look for the big bright volcano across the street from the Gulf in Orange Beach.  The kids will love the volcano and you will love the quality family time you all spend together.  Another option for mini golf is The Wharf Mini Golf.  Visiting The Wharf in Orange Beach is on most folk’s minds while at the beach, but did you know they have a mini-golf course?  That’s right!  So while you guys are shopping for the whole family, don’t forget to get in a round of family mini-golf!

  •  Biking

Bike riding is always a great way to get the whole family outside and doing something together. Remember how much fun you had as a kid exploring our island with your parents?  In the old days, we had to strap our bikes to the back of the station wagon and bring them down.  Traveling with our bikes has become a bit easier now, but if you don’t want to haul your bikes to the Alabama Gulf Coast, we know where you can rent some for your outing.  Visit Tiki’s Mini Golf and Bike Shack.  This fun little Gulf Shores business has plenty of bikes to choose from.  Another option for bike rentals is Beach Bike Rentals in Orange Beach.  Along with all the entertainment and safety equipment you’ll need, like helmets, bells and baskets, Beach Bike Rentals has a wide variety of bike options.  Look for choices like cruiser bikes, tandems, adult trikes, children’s bikes, pull behinds and other child carriers as listed on their website.  Their website also shows in detail several suggestions for outings.  Check out Beach Bike Rentals for help with planning your whole day touring our island with your family.

With so many things to do as a family along the Alabama Gulf Coast, you’re sure to find the perfect way to hang out with your peeps! And with so many great beach home rentals available from Sunset Properties, we know we can get you all set with your accommodations, as well.  If you have a small family, check out Dunes 705.  This adorable condo located near Fort Morgan sleeps up to six comfortably.  If your family is a little larger, give 4 Shore a look!  Located just off West Beach, this amazing home sleeps up to eleven folks!  Sunset Properties is happy you’re coming to visit us and we cannot wait to meet your whole family!

www.susnetproperties.com

251.543.1370

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Father’s Day 2019 – Gulf Shores – Great Places to Dine and Bushwacker Crawl

Father’s Day 2019 – Gulf Shores – Great Places to Dine and Bushwacker Crawl

Father’s Day 2019 is coming up and you’re planning a weekend getaway to the beach in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan to celebrate Dad.  What an awesome idea! Weekends seem to fly by down here, and we tend to spend so much trying to decide where to eat and what to drink that time can just get away.  Sometimes in haste, we can make bad decisions and end up regretting our choices.  To help you make your food and beverage choices easy, I decided to put together this blog highlighting some of my local faves.

Here are some great places to dine during Father’s Day Weekend 2019 and then go on a Father’s Day Bushwacker Crawl.

  •  Breakfast

To begin with, let’s begin at the beginning of the day with breakfast.  And no breakfast blog is complete without mentioning Hazel’s Nook.  Hazel’s Nook, located at the intersection of Fort Morgan Road and Gulf Shores Parkway, has been nestled right there under those ancient oaks serving breakfast since we actually can’t remember when.  They have been there, no joke, somewhere in the neighborhood of 60 years.  And you don’t make it in a small beach town that long unless you’re doing something right.  Hazel’s Nook does breakfast right!  If a hot, home cooked breakfast buffet featuring fresh eggs served with a side of grits and home fries, great coffee, a fun staff, and a local place that has stood the test of time appeals to you, then you need to take Dad to Hazel’s Nook while you’re here.  And by the way…yes, the eggs really are that fresh and yes, there really was a Ms. Hazel!  Hazel’s Nook is located, like I said, in a great place.  It’s not too far from West Beach near 4 Shore, a fabulous beach home that’ll sleep up to eleven people! This West Beach home is located in Gulf Shores not far from another can’t-miss breakfast spot:  The Ruby Slipper Café.  And since you’ll be here for two mornings, I can’t leave them out of this blog, either.  Unlike Hazel’s, The Ruby Slipper Café, located on Beach Boulevard in Orange Beach, is not a buffet style restaurant.  Instead, it’s a go-inside, sit-down and relax-and-chat kind of place.  When you first arrive, you’ll find the staff is so accommodating while you wait.  And you’re probably going to have to wait for a few minutes for a table.  But do it!  It’s worth it!  So, once you get your table, what do you order?  Choosing what to have at The Ruby Slipper is challenging for all of us.  That’s why I always seem to settle on thePeaceMaker.  This appropriately named breakfast entrée allows you to “make peace” with your tummy and mind and just have two entrees in one!  I like the Eggs Cochon paired with the Shrimp Boogaloo Benedict.  These are two totally different breakfast entrees and they go great together.  And don’t forget to have a couple of cups of their coffee.  I prefer at least one of those to be an Irish Coffee, but that’s just me.  Their coffee tastes like NOLA in a cup.  It’s some of the best I’ve ever had, and I drink a lot of coffee!  If you’d like something sweet for breakfast, try the Bananas Foster Pain Perdu.  This is an island favorite and it’s hard to make a trip down here and not have Bananas Foster at least once.  If Dorothy, herself, found her way to Gulf Shores, Orange Beach or Fort Morgan, she’d definitely find herself dining at The Ruby Slipper.  Don’t miss an opportunity to treat Dad to The Ruby Slipper while you’re in town!  There may be no place like home, but Dad will certainly thank you for taking him out for breakfast at two or our beach home faves:  Hazel’s Nook and The Ruby Slipper Cafe.

  •  Lunch

Located on Fort Morgan Road about five minutes from Navy Cove 2113, Dunes 705 and Dream, Sassy Bass Amazin’ Grill is a great place to go for lunch.  The service is outstanding, the drinks are refreshingly chilled, and the food is amazing.  While Sassy Bass is a great place to take the whole family for dinner, I strongly suggest trying them for lunch, as well.  The atmosphere is great for families or a couple of friends just hanging out.  Dine inside or on their screened porch.  The super friendly staff will be happy to seat you where you’re comfortable.  And their menu item choices are sure to please anyone.  With food for both land and sea lovers, there is something for everyone at Sassy Bass.  Their burgers are piled high with perfectly cooked beef and smothered with the freshest of toppings.  Their seafood po-boys are literally overflowing with seafood and toppings, and their hand cut fries are a comfort food like none other.  If you choose to have a salad, try the vinaigrette dressing.  It is zippy sweet summery taste of yum and it seems to make the taste of the veggies sort of pop.  I can’t let their slaw go without mentioning either.  If you like the old timey Pool Room Slaw, you are going to love Sassy Bass’s slaw.  It is served in a quarter cup size side cup, but you’re gonna want a whole-big-ole-bowl of it. And, if an adult beverage appeals to you, try one of their signature fishbowl drinks.  I’d love to make a recommendation on which one, after all, there are quite a few. But I just can’t choose one fave.  They are all great!  If non-alcoholic drinks are your choice, they have plenty of those to choose from, too.

