The Beach is Calling

May is the Month for Music on the Gulf Coast

No matter what month you visit Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Ala., there’s no shortage of live music. From mellow beach tunes to classic country and smooth rock n roll, the Gulf Coast has more than its share of great bands and musicians ready to rock out on any day or night of the week. But, if your trip to the coast happens to be in May, there are two annual events you may want to put on your itinerary.

The annual Hangout Music Fest is slated May 18 to 20 and will boast three days of music right on the sugar-white sand beaches of Gulf Shores. More than 60 bands are set to hit multiple stages with headliners like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dave Matthews Band and Jack White. While general admission tickets are sold out, a few VIP and Super VIP festival passes remain. Festival lodging partners are also offering tickets with accommodations while supplies last. The festival opens at 11 a.m. and ends at 11 p.m., nightly.

If you’re in Gulf Shores Memorial Day weekend (May 26 and 27), don’t miss the annual LuluPalooza Weekend Music Fest. In its eighth year, the family-friendly, two-day event features free concerts by Eric Lindell, Honey Island Swamp Band, Dread Clampitt, Roddie Romero and the Hub City All-Stars and more. Held at Lulu’s at Homeport Marina, there will be plenty of music, activities and great food for the young and young at heart. Music starts at 4 p.m., but you’ll want to arrive early and treat yourself to some of Lulu’s famous LA Caviar or a Cheeseburger in Paradise.

Not in the area on these dates? Don’t fret. If there’s one thing you can count on during your vacation to the Gulf Coast, it’s a steady lineup of live music. Take a peek at the Calendar of Events to get plan your itinerary.

From toddlers to teens, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach has something for everyone

Teens and toddlers don’t always mix well when traveling, and age differences can sometimes be a challenge. However, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach boasts activities that appeal to the young, younger and the young at heart.

Crabbing on the beach at night is a fun activity for all ages. Grab a couple of flashlights, sand shovels and buckets and head out just after dark. Sand crabs are pretty fast, so you’ll have to move quickly. After a wave breaks, shine your light and you’ll see them scurry across the sand, burying themselves. Break out the shovel and start digging. Once your crab-hunting adventure is over, be sure to release them back to the water.

Head out to The Wharf and take a ride on the tallest Ferris wheel in the Southeast. Your teen doesn’t have to lose cool points with his or her friends by riding with you and the family. They can catch a ride on the cart before or after you. For $4 per person, the Ferris wheel is a great way to get a bird’s eye view of the Gulf Coast.

Everyone loves the excitement of spotting dolphins, so while you’re here be sure to take the family on one of the many dolphin cruises available. Your youngest traveler will laugh with delight at the sight of the friendly creatures, and your teen will enjoy the sunshine, boating experience and fun atmosphere.

You can never go wrong with the area’s selection of family-friendly restaurants. Lunch or dinner at these establishments is truly an event. At The Hangout, you’ll find live music and an interactive DJ experience that appeals to all ages in the family. Do the limbo and learn the Cupid Shuffle while you wait on your order. Get a table by the sand, and watch your younger traveler play on the giant sand hill. Take a trip to Lulu’s and listen to the tunes of local musicians while your teen shows their skills on the ‘Mountain of Youth’ ropes course. Your little ones will love the sand area, furnished with buckets and shovels.

There’s no shortage of things to do when you visit Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Be sure to check out the area’s other attractions to help plan your trip.

 

Spring Break is in Full Swing!

Every year around this time, we are blessed to have visitors from around the country who appreciate our beautiful beaches, and our rich culture of great food, excellent live music and abundant good times. We are glad to have you with us and want your visit here to be one you want to relive year after year.

To make sure you get the most out of your visit, take a look at our 10 steps to a perfect beach vacation.

