Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Is the Place to Be for Softball Next Month

If there’s one thing March is bringing to Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, it’s sports—softball in particular. (Of course, March will bring much more than that, including warmer spring-like weather!)

Kicking off the softball frenzy—and bringing attention to a worthy cause—is the 2013 Dolphin Classic Softball Tournament – Breast Cancer Awareness, which takes place this Friday and Saturday, March 1^st and 2^nd, at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex. With 20 high school softball teams competing in this tournament, it’s sure to be an exciting event.

Other upcoming March softball events include the NAIA and the University of Mobile Gulf Coast Invitational (March 8^th – 10^th), the Gulf Coast Classic I (March 11^th – 13^th), the Gulf Coast Classic II (March 18^th – 20^th), and the Gulf Coast Classic III (March 25^th – 27^th) softball tournaments.

Thinking of coming down to catch all the action? You’ll want a place to stay—preferably someplace comfortable, close to the beach, and with excellent amenities. Our Silver sponsors, Coast 360 and Fairfield Inn & Suites Orange Beach, can both help. For that, a special thanks is in order for these sponsors—and for providing support to the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission!

The Gulf Coast is Heating Up with Warmer Weather and Sports Events

With cold weather and snow storms gripping many parts of the country these days, many of you are probably looking for a warm-up right about now. We still have a little more than a month before the official start of spring, but if you come down to Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, you’re likely to find an early taste of the warmer season.

The weather is looking good these days, with temperatures averaging in the 60s (and sometimes higher!). And if you really want to heat things up while you’re here, check out one of the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission sporting events scheduled for this month—like the 2013Island Cup Soccer event taking place February 22^nd and 23^rd. Twenty-six high school soccer teams will compete for the Island Cup Soccer title at the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Sportsplexes. It’s sure to be an exciting weekend for soccer and general sports fans!

Other February sports events include the 20^th Annual Gulf Coast Classic Volleyball Tournament (February 23^rd – 24^th) and the Cheertech Orange Beach Nationals—a cheerleading competition taking place February 23^rd at The Wharf.

And let’s offer up a special thanks to The Wharf, not only for hosting the Cheertech event, but also for being a Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission gold-level sponsor. Thanks also goes to the Flora-Bama Lounge, another gold sponsor. Thanks for all your support!

Keep That New Year’s Resolution Going—Participate in a Gulf Coast Race!

The first month of the new year is coming to an end, and for many of us this marks an important milestone in the success of a popular New Year’s resolution: getting in shape. If you’ve done really well with this resolution, you might consider rewarding yourself with a trip to Gulf Shores & Orange Beach—and put your in-shape self to the test by registering for an upcoming running event.

Coming up just next month (February 15^th to 16^th) is the 2013 Sweetheart 5k Run/Walk at The Hangout. Or if you need a little longer to prepare, the 2013 Bunny Hop Run is scheduled for April 6^th at The Wharf.

If a Gulf Shores running event is sounding like an appealing option, perhaps now is the time to kick the workout regimen into high gear and invest in a good pair of running shoes (if you haven’t already). As the big race approaches, drink lots of water and get plenty of rest. And on the day of the race, be sure to eat a light breakfast and dress in light, comfortable clothing.

A special thanks goes to The Hangout, not only for hosting the Sweetheart 5k Run/Walk, but also for providing Platinum level sponsorship to the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission. And thanks to our other Platinum sponsors—Kaiser Realty, Inc. by Wyndham VacationRentals® and Spectrum Resorts.

Plan a Gulf Coast Winter Vacation, and Plan to Get in Shape

It’s that wonderful time of year again—time for giving, time for visiting with friends and family, and time for indulging in one of the season’s best offerings: holiday treats.

With all the delicious dishes served this season, indulgence is common practice for many of us right now, followed by the common New Year’s resolution to lose weight and get in shape. Plan a January trip to Gulf Shores & Orange Beach and you can start that resolution off right with the 2013 Gulf Coast Half Marathon Series on January 13th. This 13.1-mile run is an excellent way to motivate yourself back into a healthy, fit frame of mind. Plus you’ll get to enjoy some spectacular Gulf Coast views and a post-race party at LuLu’s at Homeport.

It’s a good reason to plan a Gulf Shores & Orange Beach vacation, and planning a vacation in the area is easy enough, thanks to Gulf Shores vacation rental companies like Meyer Vacation Rentals, a sponsor of the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission.

This company rents a variety of Gulf Shores & Orange Beach condominiums and beach houses. Finding the perfect beach accommodations is easy enough—simply visit the Meyer Vacation Rentals website and perform a search according to arrival and departure dates, accommodations type (condo or house), view, specific location, and even specials.

And speaking of specials, the company’s big special right now is 50% off a four-night stay in December. With this type of savings, why wait until January? Book that Gulf vacation and head down this month instead. (You might even make it in time for the Gulf Shores Christmas Basketball Tournament on December 20th – 22nd!)

Fall is the Perfect Time for Golf and Other Sports on the Gulf

Just because the weather has turned colder does not mean sports are out of the question—particularly if you venture down to Gulf Shores & Orange Beach. The action is still going strong thanks to three upcoming sports events scheduled for December: the Tourbeau College Soccer Showcase (December 3rd-7th), the USSSA Fall All State Baseball Tournament (December 8th and 9th), and the Gulf Shores Christmas Basketball Tournament (December 20th-22nd).

And there’s one other sport that warrants a trip to the Gulf: golf. While other areas of the country are growing too cold for an enjoyable round of golf, Gulf Shores & Orange Beach is experiencing mild, comfortable temperatures that are perfect for golf. In addition to ideal weather, the area offers a range of scenic golf courses designed by golf legends like Arnold Palmer and Earl Stone.

If a few rounds of Gulf Coast golf sounds appealing, you might try visiting the Honours Golf website, a sponsor of the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission. This organization operates four award-winning golf courses in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach: Cotton Creek and Cypress Bend at Craft Farms, Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club, and Rock Creek Golf Club. The website offers information on these championship golf courses as well as the chance to buy golf packages at any or all of the courses.

Check it out and start planning today!

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!

Enjoy a Little Gulf Coast Golf (and Other Sports) This Fall

The SEC Women’s Soccer Championship, the Alabama Soccer Festival, a couple tennis championships, and the Battle at the Beach Youth Football National Championship—welcome to fall in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach! These are some of the Gulf Coast sports events coming up over the next month, providing plenty of reasons for a fall trip to the Gulf, whether you are a participating athlete or simply want to watch.

But there is one other popular sport that also attracts visitors to Gulf Shores & Orange Beach this time of year: golf. The area offers a vast selection of beautiful, challenging golf courses designed by golf greats like Arnold Palmer, Jerry Pate, and Earl Stone. Golf packages are available, and several places offer lodging right next to desired golf courses—like Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission sponsor Courtyard by Marriott Gulf Shores at Craft Farms.

Located on the front edge of Craft Farms, home to Gulf Shores golf courses Cotton Creek and Cypress Bend, Courtyard by Marriott Gulf Shores offers a convenient location for lodging and golf. And golf isn’t the only nearby attraction: the hotel is only minutes from white-sand beaches, hiking trails, amusement parks, and a variety of dining options. The hotel itself offers amenities like an outdoor pool, fitness center, sauna, and table tennis.

It’s one of many appealing Gulf Shores & Orange Beach accommodations options, and close to all the Gulf sports action—come check it out for yourself!