Valentine greetings have been popular since the Middle Ages. The first commercially printed Valentine cards in America appeared in the 1840s. Today, an estimated one billion cards are sent each year, often accompanying the popular gifts of candy and flowers.

Make Valentine's Day even more special when you bring your valentine to the beach.

Those gestures are wonderful, sweet, and certainly appreciated by anyone who receives them. But wouldn’t you like to do something a little different for your sweetheart this year? Say “I love you” by creating a wonderful memory together at the beach.

We can help by offering some love to your budget. When you take advantage of the Valentine Special through Meyer Vacation Rentals, you’ll receive TWO free nights. Rent a romantic 1-bedroom beach or bay property for four nights, but just pay for two. That’s a 50% savings!

If you prefer to celebrate the occasion with spacious, private accommodations for the whole family, rent a house for seven nights and get the sixth and seventh nights free.

Even if you can’t stay the extra nights, you can use them for an early check-in and late check-out, allowing for more leisure time along the coast.

So instead of thinking red or pink this Valentine’s Day, think white sands and blue water—and a little extra green in your pocket. Your sweetheart will love you for it.

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.

Think ahead to February 5, 2012. It’s the height of the winter season. You need to escape to the beach for a bit of warmth, a change of pace, relaxation . . . and football.

Imagine watching the biggest football game of the year while looking out over the beach. Meyer Vacation Rentals can help make that happen for you!

That combination may not be top of mind, but why not? On Super Bowl Sunday, wouldn’t you love to chuckle at the idea of parkas, hats and gloves to get to and from the stadium as you admire the beach view from your condo?

Let us help you make the decision by sweetening the pot with FREE nights. Pay for 2, 3 or 4 nights in a condo and get an extra night free, or book a house for 3 or 4 nights to get another night free. Better yet, come enjoy the beach life for a week—pay for 5 nights in either a house or condo, and we’ll give you TWO more free nights! (Even if you can’t stay the extra nights, you can use those as a late check in or check out.) You’ll find the details at our Lazy Winter Special page.

If you’d like to watch the big game among a cheering crowd AND play some games (how about a grand prize of $5000?), join the folks at The Hangout for their Super Bowl Sunday party. The first 200 people in the door an hour before kickoff will receive free tailgating food, and the regular menu also will be available.

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.

The environmentalist. The volunteer. The nature lover. The person who has everything. The proud local. The appreciative visitor. The ecotourist. The science teacher or student.

Your gift to a friend or family member also supports Weeks Bay Foundation programs.

Many of us fit into at least one of those categories. And we know of one particular gift item that will satisfy any or all of these folks.

When you give someone a 2011 Weeks Bay ornament that commemorates the 25^th anniversary of the designation of the Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, you give much more than a simple gift to a friend or family member. You also support the natural environments of our area and beyond.

Current programs of the Weeks Bay Foundation include submerged equipment, weather stations and sampling projects to monitor water quality. And their ongoing objective is to purchase land in the Weeks Bay watershed that may be added to the National Wildlife Reserve, or be set aside with a conservation easement such as to preserve a wildlife habitat, or create a buffer to conservation lands.

You have four options for securing this decorative item that depicts a fisherman in a kayak. The best value is a combination ornament and one-year membership in the Weeks Bay Foundation for just $50. Send an ornament with a holiday card that includes your personal greeting for just $20, shipping included. Ornaments alone are $15 online, or you may purchase them in person for $12 at Fairhope Pharmacy’s Christmas ’Round the Corner or the Weeks Bay Reserve at 11401 U.S. Hwy. 98 in Fairhope (251-990-5004).

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.

The National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola (NAS) is hosting a speaker with a harrowing story to share as part of their Discovery Saturday series on October 22, 2011, at 10:00 a.m.

Hear the harrowing tale of survival as one of America's longest-held POWs: Naval Aviation Museum, Saturday, October 22, 2011.

In 1964, Former Navy Commander Everett Alvarez, Jr. was the first American pilot to be shot down and held captive by the North Vietnamese. And he is among those Americans imprisoned the longest: 8½ years.

Allow him to take you through his ordeal, from ejecting out of his failing plane to his capture, from solitary confinement to attempted brainwashing, from the Hanoi March and life at the “Hanoi Hilton” to numerous beatings and degrees of torture. And then consider his perspectives on the war, the anti-war protests and more.

Rather than spoil the story for you, head to NAS to learn about it from Commander Alvarez—recipient of the Silver Star, two Legions of Merit, two Bronze Stars, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and two Purple Heart medals—who has co-authored two books describing his experiences: Chained Eagle and Code of Conduct. Admission is free to the museum and to the presentation.

