5/26/2010

Summer Fun

It may not officially be summer yet, but school is coming to an end (if it’s not already over in some places), which means summertime family activities are beginning. And if your kids are like most, you’ll find the amusement parks in the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area to be a big hit.

The water park at Waterville USA opened on May 22nd, and will be open daily—not just weekends—starting May 29th. With the hot weather of the Gulf, this is refreshingly fun excursion for people of all ages, with waterslides and rides for the youngest of kids to the oldest of “kids.”

For some dry fun, you could check out The Track in Gulf Shores and Adventure Island in Orange Beach: sky coaster, bungee jumping, go-karts, miniature golf, and laser tag are some of the diversions at these locations.

Check out these and other attractions here.

Pay for a Few Nights, Stay a Few More for Free

Getting one free night at a beachside condo is a great way to save money and extend a vacation. Getting three free nights is even better. Brett/Robinson is currently offering both.

From now until July 31st you can five, six, or seven nights and one of those nights will be free. Or, if you have the time and really want to immerse yourself in your Alabama Gulf Coast vacation, you can stay for ten nights and only pay for seven.

My vacation budget was maxed out at seven nights—glad to know I’ll be able to stay for ten! This will give me plenty of beach and pool time and time for exploring the area sites.

Learn more about this and other deals here.

5/24/2010

Hot Tubs and Saunas

I’ve always found strange that one of the things I look for when booking a vacation is whether the condo or hotel has a hot tub and sauna. Particularly when I’m vacationing on the Gulf—it’s already really warm. Why is there this compelling need to soak in a hot tub?

The only answer I can come up with is, it’s just nice. It’s relaxing. And probably for the same reason that I enjoy lounging on the toasty beaches of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach in the first place: I just like being warm. (Plus, I sometimes like to revert back to my childhood when I would run back and forth between jumping in the pool and warming up in the hot tub—except I don’t actually run and jump anymore.)

Hot tubs and saunas are common amenities at Brett/Robinson’s many rental properties. You can learn more about these properties and their amenities here.

5/19/2010

Golf Hazards

I love a golf course with hazards. And I love that they call them “hazards” and not just “challenges.” I’ve played with people in the past who complained about golf course hazards, and one person in particular who even wishes water hazards were called “water challenges” instead—but that just doesn’t sound like golf to me.

My favorite is “scenic marshland hazards,” a description of the Rock Creek Golf Club in Fairhope, Alabama. This just sounds amazing to me—scenic, but with an element of risk. I guess that’s why I like hazards. They add a level of risk to the game (even if it is just the risk of losing a ball).

Rock Creek is just one of many first-rate golf courses along the Alabama Gulf Coast, so you’re bound to find one that fits your hazard (and challenge) criteria.

5/18/2010

LuLu Palooza

If you’re looking for some money-saving fun for Memorial Day weekend, I have a couple good ideas. First, take advantage of Brett/Robinson’s Stretch your Memorial Weekend offer, where you can stay five nights for the price of four.

Then while you’re in the Gulf Shores area, check out the 6th annual LuLu Palooza on Sunday, May 30th at LuLu's at Homeport Marina. Live music and a fun atmosphere, with performances by Coconut Radio, Grayson Capps & the Stumpknockers, Ilo Ferreira, and The Radiators—and of course LuLu’s delicious food. Best of all, it’s free (the concert, not the food).

With the extra vacation time and saved money, you can explore other attractions and entertainment outlets in the area, or just relax and enjoy the beach and resort amenities.

5/14/2010

Night Life

We’re all well aware of things to do during a day at the beach. (And anyone familiar with the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area knows that there are many other activities and sites to enjoy away from the beach.)

But when the sun starts to set in the evening, I know I’m not always content to just call it a night. Whether it’s dinner out, or a concert, or drinks and live music at a bar, I like to have options for my twilight plans. So I’m finding Brett/Robinson’s Music & Nightlife events calendar to be particularly useful, as it provides a calendar of music and evening events going on around the area.

You can check out this and other features of the new site here.

5/13/2010

Celebrating New Beginnings

I always enjoy being part of something new—especially when food and entertainment is involved. So I’ll likely attend the celebration taking place at the construction site of Phoenix West II, Brett/Robinson’s newest (and biggest) Phoenix resort.

