Who’s Up for Some Beach Volleyball in July?

A year ago, the world was watching, and was completely enthralled by, beach volleyball in London—and many other sports too, of course. But those USA beach volleyball ladies simply dominated the event and made for some very exciting sports television.

If you’ve been missing that excitement this summer, then now might be a good time to plan to visit Gulf Shores & Orange Beach this month. We have a pretty exciting beach volleyball event coming up this month. First is the Gulf Coast Region Grand Championship Beach Volleyball on July 13^th, which will involve more than 100 young volleyball athletes competing for the Grand Championship title. Next is the Gulf Coast Region USA Beach Volleyball Series On July 20^th; junior and adult athletes will compete in this event. Both take place at Gulf Shores Public Beach—a perfect opportunity to spend the day on the beach watching some exciting beach volleyball. Now that’s a fun summer day at the beach!

Ever notice how simply watching a sport live makes you hungry? We have three excellent recommendations for some delicious Gulf Coast dining: DeSoto’s Seafood Kitchen, where you’ll find a nice variety of fresh seafood, chicken, salads, and more; Flippers Seafood & Oysterbar, which serves both fresh Gulf seafood and land-lover dishes; and The Gulf in Orange Beach, another good choice for good food.

All three are much-appreciated champion sponsors of the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission!

Celebrate the Fourth with Baseball and the Beach

Want to have some fun on July 4^th? Barbecues and fireworks are great on their own; combine them with the beach and a little baseball action and you have quite the Fourth of July celebration.

You won’t have a hard time finding the beach in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, and whether you decide to cookout at your Gulf-front condo or beach house or dine out at a fun beach-side restaurant, being near those white-sand beaches is sure to add a new level of enjoyment to the holiday. Then at night, be sure to catch one of the several fireworks displays planned for the area—whether its fireworks and the Spectra Light Show at The Wharf or the Independence Day Fireworks show at Gulf State Park.

You can also head over to the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sportsplexes to watch the USSSA Global Sports Baseball World Series. This event is currently going on and will still be taking place during the July 4^th holiday. Check out the upcoming baseball stars of tomorrow!

When you’re done there, you might consider a meal at the Compleat Angler Seafood Grille & Bar—delicious seafood gumbo, stunning Gulf Coast sunsets, and a generous Champion sponsor of the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission.

Tempted by the thought of this Independence Day scenario? Book a stay at the Country Hearth Inn, another Champion Sponsor. And since we’re thanking sponsors, let’s add Champion sponsor Coca-Cola to the acknowledgment list. The support of all three sponsors is much appreciated.

Baseball Fans: Head to the Gulf in June and July

Baseball, baseball, and more baseball (and even some softball)—it’s what you’ll find if you come to Gulf Shores & Orange Beach this month and next. Several USSSA sporting events are planned for June and July; all are worth checking out.

 

The ladies are up first, as the USSSA Fastpitch State Softball Tournament is scheduled for June 15^th and 16^th. Then beginning June 18^th is the USSSA Global Sports Baseball World Series 1—and the USSSA baseball fun just rolls on from there. The USSSA Global Sports Coach Pitch World Series, USSSA Global Sports Baseball World Series 2, USSSA Global Sports Baseball World Series 3…just take a look at the sporting events calendar for a complete list of upcoming USSSA events. (Softball does return on July 22^nd with the USSSA Softball “C” World Series.)

That’s a whole lot of activity! And whether you’re in town to play or watch, you’re bound to be doing a lot of running around (from your hotel/condo to the sports event and possibly to a Gulf Shores & Orange Beach attraction). This is where Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission Champion sponsor Beach Express can make life a little easier. This alternative to Highway 59 can save travel time by avoiding traffic lights and traffic congestion. Passes are available, too.

Hungry after all that running around? Champion sponsor Baumhower’s has a delicious menu—and a very fitting sports theme. Check them out at their Orange Beach location.

And while we’re talking sponsors, let’s recognize one more: Champion sponsor Centennial Bank. Thanks for all your support!

Looking for a Skate Park on the Gulf Coast?

Amid the baseball fields, softball fields, and basketball courts that make up Johnnie Sims Park in Gulf Shores sits another facility that many visitors might find interesting: a 6500-square-foot skate park.

