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!

Soccer Semifinals

Only two days are left in the NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship. It’s been an exciting run this week, with two teams remaining undefeated all the way through so far and host team Mobile pulling out a win with only 58 seconds left in the quarterfinals.

But we’re not done yet. The semifinals begin on Friday, with Notre Dame and Mobile playing at 4 p.m. and Hastings and William Jewell playing at 6 p.m. Then the two semifinal winners will play in the final game on Saturday at 7 p.m.

It’s sure to be an exciting weekend for sports fans. Be there live to see which teams will advance to the finals!

Fishing, Marathon, and Soccer Fun

The weather may be cooling down, but the sports action along the Alabama Gulf Coast is not. We start this month with the 2010 Inshore Fishing Association Redfish Tour Championship, which takes place November 4th to 6th and involves anglers from six regions competing for the national championship title. Then on November 11th to 13th is the Inshore Fishing Association Redfish Tour Kayak Championship—anglers competing from kayaks in Orange Beach.

Those looking for a fun way to burn off their Thanksgiving dinners might consider signing up for the Kaiser Realty Coastal Half Marathon, 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run. These races take place November 27th starting at the Orange Beach Sportsplex. Runners will make their way down the scenic Hugh Branyon Back Country Trail, along the Beach Road overlooking the Gulf, and back to the Orange Beach Sportsplex.

Ending the month is the NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championships in Orange Beach, which is sure to be an exhilarating week of soccer!