  •  Dinner

We covered breakfast and lunch.  So, what about dinner?  Or as we affectionately call it in South Alabama:  supper.  Where are you going to take Dad for supper?  Suppertime down here at the beach is one of our favorite times of the day.  It’s a time when we all sit down together and talk about our day.   Dinner is usually around 7PM or so, but supper can happen most any time after lunch.  If you choose to stop mid-to-late afternoon and eat, then it’s Lupper!  But, no matter what you choose to call it, just make sure you call Fin & Fork in Orange Beach and make a reservation for it.  While reservations are not required, I do suggest making one.  This place is so good and so conveniently located on Beach Boulevard in Orange Beach not too far from Grand Caribbean 215, they are packed most all the time.  You can choose to eat outside at a picnic area, on their screened-in porch or inside the restaurant.  Regardless of which area you choose, try the grouper.  It’s not called “Local’s Favorite Grouper” for nothing.  You’ll get a huge helping of fresh panko (that yummy bready stuff they put on fish) covered grouper topped with a mushroom and crab sauce that’s been placed delicately and deliciously inside a cabbage leaf.  Oh-Em-Gee!  It’s one of the prettiest plates of food that’ll ever be laid in front of you and the taste is just as Oh-em-gee-able.  You’ll probably just sit there and admire it for a minute before you taste it.  If you’re like most, you’ll have the urge to snap a picture of it and Facebook post it.  But try to refrain.  Posting your food on Facebook, according to most millennials, is so last year.  But then…. there’s always SnapChat!  Picture this:  alongside your grouper, you’ll get these perfectly seasoned whole green beans and whipped Yukon gold mashed potatoes.  The sweetness of the potatoes and the zingy-ness of the green beans is a perfect pairing for the fish.  If your Dad is more of fried fish guy, try the Whole Fried Snapper.  Our Alabama Gulf Coast is famous for our great Snapper Seasons, and Fin & Fork is celebrated for their Whole Fried Snapper.   Also, while you’re there, order some Sushi.  You might not expect to get great Sushi in Orange Beach, but you will!  Fin & Fork has a great Sushi Chef preparing Sushi to order.   Take Dad to Fin & Fork for his Father’s Day Dinner, Supper, Lupper or all three.  He’ll thank you for it!

  •  Bushwacker Crawl

No trip to the Alabama Gulf Coast is complete with a Bushwacker.  So why not take Dad on a Father’s Day Bushwacker Crawl? (which, by the way, I just invented for this blog!)  Why do we affectionately call it a “crawl”?  Well, when you have your first Bushwacker, the answer is not so obvious.  But by the time Dad tries all three Bushwackers I suggest here, he might need some help walking.   Hence the name:  crawl.  Remember, someone sober must drive Dad so he can enjoy his outing.  If everyone in your group wants to try these, I strongly suggest you plan ahead and contact a taxi to drive you.  Uber and Lyft are not available in our area, but this link will give you lots of choices for local drivers.  While we love our Bushwackers down here, safety is always our first concern.  Drink responsibly and let someone else drive!  For your first stop, take Dad to Anchor Bar & Grill located off Canal Road on Wilson Boulevard in Orange Beach.  I say start your crawl here, because they make unique and specialty Bushwackers.  While most Bushwacker bartenders use rum, the good folks at the Anchor Bar & Grill use Vodka.  It’s a great twist on an old favorite and they are soooo good!   And, by the way, so is the view from Anchor Bar & Grill.  It overlooks beautiful Terry Cove in Orange Beach.  While you guys enjoy your first taste of frozen goodness on your Father’s Day Bushwacker Crawl, you’ll get to watch seagulls play and maybe even catch a glimpse of a dolphin or two.  You’re also almost guaranteed to see our local pirate ship that docks right outside the Anchor Bar & Grill at Hudson Marina.  Maybe you could even squeeze in a Pirate Cruise while you’re down.  Your second stop on your Father’s Day Bushwacker Crawl needs to be Flippers Seafood & Oysterbar located at Bear Point Marina, just a bit down Canal Road from The Keg (which is a great place to highlight in another blog!)  Bushwackers at Flippers are worth the drive.  While you’re there, go ahead and have some oysters on the half shell, too.  Oysters go so good with Bushwackers!  Flippers has a wonderful full menu.  If raw oysters aren’t your thing, I know there is something on their menu that will make your tummy smile!  The last place I’ll suggest for a great Bushwacker is Tacky Jacks in Gulf Shores.  Head back from Flippers toward Gulf Shores on Canal Road, and just keep going.  Right where the road makes a sharp (really sharp!) left, you’ll find Tacky Jacks.  Tacky Jacks overlooks the intracoastal waterway.  I’d like to suggest an appetizer to go with your Tacky Jacks Bushwacker, but everything on their menu is a winner.  So, I’ll leave this one to you.  By now, you should know why we call this little outing a crawl.  While I hope you guys are having a great time on your Father’s Day Bushwacker Crawl, I can’t stress enough the importance of a sober driver and the willingness of locals in the transportation industry to help you out.  Don’t drink and drive.  But if you’re having a good time on this little crawl, and want to keep it going, check out our blog on 5 Best Bushwackers to give you some suggestions on a couple more places to try!

I hope this blog helps make your decisions on where to take Dad for food and drink easier than you expect.  You know, at Sunset Properties, we celebrate families.  We are a family owned, family-oriented company.  We are flattered that you are planning to spend a weekend with us celebrating your Dad this Father’s Day 2019 with us and we hope you’ll plan a week later this summer to celebrate your whole family and stay with us again!

www.sunsetproperties.com

251.543.1370

Have a safe and happy Father’s Day Weekend and Summer 2019!

“Drinking and Driving – A Threat to Everyone. Every day, almost 30 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. This amounts to one death every 51 minutes. Driving drunk is never OK. Choose not to drink and drive and help others do the same.” CDC

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5 Amazing April Family Outings You Must Do in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan

5 Amazing April Family Outings You Must Do in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan

Have you ever thought about visiting the Alabama Gulf Coast in April?  Spring Break is over and summer hasn’t quite yet arrived.  The beaches are warming up and the Gulf is usually quite serene.  Flowers are blooming all around our island paradise and the sugar white sandy beaches of Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan are definitely calling your name!  There is so much to do here in the Spring.  It’s hard to list them all, but here is a list of

5 amazing April family outings you must do when you’re down our way:

1.      Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail

Spend a day with your family walking or running the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail.  With seven trails that traverse six different eco systems across fifteen miles, the trail has something for the whole family.  Be sure to visit the Pavilion and Butterfly Garden this spring.  Covered in brightly colored flowers, the garden is a butterfly haven.  Stop in at the pavilion and relax in the swing.  Be sure to bring your camera and take lots of pictures.  Memories made on the trail are meant to be shared!  Not too far from the trail, just down Fort Morgan Road, is Dream.  Dream is a seven bedroom, seven bath brand new Gulf front beach home.  Complete with its own pool, Dream is the place to stay if  you’re looking for a quiet evening and a relaxing swim after a long walk through the trail.  This tastefully decorated, fully stocked beach home truly is a dream come true.  We know you and your family will cherish all the memories you make this April in Gulf Shores and we know you will love staying with Sunset Properties in our newest rental, Dream.

