When it's minus 40 and the wind is howling outside your door, it's time to think about escaping with the whole crew to a winter destination resort. I found the perfect family priced getaway in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The accomodations were perfect! Stretching out in my suite at The Beach Club -- http://www.beachclubal.com/ I listened to the surf on the sand every morning with my breakfast coffee. From my balcony I watched young families strolling on the beach, and seniors relaxing on lawn chairs under umbrellas. Inside my Beach Club suite I had everything from a fully equipped kitchen, plus washer and dryer, to a couple of bathrooms. Forget hotels -- I had all the luxuries of home plus the Gulf of Mexico for a front lawn!

But even the best kitchen doesn't mean I want to do all the cooking when I'm away from home, so I scouted out some great places to eat in Gulf Shores. Doc's Seafood Shack featured the delicious steamed royal red shrimp pictured here. Even I couldn't manage a whole pound of fresh royal reds served in the rough with corn on the cob, new potatoes and garlic butter. King Neptune's Seafood Restaurant was also supurb, from the crab claws and cocktail sauces, plus oyster platter, to the bowl of gumbo. Dinner at the Gulf Bay Seafood Grill was an interesting culinary experience -- I dined on jumbo shrimp stuffed with crab meat, and dirty rice. There's nothing quite like fresh seafood to make you forget your diet...

With all that food I certainly needed to get with the program and do some hiking! The Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge offered a great opportunity to do just that. The first thing that struck me was the high pitched hum of locusts--a sound I'd never encountered before. I followed the Pine Beach Trail out to the Gulf, finding all kinds of fauna and wildlife. The heron pictured here was on Gator Lake, although I didn't see any alligators. As I neared the Gulf I found lots of Sand Live Oak trees, bent from the constant barrage of winds. Those, plus the windswept dunes, served as reminders of the power of nature, as well as her beauty. My group also included birdwatchers who found the refuge a perfect place to spot numerous different species.

I always like to find out as much as possible about an area I visit, so I signed on for an afternoon adventure at Sailaway Charters with Skip and Janet. Janet (pictured here) has an amazing store of knowledge about marine life, and an obvious love for the water. She began by pointing out the marsh grasses and species that dwelled in them--but was interupted by a blue nosed dolphin who provided some entertainment. Moving out to sea she gave us a comprehensive course in fishing for oysters, crabs, and shrimp. Then she pulled in a sample from the water and proceeded to identify and release such sealife as croakers, mud flounder, jellyfish, silver eel, and puffer fish. Altogether we identified more than 20 different birds, fish, and mammals, marking them off on our individual sheets.

Of course I also wanted to see some of the countryside, so I took a drive to the nearby community of Magnolia Springs. The sweet smell of the magnolia lined streets summoned that true feeling of being in the deep South. I had a great lunch at Jesse's Restaurant and explored the adjoining Moore Brothers Village Market. This fascinating spot is one of the cornerstones in Magnolia Spring and took me right back home with its cozy atmosphere. Then, just in case I decided to visit again, I toured the 100 year-old bed & breakfast owned by David Worthington, the Magnolia Springs Bed & Breakfast. David's words said it all for me: "We live in a vacation. I'm the current caretaker. I feel truly blessed." A walk along the Magnolia River took me past the riverside mail boxes, which were first used in 1915, and are still used today by a local postmaster. Then, I just had to dip my hand into the healing waters of Magnolia Springs before I returned to Gulf Shores.

A true history buff, I also had to explore Fort Morgan, a bastion of American history. This site was used for defense during the War of 1812, the Civil War, the Spanish American War, and World Wars I and II, before being decomissioned in 1947. During the 1800s the US government realized how vulnerable it was to attack along its coasts and developed a National policy to build 44 fortifications. One of the most fascinating parts of Fort Morgan's history, however, is that it often sat vacant, with only the voices of ghosts echoing around the caretaker, when there was no threat to peace. Today the Fort still contains its original canons, the brick walls are complete, and Guides in period dress are on duty throughout parts of the year.

Of course, nothing says warm weather getaway quite like the beach! There are 32 miles of sugar white beaches between Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Gulf Shores also has a bevy of activities to suit everyone in the family. The Alabama deep sea fishing charter fleet has over 100 boats available. There are 14 championship golf courses within an hour's drive of Gulf Shores/Orange Beach. With over 13,000 hotel, motel and condominium units available, you can find just the right accommodations for your group. For full information on visiting Gulf Shores, visit http://www.gulfshores.com/

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