A dose of vitamin sea was just what I needed to help cure my boredom.
So, our summer break started with my girls and me relaxing at home and visiting local attractions in the Atlanta area. But after a while, we grew bored and wanted to take a trip somewhere.
On Michelle's summer bucket list, she wanted to go on a beach trip. If you have been following me for a while, you know I love taking trips to the beach. Something about being surrounded by water helps soothes me. Visiting beaches alleviates calmness and rejuvenates my soul.
For our summer beach trip, I wanted to visit a beach town I have never seen before. Also, I wanted new scenery instead of going to Destin and Tybee Island like we usually travel to on our summer beach vacations.
Another blogger I follow recently visited Gulf Shores, Alabama. Looking at her pictures, Gulf Shores looks like a great place for families and offers many things to do.
I added Gulf Shores to my bucket list for my next beach vacation.
Doing some research, I looked for a condo vacation rental that is located on the beach.
During my search on Priceline, I came across a vacation rental management company called Meyer Vacation Rentals. Since my trip was last minute, Meyer's had a few condos available on Priceline for the dates I wanted.
I noticed booking through Priceline they tack on high fees to book Meyer's condos, so I went straight to the source, Meyer's Vacation Rentals website.
Meyer's website prices were a lot lower and offered more condo options. Plus, they give more detail about the condos and what they have to offer.
During my browse, I saw The Lighthouse Condos with a 1 1/2 bedroom with two bathrooms on the 15th floor available for the weekend date I wanted. Usually, during the peak season, vacation condos and houses are only available for week or more stays instead of just weekend stays. So, I'm happy that Meyer's offered some weekend vacation rentals.
For a two-night stay during peak season, I paid $1200, including travel insurance that I opted in. Not too bad of a price. But I can only imagine what the cost would be for a week's stay.
When we arrived at Gulf Shores, we had to go to Meyer's Management office to get the key code to get into the condo. However, it wasn't much of an inconvenience since Meyer's is only 5 minutes away from the condo.
Once we arrived at the condo, first, we had to check in at the office lobby to pay for our parking ($30) and get wristbands for the pool and exercise room.
After that, we went to the 15th floor to our condo. We were very impressed by how clean, airy, and beautifully decorated the unit was. And those views from the ocean were incredible. I can wake up every day gazing at the ocean shores.
Our condo had a king-size bedroom that offered a master bathroom with a jacuzzi and separate shower. The half bedroom had a bunk bed which is great for children. Also, the living room had a sleeper sofa bed, so the unit can sleep up to 6 people.
The kitchen had granite countertops with high-end Maytag appliances.
The deck has several seating options, so you can take all in the views with your guest.
The only complaint I have about this condo we rented was the master bed. It's like the owner used the cheapest mattress, which made for a very uncomfortable sleep. I couldn't wait to return home and sleep in my own comfortable bed.
But hey, we were there to enjoy the beach, not sleep in all day.
Check out the things we did and places we ate in Gulf Shores and surrounding beach areas.
The Hangout
This colorful beach seafood restaurant is known for its oyster cook-offs, live music, and party vibe in an open-air space. When we got there, it's like walking into a huge party! People were everywhere enjoying the live concert, foam pits, drink stands, and food at the restaurant. The Hangout lives up to its name, a place to hang out and have a good time. My girls enjoyed having henna done while we waited to be seated at the restaurant. Now, as for the food, it's basic. I would say the food is a step higher than bar food. We had peeled shrimp for the appetizer, and I dine on chicken nachos for my main dish, which was served to me cold. Disappointing. However, friendly staff and our waitress gave us great recommendations of places to go in town.
101 E Beach BlvdGulf Shores, AL 36542
The Wharf
The Wharf is located in Orange Beach, Alabama, which is not too far from Gulf Shores. It's a place to shop, dine, and enjoy entertainment. We walked around to check out what The Wharf had to offer since our waitress at The Hangout recommended it. There are local shops to purchase beachwear, pet accessories, summer outfits, and fantastic artisan merchandise. Also, there are plenty of restaurants to choose from, a marina, Ferris wheel, a movie theatre, and an amphitheater. We walked around while we were there, got coffee, smoothies, ice cream from a café called The Southern Grind Coffee House, and visited dogs that were up for adoption. Great place to chill with family and friends.
23101 Canal Rd, Orange Beach, AL 36561
OWA
OWA is a 520-acre family fun destination on the Gulf Coast in Foley, AL, with a twenty-three attraction theme park, unique dining, and live entertainment. It's free to walk into OWA for shopping and dining; however, there is a fee to go into The Park at OWA. We were going to go to The Park at OWA, but a storm was soon to roll in. So, we quickly walked around downtown OWA to see all the shops, boutiques, and restaurants. We were hungry for lunch and wanted a healthier option, so we chose to eat at Lucy's Retired Surfers Bar & Restaurant. Lucy's is a laid-back vibe on the beach-style restaurant that you grab a meal and drink. I had their blackened shrimp tacos topped with cabbage slaw, mango-pineapple salsa, and avocado crema. Very delicious. All of our meals were freshly prepared and had me craving for more!
101-N South OWA Blvd, Foley, AL 36535
Gulf Shore Beach
We let the storm pass before we walked onto the beach at our condo. The sand was like white powdery salt, and the ocean was turquoise blue and warm, which reminded me of the Caribbean. It was the perfect evening to enjoy playing in the sea. After playing in the water, we cleaned ourselves off and then took a dip in one of the two outdoor pools at the condo.
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| Frito Misto (Crispy Calamari, Crawfish, Okra, Squash, Pickles, Cajun Remoulade |
Perch
Perch is a seafood restaurant inside the State Park Lodge hotel that offers meticulously prepared meals with fresh, locally sourced ingredients accompanied by an unparalleled view of the gulf. I wanted to be adventurous and tried out swordfish for the first time. Swordfish taste was mild, yet not fishy, and a meaty texture. Swordfish is excellent for those that don't like a fishy taste. My dinner was the perfect way to end my day.
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| Swordfish with Fingerling Potato, King and Shiitake Mushroom, Butternut Puree, Marinated Tomatoes |
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| Spanish Style Braised Octopus with Purple Potato, and Grilled Bread |
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| Tropical Torte |
Woodside Restaurant
Woodside serves creative Southern cuisine and cocktails using the finest locally sourced ingredients. In addition, they feature live music and fun for all ages with their outdoor games. Unfortunately, we got there too late for breakfast, so I had their chicken sandwich meal. The sandwich was fresh, drizzled with Alabama's famous white sauce. For my side, it came with tater tots.
Tanger Outlets
I always end my trips with some retail therapy finding deals at Tanger Outlets. I scored some new summer outfits I'll wear on my next trip.
I felt so refreshed after my beach trip. I didn't have that feeling that I need a vacation from my vacation. Instead, I felt refreshed and ready to tackle the stuff I had at home.
Gulf Shores and surrounding beach towns hold a special place in my heart. I can't wait to return and enjoy another relaxing beach vacation!
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