 The Beach
Boys sang about a place like this. A place for bodies in the sand and tropical
drinks melting in your hand. A place for afternoon delights and moonlit
nights.
And although Kokomo doesn't really exist, "The
Island" does. Miles and miles of sugar white sand beaches. The brilliant
turquoise blue of the sparkling gulf. The magic rhythm of waves kissing
the shore.
What a perfect romantic setting for beginning your
lives together!
All of this is within almost every honeymoon budget,
and it's just 214 miles from New Orleans...a 3-1/2 hour drive.
The Alabama Gulf Coast from Mobile Bay to Perdido Bay
is a true-life newlywed's dream. Nicknamed "The Island," this
stretch of gulf shoreline has long been a paradise for couples - and with
good reason. Thirty-two miles of incredibly beautiful sugary white beaches
offer unlimited opportunities for warm, sun-kissed afternoons lying on the
beach together and for midnight strolls over the dunes and among the swaying
sea oats, under a velvet, starry sky.
The crystal blue-green gulf water is clear and inviting.
The surf - sometimes lapping gently at the shore and sometimes crashing
in majestic waves of foam and spray - is a playground of fun.
THE ISLAND
Set on the Gulf of Mexico with the gulf waters along
its southern length and protected bay waters to the north, the Island is
32 miles long and less than a mile wide in places. The small communities
on the Island were begun as fishing villages or resort communities. Many
of them trace their origins back to the 1800's. The Island's largest town,
Gulf Shores, has all the usual convenient city facilities: banks, large
grocery stores, shops, city parks, etc. The next largest town (and growing
rapidly) is Orange Beach. Because of its location directly on the Gulf of
Mexico, the Island can boast moderate temperatures year round. The summer
average high temperature is 88 degrees, the low 70. The winters are short
and mild with temperatures ranging from 47-70 degrees.
The state of Alabama has seen to it that a large part
of the Island remains unspoiled. Gulf State Park covers more than 6000 acres
of the Island including 2-1/2 miles of white sand beaches, miles of wooded
trails, a nature museum, and a wildlife refuge.
UNLIMITED VARIETY
As popular as the beaches are, they are not the Island's
only attraction. Because the coast offers such variety in its environment
and activities, on Alabama's Gulf Coast the two of you can have it all:
secluded sand dunes where patches of sea oats dance to the gulf breezes
and the rhythm of the surf sings its own soothing song, or action-packed
recreation beaches where volleyball games and frisbee contests will keep
you running. Spend the quiet of the morning beachcombing for sea treasures
or go horseback riding in a wild romp through the surf.
The water itself offers many possibilities. Paddle
out together far from shore on a double raft and ride the gentle waves back
to the beach. Bring masks and snorkels (or rent them) to discover underwater
wonders. Even without a mask the water is so clear you can see the tiny
fish swimming near your feet.
Ready to try your hand at nautical skills? Sail off
into the sunset on a sailboat or catamaran. Drop anchor far from shore and
the two of you can have the gulf all to yourselves. Or perhaps you would
prefer the thrill of water-skiing, driving a powerboat, or riding jet-skis.
Discover the romance of sunset cruises or a sternwheeler riverboat cruise.
Like your seafood really fresh? From June to September
there are 15 annual fishing tournaments, and October offers a month-long
rodeo. Plus, nearly 100 deep-sea  fishing charter boats are available throughout the
area. Or wet your lines from the Gulf State Park Pier, the longest pier
on the Gulf Coast, stretching 825 feet into the gulf for your pick of mackeral,
redfish, trout, and bluefish. Cast from the rock jetties at Alabama Point
(on the east end of the Island) or try surf-fishing. In addition to the
gulf, there are almost 400,000 acres of protected bays, bayous, and coves
on the northern side of the Island, including freshwater lakes and rivers.
You will need an easy-to-obtain fishing license though.
 There are sixteen
golf courses in the area (including several championship courses), public
tennis courts galore, putt-putt, an amusement park, a zoo, and hiking trails.
Waterville USA, a 17-acre water park, offers countless ways to have fun
while getting wet, including a wave pool, body slides, and tubing.
You can spend hours visiting the small shops and boutiques
in the area, browsing for small treasures from the sea or for high-fashion
clothing.
Are you and your love ready for a night out together?
There is no possibility of shortages here, either. Fine restaurants in the
area specialize in fresh seafood dishes featuring shrimp, oysters, crab,
fresh Gulf Snapper, and other marine delights. Of course, there are also
excellent offerings of steak and prime rib, and Cajun, Mexican, Oriental,
and Italian cuisine.
For a really romantic evening choose one of the many spots
that offer dining and dancing - all with a spectacular view of the gulf
or one of the scenic bays. From the most elegant to the very casual, you
have your pick of fine restaurants and night spots that offer live entertainment. Choose from
jazz, rock, folk, country and western, or the big band sounds.
After your wonderful dinner and a night of dancing,
don't forget that midnight walk down the beach together under a starry sky
to share the caress of the gulf breezes and the whispers of the surf.
CELEBRATE
Chances are you'll encounter some kind of festival
during your stay on the Island.
In winter enjoy nationally acclaimed musical shows
- from classical to country to blues - through the Gulf Shores Winter Entertainment
Series. Islanders love to get in on the celebration of Mardi Gras too with
special events and parades. Another celebration to look forward to is the
Red Snapper Festival.
