Louisiana Life, Summer 2005
At last, summer is here! Americans are preparing to take their annual vacations, and at least for the majority, the beach is calling, because life by ocean signifies luxury and relaxation. The daily presence of calming waves saps away the stress built up by the hectic nature of everyday life. It's no wonder everyone can't wait to get to the beach.
While Louisiana offers many lovely natural areas to enjoy, a length of great beaches simply isn't part of the geography. Fortunately, the beaches of the Gulf Coast are easy to get to. Hop on I-10 and start heading east. Pull off in Mississippi, Alabama, or Florida. So many wonderful spots entice that it's hard to know where to begin looking.
Caribe, the Resort is a fine place to start. Located in Orange Beach, Ala., this upscale condominium complex keeps expanding due to its popularity. Caribe is building a second tower of luxury units to be completed at the end of the summer. The grounds feature a children's playground, a high-end putting green, and water slides that flow into swimming pools. With the opening of the second tower comes a second, larger fitness center and a waterpark-style lazy river to float away the days upon.
A visit to the property will quickly show why its luxury units are in so much demand. For one, the views are marvelous. While many developments use only small, box-like windows, each of the Caribe's condos has full-length, floor-to-ceiling windows. The complex, perched on a narrow strip of land, is bordered by water on three sides, creating a panorama of shimmering blue. The sunsets are magnificent.
Inside, the units of course are filled with amenities. They feature the comforts of a luxurious home, one with well-appointed kitchens and living rooms. Each master bathroom even contains its own Jacuzzi.
In Gulf Shores, Ala., Kaiser Realty , the well-known vacation and real estate sales company, is celebrating its 25 th anniversary. Started with just three employees and a handful of vacation properties for rent, Kaiser now has over 700 rental properties, 80 full-time employees, 150 seasonal employees, and 25 licensed real estate professionals employees in the property management division.
Although Gulf Shores sat in the path of Ivan and some damage still lingers, the hurricane has reinvigorated the area's real estate market, and devoted vacationers are coming back for another year. "When people come to Gulf Shores, they become very loyal to it," says Marketing Consultant Belinda Kaiser. "There's something special about this place."
"The beaches look great," she adds. "In the beach renewal project, they have been pumping sand for 32 miles along the Alabama coast. They're making phenomenal progress, and we hope everything will be finished in August."
Off the beaten path in Gulf Shores, on the peninsula and removed from crowds and traffic, is the resort known as the Beach Club . It has a wonderful spa that offers facials, Vichy shower treatments, and hot stone massages. The Beach Club also features a clubhouse, six restaurants, a fitness center, a children's club and children's activities, five outdoor pools and one indoor pool. The beach itself is an expanse of rolling dunes and stretches of powdery sand--perfect for doing nothing.
"We focus on what we can 'undo' for you," says Stan Szapiel, the Beach Club's general manager. "That's what a vacation is about, undoing all the stress."
Of course for many, getting rid of stress often means staying active, just in an enjoyable way. Tennis lessons are available, and golfers will find plenty to love. Several nationally recognized golf courses designed by famous golfers are located nearby.
Silver Shells Resort & Spa , a development of luxury condominium towers located in Destin, Fla., is gearing up for the influx of summer sun-seekers as well. The complex has a special appeal to families. Kids activities are run all summer long, including splish-splash water games, wacky beach Olympics, various crafts, scavenger hunts and more. The Grille, Silver Shells' restaurant, offers a 99 cent kids menu, too.
One of Silver Shells' towers, called St. Barth, just opened this year. This beautiful building offers vacation rentals for a month or more. A second brand new building at Silver Shells, named St. Lucia, will be introduced the fall offering short-term vacation rentals.
Martinique on the Gulf , located on Alabama's Fort Morgan peninsula, calls itself a beach community, and a community it is. The set-up of the property is designed to encourage friendships. Vacationers run into their neighbors at the two clubhouses or chat with them at events such as the annual owner's party. Many of the condominiums, villas, and beach homes are available for rent, and first-time visitors will find themselves as welcome as the regulars do.
As the development is next to the Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge, it's easily accessible to nature trails. The beach is as lovely as it is elsewhere on the Emerald Coast. The vistas from the terrace of the Beach Club are especially popular, but some vacationers prefer to take a closer look at the water from Martinique's private boardwalk or on the beach itself with the sand between their toes.
The sun is high, and the beach is calling. As Louisianans, we don't have to fly south. We can just head east and pull off wherever we'd like.
