Baldwin County Heritage Museum

If you drive east from Foley on U.S. 98 to Elberta, a hidden treasure awaits. In an unassuming wooden building with a windmill and few pieces of antique farm equipment out front, a wealth of ordinary and extraordinary treasure is hidden.

“…it holds bits and pieces collected from the daily lives of the men and women who built this county,” is on their website.

That statement says it all. I made my first visit to the Baldwin County Heritage Museum recently and once inside I wished I had been there sooner. It is not your typical stuffy museum. There are a few displays behind glass and a few “do not touch” signs, but most of the articles are within reach and can handle the touch of a hand or two.

The museum sits on 5 acres and has more than 20,000 square feet of display space. Outside of the main building, there is a school, a church, a potato shed, pole barns and a blacksmith shop along with numerous pieces of antique farm equipment and tractors. I’m talking about a real school and real church, not replicas, which were donated to the museum and moved to the property.

Back inside, there are so many small things to see that made up life in years past. One corner is furnished as a 1920s parlor. Exhibits include fishing tackle, tools, wooden wagons, scrub boards, antique sewing machines, clothing, children’s toys and so much more. Every room is filled with beauty, history and humor.

The BCHM is also home to Odyssey’s Shipwreck! Treasures from the SS Republic. This unique exhibit opened in August 2008. The SS Republic, a Civil War-era side-wheel steamship was lost in a hurricane off the Georgia coast en route from New York to New Orleans in October 1865. It was carrying a fortune in gold and silver and other goods to help rebuild the south after the Civil War. The crew of the Odyssey discovered the wreck in 2003. With videos, interactive exhibits and actual artifacts, you can relive the excitement of the discovery of the treasure-laden ship.

I recommend making this little museum a stop while you are enjoying the beautiful Alabama Gulf Coast. It will give a little insight to early years of Baldwin County and how its future was shaped.

Sunday on the Coast

Beachin' Bob's friend Luanne is stepping up and providing blogs while BB suffers an extended case of writers block.

Sunday is one of my favorite days of the week on the Alabama Gulf Coast. There is something about the day that brings a sense of peace. After a hectic Saturday, Sunday is a day for relaxing.

For those lucky enough to stay through a Sunday, it can be the best day of your Brett/Robinson vacation. While most visitors are traveling north and back to their everyday lives, you can be sitting on the beach, enjoying the sun, sand and surf. There are also churches of most denominations in the area that have contemporary services where shorts and flip flops are not only welcome, but considered normal dress for visitors and locals. Traditional services are also offered for those that prefer a more formal worship.

Ok, so what is it I think is so great about Sundays? It is the day I spend with my grandchildren. We make the early contemporary service at church and then head to one of our favorite restaurants on the beach for lunch. I love to eat and Gulf Shores and Orange Beach offer a variety of great restaurants in all price ranges. If Sunday brunch is your cup of tea, some of the best brunches can be found on our little island.

After lunch, we decide what the rest of the day will hold. It could be a trip to the beach, swimming in the pool, a movie, cooking dinner for the rest of the family or driving up to the Tanger Outlet in Foley for a little shopping spree. No matter what we decide to do, our time together is what matters. Of course, every day is special on the Alabama Gulf Coast, but there is just something about a Sunday.

Girlfriend Getaway

A note from Ms. Beachin':

Early Saturday morning, I gently slid the glass door open, stepped out on the eighth-floor balcony at Phoenix West and took in the view. Just before sunrise, the blue of the lazy river with the golden glow of the artificial lighting on the deck offered a surprisingly pleasant contrast. The concrete was cool under my bare feet but the slight breeze off the Gulf of Mexico felt warm on my face. It was a beautiful start to a beautiful day.

“What a great idea,” I thought to myself while I was trying to decide if making coffee would wake my friends.

Just a few days before, I was at my desk when a co-worker/friend asked if I wanted to stay the weekend at a condo on the beach with two other friends. Of course, I am always ready for an adventure, so the answer didn’t require any thought. The four of us finalized our plans and took the plunge, so to speak.

Our weekend home was a 1958 square-foot premium unit at Brett/Robinson’s newest property. We had three bedrooms and four baths. The master bedroom was furnished with a king-size bed; my bedroom had a queen-size bed; and the other room, two double beds. The unit was perfect for four women.

It wasn’t too long before everyone else was awake and discussing breakfast and plans for the day. We decided to allow children and grandchildren to visit during the day, as long as they were gone before the sun went down. Nights were for adults only.

