Shell Shopping in the South

Beachcombing, what I call shell shopping, is so the thing to do here. And, if you are not up and out there by first light, I am not kidding, you will get beat out by the many that are. From there, its straight to the golf course, there is, and again I am not kidding, like one every few miles.

Next, its time for a nap in the fish shack you rented, right there where the bayou curves and the moss from the old tree out front hangs so low it reaches past your shady wooden dock and gently plays on the still water. Then, before the sun looks like its going to begin its descent, off you go for some fishing on the bay.

If it sounds relaxing, that's what there is to do here, relax.

Quick Tips:

Don't settle for a condo or hotel, rent a fish shack on one of the little bays or get one on stilts right there on the beach. It is the authentic way to stay in this part of the South.

Best Way To Get Around:

Just drive. Everything is near, groceries, restaurants, gas stations, beaches, all within a tight proximity.

You know, I really seem to do this right. I hate hotels so I do seem to stay with friends or relatives. This time it was a friend I stayed with, in her condo which we ditched to go stay with other friends at their places.

While I was there, I looked around and figured out where I would stay if these places were not available to me, and I saw the rentals on the beach and on the hammock islands winding their way through the bays and inlets. The beach rentals are all on stilts while just some of those on the bay are (those nearest the ocean).

You won't find much air conditioning, but on the bay, most are shaded and screened to keep the bugs out. Oh yes, the bugs, are they ever big! Oh, and there are snakes too, but they hibernate during the winter months.

Gee, suddenly I'm starting to remember why most of the tourists stay in those closed-up, highrise hotels on the beach, instead of being buried in the foilage on the bay.

I was taken there by friend, who lives there in Gulf Shores and everything was excellent, from the food to the service.

The interior is cozy with soft lighting and they had both tables and booths.

We had food for days, they will give you more salad and bread, no charge, if you request it. They used sweet Marsala wine for their Chicken Marsala and it was wonderful. Even the simple spaghetti they served on the side was so good, I didn't leave it behind.

Located on the fourth floor, at the front of an old motel, the restaurant may seem not too special, but it is.

It is located right there on the coastal highway with floor to ceiling windows affording a view of the ocean across the street. It is a small dining room with cheap tables and chairs and a tiny little bar so don't get too dressed up. Do bring an appetite though.

The food is good Mexican with the usual and, also, some unique specialty items that put a twist on basic Mexican fare. Oh, and the margaritas, yum! Smoothest ones I ever had.

For those on a budget, each evening there is a different moderately priced special and sometimes those wonderful margaritas are on sale too. On Tuesday nights, they are only 99 cents.

Finally, the best. Every night, they have trivia! Those boxes you use to compete against other diners by punching in answers to trivia questions posted up on tv screens around the room. Too fun!

Yes, there is one here too. This small family-run chain of restaurants started in Missouri in 1942. Now, it serves its famous southern home cooking in other locations as well.

Chicken and Dumplings, Catfish, Southern Fried Steak, Meatloaf (my favorite), BBQ Ribs, whatever you want - the menu is huge! But that is not the draw here, its the "throwed" rolls.

My friend told me the style of serving extra food onto your plate throughout the meal is called "lagniappe," a southern word. They do that here by having the servers walk around with huge bowls offering Okra, sliced potatoes and, well, I can't remember the rest, except the rolls.

They aren't just passed to you out of a big bowl, like the other pass arounds, which are plopped down in huge helpings onto your plate. A waiter will show up across the room with the rolls and to get one you have to raise your arm and get his attention (wave, call out, whatever). When he sees you, be ready. A fresh, hot, ultra-wonderful, best you ever had roll will immediately come flying at you from across the room.

Obviously, the atmosphere must lend itself to having food flying all over the place, and it does. Comfy, well-worn booths line the walls, and I think I remember peanut shells on the floor, or it was just that type of place. Anyway, when you sit down, you'll notice your own roll of paper towels sitting there waiting for you on the table. These come in handy for those throwed rolls, there are no bread plates here. And the rolls are sooo good you must be sure to get extra when they come by and get some of that Sorghum Molasses that comes by right after and smother it all over 'um. Shall I say it, okay, yum!

Friends there happened to have a little two-person paddleboat on their dock.

You may not find a paddleboat, but if you rent a shack on one of the bayous, you'll surely get your own dock, most likely shaded by some big old tree with the moss hanging off it and all. Honestly, you'll feel like you're on a Hollywood set or at Disneyland. And, at night, you will feel like you are in the Blue Bayou restaurant.

Oh, there are alligators, so while it could not be lovelier to fish off your own dock, keep an eye out. Or take off and fish on the bay; there are boat rentals and fishing trips galore.