TRAVELERS’ CHECKS

The sugar sand beaches of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama, are an appealing alternative to the Florida coast. Fly into Pensacola International Airport (about 45 minutes away) or drive about 1,000 miles from the North Coast to the Gulf Coast. If you can’t get there, call Billy’s Seafood to order Royal Red shrimp.

16780 River Road, Bon Secour, Alabama, 251-949-6288, billys-seafood.com.

138 W. First Ave., Gulf Shores, Alabama, 251948-7294, desotosseafoodkitchen.com.

17350 Perdido Key Drive, Pensacola, Florida, 850483-6272, florabamayachtclub.com.

800-745SAND, GulfShores.com.

1750 Radford Blvd., Pensacola, Florida, 850-453-2389, NationalAviationMuseum.org.

22800 Canal Road, Orange Beach, Alabama, 844-7074343, PandionRidge.com.

24151 Perdido Beach Blvd., Orange Beach, 251-800-7470, TheRubySlipperCafe.net.

27200 Perdido Beach Blvd., Orange Beach, Alabama, 251-9816700, SailWildHearts.com.

27267 Perdido Beach Blvd., Orange Beach, Alabama, 251-981-7278.

251-600-9771, SandCastleU.com.

The sand pyramid was essential. While some people dig down to place a castle, Hawkins builds up a foundation. She douses the pyramid with a half bucket of water, then uses her feet to mix and tamp the wet sand. With a hard, flat platform in place, building begins.

Hawkins sprays WD-40 inside the form — the bottomless bucket — to ease release. Then she centers the form on the hard sand foundation. She fills the bucket halfway with sand, then mixes in water. Instead of patting down the sand, she lets gravity pull water through so grains settle tightly together. She repeats the process to fill the form. Then she gives it a gentle twist while lifting and reveals a sand tower ready for sculpting.

Tools include large and small spatulas, drinking straw, pastry brush and measuring spoon. These are used to sculpt “teeth” on the turret, carve balcony and windows and define bricks and staircases. Rough edges are softened with a pastry brush or blown away with the straw.

Interested? Hawkins also teaches an advanced twohour class that includes multiple structures and additional details.

The Gulf region is known for its watery sunsets, and those at Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are no different. Sail Wild Hearts provides appetizers on a 53-foot catamaran sailboat for a waterfront-seat viewing. Adventurous passengers sit on the heavy-duty bow netting to enjoy the spray during a sometimes bouncy ride. Jellyfish are sighted from the sides and dolphins sometimes rise to the occasion.

So many more activities are possible. In Pensacola, the National Naval Aviation Museum is an easy hour drive. On most Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from March to November, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels—five F/A18 Hornets that are air-show regulars — practice maneuvers there. Speed and synchronized flight typically begin at 11:30 a.m. (Central Time) and last about 55 minutes. Admission is free. Wild Heart Sail also offers an allday cruise to the event.

Overall, we found the Alabama coast lower-cost than most beachfront destinations and the people friendly. We hope to return.