Take a Tour

I was sitting around the other day, dreaming of my next vacation and browsing Brett/Robinson’s Orange Beach Today website when I discovered that of all the things I’ve done along the Alabama Gulf Coast, I’ve never taken a tour.

In particular, I’ve never toured from the air. And there are a couple ways to do this in the Gulf Shores area. One is by plane—or biplane. The Bird of Paradise biplane rides fly you and a friend (or just you) over Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, along the Bon Secour River, over Mobile Bay…pretty much all over the place. A hot air balloon ride is another aerial option, and there are a couple places in the area that offer this.

And while on the subject of alternate transportation, I’ve also never taken a ride on the Wales West Railway, which travels around woods, wetlands, a lake, gardens, and Victorian-style buildings. Too bad I won’t be there to try it out this month—I hear the train and park are completely decorated for Halloween right now.

Something New

I like trying new things concerning vacation, but I rarely want to give up a visit to the Gulf. The Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area is my favorite place to vacation. Period. I’m not usually willing to spend vacation time elsewhere.

But I have yet to stay at Brett/Robinson’s newest property, Phoenix West, which means I’ll get to try something new without sacrificing my favorite getaway spot.

And I know this place is going to be awesome: fully furnished three- and four-bedroom condos, indoor and outdoor pools, hot tubs, saunas, and a lazy river with a water slide (love those lazy rivers!). Can’t wait for the new experience!

October Fun

So I’m heading out to the Magnolia Corn Maze with some friends this weekend. This is maybe my favorite October activity. There’s just something about wandering through the meandering, corn-stalk-lined paths that screams autumn. The hayrides are fun, too—they make me feel like a kid again!

I may have to make a return trip at the end of the month. That’s when they do trick or treat in the maze, and they’ll have a haunted maze and haunted hayride. I love October and all of its “scariness”!

There are a number of fun Halloween-type events going on at the end of the month: the Uptown Foley Halloween Party, the 12th Annual Halloween Celebration at NAS, and the 3rd Annual Howl-o-ween Spooky Pooch Parade and Costume Contest (you have to love pets in costumes!). The Pumpkin Patch Express is also worth checking out—you get candy with your pumpkin.

Nature at its Best

So it won’t be much longer and the leaves will be changing. In fact, the trees in my backyard are already showing signs of change, with a couple red leaves here and there. Fall is here, and it’s a great time of year for nature.

If you’re looking for a scenic and relaxing autumn drive this season, you might check out Alabama’s Coastal Connection, which was just ranked as one of the 50 most comfortable touring drives by Goodyear. And with good reason—the Coastal Connection passes through beaches, wildlife preserves, towns and historic sites. The nature is incredible, and there are many interesting places to visit and learn about the Alabama Gulf Coast along the way.

A Perfect Time to Visit

There are so many reasons to visit Gulf Shores and Orange Beach this month. The Shrimp Festival starts October 7th, the Bon Jovi and Brad Paisley concerts take place October 15th and 17th, Thunder on the Gulf is from the 12th to the 17th, and then there’s golf—which is just about the best activity you can undertake on the Gulf this time of year. The best part: Brett/Robinson has deals to accommodate all of this.

Stay four nights and pay for three during the Shrimp Festival and Thunder on the Gulf, or get a 20% discount on three nights during Thunder on the Gulf. You can also extend your vacation and get three free nights—a deal that applies to stays to the end of the year.

And, of course, there are the golf packages. Customize your own or choose the masters or championship golf package, which includes one round of golf per day for three days. Visit the Brett/Robinson website for more information.