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No one knows how to set the perfect mood for a particular couple better than the two people involved. So take some time to pack a picnic basket with favorites for each of you. Start with the basics: Pick out two or three varieties of crackers of crispy breads and choose a cheese to complement each one. Add a bit of fresh, seasonal fruit grown near the Alabama Gulf Coast. Visit one of the unique boutiques in the area to pick up some decadent chocolates. Top it off with a bottle of your favorite wine or sparkling water. Even if your choice is non-alcoholic, some plastic champagne flutes make any beverage better. Plates, utensils and napkins finish off your basket. And remember, the perfect spot for a picnic for two might just be on a blanket in your condo or cabin.

It's the perfect setting: The moon is bright in a cloudless sky, a breeze is stirring in off the Gulf of Mexico, the blanket has not a grain of sand on it. But something is missing. Ah, the tunes. What songs are the perfect “mood music”? It all depends on the couple, of course. Maybe it's something old-school sensual such as Marvin Gaye or Barry White – or even older school, with some torch songs such as “Fever.” Perhaps something more upbeat is in order, such as classic beach tunes from Jimmy Buffett or the Beach Boys. No matter your taste in music, though, be sure to listen to the best sound Gulf Shores or Orange Beach has to offer: Waves crashing on sugary sands.

There is so much to keep track of on a family excursion that it can be tempting to leave behind the camera gear. With the chances of dropping something in the Gulf, losing something in the sand or leaving something behind, perhaps it is a good idea to leave your quality camera at home.
What, you ask? Take the tykes to the beach and not take a camera? Impossible.
Well, you can get the best of both world – lasting memories without the worry of ruining your camera.
On your way to the Alabama Gulf Coast, stop in to a retailer in Gulf Shores or in Orange Beach and check out the array of disposable cameras. The technology has come a long way, and there are styles designed to be waterproof. You can even find disposable video cameras.
For a souvenir the entire family can enjoy making, get a camera for each person. Collect them all at day's end and have double prints made. Each person can put his or her prints in a personal album (there are hundreds of styles to choose from at shops along the Alabama Gulf Coast), plus there will be a set for a family album.
Then, have each person choose a favorite to submit to www.thebeachiscalling.org. From the home page, scroll over the Photos & Fun button and look for “Visitor Favorite Photos” in the drop-down menu. Follow the link for a form to submit photos for consideration.

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.