1. Get out on the water. Regardless of your level of seaworthiness, find a charter boat or dolphin tour and enjoy some time at sea.
2. Get up early at least once. Or maybe that means staying up, but watch the sunrise. Few things will be as memorable for you as the serenity of the sun coming across the waves early in the morning. Since you’re up, you might even want to get in a round of golf at one of the many courses in the area.
3. Splurge on a really good meal. We have many excellent local restaurants with the freshest seafood you can imagine. It is well worth the indulgence to fully take advantage while you are here.
4. Go local. Get a good healthy dose of Southern hospitality by patronizing independent local businesses. We are glad to see you and want to let you know.
5. Use our app. GulfBeaches, available on iPhone or Android, provides all kinds of timely, helpful information including weather, events, meetups, activities and specials around town.
6. Post pictures online. We have no doubt that your remembered your camera or smartphone, but post at least some of your pictures online right away so that if anything should happen to your devices, you still have a record of your time here.
7. Wear sunscreen. Seriously folks, you have probably been mostly out of the sun for several winter months. Be kind to your skin and don’t try to get a deep dark tan all at once. Your travel enjoyment is substantially diminished when your entire body blisters – not to mention the health risks.
8. Drink water. It may feel balmy and delightful on the beach, but you are still depleting your system of water. Dehydration can cause all kinds of nasty problems ranging from headaches to hospitalization, so be prepared.
9. Use baby powder when you get off the beach. Do you hate that sandy feeling you get after being at the beach all day? Dust yourself off with baby powder to feel normal again.
10. Remember your shades. Protect your eyes at the beach and look good doing it. In fact, get yourself a pair of sunglasses your really like and rock them the whole time you’re here.

 

Concert News

When people come to visit the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach area live music is often as important as the beach. You have come to expect great outdoor concerts and we are only too happy to keep bringing great bands to the area for your entertainment. Our biggest and most successful concerts are the massive three-day music festival The Hangout Music Fest and the continuing concert series at the Amphitheater at the Wharf – The Pepsi Concert Series. Both of these venues periodically add artists to their roster so be sure to look here regularly for updates.

The Hangout Music Fest

Last week the festival announced the following additions to the line-up: Kaskade, Umphrey’s McGee, Delta Spirit, Heartless Bastards, Greyboy All Stars and Givers.

Additionally, if you have a boat and are interested in attending the festival, you might want to consider docking at Homeport Marina and catching a daily shuttle to the concerts. Homeport Marina is the first ever Official Marina of the 2012 Hangout Music Festival. It is located 3 miles from the festival site at Lulu’s at Homeport, on the Intracoastal Waterway Mile Marker 155 and the Highway 59 Bridge. Please CLICK HERE or call 251-968-4528 to make your reservation today for your Hangout experience.

Pepsi Concert Series

There are three upcoming concerts scheduled at the Wharf so far but additional acts are added throughout the summer.

Luke Bryan with Special Guest James Otto, Saturday April 14, 8:00 PM.

Luke Bryan is responsible for three country number one hit songs Rain Is a Good Thing and Someone Else Calling You Baby  and I Don't Want This Night to End. His energetic show is sure to get your toes tapping. For ticket information click here.

 

Wiz Khalifa and Snoop Dogg, May 4, 8:00 PM
Rap icon Snoop Dogg joins rising start Wiz Khalifa to promote their soundtrack to the movie Mac and Devlin Go to Highschool. Both artists are hailed as innovators in rap and hip/hop. Together they form a compelling musical partnership. Be advised that the music is often explicit. For ticket information click here.

 

Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band, July 4, 8:00 PM

Celebrate Independence Day with a British invasion! Ringo Starr, legendary drummer of The Beatles, plays with a few of his friends for a great night of classic rock and roll. Steve Lukather of Toto; Gregg Rolie of Journey and Santana; Richard Page of Mr. Mister; Todd Rundgren, Mark Rivera, and Gregg Bissonette comprise the All Starr Band. For ticket information, click here.

 

Bird Watchers Band Together

If you are planning a visit to the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach area for Spring Break, be sure to look in on the bird banding stations at historic Fort Morgan. Dedicated volunteers spend hours patiently waiting for migrating song birds to find their way to the banding station nets. Volunteers note the species and health of the birds; band them and send them back on their voyage to South America. Visitors to the station get the opportunity to adopt the banded birds and should they turn up again in subsequent years, volunteers notify the adopting families by email.

