Mardi Gras in Orange Beach: Fat Tuesday on the Gulf Coast

Posted by Meredith Folger Amon on February 18th, 2026

Mardi Gras in Orange Beach 2026: A Fat Tuesday That Started With a Contract and Ended on the Flora-Bama Dance Floor

Fat Tuesday in Orange Beach has a rhythm I’ve come to love. It’s not just beads and floats. It’s the way the day starts like any other workday on the Gulf Coast, and then slowly, beautifully, turns into a moving celebration that feels stitched into the shoreline itself.

“Around here, Mardi Gras doesn’t interrupt real life. It simply joins it.” Meredith Folger Amon

My Morning Started Like It Always Does

Yesterday began with the same kind of intention that starts most of my days. I went straight to my office to handle a new contract I had put together for a home I’m selling on Ono Island. There is…

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Best Orange Beach Condos for 30–40 Foot Boats | Slip Sizes, Lifts & What to Verify

Posted by Meredith Folger Amon on January 16th, 2026

BEST ORANGE BEACH CONDOS FOR 30–40 FOOT BOATS

 

Shopping Orange Beach condos for a 30–40' boat? Here are the best “boat-friendly” condo setups I see most often—plus how I verify slip size, lift capacity, HOA rules, utilities, insurance, and Gulf access before you buy. 

If you boat in the 30–40 foot range, you already know the truth: not every “condo with a boat slip” actually works for a real boat—especially once you factor in LOA, beam, wind, current, turning room, lift capacity, and HOA rules.

When buyers ask me for the best Orange Beach condos for 30–40 foot boats, I don’t start with a list of names. I start with a process—because slip access can be deeded, assigned, rented, or first-come-first-served, and the only safe way to…

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Center Console Boats With T-Tops: Why They’re the Gulf Coast Favorite | Meredith Folger Amon

Posted by Meredith Folger Amon on January 14th, 2026

 

CENTER CONSOLE BOATS WITH T-TOPS: WHY THEY’RE THE GULF COAST FAVORITE

If you spend time on the water in coastal Alabama, you already know why center consoles are everywhere. A well-built center console with a T-top is one of the most practical, “actually-use-it” boats for the Gulf Coast—especially if you want to fish inshore one day, cruise with friends the next, and still have the option to head offshore when conditions are right.

I’m a real estate adviser in Orange Beach, but boating is part of the lifestyle I help people buy into every single day. And when my clients ask what kind of boat best matches life here, center consoles with T-tops are always at the top of the list.

“On the Gulf Coast, the best boat is the one you…

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Best Orange Beach Condos for 30–40 Foot Boats | What to Look For in Slips, Lifts & Rules

Posted by Meredith Folger Amon on January 12th, 2026

 

Best Orange Beach Condos for 30–40 Foot Boats

By Meredith Folger Amon

If you boat in the 30–40 foot range, you already know the truth: a “boat slip included” condo can be either a dream setup…or a frustrating daily compromise.

In Orange Beach, the best boating condos aren’t just about the view. They’re about the fine print: slip rights, measured dimensions, lift capacity, turning room, dock utilities, storm protocols, and what the association actually allows. And because slip access can be deeded, assigned, rented, first-come/first-served, or unit-specific, the only safe way to confirm what you’re buying is to match the condo unit to the slip number and verify everything through the association documents and/or management.

If…

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Buying a Condo With a Boat Slip in Orange Beach: What Buyers Miss

Posted by Meredith Folger Amon on January 12th, 2026

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

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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Why the Weather on Ono Island Can Feel Different Than Orange Beach and Perdido Key

Posted by Meredith Folger Amon on January 11th, 2026

Why Ono Island Weather Feels Different Than Orange Beach & Perdido Key | Meredith Amon

Ono Island • Microclimate Guide

Why the Weather on Ono Island Can Feel Different Than Orange Beach and Perdido Key

By Meredith Amon • Updated January 11, 2026 • Coastal Living + Real Estate

Ono Island can feel breezier, cooler, or foggier than Orange Beach and Perdido Key—sometimes within the same hour. The reason isn’t “random.” It’s a true coastal microclimate shaped by the Gulf, Perdido Bay, and multiple waterways.

“Small distances can have surprisingly sharp weather boundaries here—especially when sea breezes set up like a moving line.” — Meredith Amon

The quick explanation 

Why Ono can feel different:…

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Yacht Rental Services Near Ono Island | Orange Beach Charter Options

Posted by Meredith Folger Amon on January 1st, 2026

Can I Find Yacht Rental Services Near Ono Island?

 

Can I Find Yacht Rental Services Near Ono Island?

Yes, you can find yacht rental services near Ono Island. Most options are based in nearby Orange Beach (plus a few that service Perdido Key and Pensacola), which means you are close to a mix of luxury captained yachts, sailing catamarans, and upscale day-boat rentals. 

“If you want the ‘yacht day’ without the long learning curve, book a captained charter, ask smart questions up front, and let the back-bay water do what it always does here, slow everything down in the best way.”

Meredith Folger Amon

Quick Answer

Start your search in Orange Beach marinas and charter operators. Then decide whether you want a true…

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Long-Term Rental Real Estate Investment Questions

Posted by Meredith Folger Amon on December 25th, 2025

Long-Term Rental Real Estate Investment Questions On the Gulf Coast

If I’m evaluating a property as a long-term rental, I work through a repeatable checklist that covers income, expenses, risk, tenant demand, and exit strategy. Below is the thorough question list I use so I can spot red flags early and compare multiple options side-by-side.

1) Rental Income Potential

Market rent and scenarios

• What is the best-case monthly rent based on comparable leased properties (same bed/bath, size, condition, and location)?
• What is the worst-case monthly rent if the market softens or the property needs concessions?
• What is the most likely rent range I should underwrite (conservative, realistic number)?
• How quickly do comparable…

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A Quiet Ono Island Sunrise in Mirror-Still Water

Posted by Meredith Folger Amon on December 23rd, 2025

A Quiet Ono Island Sunrise in Mirror-Still Water

I took this photo on Ono Island, and it captures one of the reasons this place stays on the short list for people who want a true waterfront lifestyle. The sky is soft with cool-season color, the horizon sits low and calm, and the water turns into glass that reflects every cloud like a second, quieter world.

“When Ono Island is this still, the water does not just reflect the sky. It reflects the pace of life people come here to find.”

 Sunrise on Ono Island in Orange Beach, Alabama, with calm water reflecting pastel clouds and waterfront homes in silhouette.

What You’re Seeing in This Frame

The sun is low on the left edge of the skyline, tucked behind a line of…

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10 Things to Know Before Buying on Ono Island

Posted by Meredith Folger Amon on December 23rd, 2025

10 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE BUYING ON ONO ISLAND

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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