ALABAMA

Alabama has more than its share of odd and unexpected attractions, including the handful of offbeat destinations described below. The same powdery white sand that runs along the Panhandle of Florida stretches west into Alabama. The Gulf Coast of Alabama is a vacationer's dream-come-true and an outdoor wonderland begging to be explored. History buffs will love the historic towns, complete with antebellum architecture, that remind one of a more genteel era. The streets are lined with shops, restaurants, and boutiques that will appease any shopping fanatic, while the Gulf's warm waters offer endless opportunities for aquatic recreation. A day in Alabama's Gulf Coast can include swimming, fishing, water skiing, bird watching, parasailing, hiking, or lounging on a beach.

The coastline stretches over 30 miles and offers endless opportunities for working on your tan. Seagulls and seashells line the shore at Gulf State Park, located in Gulf Shores, which has 2.5 miles of white sand beach and offers a full range of other activities including a fishing pier and a golf course. Perdido Point Public Beach in Orange Beach is another area that receives high marks for beach beauty. The beach has 2,000 feet of white sand and a boardwalk that is a great place for watching Gulf sunsets. The beach at Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, located near Fort Morgan, is the place to go to escape the crowds. Dunes and wispy sea oats are pretty much all you will see while visiting this very secluded Gulf beach

The Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area is known as one of the premier golf areas of Alabama. Cotton Creek was the first course on the Gulf Coast designed by legendary Arnold Palmer. Gulf Shores Golf Club was the first course built in the county and even with today's modern club making technologies, stands the test of time in presenting a difficult test of golf. Kiva Dunes, a true links course, was designed by golf architect Jim Edgemon and former PGA Tour player and U.S. Open Champion Jerry Pate. The topography of the golf course matches that of the surrounding area, with every tree, every hazard, every green, and every mound fitting the landscape.

Whether it's in the waters of Mobile Bay or in the Gulf of Mexico, Alabama's Gulf Coast is an angler's dream. Alabama's Gulf Coast offers a wonderful variety of inshore and offshore saltwater fishing. Go after elusive blue marlin, yellow fin tuna, amberjack, cobia, red snapper, and many more! For a look at the antebellum South, visit historic Mobile to see some of the homes that stand vigil over the area's past. One great example is the Bragg-Mitchell Mansion, a 20-room mansion that is a member of the National Registry of Historic Places. The home was built in 1855 and is one of the most photographed of all the Mobile mansions. Also on the registry is the Condé-Charlotte Museum House. Built between 1822-1824, the home is decorated with antiques and artifacts depicting five periods of Mobile history.

For a bit of naval history, visit Mobile's Battleship Memorial Park. This facility is home to both the USS Alabama and the submarine the USS Drum. Also on the premises is an impressive collection of WWII fighter planes, including a gull-winged Corsair and the P51-D Mustang Redtail. The Gulf Coast of Alabama has everything a discerning vacationer could dream of. Beaches so bright they are blinding and warm waters teeming with fish. Historical sites and antebellum homes that are reminiscent of a bygone era. Hundreds of miles of hiking trails that twist over sand dunes and untouched natural habitats. Now think about it. What more could you ask for?

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