APRIL 18, 2015
One of the white sugar sand beaches at Gulf Shores.
GULF SHORES, ALABAMA. Until now, I never gave much thought to the state of Alabama. In fact until now I never really gave much thought to any of the southern states in our country. I was raised by Ivy League schooled parents, spent most of my life living at the beach on the West Coast and never knew anyone who spoke with a southern accent. I saw the movie “Deliverance,” and knew for a fact that I never wanted to encounter any of those grizzled mountain men who messed with Burt Reynolds and John Voight during their canoe trip in the remote wilderness of the deep South. Mind you, I really had nothing against Southerners… just never reckoned I’d never meet one or spend any time in their part of the country. I’m so glad I was mistaken! We’re gonna like it here!
HERE WE ARE. But here we are in the deep South, and lovin’ it. I’ve met dozens of southerners and we’ve found a perfect spot to spend next winter right here at the beach in Gulf Shores, Alabama. We can’t wait. The people are absolutely gracious, welcoming and polite. The coastline with its white sugar-sand beaches is breathtaking. Boating and sportfishing reign. The town is chock full of tempting shops and restaurants. Locally caught seafood is abundant. I can’t think at the moment of anywhere else I’d rather stay for the winter this year.
DID YOU KNOW? The stunning sugar white beaches of Gulf Shores are composed of fine quartz, eroded from granite in the Appalachian Mountains. The sand is carried seaward by rivers and creeks and deposited by currents along the shore.
BELLA TERRA… A CLASSY MOTORHOME RESORT.
Bella Terra Clubhouse at night.
Bella Terra is a Five Star, gated resort, restricted to Class A motorcoaches, located on Alabama’s Gulf Coast. Fully two thirds of the resort’s open space is landscaped in tropical, lush foliage and flowers. The lots are huge and each has a large patio. The Grand Clubhouse is all you’d expect at an upscale club, with dining facilities for both small and large groups, a catering kitchen, a private movie theater and comfortable furnishings in the great room. The patio overlooks a large centerpiece lake. The zero-entry, infinity-edge pool is heated to 85 degrees year-round. There is a fully appointed fitness center, sauna and jacuzzi. We’ll be more than comfortable during our stay. And side-trips to New Orleans, the world-class casinos in Biloxi, Mississippi and Florida’s Pensacola area will be easy to arrange.
WE’VE RESERVED A SPOT FOR NEXT WINTER. WE’RE EXCITED!
Part of our patio area at Bella Terra.
We’re excited. We got a spot for next winter. We’ve reserved a site that would have been our “first pick” even if every single one of the resort’s spots had been available! It’s a corner lot with enough green grass to support a tennis court if someone wanted to put one there. Our very private patio is surrounded by blooming rose bushes and lush tropical shrubs with beautiful foilage. We have a large concrete patio table and space for our fire pit so we can have “campfires” on chilly evenings. There is a commanding view of the lake and a close-by night-lighted water feature will provide visual entertainment and music to our ears.
Infinity pool at Bella Terra Resort.
Short-cut across the lake at Bella Terra.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. We came to Gulf Shores to see if we could find a really special place to spend next winter. And we did. We found blazing blue skies, sparkling emerald water, white sugar sand beaches and calm Gulf breezes. There simply couldn’t be a better place for us. We’ve already met one of our friendly soon-to-be neighbors. He’s suggested lots of good travel routes to consider taking as we drive to Maine and then wend our way down the Eastern Seaboard on the next leg of our trip, before we return here for the winter.
WE’LL BE DEPARTING SOON AND HEADING TO NASHVILLE’S GRAND OLE OPREY. BE SURE TO JOIN US THERE.
