Another Interesting Week at Heritage Motor Coach Resort & Marina

Sunday evening one of the great owner couples here at our special Resort, Steve & Jean, invited Donna & I and Heather & Tommy to go to a concert with them at the outdoor amphatheatre nearby at the Wharf. The music was too young for us (everyone else loved it), but the evening was perfect and the setting spectacular for a concert. They have an impressive array of music at this great venue and If James Taylor ever comes to Orange Beach, we will be there! J

Folks began showing up early in the week in their incredible Liberty Buses for the Liberty Coach Rally that began Wednesday here at the Resort. Impressive coaches just kept rolling in with the nicest people in them! Liberty is taking full advantage of all the great things that our Resort and the Orange Beach Area have to offer with Shopping excursions, deep sea fishing, golf, a visit to a luxurious spa, and of course lots of great seafood! One of the shopping excursions was the easy drive up to Fairhope…a great little town full of interesting shops and restaurants. A bunch of folks from the Liberty Rally are out fishing this morning on the Lady D and I will post some pictures of their catch in my next blog.

When we took our morning walk on the beach this morning the water was very calm, the dolphins were playing, the shells were plentiful, and the sunrise was as spectacular as ever. Fall is here with days in the low 80’s and evenings absolutely perfect!

Lots of owners are here this weekend enjoying the beautiful weather and all of the amenities of their luxurious Resort. This time of year here is not to be missed! Below are some pictures from this week for you to enjoy!

-Jim

Picture of the gorgeous sunrise from my & Donna's walk on the beach this morning

Unique purse the ladies saw while shopping in Fairhope

Angels & Coach Houses

We get a lot of questions about the Coach Houses that come with each Resort Site here at Heritage Motor Coach Resort & Marina so I thought I should talk about them. But then the Angels thing popped up this week so I will talk about both.

Donna & I decided at the last minute on Wednesday to go see the Blue Angels. It is easy to do since they are so close by. We were a few minutes late getting there for their practice which starts at 8:30 AM most Tuesdays & Wednesdays right behind the huge Naval Air Museum on the Pensacola Naval Air Station. We were just walking out to the show when all-of-a-sudden one came over us from behind at about 400 mph at about 50 feet above. Quite a feeling! You didn’t know it was coming until it was right on top of you! Their show was inspiring as always. Glad they are on our side!! Amazing machines, but even more amazing talented and brave pilots! They only have 7 more practice shows left (Sep. 27^th, Oct. 19^th, 25^th, & 26^th and Nov. 1^st, 2^nd, & 8^th) before they have their big end of the year show November 11^th & 12^th. The big show takes place over the water and we are planning a flotilla from Heritage Motor Coach Resort & Marina to enjoy it up close & comfortable! Give us a call for more details! You don’t want to miss this!

Now about the Coach Houses… If you haven’t been to Heritage Motor Coach Resort & Marina yet (what are you waiting for?) each of our 79 Resort Sites comes complete with a Coach House just waiting to be finished out to suit your needs and tastes. All have a bathroom and a living room, some have a bedroom, and most have a kitchen. You can find a variety of floor plans on this website in the ‘Site Plans’ section. The one plan you won’t find there is our newest and most popular one pictured here. Our owners have loved the openness, the roomy kitchen, the 52’ LED TV, and especially the soaking bath tub! All of the Coach Houses provide a huge extension of your living space when you park your motor coach next to them. They make great guest quarters too; and sometimes just give you a place to come relax and enjoy our Motor Coach & Boating Paradise when you aren’t traveling in your motor coach. You can also add a large outdoor covered patio complete with an outdoor kitchen. Just walking around the Resort you will see just how imaginative our folks are have been in creating tasteful, functional, and beautiful living spaces to enjoy our unique setting.

Hope to see you here soon!

-Jim

What a weekend to be at Heritage Motor Coach Resort & Marina!

The weather was perfect with warm days and balmy evenings complemented by a wonderful mix of owners and guests in the Resort this past weekend! Two great couples decided to join the Heritage Family this weekend with Al & Vicki falling in love with the model on Resort Site 22 (this exciting newest floor plan isn’t on our website yet so I will include some pictures of it in my next blog) and Jeff & Marsha loving the privacy offered by Resort Site 2. Our community is growing fast and we will soon be sold out!

Saturday night was a wonderful evening with Artie Childs entertaining everyone with their favorite songs, the tacos were excellent, and lots of folks enjoyed my Margaritas! The evening was the perfect evening to sit outside on the upper deck and watch the sun set and the moon rise while enjoying both the music and the great company. Lots of new friends were made and old friends enjoyed each other’s company.

We will be doing it again this coming weekend, so come be a part of the fun!

-Jim

Blue Angels Schedule-only a few more dates to see them fly!

