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Vriginia Beach Virginia

2008-07-27T08:22:00.000-07:00

Virginia Beach Virginia More Than a Beach Town

From beach to bay, sand to sidewalk, Virginia Beach, Virginia is way more than your average beach town, it's a GREAT East Coast Atlantic Ocean Beach. The award winning board walk and bike path run the entire length of the beach. At three miles long, it's the worlds longest pleasure beach. Rent a bike, walk or blade... and much more

The beach itself couldn't be any nicer, it's wide with great sand and life guards along it's entire length.

Virginia Beach is located on the Atlantic East coast of Virginia and is a little further south than the shore in New Jersey and Maryland. Being a little further away from the big cities means less traffic and less people, although the beach sure was full on the 4th of July. It's about 100 miles south of the beach in Ocean City, Maryland, which is another east coast beach worth visiting. Virginia beach attracts over three million people each year.

Between the ocean and bays, Virginia Beach has over 35 miles of shoreline for your vacation enjoyment. Take a break from the beach and walk the nature center at the Landing State Park which is located at the North end of Virginia Beach and is the most visited State Park in Virginia.

Start your day with a walk, jog or bike ride along the three mile boardwalk. As the sun rises and it gets later in the morning families poor from the beach front hotels. The beach transforms into a myriad of colors as people spread their beach towels and umbrellas.

The oceanfront is a flurry of activity all day. Bikini beach walkers, families renting and riding bicycle surreys, bikini roller bladers (the guys are normally in shorts) and teens of all ages walk the boardwalk.

At night Beach Street USA takes over and transforms the bikini beach oceanfront into an entertainment festival. Fireworks, musicians and comedians fill the street with great free entertainment all summer long.

Activities in Virginia Beach

There's so much to do here in Virginia Beach... if you don't like the beach:
* Play golf on one of many championship golf courses.
* Kayak through pristine coastal marshes.
* Swim with dolphins.
* Fish off the causeway, beach or charter a boat.
* Parasail high above Virginia Beach
* Go on a Jet ski excursion.
* High Powered Speed Boat Tours.
* Rent bicycles or a bicycle surrey (4 wheel bicycle cart) for two or the family.

If you like history, you'll love it here as it's the landing spot to some of Americas first settlers.

Entertainment along Atlantic Avenue in Virginia Beach

Head down to the beach every night and be entertained by different street acts. They have an amphitheatre/stage at 17th Street where bands and entertainers play. They also have all kinds of acts along Atlantic Avenue from 15th Street to 20th Street. Duets, pop, rock, barbershop... are just some of the groups to choose from. My families favorite was a smart A__ German Juggler / Comedian, very funny!

From 4th (South) to 40th (North) Street, where to find things

The board walk and beach run along a stretch from 4th Street where there is a public parking lot to 40th street at the North end of Virginia Beach. The main north/south street is Atlantic Avenue. The East side of Atlantic Avenue has a string of hotels which all back up to the Virginia Beach Board Walk and Bicycle path. On the east side of Atlantic Avenue you'll find all kinds of beach shops, restaurants and other stores.

I'm guessing there are easily fifty hotels on Atlantic Avenue that back right up to Virginia Beach. Many of them have restaurants, so stroll off the beach, across the board walk (watch out for bikes) and enjoy anyone of the many restaurants. I didn't check the signs, but I'm pretty sure bikinis are welcome in most.

One block west of Atlantic Avenue is Pacific Avenue (not quite separated by the continent), which is also Route 50 and turns into General Booth Boulevard once you cross the causeway south of 4th street. This is a little faster bypass to head North and South if you don't want people watch along Atlantic Ave.

4th Street
City Parking Lot

5th Street
Causeway over the ocean inletAll tour boats, charters, parasail companies... just before the causeway

9th Street
Parking

12th Street
Dewitt Cottage and Wild Fowl Museum

15th Street
Ocean PierPier Food MartPier Rides

17th Street
Stage and Amphitheatre

19th Street
Parking North and South

24th Street
Parking24th Street StageOld Coast Guard Station Museum

31st Street
Neptunes Park with King Triton Statue

Camping in Virginia Beach

There are plenty of choices for camping in Virginia Beach, many are on General Booth Boulevard (Route 50), over the causeway and a couple of miles South of 4th Street. Bring your bikes, it's pretty flat in Virginia Beach which makes for an easy ride to the south end of the board walk (4th Street). The only hill was back over the causeway. Or if you prefer, you can catch the wave (bus) right at camp ground store and have them drop you off down town. The KOA her is big with a couple of pools, there was also a Good Sam park right across the street.

