Published Content: Blog Post (7)

We can all agree that our personal homes are so much more than four walls and a roof over our heads. It’s where we share our successes, laugh about our missteps, and feel most like ourselves over any other place.  So when vacationing to the beautiful coastline of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, AL, why settle for anything less in your beach house rental?

Our venture into beer started with a simple text from our flagship store leader, Suzy Hunt, to BOTE CEO and Co-Founder Corey Cooper. It read: “Want to make a beer?”

After learning it’d be with the super local brewery that creates beers representing the area and lifestyle, Destin Brewery, we didn’t see much reason to procrastinate. So in 2021, we launched the beginning of a spot-on collaboration with Destin Brewery Founder and Owner Kelly Taylor.

Finding the perfect vacation rental for your annual family vacation or even a long weekend for two can feel a little daunting when there are so many options to choose from. If you’re planning a trip to Destin or 30A, the vacation rental prospects are seemingly endless—from Gulf-front condominiums with ample amenities to cozy townhomes and luxury homes with private pools.

Thousands of tourists flock annually to Destin every summer to enjoy the powder white sand and emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico.  “The World’s Luckiest Fishing Village” has become a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts and a world-class vacation destination brimming with activity. From water sports, fishing, and golf, to the many festivals, events, and attractions in Destin, this little piece of paradise offers something for everyone. So why wait for summer when you can take advantage of all the area has to offer before the crowds arrive?

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.

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.