2.      Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo is one of our favorite outing spots any time of year.  It is especially nice in the spring.  The weather is just perfect and the animals are quite active.  While you’re at the zoo, but sure to check out the Gulf Coast Mining Company.  This fun new attraction at The Little Zoo That Could features old fashioned mining.  After the water washes away your sandy mixture, you’ll find gemstones, arrowheads and other fun items to take home with you.  What a great way to find one-of-a-kind souvenirs!  Family pictures with animals make great keepsakes photos!  You simply cannot go wrong with a day outing to our local zoo.  Each time you go, you’ll see and experience something new.  Located about ten minutes from the zoo, is Grand Caribbean 215. This two bedroom, two bath condo faces The Gulf of Mexico on Beach Boulevard in Gulf Shores.  After you and your family have enjoyed your zoo outing, you can walk right across the street to enjoy an afternoon on our pristine white sandy beaches.  Who knows?  You may just be able to add some colorful sea shells to your already wonderful collection of natural souvenirs.

3.      Orange Beach Waterfront Park

Located on Canal Road in Orange Beach, Orange Beach Waterfront Park is a kid’s outdoor paradise!  Parents will love it, too!  Designed for the whole family and overlooking Wolf Bay, Orange Beach Waterfront Park features a kid’s park area and an amazing 400 foot long pier.  There is no cost to enter the park and no reservations can be made.  The park has grills, pavilions and restrooms for public use.  This is truly the perfect place to plan a nice April family cookout or picnic.  About ten minutes away from the park, Enclave 206 is located on Beach Boulevard.  It is a three bedroom, three bath Gulf front condo that sleeps eight. Enclave 206 has plenty of room for your whole family to spread out.  This is the perfect place to come home to after you’ve spent a day outside in the beautiful April sun.  

4.      Gulf State Park Pier

Another great family venue located near Grand Caribbean 215 is our Alabama Gulf State Park Pier.  The State Park Pier has an amazing 2448 feet of rail space.  That’s a lot of room for fishermen!  There is also indoor seating for concessions.  The pier is open all day every day, but there is a small fee to enter.  There are comfort stations and a bait shop.   Whether you visit  the Gulf State Park Pier  just to sight see or fish, you will enjoy one of the best views of The Gulf of Mexico as you gaze over the pier rails to see the water and wildlife below.  Have some ice cream and take lots of pictures.  This is one family outing your whole family will enjoy.  Take a sneak peak of the pier by clicking on their webcam here.  Spring is one of the best times to walk out on the pier.  The sea breeze is nice and the weather is warm.  Don’t miss your chance to experience this unique family venue!

5.      Hummingbird Zipline Course

Thrill seekers who visit the Alabama Gulf Coast in April will love The Hummingbird Zipline.  Located at The Wharf in Orange Beach, the Hummingbird Zipline will thrill everyone!  With speeds up to 30 miles per hour and heights up to 115 feet, this Alabama Gulf Coast attraction remains one of our all time favorite outdoor activities.  The zipline tour takes about two hours and flies over protected wetlands, the intracoastal waterway and even the bays that surround The Wharf.  What a great way to see nature!  Another great way to see nature is from the deck of The Boathouse, located on Fort Morgan Road.    This uniquely designed beach home is a venue all on its own.  The Boathouse has two bedrooms and two bathrooms and is a dog friendly beach home.  It is located right on Mobile Bay and has unmatched views.  So when you’re done zipping around at The Wharf, come on home to your own special spot in a beach home like no other.

The weather in April in Gulf Shores is amazing!  Orange Beach is begging to be visited and Fort Morgan is just a short drive away.  Go ahead, plan a weekend getaway to our fun little beach paradise.  The crowds are smaller than in the summer and the Spring Breakers have all gone back to school.  Pack up the kiddos and even bring your dog to one of our many dog friendly beach homes and don’t miss an opportunity to experience our beach in the Spring.  And, hey, if the April Showers start, we, at Sunset Properties,  have a blog for that, too!  We’ll see you soon!

www.sunsetproperties.com

251.543.1370

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7 Fun Things to do for Easter 2019 in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan

7 Fun Things to do for Easter 2019 in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan

Easter is a magical time for most kids.  The Easter Bunny comes and brings baskets full of goodies and brightly colored eggs.  You may want to attend a church service  and spend the afternoon hiding eggs and eating wonderfully prepared feasts with your family.  Easter truly is a happy holiday and most of us consider it the beginning of Spring.  How can Easter get any better?  Spend it at the beach!  Join your friends in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach or Fort Morgan for Easter Weekend and make some of the best memories all year!  If you’re wondering what to do at Easter at the beach, wonder no more!  Here is a list of 7 fun things to do at Easter 2019 while you’re visiting the Alabama Gulf Coast:

  1.  Find lots of eggs at Lulu’s Easter Egg Dash

Our friends at Lucy Buffett’s Lulu’s always have something fun planned.  Easter is no exception!  If an Easter Egg hunt is in your plans, you won’t want to miss this.  The fun begins at Lulu’s on Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019 with the arrival of the Easter Bunny.  At 2PM, the dash begins!  There will be egg hunts for all ages.  All around Lulu’s famous Gulf Shores location, eggs will be hidden (some in plain sight) for the kiddos to find.  This is one of the best ways to spend an Easter afternoon.  After the dash, stay for the fabulous food Lulu’s has become known for!  

  • Meet your friends at The Hangout’s Easter Sunrise Service on the Beach

If starting your day off with an Easter Sunrise Service is in your plans, then you will want to make your first stop at The Hangout in Gulf Shores.  Known worldwide for The Hangout Music Festival, this hoppin’ fun local venue will host Gulf Shores United Methodist Church for a sunrise service beginning at 6:30AM on Sunday, April 21, 2019.   The public is invited.  What better way to welcome Easter morning than to have a sunrise service on the beach next to the Gulf of Mexico?  After the service, stay for the Easter Bunny’s arrival at 9AM.  Be sure to dress your kiddos up as bunnies.  There will be a costume contest.  The Hangout will be serving brunch from 7:30AM – 11AM.  With so many fun things to do at The Hangout, we’re sure you’ll want to come for the Sunrise Service and then just Hang Out for a while!

  • Learn something new at the Coastal Alabama Bird Banding Project

How about spending a day learning about nature?  The Coastal Alabama Bird Banding Project will take place at historic Fort Morgan for several days leading up to Easter.  If you’d like to see this amazing project in person, plan on being at Fort Morgan on Saturday, April 20 between the hours of 8AM and noon.  During this session, guests are able to see a personal view of some of Alabama’s spring migratory birds.  These birds are banded and released so that their migration can be tracked.  This is an outdoor event, so don’t forget to bring bug spray and sunscreen.  A folding chair is also a good idea.  With Easter being the beginning of Spring for most of us, attending this is a great way to kick off this wonderful season!