Since you’ll already be there, you will certainly want to plan for a few hours to discover the amazing wealth of fascinating displays and IMAX movies at the museum, open 9–5 every day.

Actually, you could very easily spend a couple of days enjoying all that the museum has to offer, so why not extend your visit and include a little extra time for the beach? Stay in a beach house in Perdido Key, or maybe a Perdido Key condo would be your preference. You’ll find yourself just a few minutes from the museum, restaurants, shopping and more.

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.

Yes! Bring the kids to the Shrimp Festival October 13–16, 2011!

Bring the kids and enjoy loads of family fun during Shrimp Fest, October 13–16, 2011, in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles are encouraged to bring the younger set to enjoy this hugely popular event in Gulf Shores, Alabama. There is an entire section of the grounds dedicated to making the children’s days at the festival just as fun as the adults’ experience.

Free snacks of snow cones and popcorn will keep the kids fueled between meals. Many free events and activities will be provided, including sports inflatables, arts & crafts, video games, Build-a-Bear coloring books, jet ski simulator, face painting, make-your-own T-shirts, safety lessons and ID tags from the Alabama Marine Police. You’ll also find H2O Ballz, outdoor family adventures, and children’s clothing and accessories.

A full slate of live stage acts by or for children is offered throughout the four-day festival. Babin House of Party will supply free all-day entertainment on Thursday and Friday, October 13 and 14 (10 a.m.–5 p.m.), plus shorter stage segments Saturday and Sunday (see schedule below).

Local and regional acts fill out the weekend days:

Saturday
10–11 a.m.       South Baldwin Dance Center
11–11:30           Melange Dance Company of Pascagoula, MS
11:30–noon     Alabama International Girl Youth Development
Noon–12:30    Flip City
12:30–1:00      Babin House of Party
1:00–1:30        Southern Edge Dance
1:30–2:00        Wheeles Karate Academy
2:00–2:30        Southern Edge Dance
2:30–3:00        Babin House of Party
3:00–3:30        Flip City—Gulf Coast Little Princess Pageant Crowning
3:30–4:00        Gulf Coast Tae Kwon Do
4:00–5:00        Babin House of Party

Sunday
10:30–11 a.m. Alabama Entertainers Music Theater Group
11–11:30           Babin House of Party
11:30–noon     International Miss Youth Development
Noon–12:30    Brandy Brown Studio
12:30–1:00      Miss Seafood Queens
1:00–1:30         kbDanz
1:30–2:00         Babin House of Party
2:00–2:30        Alabama Entertainers Music Theater Group
2:30–3:00        Alligator Alley
3:00–3:30        Alabama Entertainers Music Theater Group
3:30–4:00        –
4:00–5:00        Babin House of Party Grand Finale

Although not directly a part of Children’s Activity Village, the Sand Sculpture Contest on Saturday (11 a.m.–3 p.m.) offers a creative opportunity for age groups starting as young as 5 years.

So pack up the entire family for fun, fun, fun at the 2011 Shrimp Festival!

While at the festival, you won’t want to miss the wide variety of musical acts at both ends of the festival grounds. Take a look at the full line-up, including links to many of the performers, on our Shrimp Fest—East Stage and Shrimp Fest—West Stage pages.

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.

The 40^th Annual National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama is known not only for our favorite crustacean served any way you can imagine, but also juried art and arts & crafts booths, and two stages filled with live music throughout all four days.

Put your creative skills on display during the Shrimp Fest Sand Sculpture Contest on Saturday, October 15, 2011.

One of the lesser-known attractions of Shrimp Fest, though, comes by way of the beach. The white-sand setting of the festival makes it a perfect venue for a sand sculpture contest—and you are invited to participate.

Registration and building of masterpieces will begin Saturday, October 15, at 11:00 a.m., with judging starting at 3:00 p.m.

Competition is grouped into age categories: 5–10 years, 11–15 years, 16 years and older, or Family (mixed ages). Each group will compete for trophies and ribbons, and all participants will receive a sand bucket. The contest is sponsored by Ike’s Beach Service, Inc.

From basic shapes molded by buckets or by hand to complex artistic renderings, let your creativity shine as you enjoy a picture-perfect day at the beach and at Shrimp Fest 2011. Festival hours are Thursday–Saturday, October 13–15, 10–10 and Sunday, October 16, 10–5.

If you are bringing the entire family to Shrimp Fest—and we hope you are!–you’ll want to know what there is for the kids during the festival. Check out another page on this blog to learn about the Children’s Activity Village, including the kids’ stage schedule of entertainment.

While at the festival, you won’t want to miss the wide variety of musical acts at both ends of the festival grounds. Take a look at the full line-up, including links to many of the performers, on our Shrimp Fest—East Stage and Shrimp Fest—West Stage pages.

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.