Maybe you’re vacationing in the area, or maybe a family member or friend is competing at one of the park’s fields, and you’re looking for a place to exhibit your skating skills. Either way, with ten concrete skate ramps designed for skaters ranging in ability from beginner to advanced, the skate park is an ideal place for skaters of all levels. (And perhaps it’s time to bring some skating events to the Gulf Coast!)

Now that you’ve got the location, you need the look—head on over to the Tanger Outlets, Bronze sponsor of the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission, in Foley, where you’ll find great deals on your favorite fashions. And speaking of sponsors, it’s time to recognize to other Bronze sponsors: Tacky Jacks and the Shrimp Basket, two excellent places to eat when the skating fun is over. (The Shrimp Basket is also a good location for starting a race—like the First Annual Shrimp Basket Giving Run coming up on June 8^th!)

Thanks for the support!

Come to the Gulf for a Weekend of Fishing

This post is for the ladies—or more specifically, the lady anglers. Beginning tomorrow (May 10^th) is the 2013 Fishin Chix Pink Rubber Boots Ladies Fishing Rodeo at Holiday Harbor Marina. It’s a worthwhile event for a couple reasons. First of all, it benefits the Krewe du YaYas Keeping Abreast Foundation, which in turn benefits breast cancer—a very worthy cause right there.

Second, it’s all about having fun, whether you have fishing experience or not. Fishing out on the Gulf for two days followed by an awards ceremony and a party, open to the public…sounds fun, right? Whether you’re participating or simply want to watch, it’s sure to be a fun fishing weekend!

Of course you’ll need a place to stay and maybe a place to eat, and this time we’d like to recommend Microtel Inn & Suites and the Original Oyster House, both with locations in Gulf Shores—and both Bronze sponsors of the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission. We would also like to recognize South Baldwin RMC, another Bronze sponsor. Thanks to all three for their support!

Gulf Coast Sports Abound in May!

April is almost over, but the sports excitement in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach is not. May is a particularly active month down here on the Gulf, and two particularly exciting events are scheduled.

First up: the 2013 AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball Championship. If you love college sports and beach volleyball, this is the event for you. The best collegiate beach volleyball teams will compete for the title of Champion at Gulf Shores Public Beach at The Hangout, May 2^nd to 5^th—four days of beach volleyball fun!

Then on May 3^rd and 4^th is the AHSAA State Track Championship at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex. This event is all about Alabama high school track and field athletes—more than 1500 of them! Shot put, discus, pole vault, hurdles…you’ll see it all at this sporting event.

And this is just the first few days of May. The rest of the month is full of events like softball championships, fishing tournaments, and even a taekwondo event.

Thinking you’d like to come down and join in the fun? We’ll take this opportunity to highlight bronze sponsor Meyer Vacation Rentals—they can help set you up with a beach-front condo or beach house. Hungry after all the sports activity? Lester’s in Orange Beach and Lulu’s at Homeport Marina—also bronze sponsors—are excellent places to find delicious post-game food. Thanks to all three sponsors for their support!

Turn That Tennis Tournament into a Vacation Experience

In just a little more than a week (April 18 – 21), the 2013 Alabama Tennis Invitational, delivered by Spectrum Resorts, will descend upon Gulf Shores & Orange Beach. Whether you are playing or watching, this USTA tennis event is sure to be an exciting event.

It’s easy to see why Gulf Shores & Orange Beach is an ideal location for such a tennis event. There’s the George C. Meyer Tennis Center in Gulf Shores, with 12 hard-surface courts and 6 clay courts, and the Tennis Center in Orange Beach, which has 8 hard courts. And then there are the tennis courts at places like The Beach Club, Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club, and the Gulf Coast Tennis Center—which is where this latest tennis tournament will be played.

That’s just half the reason for holding a tennis—or any other sport—tournament here. Other reasons include the white-sand beaches, the variety of Gulf Coast activities, and just the fact that it’s a great vacation location—sports or no sports!

And with that in mind, we’d like to recognize a few of our Bronze sponsors who contribute to the vacation-friendliness of the area: Courtyard by Marriott in Gulf Shores and Island House Hotel, which are both excellent places to stay while visiting the area, and Honours Golf, which helps provide excellent golf experiences at places like Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club (perhaps a round of golf after the tennis tournament?).

Thanks to all three sponsors for their support!