  • Fish in the Alabama Gulf Coast Slam Professional Fishing Tournament

This tournament is new to our area and runs through mid-May.  There is no cost to enter if you’re on a registered vessel.  Some restrictions do apply if you’re fishing from other boats or from the shores.  This tournament is open to anglers of all ages and participants are welcome to fish from registered charter fishing boats or from personal watercraft.  For more information contact The Alabama Gulf Coast Slam Professional Fishing Tournament at AlabamaGulfCoastSlam@gmail.com .  This is sure to be one spring tradition you’ll want to repeat year after year!

  • Visit the Zydeco & Crawfish Festival

How about a little crawfish and Zydeco music to liven up your Easter Weekend?  On Saturday, April 20 between the from 10AM – 6PM at Waterway Village in Gulf Shores, the 5th annual Zydeco & Crawfish Festival will be in full swing!  You’ve never had crawfish and you don’t know what Zydeco is?  Well, crawfish is about the yummiest, most seafoodish, non-seafood food you can eat!  And Zydeco is the perfect music to enjoy while you savor one of the coast’s favorite boiled freshwater shellfish.   And if dancing and eating crawfish is not quite what you had in mind for a wonderful Spring afternoon, how about a run?  Enter the 5K/1 mile fun run that is a big part of this local festival.  The festival is located under the Holmes (intracoastal waterway) Bridge, just off Highway 59 in Gulf Shores.

  • Check out the Flora Bama Easter Eggstravangaza

Did you know the kids can have a great time at The Flora-Bama?  Well, they can?  In fact, for Easter, the good folks at America’s favorite beach road house have a whole afternoon of fun planned just for the kiddos!  Beginning at 1PM on March 31, there will be face painting and crafts for kids at the beach tent.  At 2PM, all eyes will be on the sky at the Easter Bunny, himself, will skydive into the party!  Then one of the largest Easter Egg hunts on any state line will begin.  Participants must bring their own baskets.  This is the one day each year there are more eggs on the beach than shells!  Bring your camera, too.  You will want to capture every minute of this unique and fun family experience.

  • Walk on the beach with your family

What beach trip would be complete without a beach walk with your family?  The weather along the Alabama Gulf Coast in April is perfect for beach walking.  Maybe you’ll find an amazing sea shell to take home.  Maybe you’ll see dolphins playing just off shore.  Maybe you’ll see fun shapes in the clouds.  No matter what you see, take lots of pictures.  With or without The Easter Bunny, Easter Sunday walks on the beaches of Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan are special.

We hope you will join us at Sunset Properties and plan to celebrate your Easter vacation week or weekend with us.  We have so many rental properties to choose from, we are sure we have the perfect place for you and your family to stay!  Remember to pack your sunshades, flip flops and sunscreen. Don’t forget your Easter baskets and cameras.  And come on down to your favorite beach!  Sunset Properties has your holiday vacation home ready for you to check-in!

Welcome to Spring on the Alabama Gulf Coast!  

Welcome Easter!  

And welcome to you, our guests!

www.sunsetproperties.com

251-543.1370

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Top 10 Favorite Things To Do During Spring Break 2019 in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan

With Spring Break 2019 just around the corner, isn’t time you started making your family spring break plans?  Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan are perfect places to spend a week sharing fun times with you family and making memories that will last long after this Spring Break Week 2019 is gone.  The Alabama Gulf Coast is full of family friendly entertainment venues and we, at Sunset Properties, love hosting guests.  With so many attractions to choose from, folks often ask us for our personal faves.  

Here is a list of our Top 10 Favorite Spring Break Activities.

  1. Get back to nature

After being cooped up inside for the cold winter months, getting outside in the Spring is usually on everyone’s mind.  Here along the Alabama Gulf Coast, we love the outdoors, too.  Our Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo is a great outdoor place to visit on a sunny Spring day.  With so many animals to see in our “Little Zoo That Could” we urge you to set aside at least a whole afternoon for your visit.  Wear comfy shoes and clothes, because our zoo is a walking attraction.   Located right in the heart of Gulf Shores, the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo is open year-round, except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.   Recently, The Gulf Coast Mining Company was added to the zoo.  This is a gemstone mining attraction and it is fun for the whole family.  Visit the zoo, make some great pictures and take home a beautiful gemstone souvenir!

  • Enjoy some arcade time

Remember back in the 80s when everyone hung out at the mall arcade?  We loved the flashing lights and loud music and joystick challenges that lay before us!  Seems those fun times are somewhere in our past.  How about this?  While you’re on Spring Break 2019 with your kids, why not let your own inner kid come out?  Down here in our island paradise, we still love a good video game challenge and the excitement of the flashing lights and great music!   You can find all of that at a couple of very cool local arcades:   Adventure Island and Fat Daddy’s Arcade .  Both of these entertainment venues are located in Orange Beach.  Adventure Island is so much more than just your typical arcade.  While they do house some of the best video games anywhere, they also are home to go-karts, laser tag and a mini-golf course.  Adventure Island is super easy to find.  Just ride along Beach Boulevard until you see the big volcano.  It is the only volcano on our island, so you won’t have to look too hard to find it.  Can’t get enough arcading at Adventure Island?  Well, trek on over to Fat Daddy’s Arcade.  With over 80 arcade games, including claw challenges, Deal or No Deal and the big wheel, there is something for your whole family to enjoy.  Follow Fat Daddy’s on Facebook for special offers and when you get down here, don’t miss a chance to go!  For great games and exciting prizes, both Adventure Island and Fat Daddy’s Arcades are definitely two of our faves!  Just down the road from these fun arcades is Enclave 206.  This 3 bedroom, 3 bath condominium is located right on the Gulf in Orange Beach.  Once you’re family has played all the video games possible, you’ll be happy to drive just a short way to your vacation home where you’ll find a beautifully decorated, fully stocked home that has both an indoor and outdoor pool.  We loved arcades back in the 80s, and we still enjoy the thrill now and then, but some days, we just want to relax beside a pool and enjoy the sounds of the beach.

  • Hangout near the public beach

The Hangout has been a favorite local beach spot since we can’t remember when, and it still tops our list of groovy things to do.  The face of The Hangout has changed over the years, but the vibe is still the same.  Stop by for easy-to-have fun and great food.  Located right at the public beach in Gulf Shores, The Hangout, home of The Hangout Music Festival, is nearly impossible to miss.  Known for their famous festival in May, great adult beverages and awesome menu, The Hangout is actually a very family friendly place to go.  Your whole family will enjoy putting toes in the sand while eating in the picnic area.  Kids will love the Wish Wall, foam party and sand pit.  Adults will love the fact that the service is top-notch and food is awesome.  We know you’ve driven by the big yellow Hangout sign many times.  Why not stop, go in, and relax a little.  Give it a try.  You’ll thank us for the suggestion.

