Relaxation - Southern Style
Rick and I went to check out fabulous Gulf Shores,
Ala. Gulf Shores is the southernmost coastal region of
Alabama, 50 miles east of Mobile and 35 miles west of
Pensacola. It’s a barrier island, 30,000 acres with 32 miles
of sugar-white sand beaches and beautiful blue-green
Gulf of Mexico waters.
From Tampa International, it was a 75-minute flight to
the Pensacola Airport, then a short drive to the Alabama
Gulf Coast. The beaches are so different compared with
our Central Florida beaches, with huge sand dunes, tall
sea oats swaying in the breeze and winding boardwalks
to the beach. Just taking it all in starts to make you feel
relaxation is just around the corner.
Ala. Gulf Shores is the southernmost coastal region of
Alabama, 50 miles east of Mobile and 35 miles west of
Pensacola. It’s a barrier island, 30,000 acres with 32 miles
of sugar-white sand beaches and beautiful blue-green
Gulf of Mexico waters.
From Tampa International, it was a 75-minute flight to
the Pensacola Airport, then a short drive to the Alabama
Gulf Coast. The beaches are so different compared with
our Central Florida beaches, with huge sand dunes, tall
sea oats swaying in the breeze and winding boardwalks
to the beach. Just taking it all in starts to make you feel
relaxation is just around the corner.
| We arrived at our accommodations quite late, so imagine our surprise when we awoke to a stunning view overlooking the Gulf of Mexico with all those never-ending dunes and boardwalks winding themselves down to the beach. Not only were we right on the beach, but we were staying in an absolutely wonderful B&B called The Beach House Bed & Breakfast. This is a big, rambling wooden house high atop the dunes, with large porches overlooking the gulf, complete with wicker chairs, swings and hammocks – just perfect to help you relax and enjoy the ocean breeze and views. The main beach house, with an extensive library (actually each and every room has its own books) is home to the kitchen and hot tub. Each morning you enjoy a made-to-order breakfast. At other times you just help yourself to the snacks, sodas, beer and wine that The Beach House provides. We stayed in the new additional beach house, separate from the main house. It’s closer to the beach and has only four rooms. Our room was incredibly appointed (as they all are), with wonderful Laura Ashley-type furniture and a very large and comfy couch and loveseat. We had our own little kitchen area complete with stainless steel coffee maker, refrigerator with icemaker and dishwasher. Creature comforts included a Jacuzzi bathtub complete with bath salts and candles and the most heavenly bed in which I ever have slept. It was a king-size poster feather bed, the kind where you just sink into a down comforter and pillows and never want to climb out because you feel so relaxed. After enjoying a wonderful breakfast of fancy egg custard French toast, maple sausage and fresh berries prepared by Diane Childs, our innkeeper, we’re off for an adventurous first day with a guided tour of the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge. |     |
This is 6,700 acres of coastal wetlands, ranging
from constantly changing beach dunes to rolling pineoak woodlands. At the start you are literally walking
through a forest, under the shade of all the thick trees,
and suddenly you see the terrain changes, ending up
at the sandy beach of the Gulf of Mexico.
Ranger Nancy, our guide, was very knowledgeable
and talked about the unique wildlife and habitats. One
of the more interesting creatures that live here is the
Alabama beach mouse. This poor little guy was added
to the endangered list in 1985 and contributes to the
plant life by distributing seeds to help perpetuate the
very important sea oats which help stem
erosion of the sand dunes.
There is a lot to do in this national refuge, with fresh and saltwater fishing, birding, kayaking and the many hiking
trails open and used year round. It’s a great location for nature photographers and truly is a little slice of heaven.
After our hike, we had certainly worked up an appetite. We headed for Jesse’s Restaurant, located in the Moore
Brothers Village Market in Magnolia Springs, Ala. It’s a historic, quaint town located on the banks of the Magnolia
River. The river was very important to early settlers as it was the only means of delivering communication to the outside
world. To this day, mail is still delivered via boat to those living along this beautiful spring-fed river.
Magnolia Springs is a beautiful community, and I do mean community. Everybody knows each other and says
hello, and it’s obvious they all just love their little town.
from constantly changing beach dunes to rolling pineoak woodlands. At the start you are literally walking
through a forest, under the shade of all the thick trees,
and suddenly you see the terrain changes, ending up
at the sandy beach of the Gulf of Mexico.
Ranger Nancy, our guide, was very knowledgeable
and talked about the unique wildlife and habitats. One
of the more interesting creatures that live here is the
Alabama beach mouse. This poor little guy was added
to the endangered list in 1985 and contributes to the
plant life by distributing seeds to help perpetuate the
very important sea oats which help stem
erosion of the sand dunes.
There is a lot to do in this national refuge, with fresh and saltwater fishing, birding, kayaking and the many hiking
trails open and used year round. It’s a great location for nature photographers and truly is a little slice of heaven.
After our hike, we had certainly worked up an appetite. We headed for Jesse’s Restaurant, located in the Moore
Brothers Village Market in Magnolia Springs, Ala. It’s a historic, quaint town located on the banks of the Magnolia
River. The river was very important to early settlers as it was the only means of delivering communication to the outside
world. To this day, mail is still delivered via boat to those living along this beautiful spring-fed river.
Magnolia Springs is a beautiful community, and I do mean community. Everybody knows each other and says
hello, and it’s obvious they all just love their little town.