Make it a Baseball Vacation on the Gulf This Spring

Go ahead and make plans now to be here in June: the USSSA Global World Series 1 will take place in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach beginning June 18^th. Over 150 youth elite baseball teams will compete in this tournament.

But first they must qualify in the USSSA Sandlot Lead Off Super NIT Baseball Tournament, which is scheduled for April 6^th and 7^th at the Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Foley Sportsplexes. Whether you’re an athlete in this event, know an athlete in this event, or simply want to watch the action, it’s a good reason to schedule an April trip to the Gulf.

And if you do decide to make a vacation out of it, you might consider staying at Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission bronze sponsor Caribe the Resort—lodge in a luxury condo, then dine at Cobalt, the resort’s five-star restaurant (and another bronze sponsor). Not too far away is another dining option—and another bronze sponsor: Cosmo’sRestaurant and Bar, where you can enjoy a meal that is “far from ordinary.”

A big thanks to all three sponsors!

Head to the Gulf for Thanksgiving This Year

It’s hard to believe how quickly it has arrived, but arrived it has: one week to go until Thanksgiving. This means that many of you will be making your way to Gulf Shores & Orange Beach soon to spend an unforgettable holiday vacation on the Gulf Coast.

Of course, the sports activity will continue right through the Thanksgiving holiday. November 17th brings a little beach volleyball action with the 2012 Gulf Coast Region USA Volleyball Beach Series—junior and adult volleyball players will compete on Gulf Shores Public Beach. Then on the Saturday after Thanksgiving (November 24th) is the 2012 Kaiser Realty Coastal Half Marathon, 5K, and 1 Mile Fun Run. Interested in burning off those extra pounds from your big feast? Take your pick of the 1-mile run, 5K run, or half marathon and hit the scenic running trails that will lead you through the Hugh S. Branyon Back Country Trail. (Or just come watch the race for fun!)

And beginning on November 26th is the 2012 NAIA Women’s Soccer National Championship—16 women’s soccer teams from around the country competing for the championship title. It’s hard to beat that kind of sports excitement!

Between all of this activity and the Thanksgiving holiday, you’ll want to stay somewhere comfortable and memorable. The area offers a variety of options, from national hotel chains to luxury condominiums—like Caribe the Resort in Orange Beach, a sponsor of the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission.

Not only does this Orange Beach resort offer luxurious accommodations, it also features amenities that are ideal for a Thanksgiving getaway, including hot tubs and indoor pools for those cooler days, full kitchens ideal for cooking a big meal, and as an alternative to cooking, a five-star restaurant with a water-front view from every seat.

Check out this and other Gulf accommodations on the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission website, and start planning that Thanksgiving getaway!

Cool Off With Caribe This Summer

Here we are halfway through July with August on the horizon. The “dog days” of summer are here, and it certainly feels like it in the South. Amid all the heat, several sports events are taking place in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach this month and next, including softball and baseball world series, a beach volleyball championship, and the Mark Gottfried Celebrity Golf Tournament.

Whether watching or participating in these events, having a place to cool off afterward is vital. And if you happen to be staying with Caribe the Resort, a Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission sponsor, you’re in luck—the resort has no shortage of swimming space. In addition to the 980-foot-long lazy river, Caribe also has three three-tier swimming pools—two with water slides—as well as an indoor heated pool at each tower. Caribe is also situated on Perdido Bay, giving guests plenty of access to the Gulf.

Though a big draw, water isn’t the only amenity the resort has to offer. Guests have access to three tennis courts, a putting green, two bocce ball courts, and a fitness center. The property also has a designated fishing dock and a “green space” for activities such as picnics, barbecues, and family lawn games.

The two-, three-, and four-bedroom condos are spacious and equipped with full gourmet kitchens, making them ideal for friends and family members—or teammates—to stay together.

Relax with Spectrum Resorts

Accommodations are an important factor in a successful vacation. It’s a great feeling to return to a comfortable, luxurious condo after a day spent in the sun, whether at the beach, touring the local sites, or attending an Alabama Gulf Coast sporting event. So it’s very appropriate that Spectrum Resorts is one of the Alabama Gulf Coast Sports Commission’s sponsors.

With three resorts to choose from—The Beach Club, Caribe the Resort, and Turquoise Place—Spectrum Resorts offers a number of lodging options, from one- to five-bedroom condos as well as charming, spacious beach cottages. Each property offers its own assortment of amenities and guest services, including several outdoor and indoor swimming pools, poolside cabanas and bars, fitness centers, lazy rivers, spa services, supervised child care, and novelties such as life-size chess (The Beach Club) and lawn bowling (Caribe).

All three locations also offer a variety of specials to enhance guests’ vacation experiences, including free concert tickets, resort credit, and packages that include guests’ choice of golf, fishing, shopping gift cards, and passes to places like Waterville USA and the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo.

The company also offers a no-payment-until-you-stay policy, and guests can cancel reservations up to 72 hours before their arrival with no penalty.