Spring break will be here in no time, so it’s time to start making arrangements for the best one. Whether planning a trip with your family or friends, Alabama’s Gulf Coast is a beautiful place to spend your time away from home. TEarly planning is necessary to ensure everything goes smoothly and provides plenty of fun; doing so will also help keep costs down and ensure you get the reservations you want. We hope you’ll find the following tips helpful [...]
February 14 is just around the corner. Do you have plans with your partner yet? If not, no need to panic, as we have a great idea: Plan a beach date for Valentine’s Day! Gulf Shores and Orange Beach is the perfect place to spend time with your valentine. But it’s essential to plan your beach trip ahead of time, so let us help you make planning easier. Whether arranging a day trip, an overnight getaway, or a week’s worth [...]
When is the perfect time to start planning your beach getaway? Now! Planning ahead for your beach trip is key. Let us help you plan your trip to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach with Leave Only Footprints in mind. These five things will be beneficial for your getaway and will help you to be environmentally friendly. Shade Bring shade with you. Large umbrellas stored in bags with handles are easy to carry and provide shade from the sun while on [...]
Gulf Shores and Orange Beach always have some sort of entertaining activity or event happening. Even during the winter months, these cities are bustling with opportunities for fun. Yes, the fun here extends well beyond the beach! Events for all ages are happening in the coastal area this winter. Bingo Dinner shows Storytime at the City of Gulf Shores Public Library OWA weekly events Happy Hour Trivia Theatre productions Mardi Gras parades and activities Concerts If going to a specific [...]
Dolphins are animals that everyone is excited to see in the wild. They can be seen frequently from right here in the Gulf of Mexico off the Alabama coast. Even though you may see wild dolphins in the water, that does not mean you should approach them. Viewing the beautiful animals from a distance is important. If you get too close, move too quickly or make too much noise around dolphins, it can cause a disruption for them. This risks [...]
CONSERVATION: a careful preservation and protection of something. The new year means New Year’s resolutions. Whether you have your resolutions set or not, we have a New Year’s goal we hope you’ll add: being environmentally friendly at the beach and in your daily life! To be environmentally friendly at the beach, you can: Recycle the items that can be recycled. Throw away your trash. Bringing an extra bag for trash can be helpful in making sure the items that need [...]
As we finish off 2021, remember to Leave Only Footprints. Building this lifestyle is beneficial for the coastal environment and will ensure that generations to come will have the opportunity to appreciate the Alabama Gulf Coast. Below are some easy Leave Only Footprints reminders for your next trip to the beach. Avoid walking on beach vegetation and sand dunes. Explore away from bird nesting areas and other wildlife. Do not litter – gather and throw away your trash. Recycle what [...]
Sea oats are an important part of the ecosystem along the coast. These plants look like tall grass along the shore and form a natural storm protection. You will typically find sea oats on sand dunes, as they help the growth of the dunes by trapping the sand that is blown from the wind. Sand dunes are extremely fragile, so the sea oats play an important role in maintaining them; the deep roots help stabilize the dunes and prevent them [...]
Many of you have already gone out and picked your Christmas tree or are planning to do so in the near future. If you’re going to bring home a live tree for your seasonal celebrations, you may find yourself wondering what to do with it when the holidays are over. We are happy to share some tips on how to dispose of your tree, as well as how to upcycle/repurpose it yourself! Before doing anything with your tree after the [...]
When visiting the coast, you can’t help but notice the beautiful sand dunes along the beach. These dunes are important for the ecosystem, environment and cities. The natural growth of sea grasses, sea oats and shrubs helps hold them together by creating a root system that keeps the sand in place. Acting as a wall, sand dunes help protect beaches and property from damage from high winds, storm surges, waves and tides. The dunes are the first line of defense [...]
