Point Clear is Grand!

Point Clear gets in your bones.

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine was working a conference at The Grand Hotel in Point Clear, Alabama. She asked if I might like to accompany her. The idea was that, while she worked the conference each day, I could work remotely from the spacious hotel room, and then we'd go for long walks and stuff ourselves with seafood each night. 

It sounded like a good plan to me, so we packed our bags and hit the road. 

Colorful murals in Fairhope

If you've never stayed at The Grand (which is basically all there is in Point Clear), it's worth a stop. They bill themselves as gracious hospitality, and they're not far off. Remember Kellerman's, that resort in Dirty Dancing? Think of it like that, but in the South. 

The resort stretches itself out along the bay, and the waterfront is dotted with waling paths, wings, hammocks, a man-made beach, and a large lawn filled with family games like corn hole and horseshoes. There's a beach area, a large pool (with both a family and an adult swimming area), a spa, a golf course, a fitness center, and tennis courts. 

Complimentary as part of resort fees are bicycles, water toys (paddle boards, etc.), and resort events like s'mores on the beach, popsicles by the pool, and the daily firing of the resort's historic cannon. 

So, if you're looking for a place to kick back and find a slower pace, this is it. 

While we were there, we immensely enjoyed long walks along the water. The path that fronts the resort goes off-property and continues along a string of beach that features some gorgeous old houses and beautiful gardens. We loved walking here, peeping at the architecture, and stopping to admire the views. We enjoyed free s'mores on the beach and watched the sun go down. 

We also ventured into nearby Fairhope a couple of times to eat dinner. Once, we ended up at The Bone and Barrel for delicious cocktails (I had a bourbon mule.) and munchies. (We made a meal of the hot crab dip!) A second time, I popped by Sage, opting for the delicious shish kebab. (This half-Lebanese lady gives Sage a thumbs up for authenticity! I also loved their Lebanese iced tea!) The on-property restaurants at The Grand are also good, and I had lunch at Bayside a couple of times. Fantastic seafood! 

Fantastic shrimp at the Bayside

We also stopped at a few of the cute shops in downtown Fairhope, though this activity was limited, as most of the stores were already closed for the day by the time we were both off work. 

On another evening (when my friend had a night event to work), I laid out by the pool for a while. (I really enjoyed the adult pool. A much quieter experience than the main pool, and the servers would come periodically to take your drink order. The mango margaritas were delish!) Then, I borrowed a bike and rode a few miles to Ice, Ice, Baby - a nearby sno-ball truck! I got a tiger's blood sno-ball, admired the sunset, walked through a little park nearby, and pedaled back. Just a wonderful, relaxing evening.  

On another afternoon, I popped out of the room at around 4 p.m. to hear the brief history presentation and the firing of the on-site cannon and then enjoy cookies and tea in the lobby. Such a unique experience. You can learn more about the resort's history in this regard here. 

On the way back home, we stopped at The Noble South in Mobile for lunch. What a find! I got their chicken thighs lunch plate, and it was divine. The sides - veggies, cornbread, etc. - were excellent. 

At any rate, we both enjoyed our week! My friend had a great conference, and I got to enjoy some time at The Grand. All in all, a win!

Will pedal for sno-balls!