Orange Beach – Page 4 – Sunset Properties Blog

March 3, 2022March 3, 2022

What the PEOPLE Are Saying About the Most Popular Rentals in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Fort Morgan

By: Raven Hunter

If you’re new to the vacation rental game, or even if you’ve been at it for a while, you probably know what it’s like to be faced with dozens, maybe hundreds of rentals on any given website and have no idea which one fits best for your vacation. I know it can be time consuming and taxing combing through all of the options, ascertaining their amenities, and trying to fit each person’s interests to the perfect rental for your next beach vacation. That’s why I found the highest rated Sunset Properties rentals that had the most buzz in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Fort Morgan and figured out what previous guests liked so much about them to help you narrow down your search.

Gulf Shores – Lighthouse 607

Starting in Gulf Shores, Lighthouse 607 has an average rating of 4.5 stars, and people had the most to say about it in 36 glowing reviews. A recurring praise for this luxury rental was centered around the optimal space provided by the two bedrooms and bunkbed room. Each bedroom comes equipped with a king-sized bed, so whether you and your spouse are looking for room to spread out or you need some extra space to squeeze in a few of the kiddos, Lighthouse 607 has more than enough room. Multiple guests were excited about the bunkbed room having a door rather than a curtain because it kept noise out of the room after the kids had gone to bed. Enjoy some adult time and conversation with no fear of waking the kiddos after bedtime! Many guests testified to having big families stay in the rental or to their kids being able to bring friends and still stay comfortably. Lighthouse 607 is perfect for that big trip where everyone is invited!

In addition to space, Lighthouse 607 also comes with a lot of extras that renters thought made the stay worthwhile. Many people loved the jacuzzi tub in the master bath and access to the two large pools and two hot tubs. This rental offers means of relaxation for people of all ages! People were also impressed by the large balcony accessible from both the living room and the master bedroom. This amenity allowed for these guests to enjoy the equally praised view of the beach, which is just a boardwalk trip away from the rental. Flashlights, boogieboards, and nets are also included as extras, giving the kids and grownups every opportunity to make the most of the easy beach access. After the beach fun, Lighthouse 607 is ready and waiting for the renters to use the fully stocked kitchen and wind down with some of the rental’s family games! For those who don’t feel like cooking, iconic restaurants like Sea n Suds and the Hangout are right nearby!

If I’ve sold you on Lighthouse 607, you better hurry. Many renters stated that they would rent again, had already booked their next stay, or even extended their initial stay! People are rushing back to Lighthouse 607, so go ahead and place your dates while you have the chance!

Orange Beach – Grand Caribbean 215

One of Orange Beach’s most popular Sunset Properties rentals, Grand Caribbean 215, offers a relaxing getaway for families just looking for some calming time together at the beach. The trend in the twenty reviews placed on this rental is praise of the condo’s cleanliness and comfort. When people’s favorite thing about a rental is the atmosphere, you know you’ve got the perfect place to relax and unwind. The location of Grand Caribbean 215 furthers the opportunity for relaxation this rental offers as it’s right across the street from the access to Cotton Bayou State Park. Most guests were appreciative and impressed by this aspect, but one reviewer did express frustration of having to cross the street with a young child. If you have young children and don’t want to take your car to the beach, then you may want to consider one of Sunset Properties venues closer to the beach accesses. Otherwise, enjoy the crosswalk interlude to your rejuvenating experience in one of the most beautiful beaches Orange Beach has to offer.

Grand Caribbean’s location continues to minimize renters’ stress by being centrally located between grocery and shopping areas. Former guests were ecstatic about this feature, and it’s no question why! The last thing you need on a restful family vacation is to run out of or realize you’ve forgotten an essential and are miles from the nearest store. This rental was also praised for having an easy check-in/checkout process, so no front desk nightmares for these renters! The general consensus on Grand Caribbean 215 seems to be that it’s the perfect environment for much needed R&R.

Fort Morgan – Out of Office

As Sunset Properties’ top rated rental in Fort Morgan, Out of Office has provided past renters with everything necessary for family vacation fun! Almost every review praised the rental for close proximity to the water, and many people enjoyed walking on the pier to experience the local wildlife. One family even saw dolphins! A few renters also made use of the rental’s extra kayaks, taking beach fun to a whole new level. And, once the sun goes down, Out of Office also comes with crab traps! This rental offers everything necessary for families to enjoy beach time at any time of day.

When the beach becomes too much, Out of Office also comes equipped with extras for family fun that doesn’t involve even leaving the property. Former guests were thrilled with the grills and fully stocked kitchen with everything they needed for indoor or outdoor family mealtime. Renters also loved the board games and cornhole set up, so the fun just continues! However you and your crew kick back, Out of Office is where you want to be for your next family vacation.