Remaining Practice Dates:

September 20, 21*, 27

OCTOBER 19*, 25, 26*

NOVEMBER 1, 2*, 8

The Museum of Naval Aviation at NAS Pensacola has a

viewing area for visitors to watch the team practice. The team

visits the museum to answer questions and sign autographs after Wednesday practices.

Wednesday practices are marked with an asterisk (*)

The Fall Show:

November 11-12

Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show

Pensacola, FL

September, October & November Events

Jason Aldean's Rescheduled Concert:

Special guest Chris Young

September 25th 8:00pm

The Amphitheater at the Wharf

9th Annual Thunder on the Gulf

Oct 6 - Oct 9

Gulf State Park Pavilion

Race Village will be at the State Park Pavilion and will be jam-packed with excitement.

It will be open to the public daily from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. This family-friendly event will allow race fans to observe monster race boats and their teams, let the kids play at the Kids Pavilion, purchase official race merchandise and check out the vendors.

Saturday there will be live entertainment at Race Village from noon-4 p.m. Shuttles will be running from Gulf Shores and Orange

Beach to all racing venues.
6 p.m. there will be a Boat Parade from Race Village at the State Park Pavilion to Main Street at the Wharf. Following the boat parade there will be a Gala in the Event Center featuring entertainment by the Tip Tops, a silent auction, hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar.
Thunder on the Gulf 2011 is rated as one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast according to the Southeast Tourism Society.

Admission: Free to Public. VIP Passes available for purchase- $100 each, plus tax.

Phone: 1-866-954-7223
Website: http://www.thunderonthegulf.com

24th Annual Lost Bay Regatta

Oct 8 12:30pm

Barber Marina

26986 Fish Trap Road, Elberta, AL 36530

Race begins at 1:00 pm. The race is open to monohull sailboats 20 ft. or longer. Friday night dinner & entertainment at Pirate's Cove. Awards Ceremony at 6:30 p.m.

Admission: Entry fee TBD.

Phone: 251-981-4632
Website: http://www.pointyachtclub.org/

40th Annual National Shrimp Festival

Oct 13 - Oct 16 10am-10pm

Gulf Shores Main Public Beach

Savor fresh from the gulf seafood at the 40th Annual National Shrimp Festival during this four-day event that attracts over 300,000 people. Peruse through the wares of 300-plus vendors

showcasing their fine art and crafts, and kick back to the continuous tunes from the two musical stages that will feature major National Recording artists as well as local favorites. Little ones will love the Children’s Activity Village.
Admission: Free to public.

Phone: 251 968-4237
Website: http://www.nationalshrimpfestival.com

The Original German Sausage Festival

Oct 29

Elberta Town Park

Held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The best German Sausage you have ever tasted! Made from a secret recipe developed by the founding fathers of Elberta, AL. This is the only place you can get the real thing!
Arts & crafts, live music, carnival rides, baked goods & more. Don't forget to visit the Bier Garten for a large selection of imported beers.

Admission: Free to public.

Phone: 251-986-5805
Website: http://www.sausagefest.elbertafire.com

2011 SEC Women's Soccer Championship

Nov 2-Nov 6

Orange Beach Sportsplex

Eight hopeful seeds will square off in quarterfinal action before the field narrows for Friday's (November 4) semifinals. Championship play is scheduled for Sunday, November 6 at 2:00pm and will be broadcast live. Don't miss the action!
Admission: $5.00 adults, $2.00 Students

Phone: 251-981-PLAY
Website: http://www.secdigitalnetwork.com/ipad.aspx

The Blue Angels Air Show

Nov 11 - Nov 12

Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida.
National Museum of Naval Aviation, 1750 Radford Blvd, Pensacola, FL 32508

The Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, November 11 & 12, on board Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. Admission is FREE and the gates open at 8 am each day. The show includes static displays of aircraft of all types, food, beverage and vendor booths, virtual reality experiences and other attractions, including a Kids' Zone, Sony Playstation II gaming area and bungee jumping. Home Depot will also have a Kids Workshop Area with craft projects. The air show begins at 9:45 am, with the Blue Angels slated to fly around 2 pm. The pilots will sign autographs after the show. There is also a night air show on Friday evening.
Visit the Museum's display area at the air show and climb into our Blue Angel F/A-18 Hornet. Check out other historic aircraft from the Museum's collection including a F-14 Tomcat, a F-4 Phantom and a HU-16 Albatross. Don't miss our special guest appearance of a P-38 Lightning.
Visitors are encouraged to use the back gate off of Blue Angel Parkway to enter the base. Patrons may bring chairs, but no coolers, backpacks, food, drinks or pets will be allowed. A handicap area is set aside for wheelchairs only. For those who have never attended an air show, be advised that the aircraft can be VERY noisy and young children need protection for their ears. It can also be windy on the tarmac and layers of clothes are recommended.