  • Drive hard and go fast

Driving in between Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan can be a bit challenging for adults.  With some many places to go and so many things to do, we tend to spend a great deal of time in our cars.  Why not let the kids drive for a while?  Located just north of the Intracoastal Waterway bridge on Gulf Shores Parkway, The Track- Gulf Shores is a great place to do just that.  Let your young folks take the wheel in a super cool go-kart that is sized perfectly for them.  The Track is a fun and challenging course for kids and adults alike.  With rides ranging from The Wild Woody to the Kiddie Karts, there is a perfectly sized track for everyone.  The Track also offers a Sky Coaster and Spinning Coaster.  There is also a great arcade and mini-golf course.  With so many fun things to do at this one venue, The Track is sure to be a great way to spend a whole spring break day.

  • Chill out with some good ice cream

After all the thrill seekers in your family have been entertained, why not slow down a bit for some fabulous ice cream?  Matt’s Homemade Alabama Ice Cream, located on Gulf Shores Parkway near the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, is a great place to stop and chill for a bit.  With 40 flavors to choose from, your whole family will love Matt’s Ice Cream.  From banana splits to waffle cones, stop by Matt’s and create your own unique favorite Gulf Coast Ice Cream treat.  Another one of our favorite ice creams shops is Callaway’s Creamery.   Just a little off the beaten path on East 2nd Street in Gulf Shores, the folks at Callaway’s Creamery serve ice cream with a twist.  They start out with liquid ice cream mix and pass it through liquid nitrogen for flash freezing.  Not only is this ice cream a treat for your tongue, it is entertaining to watch them make it.  They have plenty of flavors and “toss ins” like fruit and candy.  Stop by Callaway’s Creamery and create the perfect ice cream treat to fit your taste.  They also have sugar free and keto friendly ice cream, too, so everyone can enjoy a tasty treat at this cool place.

  • Get some sand in your shorts

With 32 miles of pristine shoreline, of course spending a day at the beach will be on our list of favorite things to do.  After all, that is what draws us down to our beautiful Alabama Gulf Coast in the first place, right?   How about staying in a fabulous beach house right on the Gulf?  USA2 is a 5 bedroom, 5 bath home that sits directly on the beachfront.  Talk about a fabulous vacation home with an amazing view!  Imagine walking right down from you living room and onto the sand.  The sand that covers the beaches that surround us are sugary while quartz crystals.  You’re sure to find plenty of shells to collect, seagulls to entertain you and waves to play in.  You also will find sea oats growing in our dunes.  While it may be tempting to play in the oats or even pick them, please don’t.  They are a protected plant and they help hold the dunes in place.  Instead, take your blanket or your favorite beach chair and get close to the lapping waves and just relax with your favorite book or music.  Please leave all glass containers in your vacation home and bring only paper or plastic with you to the beach.  Also, remember that the sun in March here along our Alabama Gulf Coast can burn winter skin very quickly.  Wearing sunblock, shades and hats, along with limiting your sun exposure,  are always good ideas.  For more ideas on what to pack in your beach bag, check our beach bag blog.  We hope you enjoy your time in the sun on the sand, but please remember to take down your tents and remove all your trash when you go.   While you make take home a little sand in your shorts, please “leave only footprints” on the beach at the end of each day.

  • Eat some great local seafood

We have so many great places to eat around here, it is hard for us to narrow it down to just a couple.  But for Spring Break 2019, we encourage you to give Doc’s Seafood Shack and Mikee’s Seafood a try.  Doc’s Seafood Shack is located on Canal Road in Orange Beach.  Locally owned since 1984, Doc’s Seafood Shack has been an island staple and favorite among locals.  They have some of the best shrimp you’ll ever eat.  Do you like raw oysters?  Doc’s has you covered.  Cold beer and excellent service are what you can expect when you dine at Doc’s.  Doc’s has a great kids’ menu, too.  Mikee’s, like Doc’s, also offers all these things.  That’s why we  recommend you try them both while you’re visiting us for Spring Break.  Mikee’s Seafood is located on East 2nd Avenue in Gulf Shores.  With affordable menu items ranging from po-boys to pastas and great appetizers coupled with an awesome kids’ menu, Mikee’s is a great place for the whole family to eat.

  • Play a round of golf

Everyone loves a round of golf, right?  With so many great golf courses around the Alabama Gulf Coast to choose from, how do you decide where to go?  With choices like Craft Farms and The Peninsula, how do you pick just one?  We actually have a couple of suggestions that will appeal to your whole family.  How about Pirate’s Island and Tiki’s Mini Golf?  Sure our fabulously kept professional courses like Craft Farms and Peninsula are always great, but how about trying mini golf for Spring Break fun this year?  Pirate’s Island Mini Golf is located on Gulf Shores Parkway right across from The Track.  When you spot the only landlocked pirate ship in our area, you’ll know you’re in the right place.  Pirate’s Island Mini Golf has been a fun family place to go for many years.  Whether you choose to play in the day or after dark, your whole family will have a blast, Matey!  Does golfing under very old oaks appeal to you?  If so, Tiki’s Mini Golf is where you need to be.  Located on Gulf Shores Parkway near The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, Tiki’s not only offers mini golf, but also bike rentals.  If you’ve never pedaled your way around our island, give it a try!  See our island at a slower pace as you take a self-guided bike tour with your family and we are sure you’ll see a few things you missed while driving in your car.  We encourage you to take a bike ride down beautiful Fort Morgan Road.  Near the fort is Indies 410.  This 3 bedroom, 3 bath condominium is waiting for you and your family to arrive.  With plenty of room for everyone, Indies 410 is a perfect place to call “home” for Spring Break 2019.  So come by bike or come by car, but don’t miss the opportunity to experience this amazing beach home!

  • Ride a Ferris wheel

The highest place on our island cannot be reached driving a conventional car.  You can’t get there on a bike or even roller skates.  But you can get there from Main Street at The Wharf.  The highest place on our little island paradise is the top of the Ferris Wheel at The Wharf.  Open daily, the 112 foot tall Ferris wheel has become one of our local favorites.  With 24 gondolas, this fabulous landmark can hold up to 140 people at a time.  Plan a day at The Wharf during Spring Break 2019.  There is always something fun happening on Main Street.  Be sure to check out Spectra, an amazing light and laser show each night.  The Wharf recently added The Hummingbird Zipline.  Fly over this part of our island on one of the best ziplines anywhere.  And don’t forget to check out The Amphitheatre at The Wharf.  This March, we are expecting Luke Combs and the Zac Brown Band to perform.  

10.    Get a cool tee

What Spring Break would be complete without a cool t-shirt to take back home?  Most all restaurants offer great souvenir t-shirts.  Certainly, The Hangout has a great selection and you may want to shop Souvenir City and get a personalized airbrushed shirt, but we have a couple of faves we want to tell you about.  Lucy Buffett’s Lulu’s in Gulf Shores not only has great food, including food for those with shellfish allergies, but they have great shirts, too.  With so many colorful and fun tees to choose from, everyone in your family will want to get a shirt from Lulu’s.  And of course, there’s Tacky Jacks.  Tacky Jacks has been offering up one of the best breakfasts on our island for years.  In addition to their well-known food and bushwackers, Tacky Jacks definitely needs to be on your t-shirt radar.

