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.

Perdido Bay Golf

The Beachin' Foursome headed just across the state line Saturday for a round at the Perdido Bay Golf Course. For starters, it's only a 10 - 15 minute drive from Phoenix 10. They have a complete practice facility featuring a large driving range, putting green, chipping green, greenside bunker, and a fairway bunker. The course is well maintained and the greens roll true. A full set of tees will offer a challenge to golfers of all skill levels. It's a well bunkered course and water comes into play frequently, but with forced carries at a minimum. The rates are very reasonable all day and you can play a full 18 holes after 3:00 PM for only $29.
The Legends Bar & Grill is perfect for an after round meal and beverages, as well as a complete menu for fine dining in the evening. The French Dip sandwich is one the best anywhere.

We'll definitely be returning for another round with our new friends at the Perdido Bay Golf course.

The Spring Golf Tour continues...

If I hit it right, it's a slice. If I hit it left, it's a hook. If I hit it straight, it's a miracle. - Author Unknown

The standard foursome was in place: Beachin’ Bob, Beachin’ Brett, "Uncle Terr" and “Money” McVay. A Saturday morning tee time was selected. This week’s venue was Glen Lakes Golf Club. Glen Lakes is one of the most unique courses in the area. The Vista- Dunes course offers a true links style course experience. The course features undulating fairways and greens, extensive mounding and numerous bunkers. Water comes into play on several holes. It’s a challenging course for all skill levels of players and offers a full set of tee options. The signature hole is #16, a difficult par 5 with an island green. A misplaced approach shot (or two, or in my case, 3) frequently results in the dreaded “snowman”. Glen Lakes also sports a third 9 hole course, The Lakes is a traditional American style course. Appropriately named, The Lakes has water hazards on 6 of the 9 holes.

Under duress I must state this week’s clear winner was Money McVay. Which leads me to this quote:
Golf can best be defined as an endless series of tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle.

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!!

Bass Pro Shop

Beachin' Brett and I took the short ride to the Bass Pro Shop store in Spanish Fort. For any outdoor activity - fishing, hunting, camping, boating - you name it - they've got everything you could ask for. They feature a huge aquarium filled with the fish found naturally in this area. If you're looking for a hunting and fishing supplies and can't find what you need please let me know. They even have a really good restaurant right in the store - The Fish Company Restaurant.
It's an amazing store, and a short 30 minute drive from our house. It's well worth it.
See you at the Beach!!

New Year's Eve with Beachin' Brett

New Years Eve Partay!!!!!!
I’m sure if you’ve seen any of my previous blogs, you’ve heard of the multi-attraction Wharf in Orange Beach. They always have a big New Years’ Eve blowout which I have gone to every year, but this year’s looks better than every other one before it. This year, they have two separate music acts planned to perform until we hit 2009, for no charge!! (gotta love free concerts!!) The planned music acts are country musician John Stone and the Motown musical act Crystal Clear.
The Block Party officially starts at 7, but you will probably see people there partying earlier than that. We gotta bring in 2009 right!!

This year’s New Year’s party promises to be the best ever, and I especially am looking forward to the firework show. It was awesome last year and I expect it to be even better this year. I can’t wait to count down the dropping anchor.
Keep it cool people!

Beachin' Brett at 3 Doors Down

Gotta Love Rock Concerts!!!
Wat up people?? I recently went to the 3 Doors Down, Switchfoot, and American Bang concert with my dad, Beachin’ Bob, and it ROCKED!!!!
We got there a little late, so we only caught the last two songs of American Bang, and they were awesome. I’d like to see them again in 5 or 10 years when they can go on a tour of their own and not have to open up for someone. Switchfoot was pretty good, but it wasn’t exactly smooth. I say that because Switchfoot’s lead singer Jon Foreman tried to jump up and bust a move on Chad Butler’s (Switchfoot’s drummer) drum set, but he missed the bass drum and knocked over his crash symbol and his tom-tom!! It was hilarious!! He didn’t try that one again!! Smooth move!!
3 Doors Down came on after Switchfoot, and the first thing I noticed was that the 3 Doors Down drum set had stairs leading up to it, so I said, “Hopefully he doesn’t pull a Foreman.” It was after that that I realized I accidentally made a That 70’s Show reference, which was awesome, cuz I love That 70’s Show!!
But 3 Doors Down rocked it, and they played a 3 song encore, which was sweet.
But man, the Wharf Amphitheater at the Wharf in Orange Beach, where this concert was held, is always having good acts coming through. We’ve already had Hank Williams, Jr., Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top, Kid Rock, Three Days Grace, Seether, Staind, Saliva, and many more!
When you make your visit to Gulf Shores, take a break from the beach and get yourself some tickets to the next concert. There are concerts pretty much twice a month, at a minimum. The Wharf website will surely give you the hook-up on the next few music acts coming through.
Well, that’s it for me, I’ll post again soon, see ya’ll at the Party!!

Teen Beachin' Brett checks in!

Bloggers Note: After repeated requests (that are now becoming demands) the entire Beachin' clan will have input in the blog. This is the first of a series of teen related blogs provided by Beachin" Brett.)
Hey, I’m Beachin’ Brett. My dad has been bringing you the word in Gulf Shores for a while, but what about the kids? We need some down time, too! As a teenager in Gulf Shores, I know EVERYTHING the kids and the teenagers need to see and do in the good ole’ South. As a teenager, I’m going to give up all the spots in town that you need to hit in your visit to Gulf Shores. Plus, I have to entertain my little brother, Beachin’ Robinson, every now and then, so I got the hook-up for the little kids as well.
Gulf Shores is crawling with hot spots aimed at the entertainment of us minors. I’ve got the best places to go and the best things to do for us kids coming to you. After chilling out at Phoenix 7 indoor pool all day, later the kids can be jamming at the teens only Hammerhead’s Club at the Wharf, or bowling at Gulf Bowl, partying at the Hangout, and everything else to do here in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, Alabama. And let’s not forget the beach!!
Well, I’ve got some places to hit and people to see, so check out the blog regularly to find out the teen hotspots of Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, Alabama. Keep it cool and See You at the Beach!!