Found 53 blog entries tagged as orange beach alabama.


Ono Island Open House Recipe

Orange Beach Open House Recipe: Citrus Shrimp Toast with Pickled Okra Relish

When I’m coming back from a day in Orange Beach showings or checking in on Ono Island listings, I gravitate toward recipes that feel coastal, look polished, and do not take over the kitchen. This is one of my go-to bites for porch nights, low-key get-togethers, or the kind of “drop in and stay awhile” moment a home naturally invites.

The goal is simple: a bite that tastes like the Gulf, photographs beautifully, and keeps the conversation in the living room instead of the kitchen.

Meredith Folger Amon

Why this recipe pairs so well with Orange Beach and Ono Island real estate

  • It’s coastal and elevated without feeling fussy.
  • …

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Ono Island Gulf Coast Tuna Steak Pasta with Capers, Olives, and Sauvignon Blanc

The best coastal dinners are built on balance: a little brine, a little brightness, a silky butter finish, and tuna that stays tender because you treat it with respect. Meredith Folger Amon

Orange Beach, Alabama is a great place to fish for tuna, and I love having a recipe ready that feels elevated but still easy enough for a weeknight. When fresh tuna is in season, I make this pasta with intention: bright tomatoes, capers, green olives, lemon, herbs, and a Sauvignon Blanc splash that keeps everything clean-tasting and coastal.

If you did not go catch tuna yourself, I suggest stopping by a local seafood store like the one under the Perdido Bridge…

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Ono Island Boathouses: Common Sizes, Boat Fit, Water Depth, and Features Buyers Ask About

Ono Island Boat Houses

One of the most practical upgrades I see buyers prioritize on Ono Island is the boathouse. Not because it feels like a luxury add-on, but because it changes the rhythm of waterfront living. When your lift, tie-off points, lighting, and shoreline approach are dialed in, boating becomes easier on a random Tuesday, not just on a perfect Saturday.

A boathouse is not just a roof over a boat. It is a daily convenience feature that protects equipment, shortens prep time, and helps preserve long-term value.

Below is a buyer-friendly overview of what I commonly see around Ono Island waterways, including the Peninsula Drive and Harbour Drive…

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Ono Harbor Boat Slips on Ono Island: What Buyers Should Know About Dock Styles, Boat Fit, and Everyday Boating Comfort

Ono Island Harbour Boat Slips and Sizes

Typical Boat Sizes and Slip Setups in Ono Harbor

When buyers ask me what “typically fits” in Ono Harbor, I frame it this way: Ono Harbor is primarily a private, residential dock environment, so slip and lift sizes are not one-size-fits-all. That said, there are very consistent patterns in the kinds of boats homeowners keep here and the dock setups that support them.

In Ono Harbor, “fit” is a combination of length, beam, lift capacity, and how comfortably you can come in and tie up on a breezy afternoon.

Boat sizes you commonly see working well in Ono Harbor

  • 20–26 ft bay boats and inshore…

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Hawk Orange Beach Alabama


Wildlife • Gulf Coast Moments

The Christmas Gift I Did Not Expect: A Hawk’s Second Chance


A couple of weeks ago, I was at my Orange Beach office when something outside our wall of windows stopped me mid-step. A beautiful hawk was on its side, completely still. For a moment, I truly thought it was gone.

Then I saw a black cat standing on top of it, poised to pounce. I watched for what felt like an eternity (probably a minute), and the bird never moved. I raised my hand instinctively and the cat bolted. I called to my broker, and we stepped outside together.

Up close, the hawk still didn’t move. My broker gently tapped near it, and suddenly the bird rolled over, pushed itself upright, and simply looked at us. Its wing was…

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Yellowfin Center Console in Orange Beach, Alabama: The Offshore Fishing Boat Buyers Ask About

I snapped these photos in Orange Beach on a crystal-clear day, and if you know boats, you probably noticed it immediately: this is a Yellowfin-style offshore center console built for speed, range, and serious Gulf fishing.

Yellowfin center console running near Orange Beach Alabama


Some boats look like recreation. A Yellowfin looks like intention. Meredith Folger Amon

From the hull profile, the hardtop, the outrigger setup, this is a Yellowfin center console. It is most consistent with the popular 29 to 32-foot class that’s common in our area.

Approximate size, beam, and draft

Note: Specs vary by model year, power, and load. These ranges reflect what I typically see for Yellowfin-class…

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10 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE BUYING ON ONO ISLAND



Ono Island Home Buying Guide Search The Gulf

When buyers ask me what makes Ono Island feel different, I tell them it is the rare blend of privacy, waterfront access, and a rulebook that actually matters. It is not complicated once you know where to look, but it rewards preparation.


“Ono Island is equal parts lifestyle and logistics. The magic is knowing both before you write the offer.”
Meredith Folger Amon

Meredith Folger Amon is an expert real estate advisor on Ono Island in Orange Beach, Alabama. If you want to browse current inventory while you read, start here: https://www.searchthegulf.com/ono-island/ and my Ono Island category archive here: https://www.searchthegulf.com/blog/category/ono-island/.

Quick Jump
1) Ono…

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CAVIAR VS. ROE: A GULF COAST GUIDE NEAR ORANGE BEACH, ALABAMA


The quick answer

Roe is the general term for fish eggs. Caviar is a specific kind of roe: salt-cured sturgeon eggs. So, all caviar is roe, but not all roe is caviar.

“If you’re craving buttery and nutty, you’re usually looking for a refined sturgeon caviar profile rather than a salt-forward imitation.” — Meredith Folger Amon

What does caviar taste like

When caviar is fresh and properly handled, the flavor is clean and coastal, not aggressively fishy. The best tins taste buttery, lightly nutty, and pleasantly briny with a soft finish. Texture matters as much as flavor: the beads should gently pop, then melt.

What does roe taste like

Roe can be delicious, but it’s…

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Great Blue Heron on the Shoreline: A Gulf Coast Moment in Orange Beach, Alabama

Coastal Bird Orange Beach Alabama Meredith Folger

The first time I pulled this image up on my screen, I could almost feel the breeze off the Gulf again. I took this photo on the shoreline in Orange Beach, Alabama, and this elegant bird walked right into the frame as if it had been hired for the day.


For anyone wondering, this beautiful coastal neighbor is a Great Blue Heron—one of the most iconic wading birds along the Gulf Coast. With that long, graceful neck, dagger-straight beak, and those slate-blue feathers that catch every bit of light, it is unmistakable. In my head I started calling this one “Gulfie”—a sweet, slightly curious soul who looked like it had places to go but was willing to share a quiet…

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Slow-Simmered Coastal Collard Greens: A Southern Gulf Coast Favorite

On the Southern Gulf Coast, some recipes feel stitched right into the rhythm of everyday life. For me, collard greens are one of those dishes. When a cool breeze slips across the water in Orange Beach or over Old River on Ono Island, there is nothing more comforting than a heavy pot slowly simmering on the stove, filling the house with smoky, savory warmth.

Search The Gulf Meredith Folger Amon

“The best collard greens on the Gulf Coast should taste like time — softened, layered, smoky, and full of the quiet comfort only a long simmer can produce.”

I grew to love the way collard greens transform over a couple of unhurried hours. At the beginning, they’re sturdy, almost stubborn leaves. By the end, they’ve…

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