Spring on the Gulf Coast

Spring is almost here and the Alabama Gulf Coast is like a flower ready to bloom. Spring is one of my favorite times of year. After a quiet winter, the coast springs back to life with activity.

Music, flowers, trains and Barbeque are just a few of the things you can find on the coast in March.

• Wales West Light Railway Bluegrass by the Tracks concert series. Every Tuesday and Friday night from 7 to 9 p.m. through March hear great local bands. Free refreshments and train rides top the evening off. A donation of $5 is requested at the door, County Road 9 in Silverhill, call 888-569-5337 for more information.

• Wales West Light Railway Fifth Annual Cottontail Express. Ride the steam train and see the Easter Bunny March 1 through April 3, 2010. There is also an Easter Egg hunt and treats and refreshments. Weekdays by appoint and weekends 1 to 5 p.m. $10 per person. Located on County Road 9 in Silverhill.

• Azalea Bloom Out at Bellingrath Gardens and Home in Theodore March 13 through 21, 2010. Visitors will enjoy the blooms of more than 250,000 vibrant azaleas in an explosion of color throughout the 65 acres of Bellingrath Gardens during March. For more information, go to www.bellingrath.org.

• The 2nd Annual BBQ and Blues at Foley Heritage Park is March 20, 2010. Children’s activities, silent auction, barbeque tasting, giveaways and entertainment make this an event not to miss. Tickets are $10, children 10 and under are free. There is also a cook-off competition open to “back yard” and professions teams.

This is only a small sample of what is happening in March on the beautiful Alabama Gulf Coast. I’ll talk about some big-name music coming up next time.