Month: September 2014

It’s 5 O’clock at LuLu’s Homeport Marina Restaurant in Gulf Shores

Posted on by pfarris

To wrap up our September blog series on Gulf Shores’ most popular restaurants and area attractions, the Spectrum Resorts team headed to Lucy Buffett’s popular LuLu’s at Homeport Marina. Just like The Hangout, LuLu’s offers more than delicious seafood and Southern favorites.  Lulu’s is more than just a place to go eat. It is an experience. From the time you arrive, it is like an oasis of all things paradise. The bright colors and the nicely manicured entrance make for a very welcoming restaurant.

 

Colby Turner, Revenue and Marketing Director

Just like The Hangout, LuLu’s offers more than delicious seafood and Southern favorites.  The atmosphere is as much of a draw as the food.  With live music daily, on-site boutiques and gift shops and the Mountain of Youth rope course, there is fun to be had at LuLu’s.

drinks_LULU

We started off with an order of fried crab claws for the table.  I’ve eaten fried crab claws from nearly every restaurant on the island, and these were by far the best I’ve had.  The claws were all large and meaty and fried to perfection.  If you like crab claws like I do, then I would definitely recommend these as an appetizer.  For my entrée, I had the blackened shrimp quesadilla.  Technically this is one of their appetizer items, but it was plenty of food to be considered a meal.  Again, this menu item was cooked perfectly.  The shrimp were seasoned just right, enough of a kick to spice up the flavor but not so much that it was over powering.

LuLu’s is a popular Gulf Shores restaurant year round, and especially in the summer.  If you’re on island time though, and don’t mind a bit of a wait, then this is another great spot to relax and enjoy time with friends and family in a restaurant with a lively atmosphere and great food.

 

Veronica Petkov, Public Relations 

It was years ago but Lulu’s started on Weeks Bay as small watering hole for locals and now it is a Gulf Coast favorite located on the coastal waterway. The food is great and the atmosphere is even better.

This week, we chose to go to Lulu’s on a Friday after work. Since Lulu’s is known for their amazing frozen drinks, it was a good decision to take the “5’oclock Somewhere” approach. We were seated immediately with a great view of the intercostals waterway and great shade. Since we all like crab, we started out with a pound of fried crab claws. The basket was filled high and cocktail sauce was already on the table. They had a perfect amount of batter and they were good in size. For my drink, I ordered an Island Mango Coloda with Margaretville Dark Rum, Mango and Pina Colada. It was refreshing a great way to start the weekend.

crab_toast_lulus

For my entrée, I ordered the Crazy Sista’s Crab Toast appetizer. It had sweet claw meat, cheese, green onions and mayonnaise on French bread perfectly toasted. This is a favorite of mine and a house favorite. Crab meat seemed to be a theme for me, but when you are on the Gulf Coast at a waterfront restaurant, I couldn’t help but indulge.

The food and the atmosphere at LuLu’s is definitely top notch. From the marketing team at Spectrum Resorts, we highly recommend adding Lulu’s to the list of must do’s.

 

Jamie Croft, Graphic Designer

LuLu’s restaurants is great place to go and hangout and enjoy a meal with friends and family. There are plenty of things to do besides eat at LuLu’s. There is a gift shop, ropes course and a variety of games and activities for the entire family.

chicken_fingers_LuLus

Our group started with the fried crab claws and they were very tasty. I actually have not had many fried crab claws, but I really did enjoy these. The basket they came in was piled high and there was more than enough to go around.

For my entrée, I got the chicken finger basket. There were plenty of Fried Chicken Fingers and I really enjoyed the seasoning on the chicken. Also, with my dinner I had a bottled Yuengling Beer.

Thank you for taking the time to read our September Blog Series. It was a pleasure sharing our findings with you and we hope you continue to read our weekly blog about the Alabama Gulf Coast. Please leave us a comment and tell us about your favorite place to dine in Gulf Shores or Orange Beach. For information on local restaurants, click the link below.

Sail Away with Wild Hearts

Posted on by pfarris

If you looking for a fun and relaxing way to spend time with your family on the water instead of in the water, then Sail Wild Hearts is for you. You can’t imagine a more perfect day to go sailing. The sun was shining and there was a late summer breeze. Sail Wild Hearts owner, Ted Scarritt, was more than thrilled to have us on a sail. The dock is located in the heart of Orange Beach about a mile from Turquoise Place, a Spectrum Resorts’ property.

Capture

 

Colby Turner, Revenue and Marketing Director 

Growing up in the area, I’ve spent plenty of time cruising the Gulf and the back bays in center consoles, pontoon boats and jet-skis, but hitting the open water on a sail boat was a new experience for me.  First, I was surprised at just how fast the boat was able to move with only the wind pushing us along.  It also made for a much quieter and relaxing boat ride being able to hear the breeze and the water instead of the constant scream of a boat motor.

