The Orange Beach Festival of Art

If you’re visiting the Gulf Coast in March, be sure to check out the Orange Beach Festival of Art, the first fine art and fine craft show of the season.   The festival will be at the Orange Beach Art Center (26389 Canal Rd., Orange Beach, AL, 36561) on March 12th and 13th.  It is held each year during the second weekend in March, and has been a highly anticipated event for almost twenty years.  There will be over 65 artists, two stages, and two specialty tents to choose from at this FREE event.

The Literary Arts Tent will showcase local and celebrity authors for book readings and signings.  See dance perfomances and theater troops in the Performing Arts Stage.  Kids will be able to dabble in six hands-on exciting art experiences in the Kid’s Art Alley.  Catch a glass blowing demonstration at The Hot Shop, or enjoy amazing regional talent at the Songwriters and Musicians stage as they share their wonderful music.  There will also be artwork on display from artists from all over the nation.

Throw some fine art into your family vacation, as this festival has something to please everyone!  There’s still a lot of availability for spring along the Alabama Gulf Coast and in Perdido Key.  Don’t miss out on this great event!

Alabama Lifestyles Expo

Looking for places to see and things to do while vacationing in Alabama?  Look no further: The 18th Annual Alabama Lifestyles Expo is coming to Caribe Resort (28103 Perdido Beach Blvd., Orange Beach, AL 36561) on February 10th from 9am to 2pm.  The event is presented by the Alabama Advantage for Relocation, the Caribe Resort, and the Gulf Coast Area Chamber of Commerce, promoting healthy living and quality of life for people age 50+ and their families.

This FREE event will feature informative sponsors and vendors for activities such as tours, day trips, parks and recreation, golfing, concerts, and various other entertainment.  Check out area restaurants and places to shop, as well as gather some information about healthy living.  There will be FREE health screenings, eye exams, and wide arrange of other medical, dental, and personal services.  There will also be a plethora of information on financial planning, asset protection, real estate, and much, much more. 

If you are not already one of our beloved winter guests, we still have plenty of availability for this event.  Check out our units in Alabama or Perdido Key online, or call (888) 909-6807 to book your reservation.  You don’t want to miss this spectacular event!

Kid-Friendly Activities for the Younger Set, Part I - Gulf Shores, Alabama

By Kristin Destin, ResortQuest Northwest Florida

You’re all ready and packed for the beach, and there’s only one problem – how to find activities to entertain the smallest members of your family? As the mother of a toddler, I have great news for you: there are wonderful attractions in our areas that are perfect for the little ones! Here are some notable kid-friendly attractions in the Gulf Shores, Alabama area:

• Waterville USA, 906 Gulf Shores Pkwy, Gulf Shores, AL – This is a fun water park just a mile off the beach. It has an entire kids’ area called WaWa World for children under 48” tall. It features the Frog, Pelican and Duck slides, and also has an abundance of other colorful attractions. Life jackets are free upon request; and the best part is that kids 2 and under are FREE. For information call (251) 948-2106 or visit www.watervilleusa.com.

• Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, 1204 Gulf Shores Pkwy, Gulf Shores, AL – Who doesn’t love the zoo? The kids will love to interact with more than 300 animals including lions, bears, and monkeys. Take advantage of the petting zoo, reptile house, and daily animal shows. Children 2 and under are also FREE at the Zoo! For more information call (251) 968-5732 or visit www.alabamagulfcoastzoo.com.

• The Track Family Recreation Center, 3200 Gulf Shores Pkwy, Gulf Shores, AL – The Track is fun for the entire family featuring lots of go-kart tracks and various other rides. The Kids Country is geared towards children under 8, and offers rides such as the Rio Grande Train, the carousel, Spin Tops, swings, a ferris wheel and two different go-kart tracks: Kiddie Karts (height requirement 3’6”) and Rookie Karts (minimum 4’2” height). Ticket prices begin at $2.48 per ticket, and they offer great value pack prices. For more information call (251) 968-8111 or visit www.gulfshorestrack.com.

Now that you have plenty of options for everyone in your family, we invite you to come on down to Gulf Shores, Alabama and experience the vacation of a lifetime!

TOPS’L Beach & Racquet Resort hosted One of the Largest Tennis Tournaments in the Nation

TOPS’L Beach &  Racquet Resort wrapped up one of the nations largest sanctioned USTA (United States Tennis Association) tournaments on April 18, 2010. Nearly 300 Players were competing in their age division for points toward state and national rankings. Known as The Helen Drake Tournament, the five-day event has been voted ‘Florida’s Tournament of the Year’ three times. “This tournament has grown exponentially since inception in 1987. In fact, participation has doubled in the past 15 years. Players come from all over the south. A few of our participants started playing the tournament when they were in their 40’s and are now playing in the 70’s division. It is a great testament to the tournament experience,” said Tennis Director Joe D’Aleo.

The tournament consists of singles and doubles events for both men and women. Tournament matches are paired by age - starting from 30’s up to 80’s. Additionally, players can choose the ‘Open Division’ as an option for those who want to compete with the best, at any age. Plans for the 2011 Helen Drake Tournament are already underway. “We expect the tournament to keep growing. Our plan has always been to make tennis at TOPS’L a world-class experience,” remarked D’Aleo, “And with the quality of players attending The Helen Drake year after year, we are on our way to the top.”

Evidence TOPS’L Beach & Racquet Resort is making strides in the tennis sector, USPTA (United States Professional Tennis Association) has chosen TOPS’L as the destination for their annual regional conference; making this the first Southern Division Conference in the history of the USPTA to be held in Northwest Florida. The conference is a four-day event and is expected over one hundred of the South’s finest Tennis Professionals.

Managed by ResortQuest, TOPS’L Beach & Racquet Resort is a renowned destination for tennis lovers. In 2009, consumers voted TOPS’L as the 9^th best tennis resort in the world by tennis resorts online. For over a decade TOPS’L has been recognized as being one of the U.S. Top 50 Tennis Resort destinations by Tennis Magazine. 

National Shrimp Festival

The 38th Annual National Shrimp Festival is October 8th thru the 11th.

More than 300,000 visitors and locals are expected to participate in this year’s National Shrimp Festival which will be held Oct 8th – 11th on the beautiful beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama. Admission to the festival is FREE. In addition to enjoying the sun and relaxing on Alabama’s famous Gulf Coast beaches, attendees have the opportunity to taste delectable seafood, enjoy live entertainment and view crafts and fine arts from over 200 artists. The festival doesnt forget the kids, it includes a Children’s Activity Village where the little ones can create their own “art” and participate in other fun-filled activities.

For additional information regarding the National Shrimp Festival, contact our Gulf Shores office at 251-968-2121.

ResortQuest of Northwest Florida is proud to offer up to 20% on select accommodations in neighboring Perdido Key for festival attendees. To book this special please call 800-336-4808 and ask for code F1005.

The National Shrimp Festival Celebrates its 37th Anniversary

The National Shrimp Festival is one of the nation's premier outdoor festivals and attracts over 300,000 visitors each year". ResortQuest is proud to be a sponsor of this event and invites visitors who need accommodations during the festival to explore their Gulf Shores/Orange Beach vacation rental website.

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Fun for everyone! The festival offers not only great seafood but an assortment of other activities and admission is FREE!