3 price points: Alabama Gulf Coast

By Clara Bosonetto Maerz

For ajc.com

BUDGET

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Special Orange Beach is the place to pull up a beach chair and relax at Gulf Shores.

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Special The No. 6 hole at Kiva Dunes, a challenging and picturesque course with deep bunkers and fast greens.

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Special Bon Secour is a 7,000-acre wildlife preserve that is a refuge for hundreds of migratory bird species.

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Getting there: Pensacola, Fla., 65 miles east of Gulf Shores, from $49 each way during frequent sale periods; from $94 with 21-day advance.; nonstop AirTran or Delta.

Stay: Fully-equipped rentals at Gulf Shores Plantation include Sunsuites, one- to three-bedroom condos and up to five-bedroom cottages. Situated on Fort Morgan Peninsula and thousands of feet of uncrowded beach, the resort offers six pools, eight tennis courts and lighted basketball court. One-bedroom condos from $108 per night; www.gulfshoresplantation.com.

Eat: Visit Lulu’s at Homeport, owned by Jimmy Buffett’s sister, Lucy. This Caribbean-themed spot features nightly live music. A Cheeseburger in Paradise (natural grass-fed beef from a local farm) with fries is $8.95; www.lulusathomeport.com.

Experience: Attend the 38th Annual National Shrimp Festival on the public Gulf Shores beach on Oct. 8-11. This free event brings 300-plus fine arts and crafts vendors with musicians performing continuously on two stages; www.nationalshrimpfestival.com

MODERATE

Getting there: Mobile, 46 miles northwest of Gulf Shores, is from $278 round-trip with 21-day advance; nonstop Delta.

Stay: Rent a cozy one-bedroom cottage for two or an expansive seven-bedroom beach home at Kiva Dunes Resort. For instance, Spare Moments, a two-bedroom, 2.5-bath guest house with a private pool and a short walk to a private beach rents from $178 per night, based on one-week stay; from $212.50 per night, based on the four-night minimum stay; www.kivadunesalabama.
com.

Eat: Sea-N-Suds sits on stilts smack on the beach with a boardwalk, salad bar, sandwiches, and fried seafood dinners. Burgers from $3.50 to $15.75 for seafood platters; www.sea-n-suds.com.

Experience: Play the state’s most challenging and beautiful resort, Kiva Dunes, a Jerry Pate signature course. This links-style resort is set along the shoreline of the Gulf of Mexico and Mobile Bay with deep bunkers, blue lakes and speedy greens. An 18-hole round averages less than $100. Tip: Stiff winds may rob you of a shot or two; pack extra golf balls; www.kivadunes.com, Gulf Shores.

SPLURGE

Getting there: One-way, walk-up business class rates to Mobile from $424; nonstop Delta.

Stay: The Lakewood Golf Club at Marriott Point Clear Resort, Golf Club & Spa features 36 championship holes of golf and is part of the legendary Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. The Escape Golf package, from $340 per night, includes buffet breakfast, one round of golf for two per night with cart. A resort fee (mandatory 14 percent) includes Wi-Fi, morning coffee, turndown service, and use of bikes, kayaks, sailboats, Hobie Cats, putting green, shuttle service to nearby shopping, horticultural and historical tours of the resort’s 500-plus secluded acres and more. Guest room renovations running to Dec. 24; www.marriott.com

Eat: Bring a hunger for seafood to Spanish Fort. Waterfront fish camps and seafood shacks like Ed’s (www.edsshed.com) and Felix’s (www.felixsfishcamp.com, reservations highly suggested) serve up the freshest catches along with salads, sandwiches, sunset views; mains $10-$20.

Experience: Adventurers can spend hours at the 7,000-acre Bon Secour Wildlife Preserve (one of the largest undeveloped areas on Mobile Bay), a main migratory refuge to nearly 400 bird species; wwwfws.gov/bonsecour. Adjacent is the Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club with 27 holes amid 30 lakes. All-day, one-course play with cart from $99. One junior player (age 17 and under) accompanied by an adult, plays free after 11 a.m.; www.peninsulagolfclub.com.