11/30/2010

Think Free

This is a proud day for me: it’s still November and I’ve managed to finish all my holiday shopping. Not only have I finished, but I’m actually pretty pleased with the gifts I found this year. My favorite is the Brett/Robinson gift certificate I bought for my parents—I can’t wait to see their reaction.

Gift-buying is bitter sweet for me. I enjoy it, but it always leaves me a little light in the pockets—a common problem among many shoppers. Fortunately, if you’re visiting the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area this time of year, there are plenty of activities to enjoy that cost little or even no money: walking the beach (still very doable this time of year), hiking and biking nature trails, driving along Alabama’s Coastal Connection, and even just enjoying the view from your condo balcony.

Plenty of ideas are listed on OrangeBeachToday.com under “Explore Our Coast.” Check out the calendar of events too for a variety of events taking place this fall and winter.

11/23/2010

Thinking of 2011 Already

So the biggest shopping day of the year is this Friday. Hundreds (thousands?) of shoppers will line up at the doors of their favorite stores before they’re even open in hopes of grabbing some hot items for some great prices. Ordinarily, I avoid any shopping on this day at all costs—I tolerate Cyber Monday and its online deals much better.

But weekend passes to next year’s Hangout Music Festival will already be on sale on Black Friday—for only $50. You can get them at The Hangout starting at 8 a.m., as well as at Private Gallery locations in Orange Beach, Foley, and the Eastern Shore.

And here’s another bonus: starting Thanksgiving Day, you can get 15% off a vacation with Brett/Robinson for any time between December 1st, 2010 through December 31st, 2011. The deal ends at midnight on Friday, November 26th.

Not trying to rush through the holidays, but I’m really starting to look forward to next year!

11/19/2010

The Holidays Are Here!

I am not afraid to admit that I love a good holiday activity—and I am so stoked about the “Santa Vs. the Snowman” movie at IMAX! This isn’t your typical Santa story—this is Santa and the Snowman going head to head on a snow-filled battlefield. And you’re watching it on the IMAX screen. It’s a whole new level of awesomeness.

This is just one of several holiday events going on in the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area. Several Christmas tree lighting events will be taking place, and Santa will be paying a visit to Tanger and other festivities. You can check out all the holiday happenings at Brett/Robinson’s OrangeBeachToday website.

11/18/2010

Gift Certificate

Not to sound like a kid, but I know exactly what I want for Christmas this year: a Brett/Robinson gift certificate. These gift certificates are good toward accommodations at a Brett/Robinson rental property. They don’t apply to golf (which of course was my first thought), but that’s okay—the money saved using a gift certificate could go toward a round or two of golf (or more, depending on how generous the giver is).

As nice as it would be to receive one, giving one would be just as sweet. It’s an excellent gift idea—you can use any amount, any time of year. My parents are due for a nice vacation, and I think a gift certificate might be just the thing to get them to finally plan one. Who knows, maybe they’ll be grateful enough to let me tag along. The three of us would make an excellent trio out on the golf course. I hear the greens of the Gulf calling my name!

11/16/2010

Toy Drive

‘Tis the season for giving, right? I tend to get bogged down with thoughts of gift buying and giving. It isn’t that I mind gift giving—when I get it right and manage to give someone something he actually wants and/or needs, it feels really nice. Then there are those times when I just don’t know what to get for certain people. I end up getting them a gift just for the sake of giving a gift, and they do the same for me. And it always leaves me wondering: what’s the purpose?

Then along comes a toy drive to put me back into the spirit of purposeful giving, such as the toy drive being facilitated by Phy-sique Fitness in Gulf Shores. All you have to do is bring new, unwrapped toys to the facility, and you’ll have made a significant impact on the quality of a child’s holiday season. That’s the kind of giving that feels good.

11/12/2010

Relaxing with Sports

Like many people, I like to relax while on vacation. Yes, lounging on the beach and floating down the lazy river are major components of my relaxation regimen. But too much lying around starts to have a reverse effect on me—I go completely stir-crazy. I have to have some form of physical activity.

The more opportunities for sport activity a condominium offers, the better: tennis courts, basketball, racquet ball courts, and exercise rooms are all amenities offered by several of Brett/Robinson’s properties, and they make excellent stress releases. I generally like to start my vacation days off with an energetic game of tennis or a vigorous workout, then remove myself to a lounge chair on the beach to enjoy the sounds of the Gulf. I can hear the waves calling me already!

11/11/2010

Blue Angels

The Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show is taking place this Friday and Saturday, November 12th and 13th, at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola. If you’ve never seen the Blue Angels before, I highly recommend this event. Maybe you’re an expert on everything aircraft-related, or maybe you would just be in complete awe of the air acrobatics that take place during this show. Either way, it’s an event worth checking out. In addition to the air show, there will also be food and beverages, a kids’ zone, a Sony Playstation II gaming area, and bungee jumping.

Gate admission is free, and bleacher seats cost $5 per person. And if you really want to enjoy your stay in the area and save some money, take advantage of Brett/Robinson’s current Blue Angel’s special: save $80 on a two-night stay or $202 on a three-night stay. There’s still time to take advantage of this deal, but it’s only valid until November 11th. Visit the Brett/Robinson website for more information, and book that trip!

11/05/2010

Holiday Shopping

I can’t believe Thanksgiving is only three weeks away! Which means a break from school is only three weeks away, then just a few more weeks of school before another break. We have officially entered my favorite time of year. I think it’s time to start getting into the spirit of the season with a little early Christmas shopping!

I love shopping in the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach area. The weather is mild right now and ideal for window shopping. And there are so many types of stores to choose from: art, jewelry, clothing, gift shops, antique stores, and much more. It’s a perfect setup for all the family and friends on my shopping list—they’re a bit of an eclectic group!

I’ll be getting started this weekend. I have lots of people to shop for, and it wouldn’t hurt to start putting together my own wish list!

11/03/2010

Golf Course History

As much as I enjoy golf, I don’t get to do much with the sport, like attend PGA tournaments and other big golf events. And that’s ok, because I do play fairly often and I’d really rather play than watch.

But I think this is why I tend to gravitate toward playing on golf courses that have some sort of “history”—courses where noteworthy golf events have taken place. And there are several in the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area. For example, Perdido Bay and Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club have hosted local PGA events, Cypress Bend at Craft Farms hosted the Alabama Women’s State Championship for eight years, Timber Creek hosted the Alabama Open in 2003 and 2004, and Glen Lakes has hosted Futures Tour events. Somehow, playing on the same courses that great golfers have also played on makes me take a little more pride in my game, almost as though I’m picking up the good “golf vibes” they left behind.

Find out more about these and other golf courses at the Brett/Robinson website—and check out their golf packages while you’re there!

11/02/2010

SEC Soccer Tournament

I love sports. I love to play them, I love to watch them. And it doesn’t matter much what sport it is—if there is physical movement and competition of some sort, I’m game. (Unless it’s synchronized swimming—I just can’t get into that one.)

Being able to attend a live sporting event is even better. So I was glad to hear that while I’m getting a little rest and relaxation at Island Winds East in Gulf Shores this weekend, I won’t be too far from the live soccer action taking place in Orange Beach.

The 2010 Southeastern Conference Women’s Soccer Tournament will be taking place at the Orange Beach Sportsplex from Wednesday, November 3rd to Sunday, November 7th. This is a single-elimination tournament between the top eight teams in the SEC. The team that wins the tournament will get the SEC’s automatic bid to play in the NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship.

Soccer is a great sport—non-stop action—and these ladies will be motivated to play hard! The cost is only $5 per adult ($2 for students). Check it out if you’re in the area!