Bellingrath's 75th Anniversary

On Wednesday, July 28th, Bellingrath Gardens and Home will celebrate its 75th anniversary. If you want to learn more about the home and its architecture, that’s the day to visit.

Of course, it’s a great place to visit any time. What’s not to love about a 10,500-square-foot home built in 1935? The original furnishings and a variety of gardens over a 65-acre estate make this a beautiful and fascinating historical site.

July’s a great time to visit, with the variety of colorful flowers blooming. And let’s not forget that it was designated as the “Top Public Rose Garden in the United States” in 2004 by All-America Rose Selections.

Bellingrath is just one of many attractions along Alabama’s Gulf Coast.

The Cannon

One of the great things about visiting historic sites and museums is getting a glimpse into the past and seeing what things were like way back when. What’s really neat is when there are actual objects from a certain time and place—things you can look at and think, “People from a long time ago used this very thing.”

So it’s pretty cool that one of the cannons from the Confederate raider CSS ALABAMA is now on display at the Museum of Mobile. The two-and-a-half-ton cannon sank with the rest of the CSS ALABAMA in 1864 in the English Channel, and will eventually be the centerpiece of a 700-square-foot exhibit. I can’t wait to go see this thing and imagine the battles it’s seen!

The Museum of Mobile is located at 111 South Royal Street. You can call 208-7569 for more information.

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.