The headline pretty much says it all. What's left to say is about how long Alabama's Gulf Coast beaches have been so, well, so beautiful.
The truth is that nobody really knows. Since 1999 when testing first began, Alabama's Gulf Coast beaches have never been closed for pollution.
State's beaches pass pollution tests, among the nation's cleanest
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — There have been no days this summer when swimmers were advised against entering the waters of Alabama's Gulf beaches, which officials say are among the nation's cleanest.
The Mobile Symphony Orchestra prepares for their 2006 Independence Day symphony, a pops concert at The Wharf.
More accustomed to the 2000 seat Saenger Theatre, or to the Mobile Civic Center, the orchestra is looking forward to playing before an audience expected to be fully five times larger.
If all goes according to plan they hope to make this the first in an annual series of Fourth of July celebrations.
Orange Beach Overture
Cue the fireworks.
On Tuesday the bus and caravans from Mobile and Pensacola will hit the road for Orange Beach, where the Mobile Symphony Orchestra will perform an Independence Day pops concert in The Wharf's spanking-new amphitheater.
An AP article investigates increases in population along the Gulf Coast - in terms of both vacation usage and in permanent residency. The increase in population over the recent past has caused much greater pressure on fragile ecosystems all along the Gulf Shore.
Of particular concern among environmental groups is the possible effect that increased population along the Alabama Gulf Coast might have on Gulf of Mexico fisheries.
In areas where conservation efforts started in the last century, signs of recovery are apparent, according to the study, partly supported by the Lenfest Oceans Program at the Pew Charitable Trusts.
The telephones in real estate offices and hotels have been ringing off the hook as prospective beach vacationers hunt for any open accommodations this Fourth of July weekend.
This year's Independence Day holiday falls on a Tuesday, giving vacationers an extra day, or making it that much easier to extend the weekend into an entire week. With what looks to be very cooperative weather condos, vacation rental houses and hotels in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach report availability is extremely limited.
The whole of Alabama's Gulf Coast is in similar situation, as record numbers of vacationers descend to the the Gulf Coast for a long weekend of sand, surf and July 4th festivities.
Riverwalk in Orange Beach is now Bama Bayou. The facility will be expanded by nearly 400%. There will now be approximately 1100 condo units instead of the originally planned 300.
In addition the facility is being recast as a much larger convention center. The originally planned 20,000 square feet of convention space has now been expanded to a 68,000 square foot convention center.
Also built into the expansion is one of the nation's largest and most elaborate water parks. The park will rank in the top 15 nationally and will offer live performances by dolphins, sea lions and tropical birds, and even the opportunity for guests to swim with the dolphins.
This Second Escapes! Resort in Popular Destination Will Significantly Enhance Existing Property at The Shores
ORANGE BEACH, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 26, 2006--Escapes!, Inc., historically one of the leading and oldest independent timeshare development companies, will break ground this month on Escapes! to The Shores in Orange Beach, Alabama, a newly constructed resort scheduled to open in late summer 2008. The new resort is designed to dramatically enhance the existing resort property, The Shores, which was originally built in the early 1980s. This latest addition to the Escapes! network of resorts will also significantly expand the vacation and travel opportunities available to The Shores' existing 700-family owner-base.