After a morning walk on the beach, the pools and lazy river beckoned. The lazy river was wonderful. Floating between palm trees with the sun on my face and talking to my friends was a great way to spend a Saturday. So far, the weekend was everything we had imagined it being. Little did I know, the best was yet to come.

After a fun day of hanging out on the pool decks and floating the river, we were all pretty hungry. The spacious, well equipped kitchen in the condo was perfect for preparing a meal. After dinner, it was time for a movie on the 42-inch flat panel television. It was almost like being at the movie theater, only much more comfortable. We ended the evening together on the balcony listening to the waves and watching the beams of flashlights dance around on the sand at the water’s edge.

Sunday morning was as beautiful as Saturday. As I sat on the balcony with my camera in hand, the western sky held my attention. The white fluffy clouds had taken on the color of a summer sunrise. As the sun’s light touched the clouds tops, the reflection in the gulf waters painted a coral-colored path to the horizon.

This was our last morning to spend in the luxury of Phoenix West, so we decided to make the best of it and hit the lazy river early. There were only a handful of people in the pool area when we made our way through the gate. I grabbed a tube and started floating on the river. As I floated around the eastern turn, I realized there weren’t any kids on the water slide. I quickly changed my course and headed towards the ladder. I haven’t been on a water slide of any kind in more years than I care to mention. I have to admit, I was a little nervous climbing the steps to this one. When I reached the top, I took a deep breath, sat down and let go. I came out of the water with a big smile on my face and headed back up the ladder again, a little more confident than before. I sat down, but this time when I started to slide I lay all the way down and held my nose. To coin a phrase from my teen years, “what a rush!” By then, my friends had made their way around and we were all lined up on the steps of the slide. One after the other, we were zipping down the slide and laughing so hard at ourselves and each other, we almost couldn’t get our breath. It was the best ending imaginable to a great weekend. Sadly, we had to pack our stuff and get back to our regular routine.

It was only the second girlfriend getaway I had ever been on, but I assure you, there will be plenty more. Splitting the costs four ways made the stay very affordable. But, being able to get away from everyday life and spend time with great friends is priceless. The four of us will be talking about our girlfriend getaway for years to come, especially the waterslide.

Gulf State Park Pier

Happy Days are here again… The day has finally arrived!  The new Gulf State Park Pier is having its’ grand opening this Thursday, July 23rd.  The old pier was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and it has been sorely missed by all.  Our family has many fond memories of fishing all night on the old pier.  It is one of our favorite topics at family get togethers. 

Well, families can once again start making memories on the new State Park Pier.  On the day of the grand opening there will be a charge for fisherman, but spectators will not be charged a fee.  The new pier will have new features such as indoor seating for the concession area, an indoor retail area for tackle and souvenirs, comfort stations at the midpoint of the pier and wheelchair accessible rail fishing areas.  There will be 2448 feet of fishing space available.  The pier is 20 feet wide and 1512 feet long.  It is the only public pier on the gulf in Alabama, and we sure are proud to have it back.  So make sure to bring your rods and tackle on your next trip down, because for the first time in five years we have a pier for everyone on the gulf.  Hip Hip Hooray!  I am definitely going to check it out and see if I still have what it takes to reel in a few.  See you at the pier. 

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.

Ghost Crabs

Squeals and shrills fill the air as night sets on the Alabama Coast. You would think that someone had seen a ghost. Well in most cases they have seen ghosts, ghost crabs. They are sometimes called sand crabs and are often seen scurrying along the shoreline between sunset and dawn and are a blast to catch. Zooming at speeds up to 10 miles per hour these crabs know how to make tracks!. So gear up with a flashlight and a bucket and head to the beach after dark for a ghostly fun time. Fits of giggles and screams of delight are typically the result when trying to temporarily capture these ghosts. We do urge you to use a gentle hand when observing these amazing little creatures and to definitely use the catch and release system.

Ghost Crab Quick Facts:
• Two black eyes, with sharp 360° vision, help them capture flying insects.
• Ghost crabs cannot see directly up, so they burrow into the sand to prevent birds from catching them.
• Ghost crabs tunnel down for about four feet at a 45° angle, creating one- to two-inch wide holes.
• At dusk, these crabs sprint into the ocean to obtain oxygen from the water, which washes over their gills.
• Females release their eggs into the ocean around the month of June.
• Ghost crabs hibernate during the winter, "holding their breath" for six months by storing oxygen in sacs near their gills.