In addition to all of these amenities, a common theme throughout reviews on all of these properties commended the Sunset Properties management for being friendly and attentive during the rental process. This stellar customer service is also on display in the review section of all of these rentals in management’s engaged replies to renters’ comments. Even on the rare occasion that there was a complaint, management was gracious and responsive. These renters know firsthand that there’s nothing to fear in turning to Sunset Properties for your next getaway, so click or call to start your journey with them today!

March 1, 2022March 1, 2022

Make Spring Break 2022 Count in Gulf Shores, Alabama!

By: Raven Hunter

It’s finally time for Spring Break! I remember my school years years of counting down the days till the middle of the spring semester when we got that glorious span of nine whole days with no classes, assignments, or obligations. Once high school came, you’d have homework assignments due the day classes returned, so you’d have to portion out some of your fun time to make sure those things got done, but otherwise, you were free. The perfect solace to hold you over until the end of the year! For all of the students out there, I’m sure this is an exciting time; but, for parents, this time may be more stress than excitement because now you have to face the inevitable question of “What do I do with my children without school during the day?”

Worry not! Gulf Shores is here to answer that question for you with plenty of options for you to tire your kids out over their long-anticipated break from school. And, this can be a chance for you to get a break for a few days as well. With the kids at school all day and you working or busy otherwise, it can be hard to squeeze in some family time. You want to make the most of this time you have together, and the Gulf Shores area is exactly the place to do that.

Events

At this point, you may be wondering, “What is there to do that’s so special Gulf Shores that will keep my kids entertained?” And that’s a valid question. While some kids love the beach, many can find it boring. Especially if they live near a beach themselves. But, Gulf Shores has many events happening this March that will surely bring the fun that you and your family are looking for with this trip.

The Ballyhoo Festival

I remember school as a time for growing and learning new ideas and perspectives as I got older and learned more about different kinds of people. If your kids are like me and love that part of the school, then the Ballyhoo Festival gives them the opportunity to take it on vacation with them. The Ballyhoo Festival is an arts festival and cultural exchange that showcases all kinds of art from across the southeast. Held in the Lake Shelby picnic area of Gulf State Park, this event offers diverse art, live music, and food for your whole family to feast on while broadening your perspectives with the cultural sights and sounds. If you’ve got some musicians among the group, sign them up for the Fiddle and Banjo Competition. It’s fun and free for people of all ages to enter, just make sure you’re all ready to bring the heat!

Whatever your kids’ artistic interest, there’s something for all of them to enjoy and learn from at the Ballyhoo Festival. The dates are March 5^th and 6^th, so make sure to mark your calendar and get a few days off. You’ll be glad you did.

Legends of Country in Concert

Got some country lovers in your crew? Then ride on down to OWA in Foley, AL, to see Legends of Country! At this seasonal event, you can familiarize your kids with legends Martina McBride, Shania Twain, Garth Brooks, and Elvis Presley while reminiscing about the days of their fame yourself! This event runs all spring, so no matter when your kids’ Spring Break starts, you’ll have the opportunity to experience tribute performances to some of country’s biggest stars. You won’t want to miss it!

St. Pawtty’s Day

Reading through all of this, you may be concerned that some of your friends might have to miss out on the fun; that is, your furry friends. Finding a rental that accepts your beloved pet probably seems like enough of a blessing; but the people over at OWA want your pups to feel welcome, too, so they’ve got a whole holiday event just for them! On March 12^th, take your kids’ best furry friend down to the OWA theater for the St. Pawtty’s Day celebration! There, they can enjoy music, a parade where your kids and pups can strut their stuff, and a costume contest to show off a little extra flare! Attendance is free! Registration for the parade and costume contest is available for $15 the day of, and it’s only $10 to register ahead. What better way to commemorate Spring Break 2022 than by making memories with your kids and pets to enjoy for years to come?

The Beach

Okay, okay, I know I lured you into this talking about things to do in Gulf Shores that weren’t the beach, but in the middle of your exciting event hopping, why not take a stroll with the whole family on one of eight public accesses to the most beautiful beaches on the Gulf Coast? If your kids object, remind them that a change in scenery is always nice, and your high school students might enjoy the chance to walk the beach without the possibility of running into that teacher they owe a reading assignment to. Once they see the beautiful coastline and crystalline blue water, it won’t take long to win them over.

Andrew’s Cottage

At the end of the day, when your kids need time to finish that one lingering assignment, or, you know, sleep, Sunset Properties is ready to offer you Andrew’s Cottage, a two bedroom, dog friendly rental. Even with only two bedrooms, this rental sleeps six. Depending on the size of your family, you can all fit in this beautiful house with easy access to trails to give your furry friends a chance to stretch their legs. As an added plus, this rental has two bathrooms, one for you, and one for the kids!

If you’ve got a bigger family, Sea-Rae, Hangar Outer, Happy Clam might be more suitable for your needs.

