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When we trek to beach, I always make sure to have a few basic first-aid supplies. Whether we're in Orange Beach or Gulf Shores, I find a little preparation makes a visit to the Alabama Gulf Coast even more enjoyable.
Here's what I take:
Alcohol wipes
Bandages
Tweezers (great for removing stickers from sand spurs)
Aloe
Bottled water (for washing off sand)
Triple antibiotic ointment
Zipper-seal freezer bag (to fill with ice for a compress)
Spray-on sunburn treatment (look for 1 percent lidocaine spray, as this is a topical pain reliever)
The most important first-aid item? A hug!

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.

Do you remember the show on Animal Planet - the Little Zoo that Could? It was about this zoo in Gulf Shores that had to evacuate like three times during hurricanes. They loaded all the animals on trailers and drove them to a farm away from the coast.

I was down in Gulf Shores recently and decided to go see it for myself. From the outside it looked like a cheesy tourist trap, but I went ahead. Once inside I was surprised. Sure, it was small, compared to big city zoos. but everything was nice. The animals were well taken care of and looked content. The staff was friendly and the cost was so cheap.

These folks have been through a lot taking care of these animals. They don't mind stopping to talk to you and telling what it was like going through the hurricane.

If you are going to be down there, save a couple of hours to go see the zoo.