Heather’s Favorite Things: A Trip to Orange Beach

 

We all have to get away with the family every now and then, and with spring break this past week, I loaded up my family and headed to the beach. Sand, waves and salty air are just what I needed to take a deep breath and enjoy this beautiful world we live in.

 

Taking a break in the Orange Beach, Alabama area was the greatest choice I made for the week. If you ever find yourself in the area, you need to look up Perdido Beach Services for the best customer service and activities. They set up chairs, umbrellas and other necessities on the beach. Vinny, our attendant on the beach, was always the life of the party on the sand. He had a fun personality that kept us laughing and gave excellent advice on where to go during our stay. The weather was weird some days, and he was always prepared to move our umbrella for us, shift our chairs to better spots, and just overall make sure that we had the greatest experience.

Perdido Beach Services is also a source for excursions during your stay. We’re an adventurous group, so we of course booked a parasailing excursion with Perdido Beach Service’s Sky Surfer. You definitely have to try this – absolutely amazing. They are located right by the bridge connecting Florida and Alabama, around Redneck Riviera as the location is often referred to, making us Arkansans feel right at home. Take a group with you so that you and your family and friends can enjoy the activity together! A girls trip, boys trip, couples, or a family reunion would really make lifelong memories on this excursion. 

 

Captain Jack and Flavio were our guides, and they definitely made the experience that much better. They drove us out on the ocean, gave us tips and made us laugh the whole time. If you’re worried about whether parasailing is too extreme for you or if you’re physically able to, don’t! The parasail was easy to get on and off, and once we were in the air, it was the smoothest ride. We saw sea turtles, dolphins, other boats and a few sharks – thank goodness we were in the air! Captain Jack and Flavio took pictures and videos for us to remember this phenomenal trip on the water.

Starting back up in May, Perdido Beach Service’s Sail Wild Hearts will make a comeback. If you’ve never been sailing, you have to go for a ride. Sail Wild Hearts takes you out on a sailboat for a relaxing ride on the ocean where you can lay on the deck and drink. If you have kids, the captain of the boat will even let them “steer” so they can feel like pirates out on the open water. The boat docks at a small island that’s perfect for diving, swimming, or tanning for a while. This is a one- to three-hour excursion that is definitely worth it!

 

If you don’t know anything about me, know that I am a total foodie. I love finding unique spots to have lunch or dinner, and Flora-Bama was that place for me on this trip. This is the place to go for amazing food and entertainment. I had the pleasure of getting to chat with Flora-Bama’s Marketing Director, Jenifer Parnell, about this amazing atmosphere. “Flora-Bama has something for everyone. With live music 365 days a year and six different stages, we showcase a wide variety of music. There are also three different restaurants to dine in with us, a marina to go fishing and rent pontoon boats and jet skis, and a liquor store to stock up on all your libations and lottery tickets. Most of all, Flora-Bama is just a shell. It’s the people that make Flora-Bama so magical. All different walks of life come to make memories with us and you’ll be sure to create some lasting ones too when you’re here. It’s the ultimate no judgement zone and a place to relax and slow down to enjoy life,” says Jenifer. 

We were on the bay side at the Flora-Bama Yacht Club, and I thought that the experience was one of the best. We tried their spicy calamari, tuna, a fantastic pile of nachos, and hush puppies stuffed with crab. I drooled over each dish, but the highlight for me was the sauce that came with the hushpuppies. I love sauces. If you’ve ever watched any of my Bucket List segments with KARK, then you know that I go crazy for a good sauce. This was one of the best sauces I’ve ever had the pleasure of enjoying. To top it all off, they have a large selection of specialty drinks so you can sit back with a Mermaid’s Tail, enjoy all the tasty food and listen to live music. 

 

Flora-Bama has multiple, and I mean MULTIPLE stages around the bay and coast for live music with scheduled bands and headliners that’ll make you leave with a new playlist to listen to. Every weekend, the Big Earl Show ft. Jack Robertson was the headliner. This group is from Arkansas, and let me tell you, they make our state proud. They sing just about everything, and they write their own songs that are absolutely hilarious (and adult-oriented, so you might want to leave the kids with grandma). 

As another option, there’s a Tiki Bar right on the ocean. Evenings on the beach as the sun sets with drinks almost magically appearing is probably anyone’s dream – it’s definitely mine. Throughout the day, there are activities for adults and separate activities for the kids to enjoy. The Flora-Bama website has a daily schedule for events and activities for each member of the family. Even your dog is welcome! A huge gift shop with cool souvenirs is there to remember your trip. Photos of major stars are hung everywhere proving that this is the place to be for a good time for everyone.

So many great memories were made on this trip, and I know my family will be begging me on the drive back home to turn around for another week at paradise, and I might just do it for some more of that sauce!