4th of July Fun

Ready or not the 4th is here. Myself I am so ready. I have been looking forward to this weekend for quite some time now. There are so many things going on here on the coast I just hope that I will be able to squeeze in all that I want to do. I may have to let my 4th celebration span a few days. I am sure that you have similar predicaments at hand. If on the other hand you do not know what to do for the fourth, I have listed a few ideas here.

1. Where – There is no better place to spend the fourth than on our beautiful beaches. I will have to say that we have something for everyone here.
2. Grilling – No matter what is going on that day you know you will have to eat. I suggest ribs, chicken, potato salad, corn on the cob, and of course watermelon and don’t forget the homemade vanilla ice cream to top off the dessert of your choice.
3. Swimming – There are many choices for this option. You have the beach, the pool, the bays and the lazy rivers. Maybe this option should be swimoating for those of us who prefer to float.
4. Shopping – Oh yes! There will be a sidewalk sale at Tanger, and I am sure that I will not miss this.
5. Fishing – It is the Red Snapper World Championship Saltwater Series. Check it out at www.redsnapperworldchampionship,com I must say I have been a few times this year, and the fishing is awesome this summer.
6. Golfing – You can definitely get your swing on here. There are over 10 fabulous courses to choose from in our area.
7. Spas – Pamper yourself at one of the many spas in our area.
8. Concert – I know that you must know by now that Montgomery Gentry will be performing in Orange Beach on the Fourth of July. Tickets are still available for as low as $16.50 and a fireworks show is included.
9. Fireworks – There will be 3 fireworks shows to choose from in our area. July 3rd there will be fireworks in Orange Beach visible from Phoenix 6, 7, 8, East and East II balconies. July 4th there will be fireworks with the Montgomery Gentry concert and in Gulf Shores that will be visible from Phoenix All Suites and Island Winds balconies.
10. Movies – We have not one but two great movie theaters in our area. The Cobb Theater in Gulf Shores and the Rave Theater in Orange Beach. There is also a Coastal Video in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach to rent movies and games.

Well, that will be enough I am sure to get you started. I hope that whatever you do on the fourth that you will take the opportunity to realize how fortunate we are to be a part of such a wonderful country. We are truly blessed with all of our freedoms. Take care and have a safe and happy Fourth of July!

Fort Morgan Candlelight Tour

A blog entry from our friend Luanne, aka Sunny.
The sun was hanging low in a hazy sky as I was driving west on Ft. Morgan road. My car was filled with excited chatter from three kids in the back seat.

“Grandmother, did you know ghosts feed off of energy?” My 12-year-old granddaughter asked. This question started a flurry of conversation between all of the occupants in my car.

I just shook my head. My daughter, the aforementioned granddaughter, one of her friends, my 8-year-old grandson and I were on the way to Ft. Morgan for the Candlelight Tour. Somehow, the imaginations of my back-seat passengers had conjured up ghost tales. I think it had something to do the stories they had heard from their friends about all the restless spirits that inhabit the old structure.

For anyone who hasn’t visited Ft. Morgan, it is a magnificent brick fort completed in 1834 to protect the entrance to Mobile Bay. The fort was manned, off and on, until 1946 when it was turned over to the state of Alabama

When we arrived, a large group of people were gathered outside the tunnel that leads to the interior of the fort. It was still very bright outside and I was wondering where the “candlelight” came into play. It didn’t take long for that question to be answered. There were lanterns containing candles spaced a few feet apart on both sides of the dark tunnel.

We emerged from the dark onto the fort’s courtyard and were greeted by interpreters dressed in Civil-War-era uniforms. The men looked right at home in their period clothing and didn’t look as hot as I would have imagined in the Gulf Coast heat and humidity. After a brief history of the fort and a few funny stories, we were guided to the laundry. Two women, also dressed in period clothing, explained how all of the clothing was washed in sea water. The cisterns on top of the fort collected rain water to be used for drinking and cooking and it could not be wasted for laundry services.

After looking through windows at the barracks and storage areas, we were guided outside the fort to a cannon pointed at Mobile Bay. By this time, the sun was touching the skyline across the bay and turning the calm water the color of fire. The solders quickly packed the cannon with powder and the lanyard was pulled. The crowd cheered and applauded as the plum of black smoke rose in the still air.

The fort remained open for another hour for visitors to explore the area in the twilight. The kids wanted to walk to the water and look across the bay. As the last of the light faded from the western sky, we explored the beach area. I asked if they had wandered through the dark recesses of the arched tunnels and was given a wide-eyed response of, “No.” The negative answer was almost in unison. The subject of ghosts did not come up on the way back to Gulf Shores. I guess the kids weren’t really disappointed with the shyness of the ghosts, I know I wasn’t.

