ALABAMA

Alabama’s coastline may be a hidden gem to some, but for us, our trip to Gulf Shores was a masterclass in slow, sun-drenched family living. We started the journey with a quick flight into Pensacola, Florida, making the easy, scenic drive across the border to find ourselves in a beach paradise that felt worlds away from the daily grind.

One of the standout highlights was an Early Morning Micro Shell and Shark Tooth Hunt. There is a specific kind of magic in the quiet of a coastal morning, and watching Shiv dive into the search with such focus and excitement was a joy. It’s those small, quiet discoveries—finding a shark's tooth or a perfectly intact shell—that often end up being the biggest memories.

We stayed at a beautiful Airbnb just steps from the shore, which allowed us to live by the rhythm of the waves. Shiv and Dev spent hours simply playing in the soft white sand, building castles and chasing the tide right outside our door. When we weren't on the sand, we headed to the local outlet mall. We scored some incredible deals there, and compared to the prices back home in California, the shopping felt like a total win.

Alabama gave us exactly what we needed: a couple of days of pure, uncomplicated family time by the water.