Virginia Beach and the surrounding area are rich in history, culture and most importantly fun! World class museums, historic sites, amusement parks and entertainment venues. All this with the beautiful back drop of and endless ocean and peaceful bay make Virginia Beach one of the finest seaside getaways in the country.

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Gulf Shores Zoo

2008-06-24T20:00:00.000-07:00

The Gulf Shores Zoo is tucked away just a few blocks from the Gulf Shores bikini beach. It sits on 30 acres with almost 300 animals including lions, tigers, bears, monkeys and macaws. Give your young ones a break from the beach and enjoy the petting zoo, reptile house, aviary (bird house) and daily animal shows.

Gulf Coast Zoo Educational Programs

School Groups: Thousands of students and chaperones visit the Gulf Shores Zoo every year. Discount admissions are available to school groups.

School group tours include:

An educational animal program for students
Animal keepers give an informal talk about some of the animals
Animals are taken through the audience for an up close look
Programs can also be tailored for special needs groups.

Let them bring the zoo to your school, church or living center. Zoo keepers bring animals from the Gulf Coast Zoo to your facility allowing you to learn about these exotic animals outside the zoo environment.

Do you love animals and think you want a career working with them? The Gulf Shores Zoo offers a job shadowing program for qualifying candidates. Spend a half day or a whole week... contact the zoo for more details.

If you happen to be on vacation in Gulf Shores, you might consider sending your kids (5 to 12 years old) to Zoo Camp. It's a week long educational day camp is where children learn about exotic animals, enjoy games and animal-related activities, and participate in hands-on projects.

Help out the Gulf Shores Zoo

The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo relies solely on admissions, memberships and contributions to remain in business. So far the local community has been very generous with donations of services, building suppliers and money. They also receive funding through sponsorships, grants, and endowments from major corporations. Give what you can.

The Gulf Shores Zoo was donated by the Ward family and opened in 1989 as a zoo land animal park. The Gulf Coast Zoo Foundation was formed as a non-profit corporation and it's board of directors still run the zoo.

Admission and Hours at the Gulf Shores Zoo

The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo is open from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM every day, except for Thanksgiving, New Year's Day and Christmas. Make sure to call the zoo to make sure their hours haven't changed.

These were the admission rates in 2007:

Adults (12-54) $8.80 (tax included)
Seniors (55+) $6.60 (tax included)
Children (3-12) $6.00 (tax included)
Children 2 and Under Free

MapIt! Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, 1204 Gulf Shores Parkway, Gulf Shores, AL 36542

Phone: 251-968-5731

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USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park

2008-06-23T19:30:00.000-07:00

Just west of Gulf Shores on the shore of Mobile Bay is the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, which some say is one of America's best military parks.

In addition to the Battleship USS Alabama (BB-60), you can tour many other military boats and airplanes. Climb aboard the submarine USS Drum (SS-228) and see what it was like to brave the deep sea aboard a navy submarine. If you prefer the air, they've got planes...the "Calamity Jane", a B-52D bomber, or a P-51D Mustang, part of the Tuskegee Airmen's air fleet. Ever hear of the A-12 Blackbird spy plane? They've got one of these also.

Tanks, guns, patrol boats too... If your a military buff, this is a great place to spend a few hours.

The Battleship Memorial Park has an air-conditioned aircraft pavilion, flight simulator ride, historical videos, gift shop and snack bar. So leave the Gulf Shores Beach behind and take a step into history.

Take a day off from the beach, leave your bikini
and beach umbrella behind and visit the Battleship Memorial Park and the USS Alabama.

Map-It! USS Alabama, 2703 Battleship Parkway, Mobile, AL 33601

Directions: Highway 90/98 just off Interstate 10, Exits 27 or 30

USS Alabama Phone: 251-433-2703

Open most days from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, but call for seasonal hours

The History of the USS ALABAMA (BB 60)

There have been many generations of ships assigned the Alabama name. The first gun ship named Alabama... well... was almost assigned the name, was in 1819. This 74 gun battle ship was suppose to have the name Alabama was renamed the New Hampshire just before it was commissioned. A Revenue Cutter, U.S. Steamer, Side wheel steamer and the Legendary Confederate Raider CSS Alabama all were predecessors to the USS Alabama battle ship.

