Making a List

The orange and black of Halloween have given way to the reds, greens, golds and silvers of Thanksgiving, Christmas and the prospect of the new year. The holiday displays that in September seemed so out of place now look homey and inviting.

It's time to break out the notepads and pens, because you've got to make the list before you can actually check it twice. Then it's on to the next stage of planning: Who to take on which excursion to each destination?

Hmmm. Tanger Outlet Center and Colonial Pinnacle are great destinations for family shopping trips because there's something to meet every need, every taste and every price point, plus shops left over to provide inspiration for the things you've inadvertently left off the list. Plus, they are close to lots of restaurants, and, if someone gets bored, there are plenty of distractions nearby.

The Wharf and San Roc Cay are perfect for girlfriend getaways. You can take that friend, the one who has everything, and watch her try on shoes or earrings or test perfumes, then double back when she's not looking to snag the perfect gift. Or you can gather the gal pals for a day of boutique hopping in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores.

Better start limbering up now. The marathon is about to start ...