We are glad you’re coming to spend Spring Break 2019 with us here on the Alabama Gulf Coast.  If you haven’t made your Spring Break reservation yet, what are you waiting for?  We at Sunset Properties have many great vacation homes to choose from.  We have condos, houses, and penthouses available still for much of the Spring Break Season, but they are filling up fast.  Give us a call and let us help you find the perfect family vacation home for you!

www.sunsetproperties.com

251.543.1370

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5 Great Reasons to Purchase Travel Insurance When You Make Your Beach Vacation Reservation

5 Great Reasons to Purchase Travel Insurance When You Make Your Beach Vacation Reservation

Every day we at Sunset Properties help our guests find the perfect beach home for their dream getaway.  We help couples find the perfect place to get engaged or spend a honeymoon.  We match up family needs from homes perfect for a small gathering to family reunions.  Need a girls weekend away?  We have you covered!  But what if something bad happens before you get to take your trip?  What if it literally rains on your vacation parade?  We strongly suggest purchasing travel insurance at the time you make your reservation.  For just a few more dollars, you can guarantee your vacation investment is covered.  Here are five of the top reasons to purchase travel insurance when you make your reservation:

1.      Illnesses are unexpected

When planning for our Alabama Gulf Coast vacation adventures, we expect to be healthy and happy when it’s time to leave home.  After all, most of us make our plans to visit Gulf Shores and Orange Beach when we are feeling well and we expect to feel just as well when it’s time to depart.  But what if we get sick and can’t actually take our vacation on time as we planned?  As much as we’d like to go, and even though we believe a trip to the beautiful beaches of Fort Morgan can cure any ailment, our doctor just isn’t in agreement.  What then?  Do we just lose our money?  Does our deposit get refunded?  What is the rental management company’s policy?  When we book our vacation reservations, with the appropriate travel insurance, we don’t have to face any of these worries.  If we happen to get sick and aren’t able to go on vacation, we contact the insurance provider for guidance and financial resolution, and then all we will have to focus on, is getting well.  After all, our favorite vacation destination home is still calling out to us.   And we really do believe:  anything can be cured with the right amount of sea, sand and sun!

2.      Work schedules change

Most of us work to live, but sometimes, I’ll admit, it seems like we just live to work.  That’s why vacations are so important in our lives.  Most of us work for folks, who, like us, plan vacation getaways well in advance of departure dates.  They understand the need for time away from the office, but they still expect us to meet our professional obligations in advance of our personal relaxation time.  We, being the hard-working, dedicated employees that we are, will work right up until it’s time to go expecting to leave for a restful recharging excursion right on time.  But what if work gets in the way?  What if that huge deal you have been working on all year requires your attention at the exact time as your beach adventure is planned?  What about your deposit?  Cancellation fees?  What if you can’t reschedule your time away in accordance with your rental management company’s policy?   Again, I suggest purchasing travel insurance at the time you make your reservation.  With the correct policy, your financial investment can be protected.  This will easily afford you the opportunity to change the dates of your time away, without incurring additional charges.  And then, once you’ve sealed that all

important deal, you can still come down and stay in your favorite beach home or condo.

3.      The weather gets in the way

A lot of us down here in Baldwin County, Alabama joke about our weather.  “If you don’t like the way it is outside, stick around for about thirty minutes.  It’ll change!”

While we say this in a flippant manner, the truth is, this is actually pretty much the case all year long.  It may be summer outside today and feel like winter tomorrow.  We may go for several weeks with only a little rain, and then have a major storm pass through.  The greatest part about a fabulous vacation destination can simply be the climate.  By contrast, the weather can also be the one unpredictable factor that can destroy not only a vacation plan, but a vacation destination.  What if a storm comes and destroys your beach home?  What if snow falls and you just can’t get there?  By the way, snow does occasionally fall on the beaches of Gulf Shores.  It’s rare, but it happens.  So if there’s snow on your beach and you can’t go, then what?  What if the winds are at hurricane force and the only folks allowed onto our island are meteorologists?  You can’t blame the adverse weather conditions on the rental management company and it certainly isn’t your fault, so who pays for the travel loss when Jim Cantore shows up?   Usually, without travel insurance, you do.  That’s right.  Usually, the renter absorbs the loss.  A big reason to purchase vacation travel insurance, is to make sure you’re not the one who loses out.  With the right policy, your vacation investment is covered.  You are able to simply change your vacation location, your vacation dates or both.  And when Jim goes back to Atlanta, you can come see us in beautiful sunny South Alabama. (And, for the record, we love Jim Cantore down here!)

4.      Medical emergencies happen away from home

We have all heard those terrible stories about tourists who swim out too far in The Gulf, face a medical emergency, and have to be life-flighted to a nearby hospital.  We have heard the stories about folks who ate something that didn’t agree with them and spent a couple of unexpected days in bed after a trip to our local emergency clinic.  What do you do when your husband accidentally gets a severe sunburn that requires medical attention?  Does your regular health insurance cover this?  Maybe…but with the addition of certain travel insurances, you are surly covered.  Be purposeful about asking your travel insurance advisor about adding this to your policy.  While no one likes to think about accidents that happen on vacation, the truth is accidents don’t take a holiday.  They can happen to anyone, anytime.

5.      You miss your flight or your luggage is lost

Most of the guests we see here along the Alabama Gulf Coast drive here from home.  Some of you, however, prefer the ease of air travel.  With Mobile and Pensacola so close to Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, sometimes air travel is just a lot more convenient.  Flying can be the best way to go, however you still have to drive to your local airport to get to one of ours.  So if the traffic getting to LAX slows you down and you miss your flight to Houston and then miss your connecting flights to Mobile, then what?  You haven’t even gotten to your vacation home yet, and already you’re out money to change your flight plans.   Maybe you made all your flights, but your luggage took a vacation of its own.  What are you supposed to do when the friendly sky folks accidentally send your luggage to Peabody, MA instead of Pensacola, FL?  What if your favorite cocktail dress goes to Montgomery instead of Mobile?  Then what?  With certain travel insurances, your flights, your clothes and even your luggage can be covered.  Instead of the stress of not having your clothes with you on vacation, you may just end up with a whole new wardrobe!

When you book your vacation reservation with Sunset Properties, we will offer you the opportunity to purchase travel insurance through Red Sky.  It is a good idea to do your own research, don’t just take our word for it, but strongly consider purchasing some kind of travel policy.  Policies vary from company to company and person to person, based on need.  Most guests, though they don’t realize it, do need some form of travel insurance.  After all, we insure everything else that is important to us.  Why wouldn’t we insure our Alabama Gulf Coast vacations, too?

www.sunsetproperties.com

 251.543.1370

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Top 4 Things to do for Valentine’s Weekend 2019 in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan

In just a few short weeks, Valentine’s Day 2019 will be here.   It seems like we just put away our Christmas trees and we are already anticipating Cupid’s arrival!  So you got your sweetheart some really great stuff for Christmas and your New Year’s Eve celebration was top-notch.  You thought this would be your year to delight and amaze your sweetheart, but you’re at a total loss as to how to top the recent holidays.  We can help!  Plan a trip to Gulf Shores, Orange Beach or Fort Morgan, stay with Sunset Properties, eat some great food, enjoy chocolate and roses, and watch the sunset over The Gulf of Mexico.  This year, Valentine’s Day is on a Thursday.  We think that’s a perfect excuse to plan a Valentine’s Weekend Getaway to Alabama’s beautiful Gulf Coast.  Come down on Thursday and stay until Sunday.  We have some pretty great ideas on what you must do while you’re in town, too.  

