When was the last time you wanted some information and waited for it to come through the mail? It's probably been a long time ago.

Today we are all about instant information. Whether it is a replacement manual for some appliance, news headlines from around the world, or brochures to help us plan a vacation, we can access it immediately with a few clicks on the computer.

While it is great to have such quick access to the details we need, something is lost in the process. There is something special about holding the newspaper in your hands as you absorb the news (and a little printer ink).

And getting the vacation brochure in the mail is like getting a little gift. You can sit and enjoy the images at the kitchen table. You can stash it in your purse or pocket to read the next time you are stuck in traffic.

Here at Gulf Shores Plantation, we've got you covered for both the immediate and the tangible. Our 2010 Rental Guide is available 24/7 online in a cool interactive version. With the click of your mouse, you can virtually flip the pages and learn about our bonus days, our amenities and accommodation options.

And if you would like a copy through the mail, for all those hands-on moments, we're happy to send one your way.

We just received a stack of new comments from our recent guests. It is always rewarding to look through and see how they describe their experience at Gulf Shores Plantation. Sometimes we find areas that need improving. We smile at the comments about our genuine hospitality and how happy our guests are to be greeted warmly.

But in this stack one word kept repeating - comfortable. It doesn't sound like a fashionable word, like luxurious or richly-appointed. It sounds happier than those staid terms. It sounds like a place where you can relax, unwind, be at ease, be comfortable.

And that is what a vacation is all about. After all, you don't want to save up your vacation days only to feel like you are staying in a museum where you are afraid to touch the furniture and you want to shush your children from giggling in the public areas.

Come stay with us and be comfortable. Sit on the couch. Put your feet up. Laugh with your kids at the pool. Challenge your new neighbors to a game of horseshoes or tennis. We want you to feel like this is your home away from home.

We really enjoyed ourselves.  Relaxing and quiet.  Very comfortable.
V.& M.S., Ft. Wayne, IN 2/2-5/10

Beautiful comfortable unit and beach is magnificent.
R.& J.E., Dallas, TX 2/13-22/10

Been staying at the Plantation since 1996.  it is like home away from home for us.
N.K., Bossier City, LA 12/24-31/09

Later this month, birding enthusiasts will flock to nearby Fort Morgan for an extraordinary event.

The Spring Bird Banding Session is an important time for the crew at the Hummer/Bird Study Group and the volunteers that come out to assist them.

Fort Morgan is a key location on the path of thousands of Neo-tropical migrant birds. It is the first landfall after their long journey and in the fall it will be their last departure point.

This provides an opportunity for the group to monitor the bird population and learn more about their behavior.

Last year's spring banding recorded 76 species.

The banding sessions take place from March 27th to April 8th. The admission to the Fort is only $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for children ages 6-12, and free to younger children. The bird banding sessions are free to all.

For a more comfortable and enjoyable session, bring your lawn chair and binoculars. Members of the group will be glad to answer questions and explain the process.

For more info call 205-681-2888 or visit http://www.hummingbirdsplus.org

Do you define a great vacation in golf terms? Well, here at Gulf Shores Plantation, you can plan a day to suit you to a tee!

Work on your putting action on our convenient putting green then head over to Kiva Dunes right next door for a round of golf. This Jerry Pate signature course is just steps from your condo. Kiva Dunes Clubhouse is on the West side of the Plantation Resort entry road. The course spreads westward, dotted with lakes and lush foliage. One of the top courses in the area.

Want to keep on swinging? Make the short drive to Peninsula to try the challenge of 23 lakes, huge white sand bunkers on a masterful course winding through native cypress and live oak groves. This Earl Stone course is flanked on two sides by the Bon Secour Wildlife Preserve.

More? No problem. Book your golf package with Gulf Shores Plantation and we can help you discover nine area golf courses.

You've gotten your tickets for the hottest concert of the summer, right? Gulf Shores is going to be rockin' May 14 - 16 with the Hangout Music Festival featuring top performers like Trey Anastasio, Zac Brown Band, John Legend and so many more.

Stay with Gulf Shores Plantation during the concert and get your 3rd Night Free. Arrive on May 13th or 14th for a 3 Night Stay and your 3rd Night is Free.

