Ono Island Homes + Boat Series: Big-Water Living on Bayou St. John and the Intracoastal Waterway

Ono Island Homes + Boat Series: Big-Water Living on Bayou St. John and the Intracoastal Waterway

By Meredith Folger Amon

Ono Island Homes + Boat Series: Big Water Living on Bayou St. John and the Intracoastal

By Meredith Folger Amon

Life on Ono Island is defined by water, and nowhere is that more evident than along the big-water stretches of Bayou St. John and the Intracoastal Waterway. These properties aren’t just homes—they’re harbors for boats that take their owners into the Gulf, across the Intracoastal, or over to waterfront restaurants with ease. For serious boaters, the right street matters just as much as the right floorplan.

Big-Water Streets for Serious Boats

The premier addresses on Bayou St. John—…

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Caymas 34 CT | The Perfect Offshore Boat for Ono Island & Orange Beach, Alabama

Why the Caymas 34 CT is Perfect for Boaters in Orange Beach and Ono Island

By Meredith Folger Amon, Licensed in Alabama and Florida

Guided by Integrity. Backed by Experience. Search the Gulf with Meredith Folger Amon.

One of the best parts of living on Ono Island — https://www.searchthegulf.com/ono-island/ or in Orange Beach — https://www.searchthegulf.com/orange-beach/ is that boating isn’t just a weekend activity, it’s part of everyday life. Whether I’m talking with neighbors at the dock, showing a waterfront property with a private boathouse, or watching the traffic pass through Perdido Pass, I can always count on seeing some of the most impressive center consoles on the Gulf Coast. Recently, one boat has been turning heads more than…

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ICF (Insulated Concrete Form) Homes on the Gulf Coast: My Top 20 Q&As for Orange Beach & Ono Island

ICF (Insulated Concrete Form) Homes on the Gulf Coast: My Top 20 Q&As for Orange Beach & Ono Island

By Meredith Folger Amon, Licensed in Alabama and Florida
Guided by Integrity. Backed by Experience. Search the Gulf with Meredith Folger Amon.

I love helping clients build smarter on the coast. On Ono Island and around Orange Beach, ICF (Insulated Concrete Form) has moved from “niche” to “expected” on many custom homes. Below are the twenty questions I hear most—asked by both builders and consumers—plus straight answers from my experience walking sites, reading reports, and living with coastal realities (wind, salt, flood, and insurance).

Looking at coastal building more broadly? Start here: New Construction on the Gulf Coast.

1) What…

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Perdido Pass, Orange Beach AL: Coastal Birds & Bridge Photo

PERDIDO PASS IN LATE SEPTEMBER: “THE WATCHERS ON THE WALL”

By Meredith Folger Amon — Orange Beach, Alabama

I made this photograph at the end of September, standing along the seawall at Perdido Pass in Orange Beach, Alabama. The day had that clean, post-summer light I love on the Gulf—blue on blue—and a soft northeast breeze that kept the surface groomed. Fishing boats and a few yachts slid in and out of the pass beyond the frame. To my left, the white umbrellas and palms of The Gulf restaurant fluttered like little signals of shore life; ahead, the Perdido Pass Bridge arced across the water, carrying the day’s traffic toward Ono Island and back again.

But the subject here isn’t the bridge, the boats, or the restaurant. It’s the coastal birds…

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Muck, Sea Grass, and Barnacle Cycles on Lifts & Seawalls (Orange Beach & Ono Island)

Muck, Sea Grass, and Barnacle Cycles on Lifts & Seawalls (Orange Beach & Ono Island)

By Meredith Folger Amon, Licensed in Alabama and Florida
Guided by Integrity. Backed by Experience. Search the Gulf with Meredith Folger Amon.

Living and working on the water in Orange Beach and along Ono Island, I see the same seasonal story play out on boat lifts and seawalls: spring warmth wakes up growth, summer accelerates it, fall storms push wrack into corners, and winter finally gives us a breather. Below is how I set expectations with buyers and owners—and the simple, realistic maintenance cadence I use myself—so small messes don’t become big repairs.

