Gulf Shore Getaway

On the lookout for Ernesto

Ernesto is moving toward the west-northwest at about 16 mph. This general motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours.

Tropical Storm Ernesto's maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is possible during the next 24 hours.

Tropical storm force winds currently extend outward up to 90 miles from the center of Tropical Storm Ernesto.

Intracoastal development under consideration

So many proposals for new condo developments and marinas in the Gulf Shores area are on the table it's attracting the interest of residents and regulators. The concern is the sum total of the impact these proposed developments might have on the area.

Do they make it more vulnerable to storms? Are there too many economic eggs in one basket? What about the environment and preserving the natural beauty of the area? These are among the questions being asked and debated.

Residents mull over Intracoastal development
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers could set regulations on condos, marinas

GULF SHORES -- Beth Via stood in front of a sketch of proposed condo developments along the Intracoastal Waterway and scratched notes on a legal pad Tuesday night.

"There's so many reasons for not paving over this," she said. "Hurricane evacuation, habitat destruction, wildlife destruction, traffic and safety on the waterway. Isn't that enough?"

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had invited south Baldwin residents to help determine the effect -- both economic and environmental -- of thousands of planned condos and boat slips developers want to build along the waterway.

BayFest Music Festival will be a fall delight for Mobile area

The 12th Annual BayFest Music Festival is sure to delight music lovers this fall. The festival, to be held October 6-8, 2006 will feature artists Lynyrd Skynyrd, Al Green, Michael Bolton, Gretchen Wilson, Patti LaBelle, Little Big Town, Charlie Wilson, Gary Allan, Shinedown and Keith Anderson.

But that's just for starters. BayFest will host over 100 national, regional and local artists who will perform on nine separate stages over the three-day weekend.

You can get your weekend pass for BayFest on their web site. After Labor Day tickets will be available at area Compass, Regions, and AmSouth banks. Full weekend passes are $35. Single day passes are $25, and can be purchased at the gate. Children under 12 get in free when accompanied by a ticket-holding adult.

Gulf Shores closes on waterfront property - to become public park

The City of Gulf Shores has announced the successful closure on a waterfront property valued at $3.5 million. The prime water front real estate formerly known as Mo's Landing will eventually become a public park operated by the city. The City of Gulf Shores will work with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to secure funding grants to allow for redesign and construction of the property.

City closes deal on Lagoon property
Council seeks state funding for waterfront park design

Mo's Landing, a former gas station and boat launch on the north shore of Little Lagoon, is now officially public property, Mayor G.W. "Billy" Duke III said.

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Alabama Photographer covers Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge

This month's Popular Photography features an article by guest Columnist George Ponder, who lives in North Alabama. In his article George discusses photography in one of his favorite photo spots, the Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge on the Alabama Gulf Coast.

Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge

Living in North Alabama as I do, the Gulf Coast is a convenient vacation spot—only a four-hour drive from my neck of the woods. Typically, I grab the golf bag for our vacations and spend time on the golf course while the wife and kids play in the sand. This year, I decided to leave the golf bag at home and carry the camera bag instead.

For the past two years, the Fort Morgan peninsula has been our destination spot on the Gulf Coast . The peninsula lies on the eastern entrance to Mobile Bay and is the home of the Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge. The opportunity to explore this refuge with a camera was too great to pass up.

The Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1980 and consists of approximately 7,000 acres of coastal lands that range from beach dunes to pine-oak woodlands. The refuge runs along the coasts of both the Gulf of Mexico and Mobile Bay and is home to more than 540 species of animals ranging from herons to egrets to alligators to deer. Birds are the most visible habitant of the refuge and offer tremendous photographic opportunities. I spent my mornings roaming the refuge during our weeklong vacation and barely scratched the surface of what this habitat has to offer.

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Pets, Families take separate vacations

The idea of a separate vacation for your pets when you go on your own vacation is catching fire. More and more municipalities are host to businesses which cater to families with pets who cannot take them with the family when they go on vacation.

When you head to the Gulf Shores for vacation this year be sure to check to see whether an upscale pet boarding facility such as the one featured in today's Decatur Daily is available in your neighborhood. Your pet will love you for it; and you'll both return from your vacations feeling relaxed and refreshed, instead of frazzled and stressed.