Looking for that perfect reason to take a vacation in October? Look no further than this year’s Thunder on the Gulf, hosted by The Gulf Coast Powerboat Association, October 6th - 9th in Orange Beach.

With the Gulf State Park pavilion as it’s “Race Village,” boat racing and marine fanatics alike can come together and experience something spectacular. From the Boat Parade on Saturday at 6 p.m. winding from Race Village to Main Street at The Wharf, to the Gala taking place afterwards featuring music from the Tip Tops, this is sure to please race fans of all ages.

Open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., spectators will be able to watch the preliminary races on Thursday and Saturday and the finals on Friday and Sunday.  The awards ceremony will take place Sunday evening with the winner being crowned the Amsoil Offshore Powerboat (more…)

There is one day each year when the planets seem to align perfectly to create what is often times referred to as the “happiest day on earth” … Father’s Day.

OK, this might not be exactly the case, but at Kaiser Realty, that is how we want all the dads out there to feel.  That is why we have put together this list of great Father’s Day activities for the dads to do on their special day here in Beautiful South Baldwin County.

- Charter a boat for the day:  This is a great chance to get a group of dads together and leave all the worries back on the shore.  It can be on a fishing charter like Captain Johnny Greene’s boat the Intimidator offers, a glass bottom dolphin tour like the good people at Dolphins Down Under or even an open water sail like Wild Hearts offers its patrons.  No matter what times of time you decide to spend on the water, your sea legs and clear mind will thank you.

- A Day on the Links:  Here is the perfect opportunity for those looking for an activity to do either (more…)

If you are a fishing fanatic, and looking to be a part of something HUGE, then you will not want to miss the 78^th annual Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo (ADSFR) right out of Dauphin Island.

For years the ADSFR has claimed to be both the oldest and largest organized saltwater fishing tournament in the world, but this year, they are looking to make that claim official.  The Guinness Book of World Records will be on-site to account for all participants and see if they can officially put Dauphin Island in the Record Book.  Rodeo officials are expecting an even larger turnout than the recent 3,100 anglers at past years’ event (the 2010 tournament was cancelled), and with over 30 categories and $400,000 in cash and prizes, (more…)

Vacation.

For some people, it is the perfect time to relax, forget about the stresses of everyday life and do absolutely nothing.  For others, it may be the only time that their entire family is in one place for longer than 15 minutes at a time.  Along the beautiful Alabama Gulf Coast, it doesn’t matter what your vacation goals may be, there is something perfect for everyone!

For those looking for a great place to grab a book, ditch your cell phone and bask in the warm rays, then look no further than our white sand beaches.  And for those close-knit families looking for a crowd-pleasing assortment of amazing activities like charter boat fishing or parasailing, our charming area in South Baldwin County has something for everyone in your entourage.

A great way to get up close and personal with the Gulf of Mexico is to jump on one of the Dolphins Down Under glass bottom dolphin tours. Dolphins Down Under tours not only offer a majestic view into life below the surface through their “glass bottom” catamarans, but they also offer snorkeling tours, bird watching and sunset party cruises. These fun, affordable and unforgettable cruises are sure to create some family memories.

For the more daring water lovers, Perdido Key Parasail is calling your name.  This U.S. Coast Guard licensed fleet out of Gulf Shores offers everything from parasailing and sea kayak rentals, to jet ski rentals and banana boat rides.  If the idea of hanging out 800 feet over the Gulf of Mexico seems a little daunting, they also offer water trampolines.  Just another fun way to spend more time with the family!

If flying 800 feet above the emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico doesn’t get your engine going, how about hot air balloons?  Taking Off Hot Air Balloon Comnpany, located just north of the beaches in Magnolia Springs, is proud to offer FAA licensed commercial hot air balloon pilots and small group settings for all of their trips.  Most balloons hold up to 6 people, but if there’s a certain someone that you’re looking to spend some quality sky-time with, they offer exclusive two-person charters as well.  Break out the bubbly and reminisce among the clouds!

Ground more of your thing? Look no further than the Oak Hollow Farm located in serene Fairhope, Alabama.  Situated less than an hour away from the beaches, Oak Hollow’s 300-acres of horseback riding trails and obstacles may be just the dose of old world charm that you and your family are looking for.  With great instructors and an on-site playground for the little ones, your family can truly be at ease far away from the stresses of everyday life.

For this year’s trip, it is time to try something new, something fun and something as a family. Whether you’re the adventurous type of clan, traditional type of clique, or just looking to make memories together; let us help you make this vacation one that you talk about years to come. C’mon and have a ball with us!

Many people are starting to think about charting a boat for a fishing trip this year. Our good friend, Captain Johnny Greene of the Charter Boat Intimidator, has provided some important fishing dates about the 2011 fishing seasons.  

“For the 2011 fishing season, red snapper will open on June 1 and close sometime in late July or perhaps maybe into August which would have been approximately the same number of days as we had in 2009.

However, there are some changes within our fishery for the 2011 season.  Amberjack is currently open but it will close concurrently while red snapper season is open. It will then reopen August 1 for the remainder of the year.

Gag grouper will open for harvest on October 16th and subsequently close November 15th of this year.  However, other grouper species will reopen April 1st.  At this time, the deep-water grouper such as yellow edge and snowy remain unchanged and open for harvest.

The vast majority of all the deep-water off shore oil rigs are open for to the fishing at this time. Fishing has been good offshore and we’re expecting a banner year.

On the shorter trips for King and Spanish mackerel, nothing has changed. We expect the King mackerel to show up in late April, as always, and the Spanish to show back up sometime in March.

The Vermilion snapper, white snapper and triggerfish remained open year-round and fishing for the species has been very good for 6 to 8 hour trips.

We are currently booking charter fishing trips on the Intimidator for the upcoming 2011 fishing year. We hope you will join us for a fun filled deep-sea adventure this year.”

For more information on Captain Johnny Greene’s Charter Boat Intimidator, visit www.fishorangebeach.com or call (251) 747 – 2872.