Travel Experiences with Jeff Barganier:

Travel Experiences with Jeff and Cindy Barganier A Grand Getaway

The first Grand Hotel at Point Clear, Alabama was built in 1847 as a rambling two-story building with 40 rooms. Since the resort’s inception, it has survived numerous fires and storms— hurricanes like Fredrick in ‘79 and Katrina in ’05 closed the Grand down only to see it revived bigger and better. In 1882, room rates were about $2 per day, and you could stay at the Grand a whole month for 40 bucks! Today, the 405-room resort remains a top-tier venue with a nightly rate below $400. The Grand stands out when compared to similar resorts like the High Hampton in Cashiers, North Carolina that raised its rates into the stratosphere following a recent multi-million-dollar renovation. Following its own 3-year facelift of the entire resort, the Grand has been rebranded as the “Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa” and is part of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.

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landed in Shangrila before shipping out to hot spots like Iwo Jima aboard big ships. Even so, long

I’ve stayed at the Grand Hotel many times over the years but have never really focused on this resilient Alabama resort property’s remarkable history. The WWIIera barracks I experienced at Fort Dix, New Jersey in the early 70’s didn’t hold as home to the Confederate State’s 21st Alabama Regiment and as a base hospital a candle to the Grand’s attractive guest rooms used as WWII training barracks. Those guys must have thought they’d during the War Between the States. Confederate soldiers who died at that hospital following the Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi in 1863 are buried in Confederate Rest Cemetery near the resort. Each day at 3:45 PM, the Grand’s unique history is highlighted. A procession commences by the Main Lobby fireplace and culminates with a Civil War-replica cannon firing on the edge of Mobile Bay at Cannon Park. It’s a grand tradition whereby the resort pays tribute to our

before WWII, this “Queen of Southern Resorts” served military with a resounding salute to US veterans and their families, honoring them for the great sacrifices they’ve made for our nation. History alone makes the Grand worth visiting. But there’s so much more.

We enjoyed walking among the 141 live oaks on the grounds. These majestic oaks covered in Spanish moss and “resurrection” ferns enhance the resort’s

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special beauty and ambiance; and make for excellent photo ops. (Live oak wood is incredibly tough and durable. The naval vessel USS Constitution was nicknamed “Old Ironsides” after her live oak hull survived repeated cannon fire during the War of 1812.)

Plan your visit in October and you may be treated to some beautiful Monarch butterflies on their annual 3,000-mile journey south from Canada to the Yucatan Peninsula’s Sierra Madre Mountains. They stop at Point Clear to rest and feed, gaining weight and energy for flight across the Gulf of Mexico, navigating by the sun and Earth’s magnetic forces. Entomologists believe they may recognize the area’s milkweed, seaside goldenrod and red clover by color and scent. Educators even bring their students to the Grand this time of year to observe these stunning creatures and report sightings to a national tracking register.

We also enjoyed long strolls along the much-improved bay boardwalk with friends Lee and Carrie Meriwether. These walks were especially nostalgic to Cindy. “As a child, I used to delight in walking the boardwalk on the bay with my parents. I’d never seen houses that beautiful with yards that seemed to spread forever under sprawling live oaks. I was amazed that each home had its own pier and many had dining areas surrounded by tiki lights on the bayside of the boardwalk. I envisioned my own future family living in one of them, kids running barefoot to the shore to check crab traps while the adults sipped sweet tea at sunset. I think that’s when I first fell in love with architecture. To this day, the boardwalk has not lost its charm. And while I may never live in one of these homes, I still enjoy visiting and dreaming,” she says.

The Grand’s several dining venues have excellent food. Especially, Sunday brunch is an amazing smorgasbord with live music. Be sure and make reservations. Also, Fairhope is just a short drive and has excellent restaurants. We found the Camellia Café on Section Street a cozy choice with fine dining minus the snooty, and a local favorite as evidenced by the number of prom dates in attendance. The interior has a clean, contemporary esthetic with white walls, stained openslat ceiling, and modern art displayed. Reservations are a must here, too. You won’t find fresher fish. Ours was hickory grilled to perfection. (The dessert menu was quite tempting but we had to pass due to full tummies.)

This whole area is one big chill pill for me. I could sit for hours and watch the birds in flight over the water or study the majesty of the ginormous oak outside my balcony or sip a favorite beverage as the sun sinks into Mobile Bay. I could read a book, write a book, or bike along the bay and look the look…whatever that means. It rhymes. Go with it.

And while the Grand is super interesting and scenic, it’s not the only good lodging option. Fairhope has a quaint downtown Hampton Inn, and there are B&B’s, too. Next trip, I may well stay elsewhere. Either way, it’ll be a grand getaway.

Jeff S. Barganier is a novelist, travel writer and manager of Cindy Barganier Interiors LLC. He travels far and wide upon the slightest excuse for something interesting to write about. Contact: Jeffbarganier@knology.net. Instagram: @jeffbarganier. Visit: www.jeffbarganier.com.