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Camping hasn’t always been my favorite activity. The earliest camping experience I can remember was with my Dad and my sister. I don’t remember much, except that a terrible thunderstorm came through one night. Our tent leaked, and the wind and lightning were so bad that we had to spend the rest of the night in the car. Needless to say, I was a little scared of camping for a while.

But that was a long time ago, and I’ve since learned that camping, if planned appropriately, can be relaxing and fun—particularly in Gulf Shores/Orange Beach, Alabama, where camping options range from just a simple tent and fire to an RV camp with electricity and other amenities. Camping trips with my family now include a tarp under the tent (and an extra tarp to hang over the tent, if necessary), bug spray, dry fire wood, a first aid kit, and a lantern, to name just a few necessities. (Yes, years ago my husband and I actually went camping without a lantern—I’ll just say, a flashlight doesn’t cut it.)

And the most important thing we bring with us is an adventure attitude and a love for nature. That’s what it’s all about, after all.

In Times Square, the country watches the Big Apple drop to signify the start of the new year; in Atlanta, there's a giant peach. At the Alabama Gulf Coast, we prefer watching the waves of the Gulf of Mexico lapping against the sugary sands of our beaches while we're surrounded by family and friends.

A bonfire, a mug of cocoa and a blanket – can it get any better?

Well, some folks prefer a more lively greeting for the new year, and there are plenty of options to be found here. For instance, the Wharf's Third Annual New Year's Eve “Block Party Blowout” has offerings for the entire family. There will be festive lights and decorations, street entertainers, the countdown to midnight and a fabulous fireworks display. Best of all, it's free.

Speaking of family friendly offerings, LuLu's at Homeport in Gulf Shores is having a Noon Year's Party for children. It's from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and it's free. There will be clowns and face painters on hand, plus activities for youngsters and musical entertainment. A balloon release at noon is the highlight of the day.

And for those who prefer an adults-only celebration, check out The Hangout. The New Year's Eve Ball features music by RC & the Moonpies, a five-course dinner, party favors, bottles of champagne to toast the new year and a 1 a.m. breakfast buffet. The announcements say, “Dress to impress! Reservations required!”

To find out more, visit www.thebeachiscalling.org.

Can you believe it's almost Christmas? Wasn't Labor Day just last week?

Seriously, though, if you still need to do some holiday shopping, why not make a trip to the Alabama Gulf Coast and hit some of the spots where you can find lots of stores, lots of variety and lots of bargains. You can get your shopping done in record time and still have plenty of time to enjoy great meals and views of the spectacular Gulf of Mexico.

One of the places not to be missed is in nearby Foley. At the Tanger Outlets, you can shop at more than 125 stores. That's brand-name merchandise at outlet prices – all in one spot! You can find clothing, shoes, housewares, accessories and dozens of specialty shops.

In Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, shoppers can head to The Wharf and The Pinnacle to find a range of options for gifting needs, something to fit any price point.

Situated around and between these destinations are dozens of shops that house unique boutiques and artists' studios. While perusing www.thebeachiscalling.org, I found some great ideas for gifts for a couple friends. There are a artists here who make pottery, including one who makes pieces inspired by Appalachian face jugs – which my friend adores! And there are artists here who make custom jewelry, do intricate beadwork and needlework, paint, sculpt, carve – the list goes on.

So come on down. There's still time to get in some shopping – for others and for yourself. And if you're lucky, you might even get to see “Sandy Claws”!

OK, ladies, if you are having a hard time getting your hubby to commit to coming to the Alabama Gulf Coast so you can get an early start on your seasonal shopping, sit him down at the computer, direct him to www.thebeachiscalling.org and have him click on the “Fishing” tab. When the drop-down menu opens, help him find the “What's Biting?” section. There are a year's worth of archived articles there, and they have interviews with local charter captains about what's biting and how to catch it.

Bull reds (redfish), trout and flounder are among the draws this time of year. And remember, with the mild daytime temperatures, a fishing excursion can be a relaxing way to while away some time, say, while your honey hits a few shops, boutiques and specialty stores.

The two of you can go back to the home page and then hit the “Packages & Deals” tab to look for specials.

Just remember, with the right bait, you can land him hook, line and sinker!

I love to be a great hostess, and I love to have people come stay at my home. Sometimes, circumstances don't allow that. Maybe there are too many people and not enough house; maybe there are friends (and we do have some of these types) who just feel more comfortable in their “own” accommodations. They love to spend time with us, hang out, catch up, shop, sightsee, whatever – but then be able to feel as if they aren't “overstaying their welcome” by going to a hotel, condo or other rental facility. Hey, if it means they come more frequently and stay an extra day, we're good with it.

We know we have friends we'll see a lot more this time of year than during the summer. They will take advantage of the great rates to be found on the Alabama Gulf Coast, and they'll make several visits.

I have a plan for the next trip. I'm going to propose a boy/girl weekend. The gals will take over the rental, and we'll make sure to get one of the “shop 'til you drop, then hit the spa” packages” available at www.thebeachiscalling.org. The guys can have the house to themselves, and we'll have three days to catch up, chill out and plan for Christmas!