Ride into Fall at the Beach, and Make It a Real Beach Vacation

Summer is coming to an end, and fall is close at hand—two great seasons for vacationing on the Gulf. And we have the perfect Gulf Shores & Orange Beach event coming up to wrap up one season and begin the next: the MS Ride-Tour de Beach.

Taking place right at the turn of the season, September 20^th – 22^nd, participants can literally ride from summer into fall. Cyclists can engage in 25-, 45-, or 75-mile bike rides that begin and end at the Hampton Inn in Orange Beach. If you participate in the event, you get to enjoy a massage after your ride, delicious food at the bike MS lounge, and an awards banquet. If you don’t participate, you could still come out to watch and support the event—it’s for a good fundraising cause, after all.

And while you’re in town for this Orange Beach bike event—participating or not participating—why not make it a true Gulf Coast vacation? Just book a room somewhere and plan to stay a little longer. Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission Champion sponsor Perdido Beach Resort is nearby in Orange Beach and offers some top-notch accommodations and fun resort activities like tennis, indoor/outdoor pools, and a health club.

Ready to venture away from the Gulf-front resort? It’s a great time of year for fishing and boating, and Champion sponsor Reel Surprise Charters at SanRoc Cay can set up this type of excursion. And not too far away at The Wharf is Champion sponsor Sand Dollar Lifestyles—an excellent choice for beach shopping.

Two other Champion sponsors can help fill the void that will likely develop after such an active day: Rhythm &Ribs and Sea-N-Suds Restaurant, both in Gulf Shores, offer some seriously delicious food.

And since we’re recognizing Champion sponsors, let’s add one more: Kutter’s Grounds Maintenance. Thanks to all of these sponsors for their support!

Cycling for a Cause

If you enjoy cycling and want to contribute to a good cause, you’ll want to check out the upcoming MS Ride: Tour de Beach, taking place on September 24th and 25th in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach.

Not only can participating cyclists expect to challenge themselves with a 150-mile ride, they’ll also be helping out the Alabama-Mississippi chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, as all proceeds from this fundraiser will benefit this organization.

Whether you’re riding in the event, volunteering to help out, or simply cheering on the cyclists, it’s sure to be an exhilarating and rewarding experience. To make the event that much more enjoyable, you might consider lodging during those two days at Hampton Inn & Suites in Orange Beach, one of the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission’s sponsors and the host site for the event.

The MS Ride begins and ends at the Hampton Inn, making it a convenient location for lodging during the event. In addition, the hotel offers Gulf-front views, comfortable rooms, a business center, fitness room, and a pool. After a couple of long days of cycling, easy access to the Gulf and a pool is a big benefit!

Cycling Events

Bicycling is an exhilarating activity all on its own. The physical stamina required and the feeling of freely breezing along from point A to point B make it a very rewarding sport. But if you’re a cyclist looking for something extra in a cycling event, you’ll want to check out two events coming up.

The 2010 MS Ride-Tour de Beach, taking place September 18th to 19th, is a two-day cycling event and MS fundraiser with two challenges: biking 150 miles and raising as much money for MS as possible.

Then the 2010 Ride for Wishes takes place October 1st to 3rd. Also a two-day event, this fundraiser supports the wish-granting efforts in Alabama. And participants of varying levels can choose their cycling distance: from 17 miles to 100 miles.

It’s a good month for experiencing the rewards of biking and helping others. Check out these and other events at the Alabama Gulf Coast Sports Commission website.