Bob Walker's Official New
Orleans Area Wedding Guide
"THE ISLAND"...ON ALABAMA'S GULF COAST
A HONEYMOON PLAYGROUND
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 (east end of 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.
Enjoy live plays and musicals. The Gulf Shores Entertainment Series is a schedule of concerts held in the city's Civic Center.
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.
Thanks to the Alabama Gulf Coast Area Chamber of Commerce for contributing information included in this article.
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.