The evening was fun and informative. I enjoyed the family time and seeing the fort at a different time of day. I recommend visiting the fort during the normal daytime hours, also. The view of Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico are breathtaking and the fort itself is an amazing example of architecture.

The tours start at 7 p.m. and continue every Tuesday through July.

Hey Y'all Hey Y'all!!

Ms. Beachin' checks in.
Guess What! Montgomery Gentry has rocked Orange Beach for the last three years and has decided to come back for a fourth time this July 4th - just for me. It’s almost more than I can stand. Since I am such a nice person, I have made the decision to open up the concert to the general public. Well, you know what they say the more the merrier. The concert will include performances by Little Big Town, A Tremendous Fireworks Show, and Montgomery Gentry.

Little Big Town will be opening the concert in Orange Beach. Their harmonies will draw you in immediately. Then you're hooked and it's then that you realize that it's not just the harmonies. Everything about Little Big Town is unique to the country music world. Comprised of Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Roads, Jimi Westbrook and Phillip Sweet, Little Big Town's configuration of two men and two women is unique. Their hits include: – A Little More You, Boondocks, and Fine Line.

I have had the opportunity to see Montgomery Gentry perform in concert three times now and they are by far the best entertainers you could ever see. Eddie Montgomery with his trademark black hat and coat is known for running up and down and across the stage with his microphone and stand in hand getting the whole crowd fired up. I will tell you the man does not stand still. Troy Gentry is known for being a little more reserved, but what he lacks in physical actions he makes up for in rockin the whole place with his guitar. I am telling you they are so hot that you can hear them sizzle on the stage. I cannot wait!! Go and check out their website here.

Take my word for it this is a concert that you do not want to miss. Their genre may say country, but they will rock your socks off guaranteed. Just a few of my very favorite songs are: - Gone, My Town, Something to Be Proud of, The Big Revival and One in Every Crowd. Go get your tickets today and be a part of the biggest 4th of July party on the coast. Tickets are still available and are as low as $16.50. We will be looking for you, because as they say “there’s one in every crowd that brings a party in the south”, and we need for you to complete this party. So, we will be waiting for ya!

Father's Day

An exciting weekend is ahead. I cannot think of a better place to be for father’s day this weekend than our beautiful beaches. There is something out there for every dad’s taste and style.

If your dad loves to rock then this is a great place to start off the weekend.
We have not one but two awesome concerts. Thursday night .38 Special, REO Speedwagon and Styx will be here to rock our socks off. It is sure to be a blast with hits like: Hold on Loosely, Caught Up in You, Take it on the Run, Time for Me to Fly, Mr. Roboto, and Renegade. We will be there for this one. Then on Friday night we have Steely Dan hitting the stage with a full orchestra. Their hits include: Do it Again, Reelin in the Years, Hey Nineteen, Dirty Work, and Rikki don’t lose that number. Wow, it is going to be hard to stay home for this one. I am sure that we will manage to make it to hear Steely too.

If your dad’s style is more of the flying high type, then the 5th Annual Hot Air Balloon Festival will surely get him excited. It all begins on Thursday, June 18th and continues until 5pm on Sunday, June 21st. There will be balloon glows, tether rides, flight competitions, arts and crafts, a children’s village and fireworks. You can go to www.gulfcoastballoonfestival.com for a complete schedule. There will be 50 balloons in our area this weekend, and the weather should be great for this event.

Now, if your dad loves to fish. It is Snapper Season here on the coast. We have had the opportunity to go a few times already and I will have to say that we have not been disappointed in our catch. Our biggest to this point was a snapper we named bubba. He weighed in at 15 lbs. What a catch. We have also pulled in a couple of groupers and a King Mackerel. Just talking about it makes me wish I was back out there now.

Your dad might just like a relaxing weekend. We have that too. There can be a beach umbrella with his name on it waiting for him each day. Take a cooler with his favorite beverage, maybe a book or magazine, and just allow him to sit and soak up the sights and sounds. There are also three different lazy rivers to choose from if that suits his style. He can hop on a tube and float the day away.

Decisions, decisions. What should you do? Well, I personally do not think there is a bad decision here. I am sure that the dad in your family will love whatever you may choose. As Bill Cosby once said, “Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap on a rope.” I hope that all of you wonderful fathers out there have an exceptionally great day. We are looking forward to your next visit with us. There are always plenty of activities happening around here.

