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Looking For a Little Solitude

© Martine G. Bates

Been to the beach yet this summer? If so, you've already found out that everyone else you know has, too. As great as the beach is, and as much fun as it is to watch all the other people walking on the sand, building sandcastles, burying each other up to the neck, and just lying motionless on a towel, the crowds can get to you after a while.

Sometimes, I long for a little solitude so I can enjoy the wonders of God's creation without company--or at least, without quite so much company. Most of us can't buy a tropical island and don't care to be marooned like Gilligan and his pals, but I've discovered that there are places and times I can experience a little solitude. Here's a little advice for finding a spot far from the teeming mobs--and still eat dinner at a nice restaurant. We'll cover the when this time, with a few tips on where to go next time.

It may seem like a no-brainer, but when you go makes a tremendous difference. Any weekend in July is bound to be wall-to-wall. We rarely go in July (who am I kidding--we rarely go more than once each year) for that reason, but if your vacation is pre-determined and it is go then or stay home--well, a crowded beach is better that no beach at all. And you can depend on everything being open then, so go, by all means.

Have a little more flexibility in your off time? I have been to the Alabama-Florida Gulf coastal area in every month except December (WAY too much going on then to get away), and have encountered good weather in all months. Am I saying that it never gets cold or nasty at the Gulf? Absolutely not--just that if you pick your times and can change plans on short notice, you can find wonderful weather in January.

Let me give you a perfect example: This past January, I drove to the Gulf to meet my husband, who was ending a short golf trip with his friends. We stayed on a few more days, and had glorious weather. We were comfortable in sweatshirts or light jackets, even to the point of eating outdoors and sitting out by the beach. We wouldn't have wanted to swim, but we had a great time.

Two weeks later, I returned for four more days to attend a conference. When we got there, we took off our shoes and waded in the water, which was a little brisk, but not uncomfortable. During the night, a cold front moved through, and brought with it the most miserable, biting cold wind I have ever felt (remember, dear readers, that I DO live in Alabama, so my idea of miserable cold may differ from yours).