Next time you visit our beautiful beaches and would like a thrilling experience take a walk down on the beach at night. The ghost crabs will send chills down your spine and everyone will love watching one of these small wonders on our coast. We look forward to seeing you here real soon.

Sugarland

This is going to be an awesome weekend to visit the beach. The weather is marvelous. The temps are in the 80’s, the skies are sunny, and the water is cool and clear. If that’s not enough to get you to the beach, we also have Sugarland coming to our sugar white beaches right here in Orange Beach. They are nominated for Duo of the Year, Video of the Year, and Performance of the Year. It is sure to be a fantastic show and there are still plenty of great seats left. Their concert is on Friday, May 15th. We have our tickets and our tailgate assignments, and plan to get there early for a guaranteed great time. I for one cannot wait!


Since the concert is on Friday that leaves Saturday and Sunday for some fun in the sun. Your options for what to do are only limited by your imagination. Take your pick from a few of my favorite activities:

• Relaxing under an umbrella reading a great book
• Walking on the beach
• Flying a kite on the beach
• Floating down the lazy river
• Taking in a few games of tennis or racket ball
• Going for a workout in the fitness center – Phoenix West’s is incredible
• Cooling off in the pool
• Soaking in the hot tub
• Renting a great movie
• Searching for sand crabs
• Fishing
• Kayaking
• Sailing
• Cycling
• Add your own ideas to the list


I hope you have an incredible weekend here with Brett/Robinson. So grab your sugar and come on down to hear Sugarland in concert! We will be there waiting for you.

May Fishing Report from Capt. Randy Boggs

Offshore vermillion snapper are being caught in the 120’ to 200’ depths on cut squid and minnows. The Trysler Grounds and rock bottom are your best bets for catching these fish. Trigger fish are making a strong showing on cut bait in the 120’ to 200’ water depths.
Red snapper are easy to catch on any type of structure, but they are catch and release only until June 1st. Red snapper has been set for June 1, 2009 to August 2, 2009.
Grouper and scamp are biting if you can get past the red snapper. Scamp are biting live pinfish on the bottom. Larger live baits are the choice for grouper.
Amberjack have shown up on the deep water wrecks. They are biting live baits. REMEMBER the new size limits – 30” fork length, 1 per person with no bag limit for captain and crew.
Further offshore, black fin tuna are being caught around the rigs at night with diamond jigs. A few yellow fins have been caught trolling with high speed lures.
Inshore trout are being caught on live shrimp around the docks and the grass beds. Red fish are showing up at the Perdido Pass Bridge and rocks. They are biting live shrimp and cut bait.
Trolling with spoons on top and with planers will catch you a Spanish mackerel.
If you would like to book a great day of fishing, please contact our friendly staff at 251-981-7173 or 1-800-806-7889. We can accommodate any fishing needs.

Capt. Randy Boggs
www.reelsurprisecharters.com

Emerald Coast Coffee and Grille

A note from Ms. Beachin' for all you java nuts.
What a magnificent weekend. I would have to say that it was near perfect. I have found a new coffee shop that I just adore. I am also very excited that it is right here in Orange Beach and very convenient to just drop by whenever I get that sudden urge for caffeine. The name of it is Emerald Coast Coffee and Grille. They have their own coffee roasting facility here in Alabama.

Emerald Coast Coffee and Grille is a cafe that focuses on distinctive specialty coffees. They also offer a wide variety of teas and fruit smoothies. They have a breakfast menu which features burritos, pastry sandwiches, breakfast casseroles and baked goods. I tried the Sonrisa Sandwich which is sausage, egg, and cheese wrapped in a wonderful flaky pastry. It was delicious! I cannot wait to try some of the other breakfast items, and they are available all day. They also have a lunch and dinner menu that includes: soups, salads, Pannini’s, and a variety of kebab platters. Free WI-FI is also available. This is definitely on my list of favorite places. I dropped by twice this weekend to have a vanilla skinny latte mmm scrumptious. Next time you are in the area make sure you give them a try. It’s quite possible that you will see me there. They are located at 4725 Main Street, right next to the Rave Theater. Well, I am off to get my coffee buzz.

