Historic Fort Morgan
Looking for something fun to do along our Gulf Coast beaches besides fish? Historic Fort Morgan may be just the thing! Fort Morgan was built on the site of an earlier work, Fort Bowyer, the scene of two important battles of 1812. It was one of two major brick forts built by the United States to defend Mobile Bay from foreign attack. The other fort, Fort Gaines, can be seen across the bay on Dauphin Island. Construction of Fort Morgan began in 1819 and in 1833, as the work neared completion; the new structure was named after General Daniel Morgan, a hero of the American Revolution. Open daily, Historic Fort Morgan is located at the western tip of Mobile Point. To reach the fort, follow Alabama Highway 180 west from Gulf Shores for roughly 18 miles until it ends at Fort Morgan. Fort Morgan is open daily and is located at the western tip of Mobile Point.
Mobile Big Game Fishing in Orange Beach
Another tournament to try? What about the 36th Annual Mobile Big Game Fishing Club’s Memorial Day Tournament? Held this weekend, May 24 through May 27 at Orange Beach Marina, the tournament officially begins at 8:00 p.m. with the Captain’s Meeting on 
Friday. Boats may leave after the mandatory sign-out from the Captain’s Meeting by captain or owner. The weigh dock opens at 5:00 p.m. and will close at 9:00 p.m. Boats must return under the Perdido Pass Bridge by 8:00 p.m. Early registration received by 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 22, is $200.00 per angler. Registration on Friday, May 24, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., is $250.00 per angler with a minimum of 4 anglers for boats over 32 feet, and 3 anglers for boats 32 feet and under. The Mobile Big Game Fishing Club was founded in 1966 to foster, promote, and increase interest in the sport of big game fishing, oceanography, marine biology, and other related and similar fields. http://www.mbgfc.com
Orange Beach Billfish Classic
The Gulf Coast’s most popular billfish tournament will take place this coming weekend, May 16 – May 18. This tournament, historically one of the final events on the big-game fishing calendar in the upper Gulf of Mexico, typically marks the beginning of the summer marlin season. This year the tournament will be hosted by The Wharf in Orange Beach, and marks many changes in format. The minimum length for blue marlin will now be reduced to a more reasonable level of 103 inches that is still well above both state and federal minimum requirements. This was done to increase both the level of participation and the prize purse available to the winners.
The Orange Beach Billfish Classic was founded in 1998 with the mission of funding conservation organizations such as The Billfish Foundation and the Coastal Conservation Association. In 2011, over $50,000.00 was donated to these two organizations, bringing the total monies contributed to the tournament to over $500,000.00. Thanks in part to an all-volunteer staff, the OBBC is the country’s only non-profit billfish tournament with 100 percent of all net profits donated to qualified 501(c)3 conservation organizations.
www.orangebeachbillfishclassic.com
41st Annual Art in the Park
This weekend, Saturday, May 11 and Sunday, May 12, marks the 41st Annual Art in the Park
in Foley, just minutes north of our Gulf Shores beaches. From 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day you can enjoy over 125 artists from across the southeast. This event is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You can wandered through the lush landscape and view various original art works, from paintings, photography, pottery, glass works, and jewelry as well as crafts. Artists and craftsmen compete for awards to be determined by an independent panel of judges on Saturday evening at the Foley Art Center. Admission is free to the public. http://www.foleyartcenter.com
Hang Out in Gulf Shores
The countdown is on for the 4th Annual Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores! Starting next week, Friday, May 17 through Sunday, May 19, festival goers can enjoy fun, sun and lots of sounds as more than 60 bands perform on four stages. The concerts will be play directly on the white sandy beaches and will start daily from noon to 11:00 p.m.
Here are just a few tips to make your weekend more festive:
• Children ages 10 and under are admitted free if they are accompanied by a ticket-holding adult. However, due to security concerns, there can only be 4 children allowed per family.
• Shuttle passes must be purchased in advance in order to ride the shuttles. Each shuttle pass is valid only for the route purchased. The last shuttle leaves 30 minutes after the final show of the evening.
• Please pick up any trash that you may come across and limit any plastic you bring to the festival. Be smart, be aware of your surroundings, and report any suspicious packages you may come across.
• All guests and their belongings are subject to search upon entry and re-entry. Leave large bags and prohibited items at home. Any prohibited item that is confiscated will not be held or returned.