The boat is stunning in and of itself.  At 53 feet long, Sail Wild Hearts is easily the largest boat that I’ve been on, and the open deck provides a ton of room for everyone to make their way around the boat comfortably.  The crew was very hospitable and took the time to explain some of the finer points of sailing a boat so large.  If you’re looking to get out of the sun, the cabin area is also very spacious with plenty of seating.  You’ll also find two restrooms and even a bar below deck.

 

Veronica Petkov, Public Relations

I have had the pleasure on sailing Wild Hearts before and each trip brings something completely different.  Even the dock walk is a time to take it all in and enjoy the natural settings.

Wild Hearts was immaculately clean and there were cold drinks and snacks waiting. We started to set sail immediately and when passing the islands, I had memories of me on Robinson Island wishing I was on Wild Hearts when it passed by. Imagine the sweet sound of Mother Nature’s cool breezes, the sight of pure-white beaches and the Gulf of Mexico.

Being on the water is completely relaxing for me, especially knowing that the next couple hours are a ‘Calgon Take Me Away” moment. It was nice to see the Alabama Gulf Coast from a different perspective. The gulf view has another meaning when out in the Gulf looking in. The sail was perfect because of the friendly and professional crew and the quite sounds you can only hear without a motor.

Thank you for sailing away with us on Sail Wild Hearts. For additional information on other must do area activities, click the link below. We are looking forward to you reading about our next trip to Lulu’s at 5’Oclock Somewhere in Gulf Shores. Comment below and tell us at Spectrum Resorts where you ike to go.

 

Take a Step Back in Time at the National Naval Aviation Museum

Posted on by pfarris

Visiting the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida was like taking a step back in time.  As soon as we drove onto the navy base, there was an overwhelming patriotic feeling that came over us. Service men and women risk their lives every day and the museum is one of many ways they are honored. Admission to the world’s largest Naval Aviation museum is free, so it makes for a great family outing or group excursion.

 

Veronica Petkov, Public Relations

We were greeted immediately upon entering the state-of-the-art museum by very polite and well dressed volunteers. Our group chose to walk through on our own but on my next visit, I will take the tour. The 350,000 square feet exhibit is on 37-acres and it took us over 2 hours to do a complete walkthrough.

The first plane that caught my attention was the first plane to make the flight over the Atlantic Ocean in May 1919. Albert Cushing Read (1887-1967) was the pilot-in-command for the NC-4 aircraft during the historic trans-Atlantic flight. It was the “Mightiest Aeroplane of the Day.”

The Museum showcases over 150 restored planes representing the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Aviation. In addition to the planes, the museum is home to flight simulators, Blue Angels X4D Experience and my favorite, the Virtual Flight Deck. The Flight Deck exhibit was a brief look into the operations “on board” an aircraft carrier.  That is the closest I will ever be to experiencing the wind, smell and rumble of an aircraft catapult.

 

Colby Turner, Revenue and Marketing Director

Growing up in the area, the Naval Aviation Museum is something that I visited often with my family when I was younger.  I was always intrigued by the amazing collection that the museum had put together, but it has been many years since I have been to museum and I honestly didn’t know how much I would enjoy it as an adult.  Well, I can absolutely say that even as an adult visiting the Naval Aviation Museum is an awe inspiring day trip.

I wouldn’t consider myself a history buff by any stretch of the imagination, so I was surprised by how the history grabbed me on this trip.  The museum’s collection of airplanes and naval artifacts is staggering with over 150 aircraft stored from floor to ceiling.  I was most interested in the Curtiss NC-4 which was the first aircraft to fly across the Atlantic Ocean.  The NC-4’s trip took 19 days to complete and started in New York State and ended in Lisbon Portugal.

The Naval Aviation Museum has also worked hard to add interactive attractions.  The IMAX theatre offers three films with a showing every hour beginning at 10:00am and ending at 4:00pm.  I was talked into taking a literal spin on the flight simulator which puts you and another person in the cockpit of a fighter jet on a training mission.  I also enjoyed the virtual aircraft carrier simulation which walks you through the enormous efforts it takes to operate an aircraft carrier as well as a simulation of the conditions experienced by the crew on the flight deck.

All in all, it was a very interesting trip and I was surprised by just how much I still enjoyed the museum as an adult.  Any travelers looking for a fun day trip off of the beach will not be disappointed with a trip to the Naval Aviation Museum.

