Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Eat, Play, Shop in Historic Foley Just Minutes from Gulf Beaches

A few miles north of the beach, in the historic city of Foley, discover unique opportunities to EAT at over 70 restaurants, PLAY discounted golf, and SHOP to your heart’s content at antique, consignment & retail shops plus 120 stores at Tanger Outlet Center.

EAT – You are probably thinking there is a typo about 70 restaurants in Foley. Although it seems unlikely, it is true! In fact if you stop by the Foley Welcome Center you can pick up a Foley Dining Guide with all the details. Of course there are the national chains such as O’Charley’s, Applebee’s, Chick-Fil-A, IHOP, Cracker Barrel and RubyTuesday. And there are also some local favorites. For seafood Wolf Bay Lodge is legendary, Shrimp Basket has one of their popular restaurants conveniently located on Hwy. 59 and Tin Top Restaurant is well worth the drive down picturesque County Road 10. A great choice for barbeque is Down South BBQ in two locations. And there are a number of Mexican, Greek/Italian and Asian restaurants from which to choose. You have to experience the “throwed rolls” and abundant portions at portions at Lambert’s CafĂ© during at least one visit to the coast, and the buffet at The Gift Horse offers a grand taste of the South.

PLAYGlenlakes Golf Club, located on County Road 20 (turn east at Lambert’s Cafe), features 27 holes of spectacular golf on two distinct courses. The Vista/Dunes is a Devlin-Von Hagge layout that resembles Scottish links with its strategic mounding, extensive bunkering and undulating fairways and greens. The Lakes course is a resort-style nine-hole experience for players of all levels, with water on six of the nine holes providing a challenge.

Discounted golf is available year-round by purchasing an annual Player’s Club card for $29.99. At current rates, with a Player’s Club card, your 18 holes of golf, including cart, would only cost $45 before noon (saving $20), $35 from noon to 2 p.m. (saving $10) and only $20 after 2 p.m. (saving $10). Of course rates will vary by the season, but it’s easy to see that the card quickly pays for itself.

SHOP – Prepare to spend time but save money at Tanger Outlet Center where 120 stores offer nearly everything you can imagine. There are shops featuring accessories, apparel and footwear, and you’ll also find housewares and home furnishings. The specialty stores offer a variety of items such as art, knives, tools, fragrances and cosmetics. And there are even food stores including Harry and David, The Fudgery and Starbucks. Hours of entertainment for the little ones is possible in the Family Fun Park, located in the middle of the shopping action, featuring a playground, carousel, rock climbing wall and interactive water fountain.

In uptown Foley you can park your car and walk from shop to shop in the historic district, where you’ll find an old-fashioned soda fountain at Stacey’s Drug Store and Olde Tyme Soda Fountain, and plenty of quaint antiques shops such as The Gift Horse Antique Centre, Hollis Old Crush Antique Mall, Old Armory Mall and The Green Ant. Round out your many options with jewelry at Manning Jewelry, art at the Performing Arts Center and apparel at a variety of consignment stores. These and more shopping excursions await you just beyond the beach.

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