CarolWeaver

As much fun as the annual National Shrimp Festival is, the run-up to the event is great for another type of entertainment: people- and process-watching. With the festival still a future event, preparation in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach goes at a steady but manageable pace. Vendor tents begin to appear one by one along the Alabama Gulf Coast. Signs go up. Souvenirs are unpacked. And businesses get a little extra sprucing up. But when the festival is just a week away, well, things go into overdrive. The tents that were steadily going up before begin to spring forth like mushrooms after a summer rain. Lists get checked; logistics get checked; sound systems get checked. It's almost like watching a favorite film on fast-forward. The best part is getting to be an observer for the warm-up ... read more

There is so much to keep track of on a family excursion that it can be tempting to leave behind the camera gear. With the chances of dropping something in the Gulf, losing something in the sand or leaving something behind, perhaps it is a good idea to leave your quality camera at home. What, you ask? Take the tykes to the beach and not take a camera? Impossible. Well, you can get the best of both world - lasting memories without the worry of ruining your camera. On your way to the Alabama Gulf Coast, stop in to a retailer in Gulf Shores or in Orange Beach and check out the array of disposable cameras. The technology has come a long way, and there are styles designed to be waterproof. You can even find disposable ... read more

An often-overlooked beach accessory is a hat. Perhaps because everyone gets focused on swimming and playing, it's easy to forget how critical headgear can be. It's no easy chore to get some folks (ahem, guilty) to wear a hat. If you have one of those folks in your group, leave time for a quick shopping excursion as you plan your day on the Alabama Gulf Coast. In Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, there are as many places to buy hats as there are styles to choose from, it seems. For example, many souvenir shops offer custom airbrushing on bucket hats, visors and baseball caps. This means you can get a keepsake that will keep you safe from the sun. Beachwear shops also offer many choices that combine style with safety. Wide-brimmed straw or cloth hats come ... read more

As a youngster visiting the Alabama Gulf Coast, I hated wearing sunscreen. I wanted a carefree day to swim in the blue Gulf waters, build castles from the sugary sands or anticipate a seafood feast prepared from the fresh catch available at stores in Gulf Shores or Orange Beach. But without fail, going without sunscreen meant one thing: a week of agony because of sunburn. In those days, options were limited for sun protection. There was zinc oxide for faces (it was greasy and streaky and never got absorbed) plus a few items that smelled like fermented coconut. On a recent beach visit, I forgot to pack the usual sun arsenal, so I sent my husband to a nearby store. His selections left me surprised - and sun-protected! Zinc oxide has come a long way (baby). ... read more

When we trek to beach, I always make sure to have a few basic first-aid supplies. Whether we're in Orange Beach or Gulf Shores, I find a little preparation makes a visit to the Alabama Gulf Coast even more enjoyable. Here's what I take: Alcohol wipes Bandages Tweezers (great for removing stickers from sand spurs) Aloe Bottled water (for washing off sand) Triple antibiotic ointment Zipper-seal freezer bag (to fill with ice for a compress) Spray-on sunburn treatment (look for 1 percent lidocaine spray, as this is a topical pain reliever) The most important first-aid item? A hug! ... read more

Sometimes, getting ready for a full day of fun in the sun on the Alabama Gulf Coast with the whole family reminds me of trying to plan a military invasion. But a little bit of forethought can make “storming the beach” a whole lot simpler. Here are a few tips I've learned for making the most of the least amount of supplies: Tip 1: Store sunscreens and lotions in zipper-seal freezer bags in the cooler with drinks. On hot days, this makes reapplications refreshing instead of seeming like a chore. Tip 2: Keeping things cool requires lots of ice - unless you plan ahead. Freeze water bottles and juice boxes a day or so before your trip. You won't need as much ice for your coolers, and the melting liquid inside will quench thirst while cooling ... read more