Your kids are another year older this break, but you’ve still got time to make these years special. I hope you all enjoy the chance to seize the moment on your Spring Break trip to Gulf Shores, Alabama.

January 31, 2022January 31, 2022

Head to Gulf Shores for a Romantic Valentine’s Day You’ll Never Forget!

By: Raven Hunter

When was the last time you and your spouse got away without the kids? And I don’t mean to buy Christmas presents. If it’s been a while, then Sunset Properties is ready to make a private, romantic getaway possible for you and your sweetheart. Get someone to watch the kids and make your way down to Gulf Shores for a Valentine’s Day weekend to tell the grandkids about!

Dunes Condo Rentals

The first thing you’re going to want to know about how to make this magical weekend happen is where you and your honey are going to stay. Fortunately, you’re only going to need space for the two of you! No worrying about if the place you’re looking at has enough space for the kids or how the two youngest are going to get along sharing the bunkbed room. It’s just a quiet place for you two to get away this time, and Sunset Properties has you covered at Dunes! Sunset Properties owns many highly rated one bedroom condo rentals in this wonderful complex that they’re ready to offer you and your spouse for a weekend of feeling the love this Valentine’s Day!

These rentals come with full kitchens, access to the community pool, a washer and dryer, and a gorgeous view of the beach. Once you and your honey step through the doors to your Dunes condo rental, you may never want to leave!

Valentines Dances

Beyond long walks on the beach, there are many things for couples to do in Gulf Shores this Valentine’s Day weekend, including some dances! On February 11th, the Gulf Shores Recreation Department is holding a Valentines Dance & Chocolate Affair at the Erie Meyer Civic Center. For only $20 per person, you and your sweetheart can enjoy a night of music and dancing with a pasta and chocolate bar! What’s more romantic than going back to your high school days of flirting and fun with a little sophisticated twist this time? You have to pre-register for attendance, though, so don’t miss this opportunity to fall in love all over again!

If you and your person are looking for a more relaxed environment, The Hangout is the place for you to be! On February 12th, the Hangout is hosting their own Sweetheart Dance for the two of you to have a great time. From 6-8 pm, you and your spouse can enjoy dancing to live music and games offered by the wonderful people at the Hangout. This restaurant is a local favorite, so they’ve been making people’s evenings for years! Why not let them create the perfect casual atmosphere for you to make memories with your sweetheart that you’ll cherish for years to come?

Dinner For Two

Let’s get down to the real reason you guys are trying to take this trip: alone time. The day after your fun night of dancing, when you’ve slept in late at your secluded rental and used your kid-free time to just relax however you and your partner choose, you’re going to want to find somewhere to enjoy dinner, just the two of you.

If you guys are the creative types in the kitchen, then Dunes is definitely ready for you. As mentioned before, the rentals come with full kitchens, so you’ll have lots of room to cook up a Valentine’s Day meal that you two can share in your condo’s beautiful dining room while enjoying some peace and quiet and adult conversation. Rouses Market and Target are both conveniently located just over on Gulf Shores Parkway, so you can head over there to get your ingredients. Why not make a game of it by setting a price limit or adding a theme? The possibilities are endless to make this simple Valentine’s dinner a real adventure!

If you’d rather have someone do the cooking for you, Gulf Shores is packed with great restaurants that will give you and your partner the couples time you need to unwind this Valentine’s Day. Sassy Bass Amazin’ Grill is just up Fort Morgan Road from Dunes and offers fresh options of all kinds, from pizza to their fresh seafood. The place also has an awesome market and gift shop, so you can grab a souvenir for the kids, or just for you two! If you guys are looking for a calmer atmosphere, then head down further to Sassy Bass Island Grill, where you’ll get the same quality with a more ambient setting to enjoy the gorgeous view of Gulf Shores beaches.

We hope to see you this Valentine’s Day in Gulf Shores to get some time just for you and your partner. If this sounds like exactly the place for you, click over to Sunset Properties website to take the first step in making your romantic Valentine’s Day weekend happen!

December 21, 2021December 21, 2021

Gulf Shores, Alabama, is the Destination for Your Winter Wonderland Vacation!

By: Raven Hunter

It’s that time of year again! Soon, Christmas music will be playing on the radio (if it hasn’t started already), you’ll be rushing out to stores (or to your computer!) to find this year’s perfect gifts for your loved ones, and, most importantly, you’ll be deciding where or if you and your family will be travelling this year. Before you stress out trying to find that perfect family vacation spot or give up because all of the conventional options have been done to death, consider the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach/Fort Morgan area for this year’s winter getaway.

