Found 138 blog entries tagged as Meredith Folger Amon.


Buying a Condo With a Boat Slip in Orange Beach, AL (Deeded vs Assigned vs FCFS) | Meredith Folger Amon

ORANGE BEACH • CONDOS • BOAT SLIPS

What to Look For When Buying a Condo With a Boat Slip in Orange Beach, Alabama

By Meredith Folger Amon • Updated January 12, 2026 • Boater-Friendly Real Estate Condo Boat Slips Orange Beach Alabama

If you boat on the Gulf Coast, a condo with slip access can be a dream—until you discover the slip isn’t truly yours, the lift won’t handle your boat, or the HOA rules don’t match how you actually use the water. Here’s how I help buyers evaluate condo boat slips in Orange Beach so there are no surprises after closing.

“The only safe way to confirm a condo boat slip is to match the unit to the slip number, then…

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Gulf Coast Lifestyle • New Year’s Day Tradition

Flora-Bama Polar Bear Dip: Ringing in 2026 with a Gulf of Mexico Plunge

There are mornings on the Gulf Coast that feel pitch-perfect, even when the surf is cold enough to make you second-guess every life choice. New Year’s Day at the Flora-Bama Polar Bear Dip is one of them.

Meredith Folger Flora-Bama

A bright blue sky, a cold Gulf, and a collective countdown

I went to the Flora-Bama yesterday to welcome 2026 the way a lot of locals do it, with a quick dip into the Gulf of Mexico and a lot of laughter on the shoreline. The air had that crisp, post-front edge, but the sun was high and clean, and the beach was packed with people wrapped in towels, costumes, and courage.

“New Year’s on the line feels like…

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My Ono Island Pantry Staples for Last-Minute Coastal Entertaining

On Ono Island, I love the kind of entertaining that feels effortless and unforced, the doorbell rings, the conversation starts, and the kitchen quietly does its job in the background. The key is not a complicated menu. It’s a pantry with intention.

“A well-stocked pantry is the coastal version of a tidy entryway. It makes everything feel calmer the moment people arrive.”

Ono Island Kitchen Pantry Staples

What I look for in an Ono Island kitchen

When I’m touring homes on Ono Island, I always notice the same details that make last-minute hosting feel easy: a generous island for grazing boards, a pantry that holds more than cereal, and enough counter landing space that you can plate and pour…

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Luxury Meets Offshore Performance: The Refined Fishing Boat Upgrades I’m Seeing More and More

Orange Beach Alabama Fishing Boats

Why “Refined” Offshore Boats Are Having a Moment on the Gulf Coast

Over the last few years, I’ve watched certain offshore fishing boats quietly evolve into something more versatile and more luxurious, without sacrificing performance. The best builds still run hard, fish clean, and handle messy water, but now they also reflect a higher level of intention in the layout, the finishes, and the small design choices that make long days offshore feel easier.

Here along Orange Beach and Ono Island, I hear the same refrain from neighbors at the marina. They want a boat that can chase tuna at daylight, run a calm sunset cruise later, and still feel…

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December Magic Over the Harbor on Ono Island


Ono Island • Orange Beach, Alabama

Ono Island Search The Gulf Waterfront Homes


 “December sunset over the harbor on Ono Island with calm water reflections and marsh silhouettes.”

I took this photo in December, looking out over the harbor on Ono Island in Orange Beach, and it still feels like a small miracle every time I look at it. The water is glassy and quiet, the marsh edge creates that graceful curve into the distance, and the sky stretches wide with wispy, wind-brushed clouds that seem to glow from within.


December light on Ono Island has a way of slowing everything down, like the day is giving you permission to linger a little longer.

There is a particular kind of winter calm here that I’ve grown to…

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Sportsman Open 252 in Orange Beach, Alabama: A Practical Gulf Coast Guide That Also Thinks About Real Estate


When I’m helping buyers compare Orange Beach waterfront options, one question shows up fast: “Where will the boat live, and how do I want to use it.” The boat in this photo is a classic example of what works well here, a Sportsman Open-style center console with the glass-windshield enclosure that’s become a signature look on many Sportsman Open models.

Sportsman Fishing Boats Orange Beach Alabama Search The Gulf

I’m going to use the Sportsman Open 252 as the reference point because the proportions and enclosure in your image closely match this configuration, and it’s one of the most common “sweet spot” sizes I see across the Gulf Coast for boaters who want inshore flexibility with…

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WASH HOUSE RESTAURANT-INSPIRED RECIPE: CRISP SALAD WITH SAUTEED GOAT CHEESE

| fairhope, alabama

I have a soft spot for the kind of salad that feels like a whole evening, not a side note. The fried goat cheese salad at The Wash House in Fairhope, Alabama is one of those dishes for me. It’s warm and crisp, bright and peppery, and somehow always tastes like the start of a good conversation. This recipe is my at-home version, inspired by that flavor memory, not an exact replica.

“Some dishes don’t just taste good, they hold a place. This one always takes me back to Fairhope.”

Why I Love This Salad

Fairhope has a way of slowing the world down, in the best possible way. When I think about dinners at…

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Best Fishing Boat for Red Snapper in Orange Beach & Ono Island

  

Fishing offshore for red snapper in Orange Beach and around Ono Island isn’t just a hobby — it’s a way of life. After spending early mornings in salt spray and late afternoons on the hook box with friends and family, I’ve learned what makes a boat truly reliable when you’re running 15–40 miles offshore targeting big reds.

“When you’re heading out into the deep Gulf of Mexico, confidence in your boat isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity.”

Why Red Snapper Fishing Is Unique

Red snapper season in the Gulf demands a boat that can handle chop, carry enough gear, and give you space for passengers without feeling crowded. Whether you’re heading out from a Harbor or the back bays near…

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An Afternoon on Ono Island


Ono Island Homes

This afternoon, I am sitting on Ono Island, feeling overwhelmingly grateful to call this island home. The world feels quiet in the best way, and as I look out over Old River, the view pulls me into one of those rare moments where everything slows down.

The December light is softer this time of year. The sun drifts through the clouds and sends rays from every direction, almost like the sky is putting on a quiet, private show for anyone taking the time to notice. Right in the middle of that light are two pelicans in flight.

On this December afternoon, it feels like the entire island has taken a deep breath and decided to just be still for a little while.

They are flying together so beautifully that it…

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Gulf Coast Sheepshead With Lemon-Caper Butter | Orange Beach, Alabama Recipe


Gulf Coast Sheepshead With Lemon-Caper Butter: Seasonal Cooking From Orange Beach, Alabama



Sheepshead Fish Recipe Gulf Coast Lemon Caper Butter

On the inshore waters of Orange Beach, Alabama, sheepshead might just be one of the most misunderstood fish we catch. Around the docks and cleaning tables, I have heard it all. I have listened to people say, “They are so hard to clean that they cannot be worth it,” and then in the next breath someone else whispers, “Sheepshead is one of the best-tasting fish in the Gulf if you take the time to do it right.”

Recently, a neighbor pulled into the drive after fishing the bridges and pilings near Perdido Pass. He walked up with a small cooler and said, “We did a little…

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