Admission: Gate admission is free. Bleacher seating is available for $5 per person. Because of pre-sold reserved seating for large groups, bleacher seats are usually sold out before noon on Friday and before 11 am on Saturday. Tickets can be purchased ahead of time and must be ordered before noon on Friday, Nov. 7. Groups of 50 or more can purchase bleacher seating for $3 per person. For more information on bleacher, Box and Flight Line seating, please visit the MWR website here.

Website: http://www.blueangels.navy.mil/schedules.htm

Kid Rock's Rescheduled Concert

Nov 12, 8:00pm

The Amphitheater at the Wharf

2011 Coastal Half Marathon, 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run

Nov 26

Orange Beach Sportsplex

Come run or watch the 2011 Kaiser Realty Coastal Half Marathon or 5K Run. Both races will begin at the Orange Beach Sportsplex, travel the winding path of the Hugh Branyon Back Country Trail continue on the Beach Road overlooking the Gulf waters and end at the Orange Beach Sportsplex. To register for this race click here.

Phone: 251-974-4611
Website: http://www.team-magic.com

This week at Heritage Motor Coach Resort & Marina

The weather has been beautiful with warm days and perfect evenings. The sunrises and sunsets have been especially stunning this week. Saturday evening we had Mel & Charlie entertaining on the upper decks accompanied by a spectacular full moon shining on the bay. We also had some exceptional pizza from Bella Luna that just opened up down the street from the Resort to go with our usual open bar. We had a great turn out of owners and guests for this week’s event!

Donna & my morning walks on the beach have been special. One morning we watched the moon set just before a gorgeous sunrise. There have been a lot of interesting shells on the beach this week as well.A couple of our owners (the Webbs & the Lapines) headed out in one of Jim’s boats to do a little fishing as well as watch the sunset and moonrise. They weren’t disappointed! Several of our guests made the short trip over to watch the Blue Angels practice on Tuesday & Wednesday mornings and wander through the impressive Naval Air Museum.

The water at the Resort has been very calm and perfect for paddle boarding, kayaking, rowing, or any other boating our owners and guests have wanted to do. Fall is in the air…a perfect time at Heritage Motor Coach Resort & Marina!

-Jim

A letter from the birthday girl

What a gorgeous week we are having!!! This is my favorite time of year!!! And no, it's not just because it's my birthday (which I celebrate all month long!), but that does help....The traffic has slowed at the resort which gives me time to catch up on work and conversations with owners and renters; the weather is just perfect (high 70's to mid 80's with a coastal breeze and no humidity) and it's football season (need I say more?!). I feel the need to put on a pot of chili and embrace the relaxed tone on the beach these days. I will say, my chili recipe deserves a blog post all on its own as people down here have never seen anyone put noodles in it (my Louisville, Ky friends and family need to back me up on this!).

I want to share these gorgeous pictures from yesterday. The 1st are from the Webb's, who took some guests by boat to see the Blue Angels practice (which you really should put on your to-do list if you are ever in the area!). Then later in the day they joined friends for an anniversary celebration. There were 2 Linda's, 2 Donna's & 2 Jim's!! And if that isn't ironic enough, all 3 couples celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary within 3 weeks of each other...Can you imagine all of the great stories that were shared over dinner and wine last night?

I guess the dolphins had received word that it was my birthday. I hadn't seen them in a few weeks and then yesterday before I left work 4 of them popped up right outside my office window-as if on cue. This isn't the best picture in the world but if you've ever tried to photograph dolphins you understand how tricky it is!! They are fast and you can never predict where they are heading. By the way, this picture is from my seat at my desk - I put the office window up and grabbed a few quick shots as they passed by!!!

Well, it's time for me to get busy. I hope you all enjoy your day today as much as I'm enjoying mine!!!

-Heather

Notes from Jim

Perfect Day yesterday for Donna & my 43rd Anniversary (hard to believe she has put up with me for that long). Sunny and 80 degree day, blackened Mahi Tacos at the Hang Out right on the beach followed by a long walk on the beach. Evening found us having cocktails and firecracker shrimp at Cobalts watching an amazing sunset and the dolphins while talking to our grandkids back in Oregon about their first days in High School & Middle School.

Today started out with a 6 AM walk on the beach. Lots of shells and coral washed up from the weekend storm (oil & tar ball free though). Sunrise was spectacular and the water was warm. Hand in hand with Donna; start of another perfect day in paradise! Donna is headed off on Jim & Linda Webb’s boat with other owners and guests at Heritage Motor Coach Resort & Marina to watch the Blue Angels practice. It is great to have Jim & Linda back from their Alaska Adventure this summer. Time to go to work!

-Jim