Family Travel

Southerners have some long-standing traditions tried to New Year's Day, many of them tied to food and symbols of luck.
There are turnip greens, which represent “folding” money (bills); black-eyed peas, which represent “change” (coins); fatback (pork) which represents prosperity; and cornbread, which represents a complete menu.
In some homes, Hoppin' John, a beans-and-rice dish, is a New Year's Day must.
And for some folks, it isn't New Year's Day without a Polar Bear Dip.
No, it's not something you serve with chips or crackers. For a quarter of a century, a group of people have gathered at the Flora-Bama, a local watering hole, for a bracing, early morning dip into the Gulf of Mexico on New Year's Day.
Of course, on Flora-Bama time, early morning is noon.
Other places around the world have similar celebrations in much more forbidding climes. But it's a sure bet that the backdrop for those events is not nearly as colorful or as fun as the Gulf of Mexico. And to make the day truly Southern, everyone who takes part gets a heapin' helping of black-eyed peas.

OK, parents, listen up: Everyone needs a go-to plan, the sure-fire crowd-pleaser that is open virtually year-round. There are two places on the Alabama Gulf Coast that fit the bill: The beach, of course, and the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. Located in Gulf Shores, the zoo is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Visitors can explore the natural habitats of more than 400 animals, from alligators to wallabies. There also is petting zoo for some hands-on learning. Concessions are sold, and shaded picnic areas are available. It's an adventure every family can afford.

An often-overlooked beach accessory is a hat. Perhaps because everyone gets focused on swimming and playing, it's easy to forget how critical headgear can be.
It's no easy chore to get some folks (ahem, guilty) to wear a hat. If you have one of those folks in your group, leave time for a quick shopping excursion as you plan your day on the Alabama Gulf Coast.
In Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, there are as many places to buy hats as there are styles to choose from, it seems. For example, many souvenir shops offer custom airbrushing on bucket hats, visors and baseball caps. This means you can get a keepsake that will keep you safe from the sun.
Beachwear shops also offer many choices that combine style with safety. Wide-brimmed straw or cloth hats come in styles for him and her.
Top that!

As a youngster visiting the Alabama Gulf Coast, I hated wearing sunscreen. I wanted a carefree day to swim in the blue Gulf waters, build castles from the sugary sands or anticipate a seafood feast prepared from the fresh catch available at stores in Gulf Shores or Orange Beach.
But without fail, going without sunscreen meant one thing: a week of agony because of sunburn.
In those days, options were limited for sun protection. There was zinc oxide for faces (it was greasy and streaky and never got absorbed) plus a few items that smelled like fermented coconut.
On a recent beach visit, I forgot to pack the usual sun arsenal, so I sent my husband to a nearby store. His selections left me surprised – and sun-protected!
Zinc oxide has come a long way (baby). For children, it comes tinted to add an element of fun. For adults, there are formulas that are odorless and that disappear.
Sunscreens have progressed as well. There are special formulations for babies, for people engaged in sports and for those like me who are super-sensitive to fragrances as well as rays. There are lotions, creams and sprays, and they come in sizes to fit every situation, from hanging from a key ring to being large enough to protect a big family.
Just remember, sun protection is only is as good as the person using it. Reapplications are vital.

Sometimes, getting ready for a full day of fun in the sun on the Alabama Gulf Coast with the whole
family reminds me of trying to plan a military invasion. But a little bit of forethought can make “storming the beach” a whole lot simpler.
Here are a few tips I've learned for making the most of the least amount of supplies:
Tip 1: Store sunscreens and lotions in zipper-seal freezer bags in the cooler with drinks. On hot days, this makes reapplications refreshing instead of seeming like a chore.
Tip 2: Keeping things cool requires lots of ice – unless you plan ahead. Freeze water bottles and juice boxes a day or so before your trip. You won't need as much ice for your coolers, and the melting liquid inside will quench thirst while cooling you off. Just remember: Don't try to freeze anything with carbonation. It's a sure way to make a mess.
Tip 3: Plastic bags, used responsibly, can be your secret weapon. Here are just a few uses to consider:
A. Store beach toys in a plastic garbage bag. You can dump them out on the beach and stash the bag, then repack them at day's end to minimize the sand that gets spread in the vehicle.
B. Buy 1- or 2-gallon freezer bags for transporting clothing. If you roll each item of clothing separately and tightly, you can pack an entire outfit in a small space. Squeeze out as much air as possible while sealing. In a 2-gallon bag, there may even be room for a bath cloth and towel. As each person takes a turn at day's end showering off, everything that's needed to emerge dry and dressed is in one bag. Wet, sandy suits go in individual bags for the return home. This also is a way to ensure that both pieces of a two-piece swimsuit make it back. Many of the public beaches in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach offer shower facilities.
C. Decide how many garbage bags you need, then take one more. Make it a goal to be a good steward of the environment by making sure you leave your little plot of beach cleaner than when you arrived.