Toes will be tapping. Hands will be clapping. The Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival is celebrating its 25th anniversary next month and the party runs from November 12th through the 22nd.

At venues all along the coast, talented songwriters will take the stage and perform the classics you love and new songs that may well be tomorrow's hits.

Learn more about the festival.

And for a great rate that will have you singing a happy tune, check out our 3rd Night Free special. The longer you stay, the more you save, because every 3rd night is free. More details.

It meanders from Grand Bay and Bayou La Batre in southern Mobile County, past acres of blooms at Bellingrath Gardens before crossing the bridge to Dauphin Island for a visit to Fort Gaines and a ride across Mobile Bay on the ferry.

Those are the beginning miles of Alabama's Coastal Connection, a 130-mile stretch of driving delight that has just received the honor of becoming one of our newest National Scenic Byways.

Once the ferry lands at Fort Morgan, travelers on the Byway can continue along Highway 180 for 22 miles until they reach Gulf Shores and turn southward to drive along the beach into Orange Beach. From there the journey continues to Elberta, Foley, Magnolia Springs, Point Clear, Fairhope, Daphne and concludes in Spanish Fort.

On your next visit to our area, set aside some time to take a leisurely drive and discover our small towns, beach sunsets, fishing boats and all the other treasures along this magnificent path.

Learn more.

Congratulations to Kiva Dunes for making Golf Digest's newly released list of the 75 Best Golf Resorts In North America. Located immediately to the west of Gulf Shores Plantation, Kiva Dunes was the only Alabama course to make the list.

The convenient location and the championship-level course, make Kiva Dunes one of the most popular options for our golf packages. Golfers know they can be on the course within minutes when they stay at Gulf Shores Plantation, allowing them to tee off sooner and enjoy more golf during their vacation.

Learn more about our golf packages.

Read the Golf Digest article.

There is something special about birds that captures our imagination. Perhaps we are envious of their ability to take flight, to soar above.

And here at the beach we are blessed with a great variety of birds to observe and enjoy. From the seagulls that seem to be watching us, waiting for a chance to grab a bite of our food, to massive pelicans that fly along the shoreline, the beach gives us a front row seat.

And this time of year offers even more.

October 15 - 18, locals and visitors alike can join the 6th Annual John L. Borom Alabama Coastal BirdFest www.alabamacoastalbirdfest.com

The blog also includes photos to help you recognize the raptor that you see.

When you stay at Gulf Shores Plantation, you can relax and unwind for days and never feel the need to leave the property. We've got all the amenities for your vacation and plenty of quiet beach to enjoy.

But when you are ready to venture out to explore Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, plenty of fun and great food await.

One of our picks is Ginny Lane Bar and Grill at The Wharf in Orange Beach. The food and the service are top-notch.

The Spiced Pecan and Pear Salad is a work of art with beautiful presentation. You begin to eat with your eyes as soon as it arrives to your table. And soon your mouth and taste buds catch up and confirm that this is truly a masterpiece.

Check out Ginny Lane. http://www.ginnylanebarandgrill.com/

Hurry - Limited Time Offer!

Getaway to Gulf Shores Plantation for the all-inclusive rate of $49.00 per person per night Get the girls together, leave the guys at home, and get away for three nights at Gulf Shores Plantation. Because We Know Girls Just Wanna…

Shop!              You’ll each get a card good for a Tanger Coupon Book worth $850 in savings.

Play!               Play a game of tennis, basketball or volleyball. Swim in your choice of six outdoor pools or our indoor pool.

Talk!               Reminisce & share secrets as you walk along our sugar-sand beach that seems to go on forever.

Relax!             Unwind in our sauna, steam room or hot tubs. Then pamper yourselves with your personal gifts from our exclusive line of Ocean Breeze bath products.

Delight!           Everyone will receive a surprise gift to take home to your “significant other.”

Book your Getaway by calling 866-652-1549 and mention “Girls” to your vacation specialist. Or book online and type in “Girls” in the comments section. 

*Package based on a three night stay in a two-bedroom condo. Price includes all taxes and surcharges. Rate based on 4 person occupancy. Three night minimum required. Offer cannot be combined with any other offer and does not apply to beach cottages. Valid for arrivals through October 31, 2009.

Football games, cheerleader practice, band rehearsals, raking the yard. Weren't things supposed to slow down a little after the rush of summer? It seems instead that life just keeps getting busier. Every moment is taken with some project, some errand. It's enough to send you to therapy! Beach therapy that is.

When you drive down Fort Morgan Road to Gulf Shores Plantation, each moment puts your stresses further behind you. Then you check in to a clean, inviting condo or cottage and there just isn't any room for a hectic schedule.

And for the ultimate therapy session, take the short stroll down the boardwalk to the beach. Find your spot and watch the waves rush to shore. Count the pelicans in flight. Look for unique shells.

It's time for your fall break. Check out our therapeutic specials and come see us.

It's almost here! The National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores starts this Thursday and runs through Sunday. The four-day event will be filled with arts and crafts, music, a children’s activity area and of course, the star of the show - shrimp, shrimp and more shrimp!

There is still time to make your reservation at Gulf Shores Plantation. And when you stay with us, you can enjoy the best of the weekend. Make the short drive into town, catch the shuttle to the festival for loads of fun, then return to the Plantation for abundant relaxation.

And check out our shrimply great specials!
3rd Night Free: Stay three nights & pay for two!
7 for 4: Stay seven nights and pay only for four!

You can make a list, plan carefully, double check. But it always seems that when you arrive on vacation and unpack, you realize something you meant to bring.

Maybe it is the sunscreen, a beach towel or a sun hat to make the beach more enjoyable. Or maybe it is a beach shovel to keep the kids entertained digging for treasure. For whatever you've left behind, a visit to Connections at Gulf Shores Plantation can quickly get your vacation back on track.

And as you get ready to head home, Connections is also your source for great souvenirs. Take home a t-shirt or a mug to keep the vacation memories alive, or perhaps as gifts to others back home.

Connection is located on the south end of the Dunes building. It features great views of the beach and gulf.

Sunsets at the beach are such a special time at Gulf Shores Plantation. Families and couples make their way along the boardwalks and enjoy a stroll along the water's edge. Some gather for family photos with the waves in the background. Others take time for a few more minutes of play, adding the final touches to a sandcastles.

As each moment passes, the sky and the water seem to change and take on new shades and hues. It is a time to treasure, a place to make memories.

Hope to see you on the beach soon.