The Spring Golf Tour Continues ..Timber Creek

The Beachin' Bob foursome continued our Spring Golf Tour this Saturday at Timber Creek Golf Club. It's a short drive to Daphne on the Eastern Shore and Timber Creek, and well worth the trip. This beautifully maintained golf facility was designed by Earl Stone and has 3 distinct 9 hole tracts, Dogwood, Magnolia and Pines. As you would guess, the courses are lined with stately dogwood, magnolia and pine trees. It's a challenging course, that has a number of doglegs and elevation changes, with large greens. The greens roll true and are sculpted to provide challenging putts. They have some of the best practice facilities in this area, including a driving range, a putting green, a chipping green and a practice green with a greenside bunker to practice those pesky sand shots. Add in a full service restaurant and you've got a great day trip for any golf foursome. Take my word for it, this is a must visit for any golfer.
See You On the Sand !!

Mullet Toss

Hey it’s the 24th Annual Mullet Toss this weekend at the Flora-Bama. The weather couldn’t be better for tossing mullet. I am warming up my throwing arm. I wonder, should I go underhand, overhand, spear throw, double handed granny, or just chunk it? Oh well, I will be practicing and see which is most successful.

I am making my list and checking it twice for a perfectly fishy fun weekend. I will let y'all in on a little secret. The very best place to stay for Mullet Toss is Phoenix IX and Phoenix X. All you have to do is check in, park your car and let the fun begin. Everything you need is within walking distance, and you will not have to touch your car again until checkout. I have heard that there are a few more reservations available, but with this gorgeous weather they will not last long. So you better grab them fast.

If you have never had the privilege of attending a Mullet Toss you may want to go check out this website to see what’s in store for you . Let the fun flinging frivolity begin. The fish will be flying while we are waiting on you.

Spring On the Coast

It's all beginning to happen here on Pleasure Island. There's Widespread Panic this weekend, and upcoming in April is the Mullet Toss, a Brent Burns concert, the 2009 Alabama High School Track Championship.
In May there's the 311/Hinder/Theory of a Deadman concert, the Pink Rubber Boots Ladies Fishing Rodeo, the Sugarland concert and the EVP Pro Beach Volleyball tournament. All of these and much more, and all before memorial Day Weekend.
It's a great time of year, and it's definitely time to make your beach plans if you haven't already.

See You on the Beach!

Hugh S. Branyon Back Country Trail

One of the many hidden treasures here along the gulf coast is the Back Country Trail. It is a nature lover's paradise, and a fitness enthusiast's dream. Several years ago, the City of Orange Beach teamed up with the Gulf State Park to start a backcountry trail system that goes through the wilderness part of the park. The total distance is 7.8 miles which locals and visitors alike walk, run, and bike. Beautiful oak hammocks, wooden bridges, and flora and fauna will take your breath away. The trails meander along side marshes, secondary sand dunes, swamps, and creeks.
One of my favorite spots on the trail is Gulf Oak Ridge. During trail construction a Native American settlement more than 4000 years old was discovered. An old-growth maritime forest runs along a 38 foot high ridge offering you a scenic view of the gulf. A picnic area and swings make this a great place to take a break from your wilderness hike.
The trail system provides opportunities to explore beyond the fringe of the vast 6,500-acre Gulf State Park. Whether you are searching for blooming plants on a savanna, or tracking animals in the woods, the park has a ideal location for you.
Deer, wild hogs, wolves, coyotes, gopher tortoises, bobcats, snakes, foxes, alligators, armadillos and many other animals are spotted while hiking the trails.
On Saturday I spied a flock of red tanagers and painted buntings migrating back north when I hiked the trail. It looked like the Easter Bunny had thrown Easter eggs up into the trees, and scattered them onto the ground. You just never know what you may see on any given day. It's a new adventure each time I ride or walk the trails. It is a feast for your senses. Nature lovers this is a must see before you leave our beaches. Pack a lunch, binoculars and a camera, there are many picnic tables along the trail and a beautiful screened pavilion next to a butterfly garden. For those exploring with children, those all important restrooms are located along the trail.
A 2 hour guided eco-tour is available and reservations are required. This is not a walking tour, a knowledgeable guide takes you along the trails in a golf cart sharing unique points of interest.
To schedule your tour, call 981-1063 or email lellis@cityoforangebeach.com.

Until next time - Happy Trails to You!

Big O's

Big O’s has been around since before Ivan (this is the way locals way measure time) and is know for an off- track place to grab a bit to eat.