Considering this heritage was the Alabama BB-8, a 1st Rate Class battleship, commissioned October 1900 she was part of the Great White Fleet. After the USB Alabama BB-60 came the USS Alabama SSBN-731, a ballistic missile submarine which still patrols as a deterrent to nuclear attack.

The USS Alabama (BB-60), which is the USS Alabama battleship on display at the Battleship Memorial Park, was built over a two year period at the Norfolk Navy Yard. This South Dakota Class battleship was launched in February 1942. Captain George Wilson, USN, assumed command of this ship when it was commissioned.

The USS Alabama was clearly a fighting name to live up to, the Battleship USS ALABAMA BB-60 did it will. Her shakedown training in November 1942 took her through a series of trials, exercises, and drills which were conducted in the Chesapeake Bay and Casco Bay areas.

In 1943, under the command of Captain Fred Kirtland, USN, the USS Alabama BB-60 cleared the Panama canal and reported for duty in the Pacific ocean as part of the Pacific Third Fleet at Efate, New Hebrides. Through the remainder of WWII, she and her crew were involved in many battles through out the Pacific.

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Best Western on the Beach - Gulf Shores

2008-03-09T07:38:00.000-07:00

Come enjoy the beach on Alabama’s Gulf Coast and stay at the Best Western on the Beach. It's an award winning three diamond hotel. It's a high rise hotel with all the amenities you would expect including, two pools and private balconies overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.

All guest rooms at the Best Western on the Beach have a king or queen size bed and in room coffee. Some are available with a kitchenette and if your celebrating a wedding or anniversary, you might want to ask for the honeymoon suite.

Amenities

Of course a bikini beach on the Gulf of Mexico for your relaxation:

Indoor pool and Jacuzzi
Beach front outdoor pool
Island Pancake House Restaurant with a bikini beach view
Hi-speed internet is also available upon request
Free parking

Island Pancake House in the Best Western on the Beach

Enjoy full service oceanfront dining for breakfast, lunch or dinner at the Island Pancake House. The Island Pancake House is in the Best Western on the Beach with an ocean front view. They've got an affordable children's and senior menu with some delicious desserts! Treat yourself to a hassle free, truly scrumptious breakfast on the beach.

Try some of these breakfasts on the beach. Succulent Seafood Omelets, Blueberry Pecan Pancakes or go hog wild with their sensational thick-sliced country style bacon and eggs or pancakes just about any way you could imagine. Whatever you choose, you'll be guaranteed to experience the best breakfast on the beach at Island Pancake House.

The Best Western on the Beach is a great getaway
A visit to Gulf Shores offers the perfect balance of non-stop activity or lay around and do nothing. Putter around a bit on one of the championship Gulf Shores golf courses. Cast your line for deep-sea adventure on a charter fishing trip. Travel back in history with a visit to Fort Morgan, the site of the Civil War Battle of Mobile Bay. Commune with Mother Nature as you hike through one of Alabama's wildlife areas and gaze at gators and shorebirds.

Other area attractions include; Cotton Creek Golf Course , USS Alabama, Bellingrath Gardens, Gulf Coast Zoo, Riviera Factory Stores, and the Naval Aviation Museum
Call around, I think you'll find better rates than the The Best Western on the Beach. They have some great rooms that won't cost you a fortune.

Unfortunately no pets allowed

Map It! Best Western on the Beach, Hwy. 182 East Beach Blvd., Gulf Shores, AL 36542
Phone: 800-788-4557

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Welcome to Bellingrath Gardens and Home!

2008-03-08T06:54:00.000-08:00

If you're a flower lover or gardener, you'll definitely appreciate the abundance and array of colors, fragrances and scenic views that await you at Bellingrath Gardens! The gardens around the Bellingrath home are in bloom throughout the year. You can find camellias in the winter, azaleas in the spring, roses in the summer and chrysanthemums in autumn. This 65 acre Bellingrath garden estate is truly one of the gems in Gulf Shores Alabama.

