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Written by Amy Nubson
Amy can be reached at amy@nufiremarketing.com
Amy is ’Bama Bound – as they say in the South
Since January 2017, we have been making the mult–iday trip from Minneapolis, MN to Orange Beach, Alabama. When we started this annual journey, we were living in Fargo, ND, additional four hours North West of Minneapolis, dontcha know? and we just couldn’t take the cold and gloomy winters that we experienced here in the upper Midwest. It didn’t help that my husband Avery was in a car accident and ended up with chronic and continuous pain, and the cold weather makes that pain so much worse.
Solution? Go to a warmer environment! So south it is.
Why Alabama? I get asked that all the time.
Do you know people there? Nope, we had never been there before, and we had just booked a six-week stay in our very first ocean-side condo.
So, how did we hear about the majestic beaches? Our next-door neighbor started dating a guy from Alabama, and one day we were in our yards talking about our travels, and he introduced us to Gulf Shores/Orange Beach. It was where they were planning on getting married. (add I was bitten by the bug and needed to know more. Not the mosquitoes, but curiosity.
What we found was, it is a popular place for the upper Midwest people to visit. People known as snowbirds and we became one of them. So as we drove to the Gulf of Mexico, we started seeing so many familiar license plates. We now have our favorites places to go and eat, beaches to visit, medical support, and the areas we like to stay and not to stay. Today we are starting to prepare for our 4th trip, but we will be staying in Perdido Keys, FL (we are at the end of the Florida panhandle on the border of Alabama).
Winter is their slow time, but it’s getting busier every year. It’s growing and has so many family-friendly options.
Why do we keep going back? It’s gotten so familiar, and we know what to do and when. But the best reason, Avery feels so much better there. Why? Sun and warmth. Other Notherners would know that there is a thing called seasonal depression. It occurs in the winter and make people cranky, irritable and sad. Especially after Christmas and New Year is all wrapped up. This area has excellent medical support for us. Avery and I see an amazing Physical Therapist, massage therapist, and chiropractor.
Amy‘s Top 3’s in the Orange Beach area
Food and Coffee:
- Ruby Slipper, Orange Beach, AL and Pensacola, FL – Breakfast
- Mojo Coffee Shop, Perdido Key, FL – Coffee
- Cosmos, Orange Beach – Unique ethnic menu that changes weekly, great specials
Beaches / Nature Walks:
- Johnson Beach, Perdido Key, FL
- Gulf Shore State Park, Gulf Shores AL
- Alabama Point, Orange Beach, AL
Medical Services:
- Inher Physique, Pensacola, FL – Physical Therapy
- Bodyworks of Perdido Key, Perdido Key, FL – Massage
- Back on Track, Orange Beach, AL – Chiropractor
Fun Stuff to do:
- Hot Shop – Blown Glass Class
- Alabama Coast Zoo – Animal Encounters
- Empty beaches in January
- Stonehenge Replica – Elberta, AL