Thinking Cooler Thoughts and Planning Ahead for the Holidays

Posted on June 19, 2013 by Beachin' Bob

Well since it’s almost officially summer…let’s talk about Christmas!

No really. If you think about it, Christmas isn’t that far off. And it’s getting pretty hot these days. Some cooler thoughts might be pretty nice for a moment—kind of a Christmas in July (or June) idea.

I just heard about the Classical Christmas Concert that’s been scheduled for Thursday, December 5th at the Summerdale Municipal Complex (a little north of Gulf Shores & Orange Beach). I love Christmas, I love classical music, and I love the Gulf. My interest is piqued, and it sounds like a good reason for a Christmas season trip to the Gulf.

It’s never too early to start planning these things—I have plenty of time to see who wants to tag along on this trip and start picking the perfect Orange Beach condo. (Or maybe an early-Christmas family get-together in a Gulf Shores beach house would be a better option.)

But of course, there’s no reason to wait until December to visit the Gulf. It’s almost summer, the weather is excellent, and plenty of other Gulf Shores & Orange Beach events are currently scheduled. And those are good enough reasons to visit now.

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Lots of Advantages to Spending July 4th on the Beach

Posted on June 18, 2013 by Beachin' Bob

In a couple of weeks, our country will celebrate yet another birthday. I’ve always loved the Fourth of July holiday. My family always spent it at cookouts with neighbors and friends, capped off by an evening of fireworks. There was only one thing missing that, if I could go back in time, I would add: the beach.

Yes, the beach is the cherry on top when it comes to holiday getaways—especially summertime getaways. And I can name several reasons why Gulf Shores & Orange Beach is an excellent choice for a July beach vacation.

July events, for one—plenty of kid- and family-friendly events are planned for July, like FunTime at the Beach Pavilion, the Blue Marlin Grand Championship, and the 80th Annual Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo. And specifically on July 4th, several Independence Day festivities are planned, like the Salute to American Independence at Fort Morgan and fireworks at The Wharf and the Gulf State Park Fishing Pier.

Another big draw: Brett/Robinson’s free night specials. It doesn’t get much better than a free night at a Gulf-front condo: simply pick your Orange Beach rental, book it for four nights or longer, and get one night free (or even three nights free if you stay for ten nights!).

Fireworks on the Gulf, a free night in a beach condo, fun family activities…can you really think of a better way to spend the Fourth of July?

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A Concert and the Beach: A Perfect July Combo!

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Beachin' Bob

I’m trying to figure out where to take my vacation in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach.  Now it’s easier than ever to make the decision.  I looked through the Orange Beach condos page to figure out which condo was good for my family (and I told my friend who was looking to vacation in Orange Beach this summer, as well).  My sister-in-law and her family may actually come this time, too, so I clicked over to the new Orange Beach rentals page and was able to look at condos and beach houses altogether.

I made my list of Orange Beach condos I liked, and found a great deal for July.  We’re going to be there just in time for the Dave Matthews’ Band concert on the 23rd that I saw on the July concert schedule.

I’m glad we made our reservation because I’m looking around and it looks like we may need an entire month to pack.  This is even with all the great amenities at the condo – what can I say.  Orange Beach is such a fun place to fish, boogie board, and play by the water, I’d hate to forget any of my fun beach toys.

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Get the Most out of Your Vacation with a Gulf Coast Itinerary

Posted on June 13, 2013 by Beachin' Bob

A very organized colleague of mine is taking her family on their very first vacation in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach this summer. When I say very organized, I’m talking color-coded and alphabetized files—computer files and actual hard-copy stuff—and objects on her desk arranged in such a precise symmetrical fashion that you better not dare move anything out of place (I speak from experience). She likes things in their place.

Apparently this carries over into all aspects of her life—including vacation. When she heard that I’m a Gulf Shores & Orange Beach “expert” (her words, not mine) she insisted that I help her put together an elaborate activities plan for her vacation.

To save time (for both of us!), I directed her to the vacation itineraries on OrangeBeachToday.com.

Looking to get away from the beach for a day and explore what else the area has to offer? The various “Daycation” itineraries present some good options (the “Patriotic Daycation” could be a good one for the Fourth of July). Bringing the grandparents along? Try the “Grandparents Relief Tour”—it covers five days of grandparent-friendly activities. There’s even a “Free & Fabulous” itinerary that will keep you busy and save some money.

So there’s the plan (or several plans). Now she just has to let loose and enjoy it.

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You Can’t Beat Summer on the Gulf Coast!

Posted on June 12, 2013 by Beachin' Bob

It’s summer! Well, technically it’s almost summer. But…it’s summer vacation! And even better than that: It’s summer vacation on the Gulf!

I can name so many reasons why it rocks to be in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach during summer. The number 1 reason: staying cool. You’ve got the Gulf of Mexico—and there may not be a more fun way to stay cool than surfing the waves.

Except for a water park! And I’m sure my friends and I will be making at least a couple trips to Waterville USA this summer. Can’t beat waterslides and a wave pool!

But as much fun as all of that is, we don’t want to spend the whole summer wet. So it’s a good thing we have lots of other Gulf Shores attractions to choose from: the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, the Ferris wheel at The Wharf, the beaches at Gulf State Park, and mini-golf and arcade games at places like Pirates Island and The Track in Gulf Shores. Another personal favorite of mine is the Gulf Coast Exploreum—a great place to be on hot or rainy days.

