Gulf Shore Getaway

74th Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo

The first Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo was held in 1928. According to the official web site, this tournament is the oldest and largest fishing tournament in the country with over 3200 participants annually. This year's installment, to be held July 21-23, 2006, will be the 74th since its inception.

Anglers will compete in 30 separate categories for inshore and offshore species of fish for over $400,000 worth of cash and prizes including three boat, motor and trailer setups.

Mobile Area Regatta this weekend.

Mobile Area sailors will converge on Mobile Bay this Saturday for the country's largest point to point race. This year's event is the 48th annual, and it promises to be the biggest race ever.

Should you be interested in learning more about the regatta you could try the Buccaneer Yacht Club web site.

Johnny Roberts, a 31-year veteran of the Dauphin Island Race, has high hopes for this year's regatta.

That is, if he can make it to the starting line.

Roberts, 58, is a native of Mobile who has missed only two Dauphin Island races since 1975. He is registered for Saturday's race but does not currently have a boat ready for the 48th annual event, which is the largest one-day point-to-point sailboat race in the country.

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Arts Alive! festival in Mobile

Vacationing in the Mobile Alabama area in early May? Plan to visit the Arts Alive! open air arts festival on Saturday, May 13th, 2006.

For one amazing day in May, downtown Mobile's Cathedral Square is transformed into a participatory art showcase for artists in the Mobile area. Reminiscent of New Orleans, you'll encounter all manner of visual, performing, and written arts. The Arts Alive! festival is intended to be a hands-on affair, so take time to experience it to its fullest. You'll have the opportunity to try your hand at many of the artistic methods on display. Even the Historic Mobile Preservation Society is sponsoring a hands-on art booth on the square.

Gulf Coast condo, hotel availability good this weekend

Spot checking hotels and condos along the Gulf Coast shows generally good availability for this Easter weekend.

Are people staying away for fear there is nothing left to do or to see at the beach? Doubtful. More likely it is fuel prices keeping people closer to home right now. Whatever the reason it won't last long. People want need their vacations. Once everyone is used to the price of driving they will load up the family and head for the beach just the same.

The beach will always win out. It always does. That means this weekend is an especially good value. With plenty of incentives there for the taking - lots of freebies and other enticements to fill up those Gulf front condos - smart vacation shoppers will head for the beach this Easter.

Easter is going to the dogs in Orange Beach

Oh this is going to be fun. Saturday the 15th of April, the day before Easter, come on out to Waterfront Park in Orange Beach for the Third Annual Easter Bonnet Dog Parade.

Better yet, see if you can get Buster to wear those pink bunny ears and take part in the parade. Even better, get some of those pink bunny ears for yourself too and enter the Pet - Owner Look Alike contest.

Other contests will include a contest for best Easter Bonnet and Best Outfit. There will be an Easter Bone hunt for Buster and an Easter Egg hunt for the rest of the family. The Easter Bunny will be on hand to give Buster something to bark at, and for photographs with the kids.

Spring Bird Banding Session 2006

The spring bird banding session is in progress right now at Fort Morgan. Just like in the fall event, you're invited to come out to Fort Morgan to help with the banding fun. You're sure to see hummingbirds, doves, cuckoos, sparrows, wrens and dozens of other neo-tropical migratory birds in the final legs of their return north from their winter homes in Central America.

Each spring the event is hosted by the Hummer Bird Study Group. They capture, weigh, measure, band and release the birds, sending them on their way unharmed. This bi-annual event allows birders, scientists and environmentalists to study and understand population levels, health and weather effects on migration.

If you aren