|
Subscribe | Get featured
Hello Orange Beach! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning.
In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Opening day at Waterville USA, a fundraiser concert with Broadway’s Chuck Wagner, and gold and silver’s big moment + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Today’s sponsor, Spot Pet Insurance, is something I wish I had before a late-night emergency vet visit left me with a $10,000 credit card bill. It’s cheaper than Netflix… and means you never have to choose between your pet and your savings. It takes less than 5 minutes to sign up – get started here.
|
📰 In the news
Help safeguard your community: The Orange Beach Police Department is hiring full-time dispatchers, with starting pay between $41,475 and $58,469. These professionals are the first point of contact in emergencies, reviewing 911 calls and records — get all the details.
Explore Alabama’s coastal ecosystems: Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge in Gulf Shores has scheduled free guided walks throughout 2026, led by rangers through dunes, forests, swamps, and wetlands. Check schedules and prepare for weather — get all the details.
Award streak highlights stewardship: Nearby Foley has earned national finance honors, achieving a GFOA triple crown for the sixth straight year, one of just five Alabama cities recognized for strong budgeting and transparency — get all the details.
Gold & silver are hot: Coming off gold’s best year since 1979, the momentum is carrying well into 2026 with silver remaining one of the most talked-about assets. Curious why they’re back in focus? American Hartford Gold has a free guide that explains what’s happening and how people are approaching it today. It’s free – and definitely worth a read.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
Highlights this week:
|
🐾 One pet emergency can cost $10,000+
Together with our sponsor Spot Pet Insurance
Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache.
From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving.
As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Spot.
It’s super affordable and reimburses up to 90% on qualified vet bills. It was too late for me, but it’s not too late for you. Sign up today.
|
🫶 We got your back
Tapas and a pour: We Crush Wine @ The Wharf pairs a deep by-the-glass lineup with shareable bites like bacon-wrapped dates, warm olives, and cheese boards. Catch up with friends, graze at your own pace, and feel delightfully grown-up without turning dinner into a whole production.
Where to gear up fast: When the pompano are running or you want a better beach cart setup, Beach Bum Outdoors stocks surf-fishing rigs, live bait, beach essentials, and rentals. Their crew knows the local bite, so you skip guesswork and get to the fun part… catching fish.
Switch up movie night: Skip the sequel fatigue and catch live laughs, tricks, and spot-on impressions at Brandon Styles Theater. It’s the kind of high-energy night you can’t pause or scroll past. Perfect for a weeknight reset with locals, or for introducing a friend to some real, in-the-room fun.
Access cash without selling your home: A reverse mortgage can help anyone over 62 cover everyday expenses, support healthcare needs, fund home improvements, or even reduce pressure on 401(k) withdrawals – all while staying in your home. Longbridge offers a free calculator to estimate how much flexibility your home could provide, with no commitment required.
|
📆 Fun for the whole fam
Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
👶 Playroom Playdate @ Orange Beach Public Library | Friday (3/6) at 10:00 AM – Indoor playdate for the under-5 crowd, where they climb, giggle, and you remember what sitting feels like. Prefer calm over chaos? The soft open at 9:30 keeps it quiet with limited capacity, ideal for sensory-sensitive kids, patient parents, and post-lunch naps.
📚 Homeschool Days @ Learning Campus at Gulf State Park | Friday (3/6) at 1:00 PM – Trade the kitchen table for the Learning Campus and let homeschoolers dig, tinker, and garden through monthly classes at Gulf State Park. Two classes run concurrently for ages 5 to 11 and 12 to 18, with archaeology, Auburn scientists, seed take-homes, and new friends.
🏃 Bunny Hop 5k & Fun Run @ The Wharf Orange Beach Alabama | Saturday (3/7) at 8:30 AM – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to earn brunch, the 14th Bunny Hop 5K and Fun Run at The Wharf is calling, honoring Ann Reese Grote and funding scholarships for Gulf Shores and Orange Beach seniors. Jog, stroll, or just rock the cute tee.
🎢 Waterville USA Opening Day @ Waterville USA | Saturday (3/7) at 12:00 PM – Waterville USA is kicking off the 2026 season with Opening Day, and your inner kid just called shotgun on the first coaster. Treat the grandkids, your knees, and your nostalgia, then supervise from the lazy river while calling it cardio, recovery, and quality time.
🏮 Afternoon Art: Tie-Dye Paper Lanterns @ Orange Beach Public Library | Monday (3/9) at 4:00 PM – Trade screen time for spray time at this all-ages art session where you mist inks onto paper, then head home with a tie dye lantern that actually glows for instant ambiance. Bring kids, grandkids, or your inner five-year-old, and register here before spots vanish: https://orangebeach.librarycalendar.com/event/afternoon-art-weave-llama-1242
🎸 Rockstarfish @ The Hangout Gulf Shores, Al | Monday (3/9) at 6:00 PM – When 59 finally gives up and hits the sand, the real fun starts at The Hangout as Rockstarfish jumps back on that family-friendly stage. Expect sing-alongs you pretend you’re over, beach-breeze energy, and kids, grandparents, and your questionable dance moves.
🎤 David Gautreau @ The Hangout | Tuesday (3/10) at 6:00 PM – Trade the TV remote for the real thing at The Hangout, where David Gautreau brings heartfelt vocals, memorable tunes, and the kind of easy charm that pairs with anything on tap. Grab a seat, order something you like, and let a musician improve your evening.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
|
🔥 Worth a peek
We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.
|
📻 Orange Beach report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 71°F – Low: 62°F – Precip: 1%
Areas of fog before 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Later: Areas of fog after 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
—
Tomorrow – High: 72°F – Low: 64°F – Precip: 14%
Areas of fog before 8am. Partly sunny, with a high near 72. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Someone Googled you this week 👀
It may feel like an invasion of privacy, but unfortunately It’s the new normal. Whether you’re joining a committee, selling something locally, dating again, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up online.
Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.
Thankfully, there’s a really easy way for you – or someone you care about – to clean up outdated results that no longer tell the real story. Learn more here.
This house is wild
Directly on Ole River with unobstructed Gulf views, this Ono Island home pairs a boater’s dream location with bright, versatile interiors. An expansive back porch surveys the water, while inside offers formal and informal living with built-ins, a stainless kitchen and breakfast bar. Two garages, a rec room, storm shutters, and resort-style amenities including pool, fitness, boat launch, and pickleball.
Take a peek inside →
|
 |
Thanks for reading! If you know someone who’d love BaseLocal, send ’em here so they can sign up too 🙂
|
|
|
|