Here are four things any romantic must do for Valentine’s Day 2019 in Gulf Shores, along with the perfect places to stay while you’re here:

Eat some great seafood and sleep at Ellie Fish

First, for the food, we suggest Cobalt, Cosmos or CoastAL.  All three of the restaurants offer outstanding food and have super nice staffs.  Cobalt is located in Orange Beach on Perdido Beach Boulevard near the Caribe Resort.  Cobalt’s menu features items like Tournedos of Beef, Peppercorn Encrusted Filet, and Grilled Gulf Shrimp & Grits.  Oh Em Gee!  Is your mouth watering or not?  How about Cosmos?  Cosmos is located on Canal Road in Orange Beach and their menu (not be outdone by anyone)  features Chicken Roulade, Asian Glazed Tuna and Banana Leaf Wrapped Fish.  And sushi!  They have the best sushi anywhere!  And let’s not forget CoastAL Restaurant.  With their First Mates Platter, Boursin-Spinach Stuffed Chicken and Oyster selections, you simply cannot go wrong taking your First Mate out to eat at CoastAL.  Don’t forget to get some ice cream at CoastAL’s ice cream shop right next door before you head to your vacation home:  Ellie Fish.  

Located in the Fort Morgan community, Ellie Fish sleeps up to twelve adults.  It has four bedrooms and three baths.  If you’re planning a romantic getaway with a couple of other couples, this would be the perfect place to stay!  Ellie Fish has plenty of room to spread out and, when it’s time, have privacy.  The covered porch is the perfect place to enjoy a warm toddy as you let the cool evening February breeze in.  Bring a blanket, because it can get a bit chilly.  But, hey, its Valentine’s, after all, and snuggling is expected!  

Get your groove on and stay at Grand Caribbean 425

The Hangout is about the grooviest place in Gulf Shores.  For some of the best drinks and one of the best Gulf views in town, you must take your sweetheart to The Hangout in Gulf Shores.  Internationally known for being the home of The Hangout Music Festival, The Hangout has one of the best menus around.  Their appetizer menu is just perfect for a mid-afternoon snack or as a light meal to compliment your favorite beverage.  We suggest trying the strawberry daiquiri and Bacon Crab Dip.  The dip is a cheesy, peppery, yummy concoction of crab and seasonings and strawberries are the fruit of love.  This is perfect for a romantic break in any day!

Grand Caribbean 425 is so close to The Hangout, you can almost walk to your Valentine’s weekend home.  Located right on Beach Boulevard, facing the Gulf of Mexico, Grand Caribbean 425 is a cozy, comfy condo that sleeps six.  Grand Caribbean 425 has two full bedrooms and one and a half baths.  It is tastefully decorated and is literally right across the street from The Gulf of Mexico.  It is the perfect place for a cozy Valentine’s getaway or a family stay in the summer.

Delight in an amazing sunset and dream in Navy Cove 2113

Have you ever seen the sun set from the beach at Fort Morgan?  Fort Morgan is the farthest west point on our little island and the sunset viewing is spectacular!  Looking west toward Mobile County, you’re looking almost directly into the sun over The Gulf of Mexico or over Mobile Bay.  The rays reach across the water and you can almost feel them touching your face as the sun sets into the horizon.  Talk about a romantic moment!  Grab your sweetie, a bottle of wine and a blanket.  Then find a quiet spot to watch the sunset one evening while you’re down.  After that, you can head on over to your vacation home at Navy Cove 2113.  Navy Cove 2113 is located near Fort Morgan and has its own private boat slip and attached dock.  How cool is that?!  It has two bedrooms and two bathrooms and sleeps up to six adults.  Did I mention the view from your private balcony at Navy Cove 2113? You will have an amazing view of beautiful, tranquil Mobile Bay.  This condo is tastefully decorated, cozy enough for two, but will accommodate a whole family if you and your sweetie bring others with you.  

Enjoy roses, chocolate and rest at Rookery 3402

What Valentine’s Day would be complete without roses and chocolate?  Do you need a fresh beautiful bouquet of roses for your sweetheart?  The fine folks at Coastal Flowers and Design have you covered! They are located in Gulf Shores, but we encourage you to check out their website to view their extensive design options.  Another great local florist, All Island Flowers, offers wonderful gift baskets, as well as beautiful floral arrangements.  If you’re looking for something sweet for your sweetie, be sure to stop by the Chocolate Corner in Gulf Shores.  They have ice cream, chocolate, shakes and smoothies.  Just walk in and expect to “get your yum on!”  Need a second choice for fabulous chocolates?  Check out Kayden’s Candy Factory in Orange Beach.  In addition to ice cream and chocolates, they have caramel apples.  You really must get one of these and take it back home with you as a perfect souvenir of your romantic weekend on Alabama’s Gulf Coast.  For a wonderfully romantic place to stay, check out Rookery 3402.

Rookery 3402 is a cottage with three bedrooms and two baths.  It sleeps up to seven and is only a few steps from the Rookery tennis courts and private pool.  Rookery 3402 has a little more privacy than the condos or larger home mentioned above.  Is that what you’re looking for?  If so, then Rookery 3402, a single family home, located just a tad off the beaten path, is only a short drive to the Gulf beaches.  It is fully stocked with all you’ll need to make a perfect romantic dinner for two.  Add some amazing flowers and a box of chocolates, and you’re all set to enjoy a perfect Valentine’s weekend getaway with your special someone.

We, at Sunset Properties, are big fans of Valentine’s Day.  Sure, we enjoy Memorial Day, Christmas, and football season…and all the other holidays, too.  But there is just something about that time of year when love is in the air that makes us all a little more happy than normal.

This blog contains a short list of suggestions we, at Sunset Properties, have to help make your Valentine’s weekend getaway super special.  If you choose to book one of the vacations homes listed above from Thursday – Sunday, February 14-17, 2019 and mention this blog or use code #LOVE19, we will give you a 10% discount off your reservation.  Some restrictions do apply.