Golf on a Budget

Sometimes you need to save a little money on the round for that new driver, right guys?
I've got a spot for you the next time you're in town. The Alabama Gulf State Park has a nice little 18 hole course, nestled in the center of the state park, with very reasonable rates. You can play 18 holes, with cart for $40. They have a small pro shop and snack bar as well. The course gets a lot of play, but it's in pretty good shape year round. Water comes into play on several holes, but there's no forced carries. It's a player friendly layout, with multiple tees.
There's plenty to do at the Park, so maybe the wife and kids can take in a nature hike while Dad plays 18?
See you on the links!

Lunchcation

A note from Ms. Beachin'.
Well, I went on a lunchcation today. I went to one of my very favorite places, LuLu’s. You are swept away the moment you step out of the car. From the giant Adirondack chairs to the tropical music you will know that you are not in any ordinary place. It’s no wonder that it is one of the most popular places here at the beach. Everyone needs to experience it at least once.

Here are a few pointers to make the most of your visit.
• Arrive early – 11:00am for lunch and between 4:00 and 5:30 for dinner
• Ask for seating near the water, it’s the best
• If you have to wait, make the most of it. Order a drink or snack from the outside bar and try out those Adirondack chairs.
• Enjoy the music
• Let the kids enjoy the sand pile
• Check out the neat gift shop

When you are seated, order some L.A. Caviar – MMMMM (recipe to follow), and if you would like to know my favorite item to order that would be the Mahi Tacos. They are a party for your mouth. A couple of other greats to try are the Fried Green Tomatoes and the Crab Claws, YUM!

Okay, it’s back to reality for me - until next time. Hope you enjoy your visit. I am leaving you with a recipe from LuLu’s Crazy Sista cook book. It’s a must have if you love cook books.

L.A. (Lower Alabama) Caviar
Dressing- ¾ cup balsamic vinegar, ½ cup extra virgin olive oil, ¼ cup sugar, 2 t salt, 1 t black pepper
4 (15oz) cans black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained,
1 cup chopped green bell pepper,
1 cup chopped yellow bell pepper,
1 cup chopped red bell pepper, and 1 cup chopped red onion,
1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes, quartered, 1 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
1. Combine all dressing ingredients and shake vigorously to dissolve sugar. Set aside.
2. Place peas in a large glass or stainless steel bowl.
3. Add all other ingredients. Pour dressing over top and toss well. Transfer to a plastic container, cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
4. Serve with tortilla chips or saltine crackers.

June Fishing Report by Capt. Randy Boggs

All of the rain we have had north of here has pushed a lot of fresh water into the creeks and rivers pushing some of the largest speckled trout into the bays where they can be caught. They are being caught on jigs, shrimp or croakers.
There have been a lot of red fish being caught around the pass on cut bait and trolling with planers and spoons. One of my favorite fish, the Spanish mackerel, have made a descent showing and are being caught trolling with planers and spoons as well. The larger Spanish mackerel can be caught by chumming and drifting live bait back into the chum.
Quite a few King mackerel are being caught - school size near shore to some really big ones off shore. We have caught three over 30 lbs in the past week.
Red snapper season has finally opened. We have heard reports of great catches. Trigger fish are being caught on a regular basis on cut squid. Grouper are good in the deep water on live bait or larger cut bait.
In all of my years of fishing, the bottom fishing is as good as it gets. I have never seen the fishing better as well as the quality of the fish being caught.
Further offshore, yellow fin tuna are being caught jigging or trolling around the rigs.
Visit our dock store at SanRoc Cay Marina. We have fuel, bait, ice, drinks, snacks and much more. Transient boat slips are also available for rent. We are open 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily to serve you. We monitor Channel 16 or you can call us at 251-981-6167.

Capt. Randy Boggs
www.reelsurprisecharters.com

Gulf Coast Green Market

What a way to start off the day. Whether you are a resident here on the island or just visiting on vacation the Green Market is a must to experience. I went this past Saturday morning, and it was so much fun. The Green Market is an open air market located at Lake Shelby and it helps support our local farmers and merchants. Fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, plants, honey, wine, and shrimp are just a few of the goodies that were available this past Saturday. One of the biggest hits of the day was the home-grown tomatoes, and believe me they did not last long. The honey from Silverhill was also a sweet treat.

I had just as much fun talking with the vendors as I did shopping at the booths. Did you know that there is a star squash? Well, I sure did not. I found out all kinds of neat little trivia about everything from shrimp to wine. The Green Market is a win/win situation for the vendor and the customer. It was just a fabulous morning.

The Green Market is every Saturday in June from 7:00-11:00am. It is located right off the beach highway at beautiful Lake Shelby. It is a definite that the early bird gets the worm here. It is also so pleasant in the early hours with the gulf breeze and the warm sun. I will be back next Saturday to stock up on my supply of home-grown tomatoes de-lish. I also look forward to seeing what other goodies will be in store for me. I will see you bright and early on Saturday.