Combine Holiday Activities and Soccer in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach

It’s the most wonderful time of the year: Thanksgiving dinner with friends and family, Black Friday/Cyber Monday shopping deals to kick off the official start of the holiday shopping season, Christmas decorations, festive holiday events, and an exciting women’s soccer event.

Well, the soccer may not be part of the holiday spirit elsewhere, but it is in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach. The NAIA Women’s Soccer National Championship is scheduled to take place at the Orange Beach Sportsplex from December 1st through the 7^th. And an exciting event it is—throughout the week, 16 college women’s soccer teams from across the country will compete for the national championship title. If you’re in the area, this Orange Beach sports event is definitely worth checking out.

But if you can’t be here for this soccer event, don’t worry—the NAIA Women’s Soccer National Championship is already set to return to the Gulf December 1^st – 6^th in 2014, and again in 2015 (November 30^th to December 5^th). There’s plenty of time to plan a late-fall Gulf Coast vacation!

Decompress from holiday shopping and come out and watch these talented ladies in action.

Turkey Dinners and Marathons Make Good Reasons to Visit the Gulf

With two weeks until Thanksgiving, there’s still time to make plans for the upcoming holiday. If you’re falling short on ideas, here’s a good plan for the Thanksgiving holiday: book a stay at a Gulf Shores & Orange Beach condo or beach house, bring the family to the Gulf for some fall beach activity, prepare your Thanksgiving dinner with the beach just outside your window (or eat out—several local restaurants will be open), then run a marathon two days later—or a half marathon.

It’s the Kaiser Realty by Wyndham Vacation Rentals Half Marathon and 5K Run, and it’s taking place the Saturday after Thanksgiving (November 30^th). As the title suggests, there are a couple different options to really get you moving—the 5K and the half marathon. And if you’re not sure you’re up for these distances but still want to participate, there’s always the 1-mile fun run. All of it takes place on scenic paved trails through Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Gulf State Park.

It’s a great reason to bring the entire family down to the Gulf Coast, and a great way to transition from one holiday season to the next—work off that turkey dinner and race into the Christmas spirit.

Grab those running shoes, start training and start planning!

Are You Ready for Some SEC Soccer on the Gulf?

We are all about the SEC down here in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach: kicking off the season with big beach party (SEC BeachFest), watching games on the TV in bustling beachside restaurants and bars, and even hosting high-action SEC sporting events right here in the area.

Next week will see the start of the SEC Women’s Soccer Championship (November 4^th – 10^th) at the Orange Beach Sportsplex. Soccer fans (and sports fans in general), you’ll want to be here for this event: 10 ladies SEC soccer teams will compete over the course of the week for the title of SEC Women’s Soccer Champions. Not only will the excitement level of this event be high, but tickets are only $5 ($2 for children), and the championship game on November 10^th will be televised live.

It’s an excellent reason to plan a fall trip to Gulf Shores & Orange Beach. Beautiful fall weather and our even more beautiful white-sand beaches simply add to the experience. Book a Gulf-front condo or hotel and make a full vacation of the event—there are plenty of great deals to be found!

Hope to see you there!

Time to Get Physical at the Beach This Fall

October (and fall in general) is simply a perfect time of year to visit Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, with its great weather, variety of beach accommodations offering fall rates, and the chance to eat a lot of shrimp and then run it off.

The 42^nd Annual National Shrimp Festival begins this week (October 10^th – 13^th), and as the name implies, will bring lots of Gulf shrimp—plus lots of other good food, live music, arts and crafts, and a retail marketplace. And after the first couple days of festivities, you’ll get the chance to work off any indulgent eating at the Shrimp Festival 10K and 5K Run, taking place this Saturday, October 12^th.

Not only is this a good opportunity to put your athletic abilities to the test, but proceeds from the event also benefit local Gulf Shores & Orange Beach public schools. Run knowing you’re supporting a good cause (and burning quite a few calories)—or just come out, watch, and support those participating.

Feeling up for a good athletic challenge but unable to make it this weekend? The Ultimate 5K Obstacle Challenge is coming to The Wharf on November 2^nd. It’s no ordinary obstacle course—it’s an Xtreme Obstacle Challenge. And later in the month (November 30^th) is the Kaiser Realty Coastal Half Marathon and 5K Run. Work off that Thanksgiving meal while running along scenic Gulf Shores & Orange Beach trails.

Hope to see you this fall!

Tennis Is in the Air—And at the Beach!

Finally, fall has arrived—a significant event for many sports fans. The start of football season, of course, is a significant point of the season, but another popular sport is also entering a busy period: tennis. And Gulf Shores & Orange Beach is certainly getting in on the tennis action this fall with several upcoming USTA events.

First up is the Alabama State Tri-Level Tennis Championship, taking place September 26^th – 29^th and involving more than 300 tennis players competing for the championship title. Then in October comes the Alabama State Senior and Super Senior Tennis Championships (October 24^th – 27^th). This time around you can watch more than 400 athletes battle it out for the win. And though the weather may be cooling down in November, the tennis action won’t be—the Alabama Adult Combo Tennis State Championships will take place November 7^th – 10^th and will include both men’s and women’s teams.

Now that you have several sports-related reasons to make the trip down—whether you’re planning to participate or simply watch—here are three Champion sponsors of the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission who can make the trip feel like a true beach vacation: Sugar Sands Realty, Surf Style, and Zen Restaurant. Between these three much-appreciated sponsors,  you can book a Gulf Coast vacation rental, shop for the latest beach fashions (and other goods), and then enjoy a delicious dinner out in a peaceful environment.

It’s a perfect plan for a perfect season. Be here for all the action!

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!

Feeling Up for a Gymnastics Competition? Head to the Gulf in September!

It’s mid-August, and things are really heating up here in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach—not just the weather, but the sports action, too. And don’t expect things to cool down when September rolls around. We’ll be plugging right along right through the month and into fall.

And starting things off in September is one high-energy, keep-you-on-your-toes sporting event: the Bama Bounders Beach Bash Gymnastics Competition. It takes place September 6^th – 8^th at The Wharf and features young gymnasts from the southeast. So if you’re planning on vacationing in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach in early September (and you should plan on it—late summer is an excellent time of year to enjoy our white-sand beaches), plan on attending this event. Who knows? You just might see a future Olympic gymnast.

Need a place to stay while you’re here? We have a few recommendations—like Champion sponsor Holiday Inn Express in Gulf Shores, where you can enjoy a nice hotel room with amenities like an outdoor pool and whirlpool. Or if you want to take full advantage being on the Gulf, there are plenty of beach-front hotel options, including Champion sponsors Holiday Inn Express in Orange Beach and the Hilton Garden Inn in Orange Beach.

Hope to see you there!