Fort Morgan’s location at the edge of the beach makes it an attractive spot for migrating birds to stop on their long trek south. For more than 10 years the bird banding station has catalogued these birds to monitor population levels and the effects of weather.  Painted and indigo buntings are usually spotted as well as ruby-throated hummingbirds, a variety of warblers, woodpeckers, yellow-bellied sapsuckers, summer tanagers and many others.

The bird-banding station will be open from March 31 – April 12, from 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM, with a crew of trained volunteers from the Hummer Bird Study Group. Fort Morgan Historical Park charges $5 admission for adults and $3 for children 6-12, but banding is free. Bring your camera and get comfortable, but the bird banding station asks that you leave pets at home.

 

 

The Hangout Music Festival 2012

Tickets went on sale Friday for this year’s event of the season, The Hangout Music Festival. Now in its third year, this massive three-day festival offers a beachside opportunity to hear some of the hottest musicians around. This year is no exception. The line-up, announced last week includes Dave Matthews Band and Jack White in the headliners tent along with, along with dance tent headliner Skrillex and the following:

More artists will be added – check here for updates. .

The 2012 Hangout Fest will offer even more room for amenities and the comfort of fans, with capacity capped at last year’s limit of 35,000 attendees per day, but with a considerable amount of new space added to the festival grounds. Hangout takes great effort in making sure that every concertgoer receives star treatment, and that VIPs are treated like royalty. All fans will enjoy a plethora of amenities including: Hammock Beach, a shaded area with art installations; the Sky-bar tower, offering 360-degree views of the festival; amusement rides; water stations with free refills for all guests; plus live comedy performances and a family-friendly kids’ stage at The Hangout club.

Gulf Shores offers a wide range of lodging options, from luxury to budget to family-friendly, many within walking or biking distance of the site – packages are available at www.hangoutmusicfest.com/info/lodging/. Travel package information is available at www.hangoutmusicfest.com/tickets/travel-packages/.

 

Mardi Gras Along the Gulf

Laissez le bon temps roulez! Mardi Gras – Fat Tuesday for the uninitiated – is the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday each year. This year, Mardi Gras falls on February 21^st. Like our neighbors to the west in New Orleans, we love a good parade or two or twenty here in the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach area.  In fact, we like it so much we start celebrating in January!

We have a parade or celebration for the young and young at heart alike. In nearby Mobile alone, 34 separate parades mark the season starting on February 3^rd and taking place almost daily until February 21^st. For a list of those events, click here . To enjoy an event closer to the beach, or more off the beaten path, consider one of the parades listed below.

January

21^st   1:00 PM  Krewe De La Dauphine Mardi Gras Parade on Dauphin Island

28th   1:00 PM  Island Mystics Mardi Gras Parade on Dauphin Island

February

11^th   7:00 PM  KOER Knights of Ecor Rouge Mardi Gras Parade in downtown Fairhope

17^th    6:30 PM  Mystical Order of Mirams Parade on Perdido Beach Boulevard in Orange Beach

17^th   7:00 PM  Maids of Jubiliee Mardi Gras Parade in downtown Fairhope

18^th – 21^st 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM  Pleasure Island Mardi Gras Festival at the Wharf in Orange Beach

18^th   2:00 PM  Krew of Mullet Mates Mardi Gras Parade at Mullet Point Park in Point Clear

18^th   5:30 PM  Mystics of Pleasure Mardi Gras Parade on Perdido Beach Boulevard in Orange Beach

18^th   6:45 PM  Shadow Barons Mardi Gras Parade on the streets of Olde Town Daphne

20^th   2:00 PM  The Wharf Kids Mardi Gras Parade at The Wharf in Orange Beach

20^th   5:00 PM  The Wharf Mardi Gras Parade at The Wharf in Orange Beach

20^th   7:00 PM  Order of the Mystic Magnolias Mardi Gras Parade in downtown Fairhope

21^st  10:00 AM  Gulf Shores Mardi Gras Parade on Gulf Shores Parkway in Gulf Shores

21^st  2:00 PM  Orange Beach Mardi Gras Parade on Perdido Beach Boulevard in Orange Beach

 

Gulf Coast Half Marathon Series and the Race to the Top of the Tower

Whether you are a sports enthusiast or just looking for some motivation to keep up your New Year’s resolutions, we have two events coming up that are sure to pique your interest.