Not only will there be food and live entertainment (as well as a children’s village for the youngsters), but guests will also get to explore the new condominium. I’m considering it a sneak-peek at a future vacation!

The party is scheduled for Saturday, May 29th from 3 to 7 p.m. in Orange Beach. Visit the Brett/Robinson website for more information.

5/06/2010

Importance of Ratings

There’s something about knowing that someone else agrees with me that is so satisfying. It’s not that I need approval that what I think is “correct”—and certainly not when it comes to golf. I know whether or not I enjoy playing a particular course. I know that Kiva Dunes and Cypress Bend in Gulf Shores are both excellent golf courses based on my own experience.

But it’s still nice to know that others think the same, especially when those “others” are the Golf Digest folks. Both Kiva Dunes and Cypress Bend have been ranked as top golf courses by Golf Digest. Somehow it adds to my enjoyment when I play those courses. It’s Golf Digest, after all—those people must know what they’re talking about regarding anything golf.

Both of these golf courses, as well as several others, are part of the golf packages offered by Brett/Robinson. Check them out here.

It's Almost Music Fest Time!

The first day of the Hangout Beach, Music and Arts Festival is just a little more than a week away. If you haven’t already made plans to attend, there’s still time to book a room at a Brett/Robinson property.

The Phoenix All Suites Hotel and the Island Winds and Island Winds West properties are right in the middle of where the action will be. Staying onsite will be the best way to enjoy this music fest—you’ll have the option of being on the beach with all the festivities or listening to the music from the balcony of your hotel/condo.

Phoenix All Suites is offering music festival packages, and guests who stay at one of the Island Winds condominiums can save 20% off of three nights or stay four nights for the cost of three.

5/05/2010

Memorial Day Deals

We’re coming up to one my favorite holidays: Memorial Day. The long weekend, so alluringly close to summer, is always a perfect occasion for celebration (as evidenced, for me, by all the couples I’ve known over the years to marry on Memorial Day weekend—if I’m not celebrating an actual wedding, I’m celebrating someone’s anniversary).

It’s also a great opportunity for a vacation, and Brett/Robinson is making that opportunity even more attainable. Up until May 31st, you can stay at a Brett/Robinson property for five nights at the cost of four nights. Now that’s how you stretch and already lengthy weekend!

And what a way to celebrate—cooking out on the white-sand beaches of Alabama’s Gulf Coast. Or take some of the money you save and enjoy dinner out at one of the many local restaurants.

Check out their website for this and other hot deals.

5/04/2010

Plan Some Off-the-Beach Time

When we think of a beach vacation, we tend to envision activities like lounging on the beach with a good book and an iPod, building sandcastles, perhaps playing a little beach volleyball, and then cooling off in the ocean waters and maybe catching a few waves. These are all excellent beach activities, particularly when your destination is the white-sand beaches of the Alabama Gulf Coast.

But there is such a thing as too much of a good thing, and the last thing you want to do is burnout on beach time. In addition, in an area like Gulf Shores/Orange Beach, Alabama, where there are so many things to do and see, it’s hard to justify spending the entire trip solely on the beach. Taking time for some off-the-beach pursuits and exploring the local culture can really enhance the beach experience.

One popular pastime for many beach-goers is golf, which is no short-coming in and around Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. The area offers a variety of scenic golf courses, and visitors can often find deals that will help save them money. Brett/Robinson Vacation Rentals, for example, offers golf vacation packages where guests can save on multiple rounds of golf.

Nature excursions offer additional opportunities for off-beach adventures. Nature trails and centers, wildlife preserves, estuariums, and zoos are some of the ways visitors can explore the plant and animal life native to Alabama’s Gulf Coast. The area is also a good location for fishing, whether it’s pier fishing or via charter boat.

Those interested in history and culture should plan to visit historical sites, such as museums and old homes and churches, and attend concerts and art exhibits of local artists.

Knowing ahead of time what sites of interest are near your accommodations, or booking accommodations based on what off-beach activities interest you will help with the travel planning process. Brett/Robinson offers a selection of lodging options located near several area attractions.