For on slip layouts, lifts, and canal living, see my boating guide: Boating Amenities on the Gulf…

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How to Captain a Boat in Orange Beach: Rules, Buoys & Pro Tips

How Captains Run a Boat in Orange Beach (Lessons Learned from Local Pros)

By Meredith Folger Amon, Licensed in Alabama and Florida
Guided by Integrity. Backed by Experience. Search the Gulf with Meredith Folger Amon.

Running the waters around Orange Beach, across Old River by Ono Island, and out the pass into the Gulf is a masterclass taught daily by seasoned captains—tow operators, charter skippers, and neighbors with thousands of local hours. The practices below reflect what those captains consistently do and the lessons they’ve shared.

Reading the Water (What Experienced Captains Watch)

• Color & texture: Greener/clearer often means deeper; tan or tea-colored water with tight ripples (“cat’s paws”) can mark shoals. A narrow…

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Beach and Bay Water Clarity by Season in Orange Beach Alabama – 2025 Month-by-Month Guide

Beach and Bay Water Clarity by Season in Orange Beach – 2025 Month-by-Month Guide

Overview

In Orange Beach, the water can look anything from emerald green to clear Caribbean blue, depending on the month, weather, and tides. As a Gulf Coast homeowner and real estate advisor, I’ve learned that knowing these patterns can help you plan the best days for boating, fishing, or even photography. Here’s a practical guide to understanding when and why the water looks its best.

Key Questions

• Which months usually bring the clearest, bluest water in Orange Beach?

• Why does the water sometimes look like the Caribbean?

• Can weather or tide patterns help predict water clarity?

• What are the differences between Gulf waters…

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Stucco Homes on the Gulf Coast: Termite checks, maintenance, and prevention in Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, and Ono Island.

STUCCO HOMES ON THE GULF COAST: KEY HIGHLIGHTS AND BULLET POINTS

By Meredith Folger Amon, Licensed in Alabama and Florida

Guided by Integrity. Backed by Experience. Search the Gulf with Meredith Folger Amon.

I help buyers and sellers evaluate stucco homes from Orange Beach to Gulf Shores and Ono Island. Here are the most important points I coach clients on when it comes to stucco performance, maintenance, and prevention on the coast.

Big Idea

• It’s not about “stucco vs. EIFS.” Performance comes down to installation and detailing: terminations at grade, flashing at roof-to-wall, window/door sealing, drainage paths, and ongoing maintenance.

Immediate Red Flags

• Stucco touching the ground (soil or mulch)…

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Hurricane Ivan vs. Hurricane Sally: Gulf Coast Real Estate, Insurance & Resilience Guide

Insurance, Hurricanes, and Gulf Coast Real Estate: Lessons from Ivan and Sally

By Meredith Amon, Licensed in Alabama and Florida
Guided by Integrity. Backed by Experience. Search the Gulf with Meredith Amon.

After Hurricanes Ivan (2004) and Sally (2020), many Gulf Coast homeowners began asking the same questions about insurance coverage, premiums, and building standards. While the storms brought challenges, they also pushed our communities toward smarter building and better protection. Here are some of the most common questions I hear from homeowners and buyers in Orange Beach, Ono Island, Gulf Shores, Fort Morgan, and Dauphin Island.

Common Questions About Insurance After Ivan and Sally

Q: Did Ivan and Sally change how insurance…

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Gulf Coast Stucco Homes: What to Look For, Maintain, and Prevent

GULF COAST STUCCO HOMES: WHAT TO LOOK FOR, MAINTAIN, AND PREVENT

By Meredith Folger Amon, Licensed in Alabama and Florida
Guided by Integrity. Backed by Experience. Search the Gulf with Meredith Folger Amon.

Stucco can perform beautifully on the Gulf Coast when it’s installed and detailed correctly. The biggest lesson I share with buyers and sellers is this: it’s rarely about “stucco vs. EIFS.” It’s about the details—how the system terminates at grade, how roof-to-wall joints are flashed, how windows and doors are sealed, and how water is managed over time. If you’re buying or selling a stucco home in Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, or on Ono Island, a professional stucco inspection is one of the smartest moves you can make.

The number-one red…

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