Bring on summer!

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Save Some Money on a July Condo Rental

Posted on June 7, 2013 by Beachin' Bob

Anyone up for a July beach vacation? I can name several reasons why you might want to consider taking one in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach.

First of all, you can’t beat July at the beach: the warm weather is great for swimming in the Gulf, in your condo pool and/or lazy river, and taking a side-trip to Waterville USA for some waterslide fun. Second, there are several Gulf events on the July calendar that are worth checking out, like the Blue Marlin Grand Championship, the 80th Annual Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo, and various kid-friendly activities (Fun Time at the Beach Pavilion, plus several camps).

There are also a couple Orange Beach concerts scheduled at The Wharf, like the Dave Matthews Band on July 23rd.

And best of all, you can plan this July vacation at a discount—as long as you take advantage of Brett/Robinson’s Sweet Summer Savings. With this condo deal, you can book a five-night stay (or longer) and receive a 20% discount. It’s good for arrivals between July 7th and 30th.

But if you want this discount, act now—the Brett/Robinson special ends on June 10th. The awesomeness of a Gulf Shores & Orange Beach July vacation, however, will remain.

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You Can’t Beat a Stay in a Gulf Shores Hotel

Posted on June 6, 2013 by Beachin' Bob

It was about this time last year that my sister and her family went on their Gulf Shores & Orange Beach vacation—and were kind enough to bring me along. Circumstances and timing worked out just right, and I was able to tag along for a few days on the Gulf.

They had rented a room at Brett/Robinson’s Phoenix All Suites Hotel. I have to say, once you’ve stayed in this hotel, with its one-bedroom suites and full kitchens, it’s very hard to accept a vacation in a “regular” hotel room. There was plenty of room for our little group—my sister and her husband got the bedroom, their two young children shared the bunk beds, and I slept on the sofa sleeper. Factor in our living area and the Gulf-front balcony…it was quite a comfortable experience.

And we had a blast. We swam at the pool, walked the beach, body-surfed in the Gulf, and even went out and enjoyed some of our favorite Gulf Shores attractions. (There was a little bit of arguing between the two kids over whether the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo or Waterville USA would be better to visit; we compromised and went to both.)

This just might have to become a yearly tradition. Maybe this year I’ll initiate the getaway.

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Pair up a Golf Tournament with a Golf Vacation in August

Posted on June 5, 2013 by Beachin' Bob

I’m wondering how much golf I could play during a Gulf Shores & Orange Beach golf vacation in August. I’m wondering this for a couple reasons. First, that’s when I’m meeting up with a couple old friends for a week of golf on the Gulf. Second, we’re going down the week of the SEC BeachFest—and the SEC BeachFest Golf Scramble.

We’ve all agreed that we want in on the golf tournament—two rounds of golf on a Gulf Shores golf course (plus an additional round at Kiva Dunes if we qualify), plus we’d get free tickets to the SEC BeachFest Fan Zone. This would make for a nice weekend getaway all on its own!

But we’re not staying for just the weekend; this is a week-long vacation. There will be more golf, as we’re putting together a Brett/Robinson golf package.

And this is where the question of how much golf can we play comes in. Should we play every day? Or maybe every other day would be better, leaving us more time for enjoying other activities and attractions in the area. (This is why I love putting together a customized golf vacation package—I can make it fit my specific needs and wants.)

However we end up planning it, we’re sure to have a good time—golf plus the beach (plus the SEC BeachFest!) doesn’t leave room for anything but.

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Want Another Chance at a Weekend Beach Party in June?

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Beachin' Bob

Did you miss out on the Hangout Music Festival like I did? Yep…I had big plans to go, then things got crazy at work. I hear it was a blast, though.

But guess what? If you just have to be part of a big three-day beach party, if you’re craving the sound of various musicians performing during this party, and if you’ve got the time in June, then you get a second chance.

It’s not the return of the Hangout Music Fest—it’s the 1st Annual FloraBama Shindig on the Sand Beach Concert on June 14th, 15th, and 16th. And quite a shindig it’s going to be: 70 Gulf Coast acts, more than 250 musicians, and five stages. The best part is it’s very affordable—only $10 per day and $25 for a weekend pass. This is one Gulf Shores & Orange Beach event worth making the trip down for.

Speaking of making things affordable…if you really want to make the trip affordable, check out some of Brett/Robinson’s hot deals—select your arrival and departure dates, then select your condo deal. Free night specials can help too.

Now you have plenty of reasons for planning a June beach vacation.

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June Feels Like a Good Month for a Gulf Vacation—At a Discount

Posted on May 30, 2013 by Beachin' Bob

June—it’s such a great month for a beach vacation. The late spring/early summer weather is good and warm for swimming but not ridiculously hot yet (usually). And in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, lots of activity is taking place.

Let me paint a little picture: a multi-bedroom Gulf-front condo with lots of room for a group (friends, family members, etc.), easy access to the white-sand beach and pool (and maybe even a lazy river and other amenities), and close proximity to golf courses and restaurants and lots of Gulf Coast attractions.

Now let me suggest staying four nights and only paying for three. This is part of Brett/Robinson’s June and July special—book a four-night June (or July) vacation, get a free night. You can also stay three nights and only pay for two.

If we’re talking discounts, I’ll be staying for longer than five nights—don’t think I’ll have any problem finding some friends to share the condo with me.

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