Your umbrella is waiting.
A friend who lives in Connecticut called me last week. Apparently the polar vortex and all of the crazy weather that has been affecting the country got to be a bit too much for her.
“I need a beach–somewhere warm, not too far from an airport. I need to get out of here,” she said.
She’s not the only one who has been feeling this way. From tweets to Facebook posts to conversations that I’ve had with friends living from Colorado to Atlanta to New Hampshire, everyone’s a bit over the cold and ready for the beach.
While I can’t magically transport everyone down here to the Gulf Coast (trust me, I wish I could), I’m going to give you the chance to get beach ready. Some friends at Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama have put together a bag full of beach essentials, perfect for inspiring warm weather dreams, even if you’re stuck in several feet of snow. Take a few seconds and enter to win. The contest will end on Friday, February 28, and we’ll ship the bag to the winner* during the first week of March.
I’m heading to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach in a few weeks to check out the scene. This area, with 32 miles of beaches, has been on my radar for a while now, but I just haven’t had the chance to do much exploring on the coast of Alabama. However, now’s the perfect time for me to do a bit of reconnaissance as I’ll be driving through on my way back from New Orleans.
A few things I’m looking forward to checking out:
- The first purpose-sunk ship wreck in Alabama, The Lulu, is located off the coast of Orange Beach. The Lulu is the newest addition to the largest artificial reef program in the US and I can’t wait to see it first hand.
- Drive the Alabama Coastal Connection Scenic Byway–I love a good road trip–and there are several Civil War sites along the way.
- Oysters. Beach bars. Breweries.
- The Hang Out Music Festival takes place May 16 -18 at Gulf Shores. If there’s anything I like better than multi-day music festivals, it’s multi-day music festivals on the beach. This will be a great excuse to return to Gulf Shores in May.
Win a Beach Essentials Gift Bag from Gulf Shores and Orange Beach
*Shipping address must be in the U.S.
Katie on the Map 
may favorite part of a beach vacation is my toes in the warm sand
My favorite part of a beach vacation is the early sunrise walks along the beach followed by a lazy day and another long beach walk at sunset
I don’t tweet…but I have had my house up for sale in NM for a year, waiting to move to the Gulf Coast and be near the kids and grands. I am going to make a trip by early summer. And will need whatever i
s in the bag. THANKS:)
My favorite part of vacationing in GS is laying on the beach!