by Diana Andrews

When you hear the words, “Gulf Shores, Alabama vacation” what immediately comes to mind? Perhaps

• Golden bright sunshine
• Sugar white sand beaches
• Sparkling emerald gulf waters
• Fresh-from-the-catch seafood?

Whether you’re a first time visitor or a returning guest, you’re sure to have your expectations met and, more than likely, exceeded!

Perhaps you’re the type of traveler who likes to experience the unusual activities that may not otherwise be associated with the obvious reasons why someone visits the Gulf Shores area. Such as

• Ocean Camps at Perdido Beach
• Alligator Alley
• Nighttime crab hunting
• Pristine woodland tours.

Again, first-timers and returning guests will NOT be disappointed! There are always plenty of usual and unusual things to do no matter the season. Or time of day. Or time of night!

Maybe you associate vacations with fitting in as many activities as you possibly can in the time that you have available.

Or perhaps you only want to associate Gulf Shores’ vacations with beach activities or your very own beach wedding!

With 101 Things to do at the beach and 100 days of summer to do it in, you’re sure to need to start associating Gulf Shores’ vacations with needing a vacation to recover from your vacation!

So, why not find the perfect Gulf Shores Alabama vacation deals, book two weeks instead of one, and plan to enjoy all the activities the area has to offer followed by or interspersed with plenty of relaxing days soaking in the rays.

You’ll be associating Gulf Shores vacations with fun and relaxation enough to keep you coming back for more.

by Diana Andrews

Resilient- adjective – meaning to spring back; rebounding. Synonyms – elastic, flexible, springy.

Resiliency is a trait many golfers have to have if they are going to continue to play, enjoy and maybe even make a living at playing golf. Ok, maybe just win a few bets amongst friends.

Even the seemingly unstoppable Tiger Woods has had to dig deep into his resiliency reservoir to spring back from his two year winless drought with four wins in his first seven 2013 starts!

Without this quality he may not have bounced back from his double-bogey water shot on his way to winning the 2013 Players Championship. Imagine the resiliency Sergio Garcia will need to conjure up at the HP Byron Nelson Championship just a short week after blowing his tie with Tiger for the lead when he plunked two balls in the drink for a quadruple bogey.

If the pro’s can return year after year, tourney after tourney, hole after hole, duffs shanks mis-hits and all, then there’s no reason to let a bad shot, bad day or even a bad year snap the elasticity of your game.

With so many Oak Island NC golf courses, you can take your time to tour all the local greens and find the links that play to your advantage. Then be sure and call up those pals who maybe saw a not-so-fortunate round and invite them over for a friendly game.

Golf can definitely be the avenue that strengthens your resiliency and reminds you that every day is a new day, every shot a new shot. Once you have bounced back you’ll fee rejuvenated; like you’re on top of the world and can accomplish anything.

Then, of course, you’ll duff another shot and the humbling cycle will start anew. Luckily, Oak Island is a golfer’s paradise where even the worst of shots won’t deter you from moving on to the next course.

And the next…

And the next…

So shake off those bad-shot-blues and prepare to bounce back better than ever with plenty of golf courses to make you forget the worst of shots and offer plenty of opportunities for bragging rights!

By Diana Andrews

If you’ve ever hung out around, are friends with, or just happen to overhear golfers while encapsulating their latest outings, you’ll know there are some pretty outlandish golf tales out there! Apparently, these tall tales can be traced back as far as 1938 (probably even earlier), the year of the Great Golf Marathon in which an outlandish golf wager was made.

Probably the safest bet that can be made related to golf is to say that there are some pretty outlandish golf outfits that have graced the links over the years. Everything from Rickie Fowler’s outlandish outfits to a recent story about the golfer who made the seemingly outlandish decision to remove his pants in order to play a shot out of the water can be reason to feel good about that bet!

Non-golfers may decree that it is utterly outlandish to participate in a sport where videos such as the three-legged alligator crossing a golf course can be made into its own form of spectator sport. Anyone who decides to golf in the Carolinas, for instance, should be prepared for such sightings as the alligator has made a comeback in North Carolina with the southern-most counties having the highest in the state’s population.

What wouldn’t likely be considered outlandish is the idea of taking a stay and play golf vacation NORTH of Myrtle Beach far from that concentrated alligator population to the south!

Outlandishly popular, golf is a sport that most anyone can enjoy at some level. Now that the air is warming and the greens are greening, it would be outlandish not to get out there and see where your own fodder for outlandishness will come from!

by Diana Andrews

If you were to play a word association game and the challenge was to associate the first word or words that come to mind when you hear “Key West, Florida” you would probably come up with something to do with tropical breezes, water sports like fishing or sailing, white sand beaches or sun-baked beauties.

The idea of cats in an island paradise where water is the name of the game, however, may not be at the top of your list! But as the proprietors at Island City House Hotel will tell you, cats are so famous there’s even been a book written about them!

“The Island City House Cats: A True Key West Cat Tale” written by Janet D. Corneal is a children’s story that spins the tale of the ‘real’ owners of this quaint hotel set amidst lush gardens. Guests may spot these mysteriously-natured, feline creatures prowling and hiding in the vegetation only to appear when it suits their needs for nourishment whether that be in the form of food or head rubs.

The history of cats in Key West can be directly attributed to Ernest Hemingway. Visitors to the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum will discover upwards of 40-50 polydactyl or six-toed cats! Turns out Ernest Hemingway was given such a cat by a ship’s captain, so some of the cats living there today are likely direct descendants of Snowball, the original Key West cat.

Chances are after a visit to this beautiful, water-surrounded paradise, you’ll find it easy to associate the idea of cats with the laid back island vibe and atmosphere despite your knowledge that cats and water usually don’t mix.

by Diana Andrews

When you’re planning a family vacation to Fredericksburg TX, lodging options extend far beyond the roadside motel reminiscent of days gone by. Today’s families have a multitude of tastes and needs and after a full day of gallivanting around the Texas Hill Country, comfortable surroundings with modern amenities and room to relax present out-of-the-box, comfortable places to stay while visiting.

Hotels with their room service, maids and repairman on duty are being pushed aside for homemade continental breakfasts and the family dining atmosphere that is traditional at bed & breakfasts. Who better to ask about local happenings, not-to-be-missed places to dine and see than the owner who typically resides on-site? Fueling up with a homemade breakfast served hot and early is a great way to get started.

Another lodging option that has become more popular with families is the Guesthouse. Typically thought of as your home-away-from-home, guests can shop for local ingredients, cook in fully-equipped kitchens or bring home left-overs from the area’s many eateries.

Family members can radiate in any number of directions returning to ‘home base’ for adventure sharing and story-telling. Guesthouses often have comfortable outdoor living spaces adding even more room for spreading out, getting comfortable, spending time together or disappearing for some much needed alone time.

Needless to say, families will find comfortable accommodations in and around Fredericksburg to return to after a full day of exploring the surrounding Hill Country. Gone are the days of squeezing into the confining spaces of roadside motels. Here are the times of pleasant, homelike surroundings that make you want to come back year after year.