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With 60 miles of diverse shoreline along the Gulf of Mexico, a tidal shore bordering bays, rivers, and bayous extending another 600 miles, and an endless array of artificial reefs, the Alabama Coast is, simply put, an anglers paradise. Abundant inland waterways, sandy reefs and shallows, and back bays and lagoons dot the landscape with picturesque beauty and a bounty of marine life waiting to be discovered. Whether you prefer inshore, nearshore, or offshore fishing, you’ll find it all year-round in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Locals get out as much as possible, and tourists flock from all over to cast a line in these popular fishing destinations. 

We love a quick getaway, but it can be challenging when trying to pack everything you want to see in a short trip, particularly to Destin or 30A. With tons of family-friendly attractions, excellent shopping and dining, and miles of beach to explore, a weekend trip can sometimes leave you begging for more. Why not stay longer and really sink your feet into the sand and culture of Destin and 30A?

Night fishing: a tried and true activity for adventure anglers and diehard fishing enthusiasts. It’s a challenge most are unwilling to take on; after all, fishing at night is like eliminating one of your five senses, and an important one at that - your sight. But the payoff and thrill of hooking a night-dwelling fish are totally worth it, especially when you’re night fishing on a SUP, skiff, or kayak.

Night fishing from SUPs, skiffs, and kayaks is growing in popularity, and it’s understandable as to why. It combines a love for casting a lure with an obsession to be on the water and takes you to places a standard boat can’t. When you head out on a stand up paddle board, skiff, or kayak at night, well, you just can’t get much closer to nature. Plus, you’ve got the added edge of stealth and silence. The fish will never see you coming.

Whether you’re new to owning a vacation rental or an experienced multi-property owner, navigating the terrain of choosing the right property management company can be challenging. Furthermore, determining if they are following through on their promise to care for your property while simultaneously providing a great guest experience is kind of like solving a Rubix cube.  A lot of times, things just don’t match up.

There are few things more essential for a day on the water than a properly packed cooler.

Packing a cooler is more than just a party trick, it’s a skill that, when perfectly executed, makes for an excellent day on the water. Whether it’s keeping beer and juice boxes cold, or filled to the brim with a large batch cocktail, no day on the water is complete without a cooler full of cold beverages and snacks (if you have room). It’s hardly a glamorous task, but let us know the last time you didn’t pack your cooler very well and actually enjoyed a room temperature beer or cocktail in the blazing sun… we’ll wait.

Enjoying ice-cold, refreshing beverages *all day* long isn’t as simple as assembling your drinks and spare ice into your cooler in the garage on the way out the door. Ok, we guess it can be that easy, but is it really worth the risk? With just a few easy steps you’ll be sipping on ice cold beverages well into the evening… and even into day two or three.

Here’s a step by step guide on how to pack a cooler for a day on the water.

Tails, hulls, bottoms, bows. If it all sounds like gibberish to you, we’re here to help.

While the terms “hybrid displacement” or “race-style hull” might sound complex, the differences in SUP shapes are actually pretty simple.

The shape of your SUP—and, in particular, BOTE’s obsession with mastering SUP shapes—is a huge part of what differentiates the paddle board experience across activities. For instance, if you’re interested in paddle board surfing, your board should be shaped differently from someone looking for a paddle board for fishing. Likewise, if you’re new to stand up paddle boarding and simply want to play around and get used to your new pastime, you’re probably not going to need a super sleek touring board. In short, SUP shapes say a lot about who you are as a paddler and where you want to go.

So, if you’re looking to shape up your SUP-shape knowledge, you’ve come to the right place.

We know how it is when traveling to a new area with little information to go on. You scour the internet, pour through reviews, and try to make the best decisions based on the information available. Cumbersome and time-consuming (and sometimes disappointing if the destination’s high points don’t live up to expectations), you’re left wondering how to ensure you hit the highlights of the area.

People come to Destin for all sorts of reasons, whether for the many local attractions, numerous outdoor eateries, endless shopping, or the miles of pristine coastline that borders the Gulf of Mexico. The emerald waters and sandy shores are undoubtedly breathtaking, but a trip to Destin wouldn’t be complete without catching a sunset or two. While it can be tricky to determine the best vantage point depending upon what time of year you visit, we’ve got the scoop on where the locals go to catch amazing sunsets.

If you’ve never been to Gulf Shores or Orange Beach, you might think the beaches are the only draw. True, the 32 miles of pristine coastline bordering the emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico is the main attraction, but that’s only the beginning. Water activities, hiking and biking trails, fresh seafood, and southern hospitality make it an irresistible vacation spot for the whole family. The icing on the cake? When you attend one of the area’s concerts, attractions, or events that occur year-round.

This year is not the year to get the mom in your life flowers for Mother's Day.

 Maybe the woman raised kids through a pandemic, which, to be abundantly clear, looks a lot different than raising kids through a non-pandemic year. She probably also worked, organized activities for the whole family, cooked an absurd amount of meals, and made sure the house was clean enough in the process. Sure, she had a few meltdowns along the way, but who the hell didn't? 2020 was pure chaos, but she's a superhero. So she figured it out.

And here we are, on the edge of normalcy with the bright light of summer upon us, and you're thinking about getting the mom in your life flowers for Mother's Day. Think again.