Spring brings the Festival of Art and the Eastern Shore
Arts and Crafts Festival. Try Elberta's German Sausage Festival. Sportsmen
will want to mark their calendars for two big fishing events: the Perdido
Pass Marina April Anglers Tournament and the Mobile Big Game Fishing Club
Memorial Day Billfishing Tournament. In addition, Gulf Shores hosts a USTA
Sanctioned Adult Tennis Tournament and two World Beach Basketball 3 on 3
Round Robins during a lively spring season.
The summer sun brings out more fun, including Fourth
of July activities (with fireworks) and Gulf Shores' Summer Concert Series.
In August there is the fully costumed re-enactment of the Civil War battles
at Fort Morgan. Try your luck in the annual Labor Day Alabama Invitational
Billfishing Tournament in Orange Beach, and catch the USTA Sanctioned Tennis
Tournaments.
Fall brings the Island's top event: the annual National
Shrimp Festival, held at the Gulf Shores Public Beach. The four-day weekend
includes music, arts and crafts, a sailing regatta, a boat show and a variety
of other fun highlights-including all the seafood you could possibly eat.
The Frank Brown International Songwriters' Festival, held for 11 days in
November, features nearly 100 songwriters, from beginners to legends, sharing
their music and lyrics at local venues. Show your athletic skills at the
annual Sandman Triathlon. September also heralds the Lost Bay Regatta on
Perdido Bay.
OLD SOUTH CHARM
Romantic images of Scarlett and Rhett at Tara Plantation
will dance through your minds when you visit some of the antebellum mansions
in the area. The Oakleigh Mansion, The Conde Charlotte House, and several
others pre-date the Civil War and will give you an historic glimpse of what
life was like for antebellum maids and their beaus. Many of the homes have
been turned into museums.
There are also many turn-of-the-century houses in the
vicinity lovingly preserved for public viewing.
Perhaps the most famous of all historic places is the
world-famous Bellingrath Gardens and Home. Located on the riverfront in
Theodore, AL, just west of Mobile, Bellingrath encompasses over 900 acres
of semi-tropical beauty. Walk hand-in-hand with your sweetheart through
the floral wonderland of landscaped gardens. Depending on the season, you
may find yourself surrounded by dazzling azaleas, tulips, roses, salvia,
hibiscus, crotons, camellias, chenille, poinsettias, or chrysanthemums.
SHARE A LITTLE HISTORY
The Island was not always used just for pleasure. Fort
Morgan, on the far western end of the Island, was strategically located
to guard the entrance to Mobile Bay. Completed in 1834, this National Historic
Landmark saw fiery action during the Civil War. It was at this site in 1864,
during the Battle of Mobile Bay, that Admiral David Farragut gave his now-famous
order: "Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!"
Directly across the narrow entrance to the bay from
Fort Morgan is Fort Gaines on Dauphin Island. Another beautiful getaway
paradise, Dauphin Island was named for the son of King Louis XIV, and is
only a 30-minute ferry boat ride from the Island.
Another place of historical interest (and a good stopping
place on your way into or out of the coast area) is the Battleship Memorial
Park, now the permanent home of the USS Alabama. On Mobile Bay off I-10
near Mobile, this battleship, known as the "Lucky A" during its
Pacific battles in World War II, is visited by 300,000 people a year. Also
in the 100-acre park is the WWII submarine USS Drum.
WHERE TO STAY
Accommodations on Alabama's Gulf Coast vary widely,
and more than 9,000 units are available. You can choose a bed & breakfast
inn, a small private cottage on the beach, a cabin on one of the back bayous,
a beach-front condo in a small development or a large high-rise, or a room
at a major hotel chain. Many of the condo developments include outdoor and
indoor pools, tennis courts, jacuzzis or hot tubs, exercise/work out rooms,
kitchens, and balconies overlooking the gulf.
Rates vary widely also, depending on the type of accommodation
you choose. In general, rates are less expensive if you stay during the
off-season (Labor Day - May 1) or if you cross the highway and stay in a
place on the bay side of the Island (still just across the street from the
beach). Discounts for longer stays (usually over 3 days during the off-season
or over a week during peak season) are offered by some establishments.
When you make your reservations, be sure to inquire
whether your room has a gulf or bay view. Bay views are less expensive,
but you give up the spectacular and romantic aspect of watching the gulf
from your balcony.
If you are into camping, many campgrounds offer cabins,
a lodge, tent and RV camp sites, laundry facilities, hook-ups, and hiking
trails.
Once you take everything into consideration, you'll
see that the Alabama Gulf Coast offers it all: a beautiful paradise that
also boasts variety, economy, and convenience. It is a romantic getaway
steeped in Southern charm, caressed by a warm sun and kissed by gulf breezes.
Lose yourself on the beautiful and seductive Alabama
Gulf Coast, and find a honeymoon to cherish forever.
For free brochures and more information about a wedding
trip to the Alabama Gulf Coast, contact the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention
& Visitors Bureau, P.O. Drawer 457, Gulf Shores, AL 36547. Toll-free
phone: 1-800-745-SAND
Photograph Credits:
Beachfront - Gary Ellis / Fish - Cindy Tunstall
Golfing - Michael Thoennes / Restaurant - Michael Thoennes
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