The search for a cheap, easy summer getaway led to the Blackwater River State Park and an overnight canoe trip with a friend who visits often. After a hectic work week, and hitting the road without even Googling the Blackwater River, what awaited was far different than expected.

When Jarrod Jones went to work for Auburn’s Gulf Coast Research and Extension Center, he also found a new home. Starting in 2007, he and his family have lived a uniquely rural life on 800 acres in Fairhope.

The 2024 High Hopes 4 Autism will take place at Pirates Cove Yacht Club in Josephine, Alabama the weekend of July 19, 20 & 21. This fundraiser includes live music, features lots of artists, and a drawdown for a 2024 Jeep. The music starts on Friday at 7:00 PM.

‍My husband is an avid reader, usually reading several books at once. When he meets a new person he always asks “What are you reading?” because it gives him an idea about his or her interests. I’ve heard young mothers say Clifford the Big Red Dog and others say The Bible but with the plethora of book club members and other bibliophiles in the Scenic 98 Coastal area, a new favorite book is always part of the conversation.

The month of July always kicks off in high gear with Independence Day celebrations across the country. Communities and venues throughout the Scenic 98 Coastal area are hosting events to commemorate the holiday, so be sure to check out the Tidbits & Best Bets section at the end of the newsletter for all of this weekend’s events.

Much like the legend of the immortal Phoenix's powers to regenerate by bursting into flames just as it reaches the end of its life and then rising from its ashes toward the sun, the GulfQuest Maritime Museum has risen to become the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico.

You never know who you’ll run into along the Alabama coast—maybe even a member of the Rolling Stones.

The small community of Bon Secour has seen generational changes throughout its history, especially regarding the rich bounty of seafood harvested, processed, and shipped to restaurants and consumers, first locally, then regionally, and now nationally.