If you’re looking for family-friendly attractions, white-as-snow beaches and a variety of fun restaurants, Gulf Shores, Alabama, is the perfect option for a vacation.

We sat perched in the cramped entrance to Mama J’s Kitchen, but it was worth the wait for the best fried catfish and corn muffins we’d ever had.

Jeremy Norris’ family members were bootleggers and farmers. He carries on their legacy with Broadslab Distillery, located on the family farm, producing moonshine, whisky and rum in a still he designed with his grandfather using his recipe. “We handle the entire process from dirt to bottle,” he said on the one-hour tour that includes a shot glass and tasting.

Long have the Miata, Mustang, M3, 911, and Corvette occupied the pantheon of iconic performance cars, giggling and sipping champagne. In 2018, however, a newcomer has buzzed in to ruin the picnic.

A must-have for me from now on with a beachfront room is a balcony. There’s nothing better than sipping coffee in the morning or an adult beverage in the afternoon while lounging on a balcony with a view of the water.