2012 Race to the Top of the Stairs
On Thursday, January 19, the Gulf Coast Half Marathon Series weekend kicks off with an invitational stair race 33 floors to the top of the Turquoise Place Tower in Orange Beach for police, fire, EMS and military. The entry fee is $10 with 100% of the proceeds going to the Special Olympics of Alabama. If you are a member of the police, fire, EMS or military and want to be a part of this great fundraiser call 850-261-6171 for information on how to sign up.

For the rest of us, this is a great opportunity to be inspired by strength and stamina of those who work so hard to keep us safe. Come out to support the participants and watch a great competition. The race starts at 10:00 am.

2012 Gulf Coast Half Marathon Series
This race series features half marathons throughout the year along the Gulf Coast starting with a race in Gulf Shores on January 22. Runners get the opportunity to test their skills along some of the most scenic stretches of the Gulf Coast and we get the chance to cheer them on as they begin and end at LuLu’s at Homeport. Runners will loop underneath then cross over the intracoastal bridge to begin their 13.1 miles as they head to Gulf State Park for a loop around Lake Shelby and briefly to Perdido Beach Blvd. for a view of the Gulf.

The other races in the series include Pensacola Beach, Florida on April 15th and Mandeville, Louisiana on October 14th. Runners who compete in all three Gulf Coast Half Marathons in the 2012 series receive a limited edition GCHM Series sweatshirt. Additionally, they can compete to be named Series Champion. Times from the 3 events currently on the 2012 calendar will be averaged at the conclusion of the series. The fastest average time overall (M/F) in each age group will be named Series Champion. Prizes will be announced at the Gulf Shores race, January 22.

For more information, click here.

 

2012 Gulf Coast Seafood & Tourism Bash

If you have been thinking about a visit to the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach area, have we got good news for you! For two weeks you have the opportunity to enter the 2012 Gulf Coast Seafood & Tourism Bash, sponsored by BP for the chance to win a 4-day, 3-night vacation package for four in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana or Mississippi.

The contest started January 2, and is a two-week celebration of Gulf Coast seafood, culture and tourism in conjunction with the Allstate Sugar Bowl on January 3^rd. It will include Gulf Coast seafood at official Allstate Sugar Bowl and Allstate BCS National Championship galas and pre-game parties; promotional announcements during the games; vacation giveaways to Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana; seafood samplings for fans and media in New Orleans, and more. Locally, the Hangout will host a Beachside watch party for the big Alabama/LSU game on January 9^th.

For your chance to win, text GULFCST to 76060. Four prizes will be given away including a trip to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach valued at $7500. The contest concludes on January 13^th, so don’t delay. Each registrant may enter one time to win.  For more rules and information, click here.

 

 

Welcome Snowbirds!

Each year we are happy to be visited by a number of folks from the Midwest who spend the winter months here to avoid the cold at home. We are thrilled to have you all and are especially pleased that you choose to make Gulf Shores & Orange Beach your home year after year.

Since your last visit, we created a smart phone app that provides all kinds of great information about events, restaurants, attractions, accommodations and even the weather. The app is available for the iPhone or Android and is called Gulf Beaches.

If you haven’t already done so, we also encourage you to friend us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to make sure you hear about all the great things going on in the area.

If you are looking for your friends here in the area, we encourage you visit our Snowbird Clubs site for event information.

It’s great to have you back and we can’t wait to see you out on our beautiful, white sand beaches.