Heritage is more than a resort, it's a family!

This place is unique not only for the white sandy beach and the gorgeous Gulf views, the breath taking sunsets and the stunning moon rises that shine over the water...but also because everyone here is part of a very special family! I feel that on a regular basis whether it be during a dinner where owners gather for fellowship while cooking and entertaining, or while up at the fire pit talking, enjoying a glass of wine and watching a beautiful sunset. This week proves to be no different as some of the ladies of Heritage and I gathered upstairs to decorate for Christmas.As we talk, giggle, chase falling decorations and get frustrated with lights that aren't working, it is clear to me that this place and the people in it are so very special! I may be 600 miles away from my family in Kentucky but I feel right at home here in this spectacular place with an amazing group of people! -Heather

It is starting to feel a lot like Christmas!

In spite of the beautiful warm sunshine today at Heritage Motor Coach Resort & Marina, we are getting into the Christmas Spirit. Heather and Donna along with Linda & Lori decorated the big tree and the mantels in the Club House yesterday morning and it looks very festive!

Then, around 2 in the afternoon a dozen of us from the Resort headed for Fort Morgan to take the ferry over to Dauphin Island. Our group of owners included folks from Texas, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, Arkansas, & Michigan! It was a fun boat ride on the small ferry (It can haul 45’ Motor Coaches) with lots of dolphins along the way. From there it was an easy drive up to the Bellingrath Home & Gardens south of Mobile. These gardens are beautiful to visit year around; but they are real special when they add over 3 million Christmas Lights (no…we didn’t actually count them… but I believe them)! They used great imagination to create the feeling of being under water with a big variety of sea creatures! Add a fire-breathing 30’ dragon, fireworks in lights, giant swans, Santa and his sleigh, and much, much more! The tour of their spectacular 10,000 sq. ft. home built in the 1930’s was very interesting; but the light show made the evening unforgettable. Wandering through the gardens enjoying the amazing lights accompanied by all of our favorite Christmas music (think Elvis, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby…). If you get the chance to see it you will be enthralled! Sharing it with Donna and our friends from Heritage Motor Coach Resort & Marina made it even more special!

This is just one more reason to come visit our one-of-a-kind motor coach & boating paradise here in beautiful Orange Beach between now and December 30th! Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! -Jim

Counting my blessings!!

Thanksgiving week was a terrific week here at Heritage Motor Coach Resort & Marina! Many of our owners came to celebrate together plus many new and old friends enjoyed the great weather we had all week! Folks came from as far away as Ontario, Canada, Southern California, and Baker City, Oregon to celebrate all that we have to be thankful for here in beautiful Orange Beach! Turkeys were cooked every way imaginable, folks shopped on Black Friday at the huge outlet mall close by, football was watched, and Mel Knapp entertained us on Saturday Night. Bikes were ridden on the many bike paths, miles of beaches were strolled on, boogie boards were enjoyed, sea kayaks were paddled, wave runners ran wild, fish were caught, and boat rides were enjoyed! Thanks to all of you for making this a very special place! I have the best job, best family, & best wife anyone could ever ask for!

-Jim

A Moody Place

This past weekend was an interesting example of the variety of moods here at Heritage Motor Coach Resort & Marina. The focus, of course, was the big college football game between LSU & Alabama. Our ‘tailgate party’ featured live entertainment, an open bar, and I cooked up a bunch of sausages and dogs. This was all complemented by a great variety of tasty food brought by the many fans. The game lived up to the hype even though neither offense showed up. College Football is awesome with an emotion and passion that the NFL just can’t match! We packed the owner’s lounge with a mix of Tiger and Tide fans that were very enthusiastic; but amazingly kind to each other during the ebb and flow of this great game. Lots of ‘woofing’ going on, but no rudeness! Congratulations to all you Tiger Fans!

The contrast came as a beautifully serene Sunday Morning found folks strolling around the Resort, sitting on the marina, enjoying the hot tub, etc. A peace fell over this special place as friends spent time just enjoying each other as some prepared to reluctantly head home to other responsibilities. A perfect fall evening found friends enjoying each other’s company around the fire pit, cooking up some great steaks, or heading over to Flippers for their famous Bushwackers. Paul G. summed up one of the truly unique things about Heritage Motor Coach Resort & Marina. As Paul observed, he hasn’t found this many close friends that have no pretenses, make no effort to impress one another, or just simply enjoy laughing and each other’s company this much since he was in high school. It is part of the magic that happens when folks become part of the ‘Heritage Family’.

Next up is the Blue Angels big Homecoming Air Show this weekend. They have spectacular shows planned for both Friday and Saturday including a very unique and spectacular show on Friday Evening. For more info go to naspairshow.com.

