I first discovered this little hamlet 30+ years ago when vacationing here and sailed out of one of…read morethe back waterways into Wolf Bay. It was on that sail that I discovered Pirates Cove, home of the cheeseburger in paradise so that's one thing that's kept me coming back :-) Since retiring in the area I've discovered a lot more than the beautiful scenery and burgers but first a little history. The Town of Elberta is a small, historically agricultural community, situated 25 minutes from the Alabama Gulf Coast, 35 minutes from historic downtown Pensacola, FL and 45 minutes from Mobile. The first settlers arrived here in 1904 and the community was founded by farmers who had immigrate from Germany. I wasn't sure about the phrase on their welcome sign "für das gut leben" so I asked my dear Düsseldorf friend, Klaus-Dieter who tells me the best interpretation is "For the good life". In the 1930s through the 1940s, the town boasted a farmer's hall where dancing and singing were enjoyed, a hotel, and a movie theatre, as well as a butcher shop, grocery and drug store. Many of the residents spoke German, and St. Mark's Lutheran Church offered German-language services until 1976. Current the latest census shows fewer than 1500 residents and I've come to realize that it's a warm and friendly place that's all about community. One great example is the support the town's volunteer fire department gets with the Elberta German Sausage Festival which was started in the mid-1970s. I attend every one of them that's held the last weekend of March and the last weekend of October and features polka music, Elberta German sausage Sausage, and 250 arts and crafts vendors with over 40,000 visitors during the fall festival alone. It's a good time for a great cause. There's only a couple stop lights but there's a lot more stuff here than the size might indicate. Aside from the aforementioned Pirates Cove, there's Bamahenge, Baldwin County Heritage Museum, Lady in the Lake, a golf course, as well as locally owned and operated shops and restaurants like the Roadkill Cafe. It's also where we go to our meetings and events at Amvets. Bottom line: You can spend your days picking fresh berries at Hillcrest Farm or sampling the homemade cheese at Sweet Home Farm but don't forget Bamahenge and those cheeseburgers, it's paradise indeed.

Neat little historical place in Fairhope. It is a little confusing because the directions will lead…read moreyou to a office park, it is located in the parking lot directly behind the offices. Originally, Tolstoy Park was 10 acres in the woods, and secluded. Henry Stuart, The Hermit Poet, moved to Fairhope, Alabama from Idaho because he was diagnosed with consumption (tuberculosis) when he was 65 during the 1920's. The doctor recommended he move to a warmer climate for his health, and Henry Stuart bought ten acres, sight unseen. Mr Stuart ended up living another 22 years before he moved back to Oregon at the age of 88 and passed away. His home is unique, it is round, hurricane proof, and particularly dug into the ground to help regulate temperature. Th Tolstoy House is on The National Register of Historic Places. It is a unique and peaceful place, great for kids, and unique.

Interesting little stop. Very unique structure with intriguing back story. Free stop in a parking…read morelot.

I'm writing to express my disappointment with how parking is handled in Pensacola. Charging people…read morejust to visit and enjoy the city is a poor way to welcome residents and tourists. It sends the message, "Come spend money here, but first pay us just to be here." I paid for my parking, realized I needed more time, and paid again to extend it. Despite following the rules, I was still hit with an additional $65 charge. If people pay and extend their time, they shouldn't have to deal with extra fees because the system failed. The parking program feels more like a revenue generator than a public service. Pensacola has a beautiful downtown and waterfront, but the parking experience leaves visitors frustrated and feeling taken advantage of. I hope the city fixes this system before it drives more people away instead of encouraging them to return.

Pensacola for me is a mix bag. Below are my Pros and Cons:…read more Pros: Beach Bliss: Pensacola boasts stunning beaches with sugar-white sands and crystal-clear waters. Perfect for a day of sun, sand, and relaxation. You can find a nice Beaches in Pensacola and the outskirts without having to drive too far. Theres Pensacola Beach, Johnson Beach, Orange Beach, Ft. Walton Beach, to name a few. Central Location: Positioned conveniently, Pensacola serves as a great hub for exploring the Gulf Coast. It's a gateway to various attractions. Easy drive to Georgia, Louisiana, or Alabama. or you can catch a flight with ease if you don't like driving across state lines. Blue Angels: The thrilling aerobatic displays by the Blue Angels add an exciting touch to the city. Catching them in action is a definite highlight for both locals and visitors. Decent Downtown Vibes: The downtown area offers a mix of historic charm and modern amenities. Enjoy a stroll through Palafox Street, lined with shops, eateries, and cultural spots. Nothing out of the norm, but it does have some decent bars, the YMCA is a bright spot, and you'll find a Saturday morning market from time to time. Cons: Bad Driving: Pensacola has less-than-stellar drivers. Defensive driving skills are a must to navigate the sometimes chaotic traffic. I feel bad saying it, but you can't go a single day without encountering bad drivers. A bit boring: While the beaches are beautiful, some may find the overall entertainment scene a bit lacking. Those seeking vibrant nightlife may do ok in downtown, especially when there are festivals. Pensacola Beach during peak season can be fun for younger crowds. Overall, it's not a happening place. Not for foodies: Not to say the food is bad, There are some good options, The Fish House might me my personal favorite. But as a whole, I find it difficult to find a good spot where I can just grab and go. Pizza is lacking here, so is the coffee. Again, there are a few bright spots but you need to limit your expectations. In certain areas of Pensacola, it's common to encounter individuals asking for money, engaging in dumpster diving, and struggling with substance abuse. This issue seems to be overlooked by those in positions of authority, it's heartbreaking. In conclusion, Pensacola is a city of contrasts. It offers natural beauty, and a central location but may fall short for those seeking a more lively cultural scene or a less conservative environment. Be ready to embrace the positives while navigating some of the challenges Pensacola presents.

