If you haven't been by the big piece of property long known as "the Triangle" in a while, you're in for some surprises. It's now home to Flying Creek Nature Preserve, which is the newest sparkling jewel in Fairhope's shiny crown.

Bucket list items, a quick getaway, and time with friends were the motivations for a 4 day/3-night trip through the Big Bend area of Florida’s Forgotten Coast. I had been to Apalachicola a few times, but I had always wanted to explore the area further South. A seven-hour drive, Crystal River was our destination to swim with Manatees and dive for bay scallops. 

September is shaping up to be an excellent month for the Scenic 98 Coastal community with temperatures (hopefully) starting to cool off, football season in full swing, and a packed slate of events to enjoy. In addition to the Top 5 below, we have linked to other September Events on our radar at the end of the article. As always, be sure to check out the Tidbits and Best Bets section of the newsletter and at Scenic98Coastal.com to see everything going on this upcoming weekend.

As horrible as the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill was, many incredible projects have been implemented in the Scenic 98 Coastal area with funds from the RESTORE Act, which followed a $20 billion settlement between BP Oil Company and the US Government, specifically the five Gulf Coast states that were impacted the most. Coastal Alabama leveraged this resource and utilized the funds for ecosystem restoration and economic recovery. One such project in Gulf Shores, the Gulf Coast Eco Center, opened in April of this year, and it is something to behold.

George Fuller III is one of Fairhope's true creative spirits, but you can't tell his story without heading up the road to Spanish Fort.

Like so many little girls, Barbara Haines dreamed of becoming a ballerina. At the age of 6, after seeing a ballet performance on TV at home in Budapest, Hungary, she asked her mother for ballet lessons. The ballet master at the Kálmán Nádasdy Conservatory, Adél Orosz, gave her a one-month trial, and with a natural gift, she excelled. A fun fact I learned while having coffee with Barbara: Budapest is divided into two sides, which are connected by seven bridges. She was born on the ‘Buda’ side, which she described as scenic and natural, while the ‘Pest’ side, on the other hand, is more urban and industrial. The Conservatory was on the ‘Buda’ side.

Inspiration comes from many places. We are often inspired by people’s stories, places we visit, or experiences we have. Inspiration provides the drive to take action. Passion, on the other hand, is a different level of inspiration. It grows in our heart into something unstoppable. Passion is a strong and often uncontrollable emotion. 

Music is a universal language. It brings people together in mysterious ways. Linda and I watched the documentary on Ed Sullivan the other night. It was excellent! In our youth, we gathered around the television on Sunday nights, knowing we would be entertained and introduced to new musicians and bands that would soon take the world by storm.