I love Gulf Shores and I love tourist season. BUT I must say I don’t like waiting for my dinner. Tourist season in Gulf Shores can lend itself to long lines. For my hubby and I, Big O’s has always been the “place we know we can get into and not wait a long time”. Our primary craving at Big O’s has been their burger, fries and beer.

Imagine my surprise when I decided to read the menu Friday night and realized there was more offered than my routinely ordered burger!

Feeling feisty, we both honed in to the AUCE (that’s all you can eat in restaurant talk) flounder or shrimp… fried, and accompanied with French fries and hush puppies (more fried) and of course sweet tea. Wow, I’ll be eating lettuce and oatmeal for at least two weeks to counter act all this wonderful grease.

The shrimp was great, perfectly cooked and the breading did not over shout the shrimp, and the serving sizes were major. By our lack of conversation that night I think the flounder was also an A+, we just ATE for about twenty minutes and then ordered more. Our topic of conversation on the way home was “ That was really really good and you should have stopped me at the second serving”. Ah… husbands, you can’t live with them and you can’t live with out ‘em.

Big O’s is not a fancy place but Owen offers good food at reasonable prices and the waitresses always come back to your table to make certain you are fat and happy. Big O’s is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Ah…..I can hear those cinnamon buns calling my name. Maybe you’ll be reading about them in future blogs.


Ms. Beachin' says ...See You at the Beach!!

Smokey Bones BBQ

Note: A blog by Ms. Beachin'

When I first moved to the south I realize I didn’t know anything about BBQ. In the north, any food thrown onto a Weber grill meant you were having BBQ. I was quickly educated by my new southern friends that was “grilling” not BBQ-ing. Silly me. I lived for 37 years cheated of the mystery of smoked meats and ribs.

I discovered that BBQ involved hours of secret ingredients put into things called rubs, mops ( it sounded like house cleaning to me) and different types of wood. I also quickly learned that everyone had a different opinion as to what was really good BBQ. Dry rub? Mopping? Smoked with Pecan wood, hickory wood or apple wood? Served without sauce or with sauce and if so vinegar base, mustard base or tomato base? So many unanswered questions! After all is said and done, the best BBQ is the whatever your taste buds smile about.

So this weekend my honey and I went on a BBQ safari and found a place we both agreed was fantastic. Try Smokey Bones just off Canal Rd in Orange Beach. It is east of the Wharf and on a side street on the south side off Canal Rd. You can see the place from the street.

Smokey Bones is laid back, clean and family oriented. You place your order at the counter and point to the sides you want. Grab a beer or soda near the register and pick yourself a table.

I could smell the smoke as I walked into the door and walked over to the counter to order my pork plate and hubby ordered the brisket. Both were tender and juicy. Other choices include chicken, ribs or sausage plates, sandwiches or take out by the pound. The phone was ringing off the hook while I was there and take out was really jumping!

Sauce choices were a treat since you can pick from six different bottles on the table. Me, I combined original with spicy, my partner in crime had the spicy combined with HOT.

If you’re looking for atmosphere, you won’t find it here. If you’re looking for great BBQ and a cold beer…this is the place! We’ will be back to try out the ribs and homemade pies for desert.

By the way, our two plates and beers cost us less than $20. Not bad at all.

Spring Golf Tour

Spring has spring on the Gulf Coast and that inevitably leads to the Beachin' Spring Golf Tour. The Tour began at Craft Farms, playing the 2 Arnold Palmer designed courses, Cypress Bend and Cotton Creek. The next stop for me and Beachin' Brett was the links at the Gulf State Park. The Park has a nice course, and you can walk the course (and rent a pull cart) or ride the course in a cart. It's an economical place to play, and very enjoyable. I'll report later as we hack our way around some of the other courses in our area like Soldiers Creek at the Preserve in Elberta, the Golf Club of the Wharf, Glen Lakes Golf Club and several others.
See you at the Beach!!

Grand Opening

This Thursday, I'll be attending the Grand Opening at Phoenix West. The Grand Opening will feature Alabama's two most famous Bobs... Beachin' and Governor Riley. According to the fine folks at Brett Robinson - "Phoenix West offers 25 floors of gorgeous three and four bedroom condominiums with over 1,900 square feet of living area. Each condo has spectacular Gulf front views." I can't wait to see it and take the tour. The 1.1 million square feet of condominiums were built on 60,000 square feet of concrete and 1,100 pilings. It's one of the state's largest buildings.
See You At Phoenix West and On The Beach!!