Coastal Currents - News & Events on the Gulf Coast

Weekends Anytime
Every day at the beach is a great day whether relaxing on your private balcony, by the pool, at the water’s edge or in the hot tub. Every day there’s fresh seafood to eat, bargains to discover at Tanger Outlet, mini-golf to play, fish to catch on the Gulf State Park pier, dolphins to spot, a rollercoaster and Ferris wheel to ride, and Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo animals to interact with. All businesses on the Gulf Coast are ready for you, your friends and your family to visit every day of the week. Use promo code MWS for a special Mid-week 25% discount when you arrive on Sunday or Monday and depart by Thursday.

Off the Beaten Path
If you love the sport of tennis you’ll love the sporting opportunities at the beach.

·         The George C. Meyer Tennis Center (pdf), located at 2049 West 2^nd Street in Gulf Shores, is a 5,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art tennis facility that is open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. The center offers 18 lighted courts. 12 courts are Hard Surface and 6 are Rubico Hydro Courts (two of which are open, and four are covered for inclement weather play).

·         The Gulf Coast Tennis Club, located at 18948 Oak Road West in Gulf Shores off Co. Rd. 6 across the street from the Gulf Shores Sportsplex, is open to the public 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. This facility features four indoor courts that are heated or cooled depending on the season. The club boasts that their red Italian clay courts are unlike any other in America. A pro shop and the Serve it Up Bar and Grill are also located onsite.

·         The Orange Beach Tennis Center, located at 4851 Wilson Boulevad in Orange Beach, features eight lighted medium-speed hard courts open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The pro shop offering Wilson rackets and Nike tennis apparel is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.

What’s New
As the busiest time of year for our resort communities begins, a number of new restaurants are opening their doors and offering you new coastal dining choices as you’ll see from the list below:

GULF SHORES

• Serve It Up Bar and Grill is now open at the Gulf Coast Tennis Club at 18948 Oak Road West off Co. Rd. 6 across from the Gulf Shores Sportsplex.
• Sassy Bass is now open at 3947 Gulf Shores Parkway, north of the Intracoastal Waterway.
• Cactus Flower Café opens in April at Pelican Place at Craft Farms, 3800 Gulf Shores Parkway, north of the Intracoastal Waterway.
• Blondies opens in April at Pelican Place at Craft Farms, 3800 Gulf Shores Parkway, north of the Intracoastal Waterway.

ORANGE BEACH

• Compleat Angler Seafood Grille & Bar opens in April at The Wharf, 4851 Wharf Parkway, Suite 116.
• Baumhower’s Wings Restaurant opens in April at The Wharf, 4851 Wharf Parkway, Suite 130.
• Shaggy’s Bar and Grill opens in April at Zeke’s Landing, 26619 Perdido Beach Boulevard.

Coastal Entertainment Choices

Check out some of the April and May events listed below, with more details available at our Gulf Shores/Orange Beach Calendar of Events and Gulf Shores Music Calendar. Plan your itinerary now or when you arrive on your favorite coast.

April

14         Luke Bryan, The Wharf in Orange Beach

14         Aviation Day at Jack Edwards National Airport, Gulf Shores

14         Orange Beach Nautical Flea Market, The Wharf in Orange Beach

14         Baldwin County Strawberry Festival, Loxley

14         The Villains, The Hangout in Gulf Shores

14         Bon Secour Oyster & Wine Festival, Tin Top in Bon Secour

20         Relay for Life, Orange Beach Sportsplex in Orange Beach

21         Magnolia Run, Magnolia Springs

21         Mullet Man Triathlon, Flora-Bama at Alabama/Florida state line

21         Empty Pockets, The Hangout in Gulf Shores

27         Grayson Capps and the Lost Cause Minstrels, The Hangout in Gulf
             Shores

27–29   Interstate Mullet Toss at Flora-Bama, Alabama/Florida state line 

27–29   AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball National Championships, Public
              Beach Gulf Shores

27–29   Bama Coast Cruise, The Wharf in Orange Beach

28         Scars on 45 & Animal Liberation Orchestra, The Hangout in Gulf Shores

May

4           Wiz Khalifa & Snoop Dog, The Wharf in Orange Beach

5           Rebecca Pidgeon, The Hangout in Gulf Shores

5           Orange Beach Wine Festival, Caribe in Orange Beach

12         Black Box Revelation & 7Horse, The Hangout in Gulf Shores

12–13   Art in the Park and Flower & Garden Extravaganza, Heritage Park in
              Foley

18–20  Hangout Music Festival, Gulf Shores

Special Events

June 15–17        Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival, Foley

July 4                   Independence Day Fireworks, Gulf Shores

July 14                 Blue Angels Air Show, Pensacola Beach

Oct. 11–14          National Shrimp Festival, Gulf Shores

Nov. 2–3             Blue Angels Air Show, NAS Pensacola

Meyer is your beach vacation and concert connection.