Now, at this point you’re probably wondering, “What could there possibly be to do on the Gulf Coast in December?” And trust me, I feel you. If you don’t live on the Gulf Coast or even anywhere in the South, a place where the only “White Christmas” you’re going to get is in the pure-white sandy shores typically isn’t going to be on your radar when seeking winter vacation destinations. But trust me when I say that there’s plenty on the coast to help you enjoy all that the chilly season has to offer without being too chilly.

Events

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach both offer several events to get you in the holiday spirit while you enjoy the tropical climate! Depending on when the kids get out for break, you can take them over to Gulf State Park for Gulf State Park Very Merry Christmas on December 5th or 12th! And, if your vacation starts earlier in the month, you can enjoy a seasonal concert by the Baldwin Pops on December 7th at 7 pm. For those of you who are wanting a performance experience on your vacation to-do list but have to wait until later in the month to start your vacation, the family-friendly Wingbeat Christmas Spectacular might be the place for you on December 11th or 12th. Also on December 11th, Lulu’s Buffet is offering a lighted boat parade. So, if indoor performances aren’t your thing and you want to spend some time outside, head on down to Lulu’s at dusk to watch an armada of masterfully decorated boats, or register your own if you’d like to participate! Either way, it’s fun for the whole family.

Over in Orange Beach, the Wharf is really showing up with lots of fun options available through the whole month of December! Believe it or not, you can indeed ice skate in the South, and an awesome rink is available for the whole family to show off their skills! And, while you’re there, why not take the kids to have their pictures taken with Santa to capture the wonderful holiday memories you’re making on Alabama’s Gulf Coast? For you active types, the Yo Ho Ho 5K and Fun Run is to be held on December 11th. Click on over to register you and your crew for a fun time to exercise and push your limits!

In addition to the opportunities in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, OWA is offering lots of events for Christmas at OWA including Brunch with Santa and the Holiday Tree Show to give your holiday a little extra pizazz. So, if you and your crew are wanting to make a trip to Foley, you can take your vacation on the road for a bit to take advantage of all the area has to offer!

Fort Morgan

Let me guess, you’ve got some kiddos at home that love to learn. And, I bet they’re SUPER bummed that school’s gonna be out until the new year… right? Well, maybe not. But, a trip to Fort Morgan could still be the perfect addition to your vacation to keep your students’ brains stimulated even through the winter school hibernation. Fort Morgan is enriching for the whole family to learn about its roles in the Spanish American War, World War I, and World War II, and you can take your kids on a journey through time on this historic structure with a self-guided tour. The grounds are open 7 days a week from 8 am – 5 pm except on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Years Day, so regardless of when you choose to squeeze a little learning fun into your vacation, Fort Morgan is waiting there to make it possible.

Still the Beach!

Okay, I know I’ve been showcasing all of the opportunities to enjoy the Gulf Shores area without the beach, but hear me out on this one. Gulf Shores beaches are open year round, and there’s a lot you can do on the beach without going in the water. Be the only ones in your friend group to build sandmen instead of snowmen, or just bundle up and take a nice walk in the cool, crisp winter air. The weather promises to be warmer than any area with four seasons, and if you’re from farther north, then you might have a better cold tolerance than us southerners down here. Take advantage of the possibly less crowded beach this season for a relaxing, unique beach experience that you’ll tell of for ages to come.
If this southern winter wonderland sounds too good to be true and you’re wondering how you can possibly make it work, rest assured that Sunset Properties has you covered. On the website, you can find over a hundred rentals that house from four guests to twenty-four. No matter the size of your family, Sunset Properties can help you find the perfect place to unwind after a day of seizing the holiday spirit and making irreplaceable memories.

August 31, 2021

Choose the Alabama Gulf Coast for Your Next Homeschool Fieldtrip

By: Raven Hunter

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

Fort Morgan State Historic Site

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

Nature Exploration

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

Family Fun, Dinner, and Dessert

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

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

August 23, 2021

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

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

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

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

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

2. Privacy matters for private matters.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

www.sunsetproperties.com

251.543.1370

July 12, 2021

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

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

Know where you are

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

Know exactly what you’re dealing with

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

Be weather aware

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

Buy travel insurance

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

Develop a Plan B

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

Expect the unexpected

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

Understand your cancellation or rescheduling options

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

Consider changing your destination city

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

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

www.sunsetproperties.com

251.543.1370

June 18, 2021

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

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

1. A Luxury Penthouse Stay

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

2. A Spa Day

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

3. A Personalized Souvenir

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

4. A Delicious Dinner

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

5. A New Look – Head to Toe

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

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

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

www.sunsetproperties.com

251-543-1370

June 10, 2021

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

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

Peninsula Golf and Racquet Club

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

Craft Farms Golf Resort

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

One Club Golf

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

Gulf Shores Golf Club

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

Kiva Dunes Resort and Golf

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

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

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

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

www.sunsetproperties.com

251.543.1370

June 5, 2021

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

www.sunsetproperties.com

251.543.1370