I grew up vacationing with my family in Gulf Shores. We looked forward to our summer vacation all year and counted the days between the end of school and the day we would pile in the brown station wagon for the 12 hour adventurous drive to the Gulf. My brothers and I would spend magical days digging holes in the sand, creating sand castle villages, flying kites, running the beach, and splashing in the buoyant and warm waters of the Gulf. At that time, there was a giant swing on the beach and I was convinced you could touch the sky if you tried hard enough... I definitely gave it my best! By the time dusk fell, the smell of shrimp boiling or fresh fish baking assured big appetites and tired kids. However, not wanting to miss a single moment of our week, we would always hold out for a post-dinner stargazing session or a night-time "crab hunt" with flashlights on the beach. I had so much fun with my parents and siblings during those days. The memories will stay with me forever and provides a great comfort to me "several" decades later.
Flash forward to 2007 and another stage of life entirely. A dear friend shared with me the "great find" she and her husband had uncovered. A beautiful beach.... all the modern amenities one could want... yet not overly crowded like some of the FL beaches she had visited. Had I ever hear of Gulf Shores, AL?!
That friend went on to purchase a property in Gulf Shores... and my husband & I (two young kids in tow) spent a good deal of time with them there. It wasn't long before we knew we also had to find our own spot to share. We looked long and hard for the perfect combination of city and country.... a location with activities for multi-generational families. in a setting that maintains tranquility for all.