Things to do, Places to Go...

If you get tired (!??!) of lying on the beach or relaxing on the balcony, there is lots to do in and around Gulf Shores. This link ( http://gulf-shores-al.com ) is a good starting point. It has a ton of information about the area attractions. There's Golf, Fishing Boat Charters, Parasailing, Ski-do rentals, Canoe and Kayak Trips, plus dozens of fabulous restaurants.

A few things that are NOT mentioned on the site, however, are:

The Riviera Center - Outlet Mall in Foley - You saw it on your way into Gulf Shores on Rt. 59 and it is a wonderful mall. Bad news: you'll spend at least $200. Good news: you'll get stuff worth twice that. There's no way you're not going to visit. It's far less crowded when it's a "good beach day".

Fort Morgan - go north on 59 to the second stoplight and follow the signs to Fort Morgan. It is a restored fort that once guarded the mouth of Mobile Bay. Worth the trip.

Dauphin Island by Car Ferry - from Fort Morgan, take a car ferry across the mouth of the Bay, then drive over the giant bridge that connects the mainland to the island and do a little exploring. The ferry trip is well worth the price.

The Battleship Alabama - moored in Mobile Bay, the self-guided tour takes anywhere from an hour to three hours, depending on your level of interest. Take 59 north to I-10. West on I-10 across the bridge and you can't miss it on your left. It's a Battleship, after all. And as long as you are this far, after the Battleship, take I-10 to the Bankhead tunnel and visit Old Mobile. The historic district is just off Government Street as you emerge from the tunnel.

Gulf Shores State Park - Just east about 3 miles on Beach Boulevard, the State park is a wonderful place to hike about and look for birds and other wildlife. Bring your binoculars.

Bon Secour - A real-live fishing village. Charming. Just about 20 minutes north.

Pensacola Naval Air Museum - If you flew into Pensacola, be sure to stop by the Naval Air Museum before you go home. If you like airplanes, allow a couple of hours, at least.

Our List of Favorites...

Best Seafood Gumbo: Mikee's Restaurant. One block north of Beach Boulevard, one block east of Rt. 59.

Best Cheeseburger: Bahama Bob's. No contest. just a couple of doors east.

Best Margarita: A tie. Bahama Bob's or The Pink Pony Pub. The Pink Pony is about a mile east, right on the beach.

Best Fine Dining: Louisiana Lagniappe. It's in the San Roc Cay shopping mall which is about 5 or 6 miles east on Beach Boulevard. If you go over a big bridge, you've gone too far. It's on the left and there is no sign for the restaurant, just the shopping mall. There is a large stainless-steel sculpture of a swordfish out front.

Best Cheap Breakfast Buffet: In the hotel at the State Park. They also have a Sunday Brunch that starts at 11:00, I think. Never tried it, though.

Best Fried Seafood Basket: The Shrimp Basket. It is about a block north of Beach Boulevard on Rt. 59.

Best (only) Bengiets outside of New Orleans: Cafe Bengiet is a little pink building just north of the Shrimp Basket on Rt. 59. During the warm months, they are open all the time. In the winter, they are only open on the weekends. They have another shop in Orange Beach that they keep open all year.

Our (short) List of Disappointments...

Restaurant that LOOKS good but isn't: BJ's Seafood. Such a charming building (one of the few that survived Hurricane Frederic in 1979), such a great name, such indifferent food served by the slowest staff on the planet... (if you look closely, when you order fish, you'll see the chef sneaking out the back door with a hook and line...) We've tried it half a dozen times in the last 15 years and have ALWAYS been disappointed. You really have to work at it to get on this list.

A Few Tips to Avoid Disaster on Your Vacation...

Sunscreen: Nothing ruins a week at the beach faster than a bad sunburn. If you burn yourself on the first day, you won't feel better until almost the end of the week. Buy lots of sunscreen, DO put it on EVERYWHERE 1/2 hour before going on the beach, and don't forget to cover your FEET with it. All those people you see limping into restaurants at dinner forgot to put suncreen on their FEET.

Red Flags on the Beach: When the surf and current are strong enough to warrant putting up a red flag on the beach, it REALLY IS TOO DANGEROUS TO SWIM. The rip-tides and undertows can be vicious and the only people who drown in Gulf Shores are the people who ignore the red flag warnings.

Jellyfish: Every once in a while, generally in the winter or early spring, you'll see Jellyfish at the edge of the water. Just don't swim on those days. They'll probably be gone tomorrow. They won't kill you, but they are very hard to avoid when you are actually IN the water, and the sting hurts like the devil for three or four hours.

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