Bellingrath Gardens was ranked one of the top public rose gardens in 2004.

If you happen to be in Gulf Shores at Christmas, Bellingrath Gardens almost looks magical with it's Christmas light display.

The walking tours are self guided, so take your time and take in:
Bayou Boardwalk
Mirror Lake
Behold the Great Lawn
Asian-American Garden
The Butterfly Garden
The Bellingrath Home
Cruise the Fowl River aboard the Southern Belle
Any many more formal gardens and terraces...

The Bellingrath Garden Tour

The Bellingrath Gardens were the creation of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Bellingrath. Walter was looking for place to fish and hunt and Mrs. Bellingrath preferred gardening over the local bikini beach... Oh ya, no bikini's on the beach back in the day, the real reasons below. The publics first glimpse of the Bellingrath Gardens came in 1932 when a national garden club meeting was held in Mobile.

Mr. Bellingrath placed an ad in the Mobile paper, announcing that anyone who would like to see the spring garden could do so free of charge. The response from the visitors was overwhelming. Five thousand visitors stormed the gates. Police had to be called in to manage the crowd. This success positioned the Bellingraths to open the gardens for public viewing during the summer months.

The Bellingrath Estate started as a fishing camp with a couple of dilapidated shacks. Over the years improvements were made, the shacks turned into a lodge with screened porches...and eventually the Bellingrath home was built. The Bellingrath Garden evolved from Mrs. Bellingrath's love for flowers and an inspirational trip to Europe where she gained a deep appreciation for the beautiful estates and gardens there... she had to have one.

For us snow birds, winter is a great time to tour the Bellingrath gardens. This winter wonderland (no snow) features tulips, snapdragons, pansies, ornamental cabbage and kale, camellias, daffodils, poppies... and more. On Wednesdays in Jan. and Feb. you can learn more about winter gardens along the Gulf Coast.

Spring is spectacular in the Bellingrath gardens, probably the most beautiful time of the year. They have over 200,000 azaleas, hydrangeas, Easter lilies, impatiens, salvia, fuchsia, geraniums and more.

If spring is spectacular, than summer is sensational. The warm summer days of southern Alabama bring blooms of allemandes, hibiscus, copper plants, begonias, ornamental peppers, bougainvillea, caladiums, coleus, vinca, marigolds and more. An outstanding rose garden has over 2,000 roses in 75 varieties

You get the picture... It's beautiful here all year long with more flowers than you can imagine

Tour the Bellingrath Home

The Bellingrath Home is complete with all the original furnishings and extensive collection of decorative arts. This English Renaissance home was built in 1935. This mammoth, 10,500 square foot home was designed by one of the most prominent architects of the day, George B. Rogers.

Flagstone terraces, a slate roof and figural copper downspouts join with a central courtyard, balconies and covered galleries to give the Home a Gulf Coast flair. The intent of the architect was to present the Bellingrath house as a home and not a mansion (which it obviously is).
The Bellingrath Home is the only Alabama property to be featured on the popular America’s Castles series on A&E.

Last check showed tours of the Bellingrath Home every half hour from 9 AM to 4 PM. Obviously they stay open later around Christmas for the lighting display.

Fowl River Cruise
Take a break from the walking tour, and climb aboard the Southern Belle for a 45 minute river cruise. Relax as you learn about birding habits, ecological systems and the civil war history of the area. The Southern Belle departs daily from Bellingrath Gardens and the Bellingrath Home between March and November.

The Southern Belle offers dinner cruises on Friday and Saturday nights through most of the year. It's also available for private cruises and charters. The main deck is air conditioned while the upper deck is open for a better scenic view as you cruise the river. Dinner dress is casual. Try it, it's a nice night out. I think the price is around $50 per person and a cash bar is available.
You may want to call 251-973-2217 for more information, seasonal availability and departure times.

Map It! 12401 Bellingrath Gardens Road, Theodore, Alabama 36582

Phone: 800-247-8420

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Bella Terra RV Resort - Gulf Shores

2008-03-02T08:16:00.000-08:00

Bella Terra RV Resort is a new upscale camping resort in Gulf Shores. This beautiful luxury RV resort is located just fives minutes from the sugar white sands of the Gulf of Mexico. They'll are certainly leveraging everything Gulf Shores has to offer. So if your tired of Gulf Shores State park , check out this new park.

