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Sleigh Rides in Orange Beach December 9

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011

Creating a sleigh ride without snow can be a bit of a challenge. But with a little imagination from both organizers and riders in Orange Beach, trucks and trailers become magical sleighs, taking you through brightly decorated paths along the Backcountry Trail to view live Nativity scenes, hear carolers and small instrumental groups, and of course, meet Santa.

Orange Beach, Alabama, sleigh ride, backcountry trail, christmas, holiday, gulf shores

Ride the Backcountry Trail, transformed into a holiday wonderland, Friday, December 9, 2011, in Orange Beach, Alabama.

Hot chocolate and cookies will be supplied for the tour. Musical entertainment at City Hall, the departure point, will help pass the time while waiting to join the next available ride. Raggedy Ann and Andy, as well as other children’s characters, will be sharing the merriment.

Sleigh rides are scheduled to depart every 5 minutes, beginning at 6:00 this Friday, December 9, and the ride lasts approximately one hour. The event ends at 9:00, so you’ll have plenty of time before and after the ride to enjoy the decorated booths of area businesses, including restaurants, retail shops, salons, churches and more. (You can even pick up some coupons to make your holiday shopping a little easier on the budget.)

Grab your coats, hats and mittens and enjoy the warmth of a free, old-fashioned community holiday event in Orange Beach this weekend. For more information, please call 251-981-1063.

Create more bonding time and a break from the holiday rush by surprising your family with a weekend beach getaway. Take a look at the 3-bedroom condos available in Orange Beach, then apply promo code 1112W1 to get a free night when you pay for 2. Clothing, games and electronics make wonderful holiday gifts, but experiences and memories as a family are priceless.

Stay informed of Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area activities, vacation rental specials and more by subscribing to this Discover Alabama Beaches blog and Meyer Muse, and by following Meyer Vacation Rentals on Facebook and Twitter.

Posted in Activities, Arts, Arts Performing, Arts Visual, Children, Events, Holidays, Nature and Wildlife, Nightlife | No Responses »
Tags: Alabama, band, children, Christmas, exhibit, family, festival, Foley, Fort Morgan, free, Gulf Shores, holiday, island, music, Nightlife, Orange Beach, Perdido Key, sleigh ride

Arctic Express in Lower Alabama

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011

Starting Friday, November 25, you and your little ones can leave Lower Alabama on a magical train ride to see Santa at the North Pole.

Wales West Light Railway, Arctic Express, Christmas, Santa, holiday, children, family

Experience the magic of a ride on the Arctic Express, straight to Santa! Departure from Wales West in Silverhill, Alabama.

The mile-long ride begins at Wales West on America’s only steam-powered, Welsh narrow-gauge railway. The train, Dame Ann, has been transformed into the Arctic Express to help fulfill Santa’s wish to visit with as many children as possible. Families ride past decorated Victorian-style buildings, gardens, woodlands and Lake Victoria, marveling at the million-plus lights that sparkle along the way.

Meeting, visiting and taking pictures with Santa (don’t forget your camera!) is only part of the North Pole experience. Santa’s elves will be busy handing out collectible wooden toy locomotives that can be taken home as is or decorated at the arts and crafts table. The kids may wish to make Christmas cards or an ornament, too, while they are there.

Once the train arrives back in Lower Alabama, everyone gets hot cocoa, a cookie and a candy cane to enjoy—plus on the weekends other special activities will be presented. But that’s not the end of the evening! Jump on a miniature train for a free ride past festive decorations, let the kids go shopping at the Elf Emporium, work off some steam at the playground, and take advantage of even more photo opps at the locomotive wall. Light lunch, dinner and snack foods are served at the café, and many train-related gifts—including Thomas the Tank Engine items—may be purchased at the gift shop.

North Pole transportation is available Fridays 4–9 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays 1–9 p.m., and as of December 14, a nightly schedule of 4–9 p.m. is added. It’s a tremendous amount of fun for just $12 per person (no charge for ages 13 months and younger). You’ll find Wales West on County Road 9 in Silverhill—take Highway 59 north to County Road 32 west, then turn north onto County Road 9; the railway is two miles ahead.

Make it an extra-special excursion by bringing your family to the beach for a long weekend! You may find the perfect place for your small family to be a 3-bedroom condo in Fort Morgan. Your larger family will be thrilled with a roomy 4-bedroom house or condo in Orange Beach. For true bonding time, you and your extended family can enjoy staying under one roof with a 6-bedroom house in Gulf Shores.