Located on Fort Morgan Road, Gulf Shores Plantation is the ideal concert headquarters. You can party all day and retreat to a peaceful sanctuary at night. Wake up refreshed and ready for another day of rockin' on the beach!

Call 800-211-5053 and mention Hangout Music Festival to your vacation specialist. Or book online and enter Hangout Music Festival in the comments section.

3rd Night Free is available only on condos and cannot be combined with any other offer or discount. A three night minimum is required for 3rd night free. Other restrictions may apply. Good for arrivals on May 13 and 14, 2010.

Don't be left on the bench when you could be on the beach for March Madness at Gulf Shores Plantation!

Score big in March with our 4th Night Free Special. Select a condo or beach cottage for your spring headquarters, book for four nights and only pay for three!

Call 800-211-5053 and mention March Madness to your vacation specialist. Or book online and enter March Madness in the comments section.

Offer available on condos and houses and applies to new reservations only. Cannot be combined with any other offer. A four night minimum is required for 4th night free. Other restrictions may apply. Good for arrivals by March 25, 2010.

Do you have a green thumb or do your plants seems to whither and fail despite your vigilance?

As Bellingrath Gardens' floral guru Chuck Owens will explain, the success of what happens above the ground depends heavily on what happens in the ground.

The final program in the Winter Wednesdays series, this week's topic is Horticulture by the Numbers. During the program, Chuck will take the mystery out of all those numbers on the bag of fertilizer and explain how to measure your soil's pH level.

Knowing these details will help you find balance in your own garden. It won't guarantee a green thumb, but it is a step in the right direction.

For our guests interested in attending this Bellingrath Gardens program, take the drive west on Fort Morgan Road and enjoy the Mobile Bay Ferry ride to Dauphin Island. From there, travel north to the main land and follow the signs to Bellingrath Gardens.

The program begins at 10:30am. Cost is $11 and includes Gardens admission for the day. If you also want to tour the Bellingrath Home, that is an additional charge, but well worth it - just be sure to wipe the soil from your shoes before the tour.

Learn more at the Bellingrath website.  

Here on the Alabama Gulf Coast, the winter season rates are the lowest of the year. And compared to shoveling snow in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest, our mild winter temps can still feel like a tropical heat wave. So it is a great time to visit.

But it doesn't stop there. When you book your stay with arrival by February 28th and arrive within 14 days of your booking - we'll take 15% off our low winter rates.

It's like getting a reward for procrastinating!

So act now and enjoy a truly amazing rate at Gulf Shores Plantation.

Most of the time you prefer to have weeks or even months to get ready for a vacation. But when a great opportunity presents itself and you decide to escape to Gulf Shores Plantation on short notice, you can condense your planning and still cover all your bases.

Mail/paper - ask a friend to pick up the newspaper from your driveway and the mail from your mailbox.

Kids - if this is an adults-only trip, see if the grandparents are available to take the kids. Or check with parents of their friends and see if they can accommodate a sleepover for a couple of nights.

Car - check your tires and fluids before you hit the road. Include an emergency kit and a first aid kit.

Packing - keep it simple. Go for versatile items that you can mix and match. Make a checklist for the important items like medication. But for other items, if you forget something, don't sweat it - just stop by a store once you arrive in Gulf Shores for a replacement.

Work - if you can't break away for a full week, take off on Friday or Monday to turn a weekend into a longer trip.

“We love the Plantation. We have been coming every year for over 20 years. Would not consider going anywhere else.” - J.D., Kosciusko, MS (07/25/2009 - 08/01/2009)

Welcoming a returning guests is one of the highlights for our staff at Gulf Shores Plantation. It says to us that we are doing our jobs right. That we are providing a vacation experience that is worth repeating.

And it is a job we take very seriously. We want our pools, our tennis courts, the putting green, the boardwalks that lead to the beach and every part of the grounds to be in top shape. We want to ensure that Connections, our coffee, snack and retail shop, is always stocked with the items our guests need.

And beyond the tangibles, we want to certainly make sure that every person on our staff expresses genuine hospitality and friendliness. Because we know that the personal touches are what can stay with you long after you've returned home.

So when we are fortunate enough to welcome a guest for more than 20 years, like our friend from Mississippi, we take it as a great compliment that we are doing a good job and as a challenge to keep up the good work so that we can have many, many more return guests.