There’s no “R” in May, so can we eat raw oysters? Yes, you can eat raw oysters in the summer. The adage of “R” months can be traced all the way back to 1599. According to a New York Times article, an English cookbook warned people not to eat oysters in the summer months. That was probably a really good idea a few hundred years ago. In modern times, though, as long as the oysters are grown in healthy waters [...]
You’re headed to the trash can with a plastic container, but before you toss it, you think, “Can this be recycled?” First, kudos for thinking about recycling! Second, yes, more than likely it can be recycled, as long as the item doesn’t contain food residue, oil, aerosol, wax or Styrofoam. Leave Only Footprints encourages recycling at the beach. You will find recycle bins next to the trash cans on most public beaches. Small things like a little plastic container can add [...]
We all call Planet Earth our home. It’s our responsibility to take care of our home and ensure future generations have as lovely a place to live as we do. Earth Day, April 22, is a day for citizens to unite in the effort to protect the environment worldwide. The 2021 theme for Earth Day is Restore Our Earth. An idea announced by Senator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin led to the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970. Thanks to [...]
Since 1992, April has been recognized as Stress Awareness Month. The website National Today recommends three ways to observe Stress Awareness Month: Practice meditation. Silencing the mind is one of the most effective ways to deal with stress. Adding fresh air and exercise to your day helps with stress. Visit your doctor. We think the best place to be for the first two is Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. The Leave Only Footprints program ensures our beaches will stay pristine and [...]
Keeping Alabama’s coast clean is important for people and the environment. It’s also something everyone can do. The principles and beach rules of our Leave Only Footprints program ensure our environment is taken care of today and for future generations. With more than 5 million visitors to our beaches each year, it takes everyone’s cooperation to keep the coast clean and beautiful. What can you do to help? We’re glad you asked. Vegetation roots hold the dune system together. Avoid walking [...]
“Break the Grip of the Rip” is a popular graphic in coastal areas. Do you know how to spot the current and how to escape? Rip currents are narrow, strong currents that flow away from the beach and account for more than 30,000 rescues a year nationwide. These dangerous currents can be found anywhere there are breaking waves and even around piers and jetties. With spring break and summer just around the corner, we want you to know how to [...]
Are you ready for spring break? After a crazy year and cold winter, we’re all ready to get out and bask in the sunshine and white sand in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Following the Leave Only Footprints program is the way to make sure future generations will enjoy the same beautiful beaches we do today. As you plan your spring break trip, please become familiar with the following tips and guidelines to ensure the beach experience is pleasant for [...]
The 2021 festival season is about to take off in Coastal Alabama! Leading the way is the 47th Orange Beach Festival of Art on March 13 and 14. This free festival is considered the island’s first rite of spring. More than 100 artists will be onsite at the Coastal Arts Center, exhibiting and selling their wares in a variety of media during the two-day event. In addition to the impressive visual arts, you’ll experience wonderful performance arts of all kinds [...]
The wonders of nature are all around us. During a stroll on the beach, you may find a treasure trove of shells in one location. A little farther down the beach, a stack of driftwood might have been left by the last high tide. You may even find a hermit crab taking up residence in a shell. All of these coastal treasures are fascinating and seem like good souvenirs of a beach vacation. But if it belongs to the beach, it should stay on the beach. That pile of shells [...]
Coastal Alabama is rich with beautiful scenery and an abundance of wildlife. The smell of salt water, the sounds of the gulls and the waves, and the sugar-white sand are all a part of the beach experience. To keep our beaches and coastal area healthy and inviting, we ask our visitors to help by following the Leave Only Footprints program. Respecting the area’s wildlife is another way to make sure the coast is a fun place to visit. The seagulls may look friendly, but [...]