I hope to see you all here real soon!

Jim

Dolphins, Halloween & Football!!

This past week was such a fun one for guests and owners alike here at Heritage. Nice cool evenings where all could enjoy the fire-pit and watch the gorgeous sunsets over the Gulf followed by sunny days with warm temperatures and calm waters. We've had a lot of people out kayaking and on boats and I saw about 30 sailboats out yesterday afternoon....The Webbs took other fellow owners and some of our renters to see the Blue Angels by boat last Tuesday and on their way back to the resort they came across a couple families of dolphins. I've attached some pictures and a video below. Everyone that was on the boat came back telling me stories about these dolphins and how is was the largest amount of dolphins they've seen swimming together. There were several baby dolphins in the midst of this group as well. It appeared that the adult dolphins were teaching the babies how to swim/play/jump...

We then had an AMAZING Halloween party Saturday night with music, fun food and great company and conversations!!!! Dan and I carved some pumpkins (I think I destroyed my cookie monster but Dan's spider turned out great!!). I love this picture of Pirate J and his first mate!

Here are the mummy cookies and candy corn cookies I made....They were yummy!!

It's that time of year, the big game between LSU and Alabama.....Come tailgate with us!!! We'll be having a pre-game Cajun Cook-Off this coming weekend, Saturday the 5th of November at 6pm. We'll have Artie Childs playing all of your favorite songs from 3-6 and then again at Halftime. Game begins at 7pm CST. Enter your best Cajun dish for a chance to win!!! Or simply be a judge of this fun event, either way we guarantee fun will be had by all!!! Call us at 800-730-7032 to grab one of the few sites we have left for this fun event!!! And let Heather know if you'd like to enter your best Cajun dish!!!

-Heather

I am writing this sitting on an airplane headed to the west coast to hug my grandkids for a week and watch my grandson play football. It gives me time to reflect on the past week at Heritage Motor Coach Resort & Marina. The week began with Owner’s Weekend a week ago with most of the folks who have purchased the first 50 out of the 79 Resort Sites on hand for a festive weekend and the annual owner’s meeting. What a fun group of friends! Like a great big family reunion with lovable, crazy aunts, uncles & cousins; tons of unbelievable stories; and a lot of fun! The week found random gatherings every evening of the week, lots of great food, spontaneous block parties, and Dave & Dave from Liberty

Coach sponsoring a fantastic sit down dinner with filet mignon & shrimp skewers along with live entertainment and an open bar. Lots of folks hung around after the big weekend. They gathered in the morning to take interesting and energetic bicycle rides through the Gulf State Park, they kayaked on the calm waters of Bayou St. John, they took lazy boat rides, they fished, they golfed, they shopped at the interesting shops of Fairhope, they watched the Blue Angels fly over, they walked on the beach, they made new friends, they showed off their unique Coach Houses, they watched some spectacular moon rises and sunsets (not too many caught the gorgeous sunrises), we all ate and drank too much, and most of all they just enjoyed themselves and each other!

I hope to see you all next week when we come back ‘Home’ to Heritage Motor Coach Resort & Marina in beautiful Orange Beach!

-Jim

The Hidden Treasure at Heritage Motor Coach Resort & Marina

Last Friday I celebrated one year here as Resort Director of this amazing place. When Duke, the developer, flew Donna & I down last year we were both very impressed with both his vision and the one-of-a-kind Motor Coach & Boating Paradise he had created. It has been a wonderful year here and we have truly grown to feel like this is our home. Heritage Motor Coach Resort & Marina has many obvious ‘treasures’ with its prime location right on the water within sight of the Gulf of Mexico and the Intracoastal Waterway, its paver streets, giant oak trees, natural gas lamps, large private marina, roomy coach houses on every Resort Site, impressive clubhouse with second story fire pit, infinity pool, private beach, etc., etc. But, over the course of the last year I have come to realize that the real hidden treasure here at this unique Resort is the people. Last night one of the newest members of our Heritage Family (we have added 23 new Resort Site Owners this year) experienced a family tragedy losing a 27 year old nephew/father of 3 young children to a freak accident. It was as if everyone here had lost someone close to them with the genuine love and caring way everyone supported these new members of our ‘family’.

I am really looking forward to our Annual Owners’ Weekend this weekend with over 80 of our owners joining us here for a couple of great evenings of food, fun, & fellowship as well as our annual owners meeting. The weather looks awesome for this gathering of this great group of successful, interesting, active, and caring folks who I never get tired of being with. Thanks to all of them for the way that they have accepted Donna & me as part of their family!

Fall is perfect in Orange Beach…a great time to come relax and enjoy yourselves here at Heritage Motor Coach Resort & Marina!

-Jim

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