Do you know the regulations in the Leave Only Footprints program in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach? It’s pretty basic: Any structures or equipment left on the beach an hour after sunset will be removed and disposed of by beach patrols. That includes chairs, tents and toys. Regulations also prohibit tents larger than 10 feet by 10 feet, as well as fireworks, pets and glass bottles. You can’t go wrong if you just leave the beach a little better than [...]
We’ve probably all done it: throw a torn-off piece of bread into the air for sea gulls to swoop down and catch in their beaks. In fact, it’s kinda fun. Cheetos and crackers, too. But the next time you are tempted to feed the birds, don’t. Just don’t. There are reasons for this. First, it’s dangerous to someone holding out their hand to the sharp peck of a gull’s beak. Second, it makes these beautiful creatures become a nuisance. They [...]
Even though Independence Day is now past, we know shooting off bottle rockets and Roman candles during summer vacation is fun. We get it. But shooting fireworks on the beach can be dangerous. Fireworks are involved in about 10,000 injuries treated in U.S. hospitals each year, and about 7,000 of those occur in the four weeks surrounding the Fourth of July. Fireworks also leave behind a mess. Those little pieces of paper litter the beach after a night of exploding, [...]
Does it ever sound like the sand is squeaking when you take a walk on Alabama beaches? There’s a very scientific explanation for why that happens. Squeaking - or whistling - sand is heard when quartz sand is well-rounded and shaped in spheres, according to Scientific American magazine. “The frequency of the sound is related to the mean grain size and the amplitude is controlled by the surface texture of the grains,” according to the article. “The loudest squeaking observed [...]
We want everyone who visits our Alabama beaches to be safe and healthy. It’s not hard, but it does take planning ahead. Here is a rundown of safety concerns and how to prepare yourself and your family. Avoid heat exhaustion or heatstroke. Any time you have hot temperatures like we do on the Alabama coast, there is a potential for heatstroke. To avoid the risk at the beach, drink plenty of liquids that are not alcoholic, like water or juice. [...]
A day may be sunny and the water beautiful, but high surf and/or strong currents can create a dangerous time to go into the Gulf of Mexico. When you visit the beach, you don’t want to take unnecessary risks. Yes, playing in those big waves can be fun, but be aware of the warnings. Take a few moments to learn about each color of the flag warning system. A yellow flag indicates a medium hazard. Proceed, but with caution. A [...]
When you get to the Alabama coast, you want to get out to the beach as quickly as possible. We understand that. One of the things you can do to make your trip smoother and more enjoyable is to leave the beach chairs and umbrellas at home. They just take up a lot of room in your vehicle. When you get to the beach, use a service such as Ike’s or Perdido Beach Services. You can rent chairs, umbrellas, and even kayaks [...]
Visitors to the Alabama coast love to watch dolphins and other marine life in the wild. It is truly an amazing, breathtaking sight to experience. Often, dolphins can be admired from the beach. But when we venture out on a boat, we humans can be too much for them. When we approach wild dolphins too closely, move too fast or make too much noise, we risk disturbing their natural behaviors such as migration, breathing, nursing, breeding, feeding and sheltering. No [...]
There are few things as relaxing as flying a kite. And a kite is a common sight on the beautiful Alabama beaches. March and April provide ideal wind conditions for this activity that entertains kids of all ages. (And by that, we mean adults, too!) Kite-flying equipment is pretty simple. You need a kite with a tail, some string, and a handle. That’s pretty much it - you are good to go! First thing you need to do is make [...]
So you are preparing to hit the beach. You know what to put in the beach bag, right? A beach towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, hat. Plenty of water and snacks. Maybe a good novel to read while you pass the time. But do you know what does not belong at the beach? There are items you need to leave out of that beach bag due to local, state or federal laws or ordinances that prohibit them. On the Alabama Gulf Coast, [...]