• Three-day ticket holders must exchange their ticket for a weekend wristband and will be allowed to re-enter the Festival. Wristbands must be worn at all times and are required for entry into the Festival. Wristbands are non-transferable, non-exchangeable and cannot be replaced.
Pirates Cove Wood Boat Festival
Looking for something to do this weekend? Starting tomorrow, Friday, May 3 through Sunday, May 5, make plans to be at Pirate’s Cove in Elberta. This 16th Annual Festival 
includes more than 30 wood boats, ranging from a Mayan dugout canoe to a 72’ Mobile Bay Schooner, entered in the competition. Proceeds from food and beverages sold during the festival will benefit the Josephine Volunteer Fire Department and The Lillian Optimist Club. Menus for the weekend include Chet’s Famous Fried Mullet plates on Saturday only and Elberta’s famous sausage sandwiches. Come enjoy a nautical fair with local artists showcasing their arts and crafts, boat builders, marine sales and live music all weekend by some of the South’s most popular bands. Children’s activities include Pirate Pete’s Island, a treasure hunt, children’s boat building, games, and swimming. Admission is $5.00 for adults ($8.00 for a weekend pass); children ages 12 years and under are free. http://www.perdidowoodboat.org
Gulf Coast Beaches Home to Turtles
It’s that time of year—Sea Turtle Nesting Season starts on Wednesday, May 1 and continues through October 31. Our Gulf Coast Beaches are home to three types of endangered sea turtles that nest on our shores: green sea turtles, kemps ridley sea turtles and loggerhead sea turtles. They each help our local eco-system in unique ways.
Female sea turtles lay an average of 100 leathery, ping-pong-size eggs at a time. Only a few young turtles, however, will make it to adulthood. The incubation period is 55 to 75 days. Most hatchlings emerge together in an “eruption” of babies from the nest. The hatchling sea turtles then find their way to the Gulf waters by moonlight or starlight. Building lights along the shore, as well as flashlights, night photography using a flash, and outside patio lights may confuse the baby sea turtles, drawing them away from the water.
There are things we can do to help these tiny creatures as they make their way into the world. Take care not to disturb the sea turtle nests, leaving their tracks undisturbed, and don’t leave trash on the beach. You can also volunteer and adop a sea turtle nest. For more information about these sea creatures, visit http://www.alabamaseaturtles.com.
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Mullets Fly in Orange Beach
Get ready for the 29th Annual Interstate Mullet Toss, hosted by the Flora-Bama Lounge & Oyster Bar, tomorrow Friday, April 26 through Sunday, April 29. This weekend event attracts people from all over the Southeast to the Alabama Gulf Coast beaches for a party held right on the beach! The fun starts this Friday, April 26, at 9:00 a.m. and the children’s toss begins at 10:00 a.m with the adult toss starting at noon. Come enjoy fun, food and frivolity on the beach with other activities including a bikini contest, a keg toss and tug of war. Admission is $10.00 for 21 years and older, $15.00 for 21 and under. Membership cards will be valid for the event and are available for $30.00. Check out http://www.florabama.com for more information.
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4th Annual Bama Coast Cruise
Make plans later this week, Thursday, April 25 through Saturday, April 27, for the 4th Annual Bama Coast Cruise, presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts. The cruise will be held at The Wharf in Orange Beach where you can enjoy your ride, see the amazing cars, shop the various vendors and take in the amazing and beautiful City of Orange Beach. There will be a live DJ, judging for “Top 25” in the parade cruise. Admission for spectators is only $5.00 for adults and children 12 and under are Free. http://www.bamacoastcruise.com
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Annual Mullet Man Triathlon in Gulf Shores
This Saturday, April 20, marks the 29th Annual Mullet Man Triathlon at the Flora Bama. The Mullet Man Triathlon, a high quality event, promises a great course, super volunteers, awards 3 deep and a post-race party with fabulous food and fun. A portion of the proceeds will go to local youth charities inFlorida andAlabama. All activities begin and end at the World Famous Flora-Bama Lounge & Oyster Bar.
The swim will be a ¼ mile in the Gulf of Mexico. The bike segment of 17 miles will be on paved four-lane highway (Alabama Hwy 182) heading west 8.5 miles and returning to the Flora-Bama Lounge. Bike helmets are required. The 4-mile run will begin at the Flora-Bama Lounge, heading west under the PerdidoPassBridgeand back. Visit http://www.active.com for more information, registration and restrictions.
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