Leave your pop-ups, tents and trailers at home, this is an exclusive Class A motor coach resort. All of the RV lots in the park are oversized for your big rigs. As you would expect, everything is nicely landscaped with many other amenities in the park.

Unfortunately they don't have a typical campground rental office so you'll have to rent directly from a lot owner. Not sure when they will have a managed rental pool set up.

This isn't just camping, it's and RV resort. Escape, enjoy, rest and relax at Bella Terra RV Resort.
Residents and visitors of this wonderful luxury RV resort in Gulf Shores have access to (some are still in development) a complete suite of amenities, including:

Resort Style Pools With Jacuzzis And Children’s Water-Play land
Lake Fully Stocked with Fish
Clubhouse
Movie Theater
Gathering House
Fire pits
Luxurious private bath houses
Lighted Nature Trails
Concierge Service
Organized Events
On-Site General Store
On-Site Laundry Facilities
State-of-the-art Business Center
Fully appointed Fitness Center
Tennis, bocce ball, putting greens, horseshoes, volleyball and shuffle board

Map It: Bella Terra RV Resort, 21642 Brinks Willis Rd, Foley, AL 36535

Phone: 866-417-2416

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Craft Farms Golf Resort - Gulf Shores

2008-02-03T06:55:00.000-08:00

If you're on vacation in Gulf Shores, and an avid golfer, you've got to play Craft Farms Golf Resort. These two championship courses were designed by Arnold Palmer. You can golf and your family can hang at the beach. The resort is just minutes from the white sandy beaches along the Alabama Gulf Coast.

The two courses at Craft Farms Golf Resort are Cotton Creek and Cypress Bend. If you've played the Robert Trend Jones Golf Trail, these two courses are very different and will give your clubs a whole new look. Cotton Creek has a more traditional layout while the Cypress Bend course has a more winding resort style. Once you play them, I'm sure you'll join the ranks of the Craft Farms loyalists who return to play year after year.

So if you looking to compliment a perfect beach vacation in Gulf Shores and are a diehard golf enthusiast, go play one of the courses at Craft Farms Golf Resort. You can also plan a golf trip and stay here with your golf buddies. You won't find bikinis here, as you might have guessed it's against the dress code, but there only a short drive away.

Craft Farms offers golf packages with a select group of quality accommodations in the Gulf Shores area. Beachfront condominiums, luxurious homes overlooking the Gulf of Mexico or a quiet back bay lodging are all available. If you don't mind a little road trip, it's just two hours to the Mississippi casinos.

Give them a call and see how the golf team at Craft Farms Golf Resort can help with you golf and vacation plans.

Golf Digest gave Craft Farm Golf Resort 4 1/2 stars.

Map It: 3840 Cotton Creek Blvd, Gulf Shores, AL 36542

Phone: 800-327-2657

Gulf Shores is home to the National Shrimp Festival every October

2008-01-31T19:44:00.000-08:00

Held the second full weekend in October, the annual Gulf Shores National Shrimp Festival shouldn't be missed. Here you will enjoy arts, crafts a retail marketplace and of course... Shrimp.

The National Shrimp Festival, which started in 1971 attracts over 300,000 visitors.
They wander through over 300 vendors booths checking out the fine arts and crafts from over 200 artists. The shrimp lovers come from miles around, making it one of the nation's premier outdoor festivals.

Music, to your ears. With two stages, your guaranteed continuous music from various musicians playing all kinds of music from jazz, blue grass, pop...

Shrimp of all kinds and flavors, raw, boiled, broiled, Cajun, dipped...certainly a great southern shrimp feast. If your not a shrimp fan, come anyways. They've got lots of other seafood and
American fair.

Bring the kids! They've got a great Children's Activity Village where they make their own
arts and crafts. They also have other fun activities to keep the little one's busy (and happy).

Are you a runner? If so, think about joining the 10 k run which kicks off the National Shrimp Festival every year. The course is pretty flat, so it offers a great opportunity for runners of all skill levels.

There is something for everyone at the Festival thanks to the Alabama Gulf Coast Area Chamber of Commerce, who tirelessly work and plan all year long to put on this festival.