For a more detailed list of romantic and fun things to do, check out or blog on the Top 10 Most Romantic Things to do in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.  We bet we’ve listed a few you haven’t thought of yet!  Once you decide to bring your honey to the beach, give us a call.  We will do all we can to help you make this Valentine’s Day your most special one yet.

www.sunsetproperties.com

251.543.1370

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7 Reasons Why You Should Skip New Orleans and Spend Mardi Gras on the Alabama Gulf Coast

7 Reasons Why You Should Skip New Orleans and Spend Mardi Gras on the Alabama Gulf Coast

Mardi Gras is Tuesday, March 5, 2019, and we, along the Alabama Gulf Coast, are already gearing up for our first big party of the year.  Everyone knows the beach is a great place to spend New Years, Independence Day, Memorial Day and Labor Day, but did you know Coastal Alabama does Mardi Gras in a big way, too?  That’s right!  We do!  Here in our island paradise, we have some of the best gumbo, brightest beads, and host the most family friendly Mardi Gras day anywhere.  In short, we can laissez les bon temps rouler with the best of ‘em!  We just prefer to do it in our flip-flops and shorts!  As for the upcoming Mardi Gras Season, we have so much fun planned, we need to start early getting the word out.  Here are seven reasons why you should skip New Orleans and spend Mardi Gras 2019 in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach or Fort Morgan:

  1. Fresh Alabama Seafood makes the best gumbo

The term Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday.  What better way is there to enjoy Fat Tuesday than with a bowl of some of the best gumbo anywhere?  While we will agree that the first recorded references to gumbo were around 1803 in New Orleans, we strongly disagree when folks say the best gumbo is still found there.  We actually believe we live where the best gumbo is made.  Talented chefs at local restaurants like DeSoto’s, Doc’s, and Sea-N-Suds make gumbo that can challenge (and we think top!) any gumbo made anywhere in Louisiana.  DeSoto’s Seafood Kitchen, located just a block or so off West Beach in Gulf Shores, has some of the best gumbo around.  DeSoto’s serves gumbo in a cup or a bowl.  We suggest a bowl (because you’re gonna love the stuff!), and add a side of fried green tomatoes, too!  Next, you need to try the gumbo at Doc’s.  Doc’s Seafood Shack is located on Canal Road and its been there so long, we can’t even remember a time when it didn’t exist.  A local favorite for many years (34 years to be exact) , the folks at Doc’s have perfected the art of making gumbo.  They say they “have the best fried shrimp in the entire civilized world”.  We think their gumbo is pretty alright, too!  Sea-N-Suds Restaurant and Oyster Bar, located right on the Gulf in Gulf Shores, has been serving their amazing gumbo for over 40 years.  We have been in love with it for just that long, too!  They are so sure you will love their gumbo, they will actually give you a free cup with an entree.  Check with them for details.  Don’t just take our word for it, give our Alabama Seafood gumbo a try!  You’ll agree fresh Alabama Seafood makes the best gumbo!

  • Beads are better if you can actually catch them

What does that mean?  It means you have a much better chance of catching beads if half the folks who live south of Nashville are not blocking your view of the floats.  Why would you drive all the way to Louisiana only to find yourself lost somewhere in a crowd of revelers five, six or maybe ten people deep?  Because the crowds are smaller in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, you can position yourself closer to the parade route.  You can actually make eye contact with the masked revelers and, therefore, strongly increase your odds of catching more beads than you can comfortably wear.  The goal of Mardi Gras for most folks is to catch a ton of beads.  Come to our parades and get ready to collect your share.  After all, beads are so much better if you can actually catch them!

  • We love you to the Moon(Pie) and back

Over 100 years ago, the Chattanooga Bakery started producing MoonPies.  Made originally of graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows, MoonPies have become one of America’s favorite treats.   MoonPies and Mardi Gras married up in Mobile in the early 1970s.  Before then, revelers threw Cracker Jacks to parade goers.  As you can imagine, getting smacked in the head with a sharp cornered box of popcorn and peanuts was no fun.  A ladies’ parading group thought it would be safer and more fun to toss round, lightweight MoonPies.  Those ladies started a tradition that is still going strong today.  Now, in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, just like with our neighbor across the bay, MoonPies are a parade staple.  Even though Chattanooga is some 425 miles away from Gulf Shores, locals have adopted the tasty round treat as a Mardi Gras must and we can honestly say, “we will love you to the MoonPie and back!”

  • Local folks are friendly

While I tease about “love” and “MoonPies” I am definitely not teasing when I say local folks are really friendly.  Being from South Alabama, we say “yes ma’am” and “thank you” and “y’all come back again”.  We don’t consider it (like some folks do) as talking “southern”.  Instead, we just think its the right way to treat people.  Treat folks with kindness and respect and they become more than just visitors to our little island paradise, they become a part of our extended family.  We, at Sunset Properties, have grafted in quite a few of our guests.  Some of our best family members are not technically related to us at all.  Nevertheless, they liked our friendly disposition and we liked them right back.  Locals are not only friendly folks, they might become some of your best friends anywhere!

  • Parade access is super easy

Have you ever tried to park on Bourbon Street?  I guess the better question is:  why would you try to park on Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras?  How about this:  skip the whole thing and just come to Gulf Shores or Orange Beach and park literally right off our parade routes.  With parking options all along the parade routes on Alabama Highway 59 and Beach Boulevard, parking is a breeze ( a sea breeze, even!).  You won’t have to walk far from your car to get the best spot to stand as the floats pass by and your walk back to your car won’t exhaust you either.  Another great thing about our parade parking, you start out and end up right near our best retail shops, restaurants and local pubs.  The Original Oyster House Boardwalk, for example, right on Highway 59 has all three!  And access to our Gulf Shores parade route from the boardwalk, is as easy as pie!

  • Accommodations are affordable

Affordable accommodations..now this is big deal, especially if you’re coming to the beach for more than a couple of days.  While Mardi Gras is technically only on Tuesday, we believe in hanging out for a few days.  After all, who goes to the beach just for one day?  At Sunset Properties, we have several great properties to choose from.  If you’d like to stay close the the Gulf Shores route, take a look at Beachview 223.  If Orange Beach is more your style, check out Moorings 414.  Looking to stay a little off the beaten path where the scenery is fabulous, but the pace is a tad bit slower?  Check out My Sunshine, Big Pelican and Sundown.  Our accommodations are tastefully decorated, spacious enough for your whole family and affordable so that you can enjoy your Mardi Gras week or weekend in our area without killing your entertainment budget.

  • The beach is your backdrop

With thirty-two miles of sugary white sandy beaches, the Alabama Gulf Coast should not only be your first choice for summer vacations, but for Mardi Gras, as well.  We love to have fun on Pleasure Island and our beaches make any day a great day!  While you’re in town getting a jump start on your summer tan, be sure to take some time to visit the Alabama Gulf State Park Pier and Pavilion, located in Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores.  Visit our public beach areas in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.  The days are getting longer and the sea oats are starting to rustle in the spring breezes.  Summer is right around the corner and you can feel the happiness in the air.  Mardi Gras is a fun time of each year, but there is something super special about it when the beach as your backdrop.

So what are you waiting on?  Get your sunblock, shades, flip flops together.  Grab a big ole bag to carry all your throws home in, and come on down!  Plan on spending Mardi Gras on the Alabama Gulf Coast and plan to stay with Sunset Properties.  We are ready to help you “let the good times roll!”

Come for Mardi Gras, stay for Spring Break!

www.sunsetproperties.com

251-543-1370

251-543-1370

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