Modern Day and History: The Best of Both Worlds

If you want to experience some of the most up-to-date and luxurious vacation accommodations available today, staying with Spectrum Resorts is the way to go. Beach cottages and multi-bedroom condos with swimming pools, spas, lazy rivers, and other amenities and services make for a relaxing getaway in a very modern setting.

While you’re there, if you really want to round out your vacation experience, compare the modern with the past by visiting some of big historic sites of Gulf Shores & Orange Beach. You might start by gaining a glimpse of what lavish living was like in the 1930s by visiting Bellingrath Gardens and Home. Tour the many ornate gardens, including an award-winning rose garden, as well as the historic mansion itself.

Then step even further back in time with a trip to one of the area’s many Civil War sites. Hike along the 90-mile Civil War Trail and learn about the Battle of Mobile Bay. See the actual forts at Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines used in the Civil War, as well as the Spanish-American War and both World Wars.

If you enjoy museums, there are plenty of those, too—the National Museum of Naval Aviation is a good place to learn about the history of naval aviation. And for more locally specific history and culture, visit the Orange Beach Indian & Sea Museum and the Gulf Shores Museum.

Summer is Thriving With Pool Activities and Other Events

You know summer is here—or almost here—when the pool activities begin, and if you’re staying with Spectrum Resorts anytime soon, you’ll have plenty of opportunities for some water events.

If activities like aqua rodeos and surfboard races pique your interest, you’ll want to check out the pool games offered at The Beach Club and Turquoise Place. Both resorts hold pool games several times a week, which, in addition to aqua rodeos and surfboard races, include gator wrestling, poker chip dive, and other fun games. Family pool parties are also held at both locations—aqua rodeo and the poker chip dive make an appearance here, too, as do a pineapple derby, ice cream eating contest, limbo, and crafts.

Other water-related activities include dive-in movies at both locations, pool volleyball at Turquoise Place, and pool sports, also at Turquoise Place—several ways to have fun and stay cool!

But the pool isn’t the only place you’ll find action this summer. Live music, dance classes, and Wii tournaments are also on the agenda. The Pirate’s Brigade gives kids ages 5 to 11 a chance to enjoy crafts, games, and other activities, while a game of Family Survivor presents an opportunity for bonding and friendly competition against other families. More information about events and activities is available on the Spectrum Resorts website.

Several Ways to Beat the Heat

It’s not quite summer yet, but things are already heating up in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach. As the weather gets warmer and summer vacations come into full swing, it’s important to know how to stay cool. Visit Gulf Shores & Orange Beach and the options for beating the heat are many.

Water is a popular method of cooling down—going for a swim in the Gulf or a swimming pool is a guaranteed way to find relief on a scorching day. Stay with Spectrum Resorts for swimming, whether it’s in the Gulf or in one of the condominiums’ several outdoor (and indoor) pools. Turquoise Place and Caribe the Resort even offer lazy rivers, and guests of Caribe have access to water slides for added fun.

For a little extra thrill, visitors can check out Gulf Shores’ Waterville USA—water rides and land-based amusement park rides make this an excellent choice for cooling off and having fun. And all three Spectrum properties offer a Waterville vacation package, which includes passes to the park.

If you’re looking to stay cool and dry, shopping might be the way to go. You can find great deals and air conditioning at the Tanger Outlet Center in Foley. You might also visit a local museum, such as the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola or the American Sport Art Museum in Daphne. Don’t let the heat get you down this summer!

Make it an Extra Special Beach Wedding

The wedding day is one of the biggest days in a married couple’s lives, thus many people take great pains to make the day as memorable as possible. If you’ve dreamed of an elegant wedding with the Gulf of Mexico in the backdrop, you’ll want to check out your options at The Beach Club.

Here’s what your big day might look like at The Beach Club: Perhaps you visit the resort’s Sirena del Sol Spa for a couple hours before the ceremony, letting them relax and beautify you before the big event. Or maybe you calm your pre-wedding jitters by lounging at one of the Club’s six pools with your wedding guests.

Next comes the actual wedding, either outdoors on the beach, poolside or on a neatly manicured lawn, or inside the Club House or the elegant meeting space. The Beach Club’s catering services then provide you and your guests with a delicious menu—your options include a formal plated meal, a buffet, a cocktail reception, or a menu customized to your specific preference.

But of course, there’s more to a wedding than the actual wedding day. The Beach Club will also help you coordinate with outside vendors in preparation for the event and help arrange activities for your guests. Visit the Spectrum Resorts website to start planning!

Save on Concerts and Other Gulf Activities

Summer along the Alabama Gulf Coast is an exciting time, and this year is no exception. In addition to the well-known fun of deep sea fishing, golfing along the Gulf, visiting amusement parks and other attractions, several big concerts are scheduled throughout the next few months. Kenny Chesney, Billy Currington, and Uncle Kracker are all scheduled to perform on May 21^st, followed by Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top on May 29^th, Willie Nelson on June 5^th, Def Leppard and Heart on June 19^th, and Jason Aldean on July 14^th.

There are so many events and activities to choose from, and thanks to Spectrum Resorts you can plan your vacation around them by booking a vacation package with either Turquoise Place or Caribe the Resort. With concert packages, receive up to four free tickets to one of the abovementioned concerts. Or book a package that includes deep sea fishing on the Lady D, golf, or passes to Waterville USA, the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, and the Ferris Wheel at The Wharf.

The Beach Club has its own special going on, too. Stay with The Beach Club between May 31^st and August 12^th and get up to $350 in resort credit. More information is available on the Spectrum Resorts website. 

Head to the Gulf and Get Lazy

The whole purpose of a beach getaway is to get away—to escape from work and day-to-day responsibilities—which is why activities like lounging on the beach and by the pool are so popular during a vacation. Floating aimlessly along a lazy river is also an ideal way to spend a relaxing vacation, and guests staying at Turquoise Place and Caribe the Resort will have plenty of opportunity for this type of purposeful laziness.

Given that it’s only the beginning of spring, though, the weather may at times be a little cool for outdoor floating. Fortunately, there are plenty of other ways to kick back and relax.

One of the ultimate relaxing experiences you can indulge in is a massage. Swedish, hot stone, and even scalp massages are some of the spa services offered at the Spectrum Resorts locations. Even better is you can experience these services without leaving your condo if you stay with Turquoise Place, which also offers grocery delivery service for those who would prefer to skip the actual shopping trip.

If pool floating/swimming is an absolute must, The Beach Club and Caribe offer indoor pools. Hot tubs are an excellent choice, particularly on cool days and chilly evenings.

Check out the Spectrum Resorts website for more information on resort services and amenities.

Perfect Time of Year for Golf

Spring is finally here—landscapes are flowering and turning green, the weather is warming but not yet hot. It’s the perfect time for golf, and an even better setup for a golf getaway to Gulf Shores & Orange Beach.

The area is home to a variety of scenic golf courses. Take advantage of the local greens (and save a little money) by booking a golf vacation package with Spectrum Resorts. All three properties offer golf packages that include a two-night stay (three nights at Turquoise Place) in a two-bedroom Gulf-front condo and a complimentary round of golf. For an extra fee, you can add additional rounds of golf if you stay with The Beach Club.

Play a little golf, relax in the sun Gulf-side, and go for a swim in the lazy river and pool—hot tubs and indoor pools are an option if the weather is a little on the cool side. Then at the end of the day, retire to your luxurious accommodations. Gather up your friends or significant other and enjoy some spring golf!