Posted in Activities, Alabama, Children, Events, Holidays | No Responses »
Tags: Alabama, Arctic Express, children, Christmas, destination, family, Foley, Fort Morgan, gift, Gulf Coast, Gulf Shores, History, holiday, Orange Beach, Perdido Key, railway, Santa, Train

Mardi Gras Beads for Christmas?

Tuesday, November 30th, 2010

Raise your hand if you have a bag of Mardi Gras beads gathering dust in your closet.

Mardi Gras, beads, ornament, decoration, Christmas, class

Make Mardi Gras beads into Christmas decorations and more. Learn how at Orange Beach Arts Center this Saturday, December 4, 2010.

It’s time to do something constructive with those beads! Creativity knows no bounds, and Orange Beach Arts Center would like to prove that to you—with the help of Dorie Parsons.

Dorie is possibly best known for her excellent teaching skills, most recently with her local photography classes. But she is also quite resourceful and imaginative. Allow her to describe and demonstrate the techniques of turning those colorful necklaces into holiday decorations, adorable animals and other jewelry. Then let your imagination take over to create items for yourself or others

This Saturday, December 4, parade yourself, your beads and $15 to the Orange Beach Arts Center at noon. Spend the next hour playing with the easy techniques and ideas. You may have so much fun that you will look for more beads to make more items at home!

Teachers, this could lead you to a classroom art or holiday project that your students will truly enjoy, so be sure to find your stored beads before the week is over.

Right now, before you get busy with other things, call the Orange Beach Arts Center at 251-981-2787 to reserve your place in the class. Laissez les joyeux noels rouler! (Let the good Christmas times roll!)

Stay informed of local activities, vacation rental specials and more by subscribing to this Discover Alabama Beaches blog and Meyer Muse, and by following Meyer Real Estate on Twitter, Facebook and MySpace.

Posted in Activities, Alabama, Arts, Arts Visual, Holidays, Workshops | No Responses »
Tags: Alabama, art, Arts Center, bead, Christmas, decoration, family, Fort Morgan, gift, Gulf Shores, holiday, island, Orange Beach, Perdido Key

THAT’s Not a Sleigh!

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

Throughout the year, folks brainstorm, make drawings, decide on budgets and assemble their crews for the big night, all with the hope of bringing back the coveted first place awards for the Nautical Night of Lights boat parade in Orange Beach, Alabama, on Friday, December 11.

Nautical Night of Lights and Light Up the Arts - both events Friday, December 11 in Orange Beach, Alabama.

Now in its 24^th year, the competition seems to grow stronger each December. Awards are given in three categories: sailboat, powerboat 32′ and under, and powerboat 33′ and up. Judging is based on lighting, music, and crew attire – and there is no end to the creativity on these literal parade floats.

You can greet Santa and enjoy the free parade of his escorts along the Intracoastal Canal, beginning at Zeke’s Marina at 5:00 p.m. and moving through Terry Cove at 5:30, Bear Point at 6:30, The Wharf at 7:30, and ending at LuLu’s Homeport Marina at 8:30 p.m. Just pick a time and a location and join the community in this festive event. For more parade information, contact the Chamber at 251-968-7220.

Looking for even more fun to fill the entire evening? The Orange Beach Arts Center is hosting Light Up the Arts to coincide with the parade. Starting at 6:00 p.m., enjoy wine and chili as you admire the wonderful variety of art works on display. Buy a handblown wine glass (use it for your wine that evening!), participate in the live auction, purchase your favorite work of art, and relax to the beautiful Christmas music played by harpist Rose Brueske.

The OBAC is located along the water (26389 Canal Rd., just .3 miles east of Hwy. 161), so just step outside to cheer the parade as it goes by – and at the same time, tap your toes to the music of Top Hat and Jackie.

All proceeds from the evening support educational programs and more at OBAC. For more information regarding Light Up the Arts or the Orange Beach Arts Center, call 251-981-2787.

Let us help you arrange your holiday beach getaway at up to 50% off, give the ideal present of a gift certificate good toward a beach vacation, or plan for your next reunion or family vacation. We look forward to serving your with STAR Treatment!

Posted in Alabama, Arts, Arts Performing, Arts Visual, Boating, Events, Gifts, Holidays, Nightlife, Shopping | No Responses »
Tags: Alabama, auction, boat parade, boats, Christmas, family, gift, gift certificate, Gulf Coast, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf Shores, harp, holiday, island, Light Up the Arts, music, Nautical Night of Lights, Orange Beach, Orange Beach Arts Center, parade, sale, Santa, Shopping

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