We hope you find this information useful. Plese leave us a comment if you have tips or suggestions on the National Naval Aviation Museum. Click the link below to read about additional day trips along the Alabama Gulf Coast.

 

The Hangout – Where 59 Ends and the Fun Begins

Posted on by pfarris

This month, The September Series Blog will feature Spectrum Resorts marketing team visiting four of the Alabama Gulf Coast’s top restaurants and attraction to give readers an inside look at area favorites. Read three first-hand descriptions about The Hangout, The Naval Aviation Museum, Sail Wild Heartsand LuLu’s. This week features The Hangout in Gulf Shores where “59 Ends and Fun Begins.”

 

Colby Turner, Revenue and Marketing Director
Entrée –Shaka-Shaka Shrimp Po Boy
The atmosphere at The Hangout was amazing.  Even on a weekday afternoon in the middle of August, The Hangout delivered fun entertainment

as well as great food.  As always, the staff was very friendly and quickly seated us at a table near the stage at the north end of the restaurant.  Wewere lucky enough to catch “JUMP, The Ultimate Dog Show” which featured several dogs performing agility and Frisbee catching tricks.

I went with the Shaka-Shaka shrimp po boy for my entrée.  This is easily my favorite po boy in the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach area.  I’ve had po boys at other restaurants that were way more bread than shrimp, but this is not the case at The Hangout.  The po boy arrived in a basket and was stuffed with fresh golden fried shrimp as well as lettuce and tomatoes.  A generous portion of shoe string fries was also included in the basket along with the Shaka-Shaka sauce on the side.  The sandwich would be good even without the Shaka-Shaka sauce, but this sweet and spicy sauce is what makes this my favorite dish at The Hangout.

It was another great lunch at one of the top restaurants in the area.  The great food and fun atmosphere make The Hangout a must visit restaurant for anyone visiting the Alabama Gulf Coast.

 

Veronica Petkov, Public Relations
Entrée – Blackened Mahi Tacos
The Hangout’s slogan is so very true. “Where 59 ends and the fun begin,” explains it all. The prime location and the panoramic views of the sugar-white beach create a sense of relaxation and peacefulness as soon as we arrived.  The fresh salt air and beautiful day got this lunch off to a great start.

There is never a dull moment at The Hangout because their social calendar is full of special events and live entertainment throughout the year.  If I would have been at The Hangout on a personal visit, I most likely would have started with the cucumber Bloody Mary with Smirnoff citrus, Zing Zang mix garnished with traditional vegetables and cucumbers. Instead I had a diet coke.

The team members at The Hangout are always so helpful and friendly. Our server made lunch very enjoyable with his professional manner and helpful personality. He was kind enough to let us take a few pictures and he even recommended a few popular entrees.

I was torn between the fish tacos or the Shaka-Shaka shrimp. So as a group, we decided on the Shake shrimp as an appetizer so I went with the Blackened Maui Tacos with cheese, black beans, cilantro, roasted red pepper sauce with tortilla chips and tomato salsa for my entrée.

It was nice to see the Shake shrimp were not popcorn shrimp. They were just the right size and the sweet and spicy Shaka sauce came on the side. We knew why the Shaka shrimp was a favorite when we tasted right amount of sweet heat on the sauce and the savory shrimp.

When the tacos arrived, I knew I made the right choice even before taking a bite. It looked absolutely delicious and tasted even better. The added black beans and roasted peppers went very well together and the colorful chips and the melted cheese made this dish one of my area favorites.

 

Jamie Croft, Graphic Designer
Entrée – Hang 10 Cheese Burger 

 

The Hangout is one of my favorite places to eat here on the Gulf Coast. There is always some sort of entertainment and the relaxed beach-front atmosphere is hard to beat. The open-air restaurant is something to experience, especially having a great view of the beach and Gulf.

The unique décor is eye-catching and everyone seemed to be checking out the large displayed collection of old tin lunchboxes, the never-ending display of Pez dispensers and the fun, colorful sand bucket collection. Our group started out with Shaka Shaka Shrimp. As an appetizer, these were really high-quality shrimp and a large portion. The Shaka -Shaka sauce had a nice spice that blended well with the shrimp.

For my entrée, I chose the Hang 10 Cheese Burger which came with shoe string fries. My Cheeseburger arrived in a basket packed with crispy fries. The fries were tasty and fresh with the perfect amount of salt. I almost ate all of my fries before I took the first bite of my cheeseburger.  The cheeseburger was a cooked to perfection and it was a nice size burger. It was full of flavor and had plenty of American & Swiss cheese.

For a complete menu list, visit The Hangout website. Please leave a comment about your favorite menu item and come back next week and read the reviews about the Naval Aviation Musuem in Pensacola, FL.