They need to be trained on customer service. Most of them are rude, unfriendly and just blunt for…read moreno reason. The guy that checks you in is the most pleasant experience you'll get.

This place runs like a well oiled machine. I've been in multiple times and am always out within 30…read moreminutes. I've never had to wait in line due to all the windows open. While the staff often appears dead inside, when I've initiated conversation they've always been helpful and sometimes friendly. I've been to dmv's in a couple of states and several cities and this one is where I've had the best experience.

This is our local library, just blocks away from our home and we are thrilled to have it!…read more It's a nicely appointedted and well run library with a very professional, friendly and helpful staff that know their stuff. I had a good feeling about this place when I first saw the big statue of a frog reading a book outside with benches for reading outdoors. Inside it is well organized with whole sections for kids and individual rooms for audio, including lots of CD's and audiobooks and other library functions open to the public. The library offers access to their full catalog as well as to assistance with technology research and a host of special programs, including story time for children. Additional resources are available online through ebooks and streaming videos with your library card.  Over 34, 000 movies and documentaries as well as the Great Course is available there.  They are even offering Zoom talks!   With COVID protocols the library is now open Mon - Fri 10am - 6pm with social distancing with a building capacity is of 50. There are 4 computers available in the computer lab, test proctoring is available by appointment. Book drop is open and available at the back of the building. and you can call ahead at (251-968-1176) if you prefer take-out service. Meeting room, notary service, and on-site programming not available at this time. A cool service is their free Wi-Fi which is available 24/7 eve after hours, you can access this service from their parking lot! They will scan documents to your email free of charge and printing services are available from the computer lab and photo copying is available at 15¢ per page. Bottom line: We love to get our books at the library and sometimes just hang out and this is a great place for both. Check it out!!

Ok, so no one gets too excited about going to the library, but the employees here are SO nice…read more As a visitor to the GS area, I needed to print some documents. I have a library card to MY public library, but it was 15 hours north. No worries. I asked for help and they delivered. They assigned me a temporary computer password, I logged in, set up the print job and they printed it for me. I paid for my prints and I was on my way. They were SO NICE! Sadly, I would probably not get this kind of customer service at my home library. They need to take some lessons on customer service from TBNPB.

I popped in to the post office on Dauphin Island to get some stamps to mail my postcards. This is…read morethe friendliest post office I've ever been to in my life! Rob directed me to a local shop that sells postcards (Ship and Shore) and he even stepped out as I left to make sure I knew that he closed for lunch in 15 minutes. I got my postcards, made it back in time, and Rob hooked me up with postcard stamps. I love the friendliness of the South, and this Alabama post office is what post offices were probably like 100 years ago.

Yelp Elite, Jana B. gave me some inspo and my heading to add my take on Foley! So here goes…read more.. I enjoy my Foley visits! I've stopped by frequently and my favorites things are are meals at Desmond's, a quick shopping trip at the outlet (let's not forget the photo op on the carousel) and a bite at P.S. Taco, and an OWA (town square or the park itself) date. I truly enjoy Foley's small town feel (because truly, it is small) with so many good spots and stops along the way. I always make a day trip of it when I visit. Cheers to Foley!

I love my little town... There is an awesome old time soda fountain and drugstore where we have…read moregotten sodas, ice cream cones, salads, sandwiches,root beer floats that just remind me of being a kid again.. there are a few restaurants , an Italian , Jamaican, and a buffet in a gorgeous old building.....a few antique stores, a butcher, a coffee shop, furniture store,,art store , used bookstore , an old hospital that you can tour ,and a few down the side streets, one being a gift store which is really cool to visit .. I have gotten books, jewelry there and a tour of the New Orleans rooms by the awesome owners..I guess my little town is a bit bigger than I thought..Oh and a beautiful jewelry store where I have found some very pretty jewelry and one time had to have a ring cut off as my finger swelled so badly and they were wonderful.. on one corner is a huge candy store with a place to eat in the back or outside on the patio.. for every holiday this sweet town has an event.. and a gorgeous little park..I grew up in a small town in Ohio which was like Mayberry, this reminds me so much of that town..the best thing we did was move here five years ago..the outer part of Foley has grown so much but the little downtown is a step back in time for me..

MAJORLY CONVIENENT !!! be sure to slide in and get your CCP's as well , i'm a fan of our 2A rights…read moreand would love to see everyone excercising them ...