We decided last minute that the best use of our time over spring break while the boys were off from school was to head down south to further explore and scope out all of Gulf Shores. This was our fourth trip and with so many beaches, islands, inlets and small towns, we felt like there is still so much for us to see. My in-laws came along to check out the area and helped with the boys and also got to see their friends, Dan and Annie, from Foley, a town north of Gulf Shores. In the past we have stayed in Orange Beach, Perdido Key (near Pensacola, FL) and in Gulf Shores.

With promising weather in the beginning of the week, we planned for all beach days leaving the end of the week for checking out the towns of Ft. Morgan, Josephine and Elberta.

Our first few days consisted of lots of beach time with the boys. We all packed up the beach carts with fishing supplies, chairs, towels and sunblock. I was thrilled that the city really cracks down on the college spring breakers and had large signs up for “No alcohol on the beach” until the end of April, after spring breaker season. While there were plenty of college groups on the beach playing volleyball and laying out, none caused any concern for parents and families. They must have all gone to Daytona Beach! Also, Josh and I met on the beach 18 years ago this week! So much to be thankful for.❤️🐚🌴

The water was a little chilly but we still spent plenty of time building sand castles, burrying brothers in sand, relaxing in the sun and mostly hunting for sea shells. A local told us about the best place to find the pretty shells and so the 3 boys and I walked several beach blocks to the bridge and dug for an hour or so. We got our steps and workout in that day!

While the boys aren’t little any more and we don’t need a tent for the beach for naps and bottles and a wagon to carry them, so much still remains the same at the beach. We enjoy family time and we all love the sand, salt water and the feeling of the warm sun on our skin. We have been taking the boys to the beach on spring break since they were babies, in fact I was still on maternity leave with Deacon when we visited Destin, FL in 2015. We don’t need to pack the double stroller, high chair, bibs and diapers but instead we bring their scooters or bikes, games like Uno, Frisbee, body boards, SO much food and, of course, all the fishing gear… and try to keep them away from Nintendo switches 😐.

Wyatt is the king of taking photos while jumping in the air! Hunter is a great photographer too. I have so many great photos of Wyatt doing his mid air jumping tricks. I tried to keep up with him.

Most nights we cooked dinner in the rental house but for dinner that night, we headed to Tin Top, a highly recommended restaurant in Bon Secour. We always love to find the locals’ hot spot rather than always eating at tourist traps with long lines. We all ordered fish, including Royal Reds, redfish, salmon and shrimp. Jeff and Joyce enjoyed the royal reds and the gumbo looked amazing. We even visited a historic plantation style home turned wedding venue (with 3,000 sq ft of porch!) and an old southern church under large live oaks while we waited for our table, which we did the same thing last time we visited Tin Top with my mom and brother, Uncle Kevin.

The next day was spent at Johnson Beach, a nearby Florida State Park. We walked the beach, found a little quiet and secluded area along the bay and fished. Josh and the boys even caught rock crabs by hand! We also found many, many hermit crabs that Wyatt collected in a bucket. The guys caught some fish and sting rays that were all thrown back and we also spotted a huge whelk in a large spiraled shell (which we learned is like a conch but not as rare). The dunes created shelves that looked like a stage where Wyatt and Deacon performed a little song and dance for me. We all loved walking and exploring that bay. We saw boats pass by, swam and enjoyed the very little breeze.

We stayed through Saturday night and had the perfect ending to our week while we watched the sunset in Ft. Morgan which is a long peninsula. We chatted with locals and took photos while the boys also swam and ran around on the beach. We even saw a Carnival cruise ship pass right by us, probably coming from Mobile Bay. For dinner we picked up a Po’ Boy Party Pack from the local Shrimp Baaket- 4 shrimp po’ boys plus a chicken sandwich and fries and fried pickles and onion rings for our family of many hungry, growing boys.

Lastly, in addition to all this, I prioritized and squeezed in a workout at the local Barre, I loved meeting some local moms and barre enthusiasts like me. We looked at local neighborhoods, spent some time at the pool and waved to the crazy St. Patrick’s day bar crawlers. Oh and we had to say hi to Buccee on the trip home too.