Ann and George Hartley are as much of a part of the 30A scene as their trio of restaurants, George’s at Alys Beach, Seagrove Village Marketplace, and their newest venture, La Cocina. Transplants to the area (well, George anyway—Ann grew up nearby), the couple has embraced the 30A lifestyle with a home at Alys Beach and restaurants that have now become both local and vacation-goer favorites. Spread along the beach road, each restaurant offers a diverse taste of Southern and coastal cuisine. The vibe is flip-flop friendly, yet the menus vary from burgers and sandwiches to elegant, gourmet presentations. Go ahead and make your reservation. And try out a few of their favorites in the meantime.
George Hartley’s Famous Frozen Margaritas
1 can limeade 1 can tequila (Sauza gold preferably) 1/2 can cointreau Juice of 1 lime Ice to fill up blender Whirl and serve!
TIP: At La Cocina, we make frozen margaritas, then add a touch of our Housemade Sangria. We call it our La Corita. Everyone raves about it!
Ann and George Hartley are as much of a part of the 30A scene as their trio of restaurants, George’s at Alys Beach, Seagrove Village Marketplace, and their newest venture, La Cocina. Go ahead and make your reservation. And try out a few of their favorites in the meantime.
Tequila Lime Tuna
Fresh Ahi or yellowfin tuna steaks
Marinade
4 oz honey 4 oz lime juice 4 oz tequila Finely chopped garlic Finely chopped red onion Chopped cilantro 1 tsp black pepper 1 tbsp ground cumin
Top with fresh fruit salsa (see below) Marinate 6-8 hours before grilling
George’s Fruit Salsa Recipe: Dice and Mix!
Fresh pineapple Fresh mango or papaya Fresh cantaloupe Red onion Jalapenos Cilantro Red bell pepper Fresh garlic Salt / Pepper to taste Lime juice
TIP: If your fruit is not perfectly ripe, add a little orange juice to sweeten it up a little.
Ann and George Hartley are as much of a part of the 30A scene as their trio of restaurants, George’s at Alys Beach, Seagrove Village Marketplace, and their newest venture, La Cocina. Transplants to the area (well, George anyway—Ann grew up nearby), the couple has embraced the 30A lifestyle with a home at Alys Beach and restaurants that have now become both local and vacation-goer favorites. Spread along the beach road, each restaurant offers a diverse taste of Southern and coastal cuisine. The vibe is flip-flop friendly, yet the menus vary from burgers and sandwiches to elegant, gourmet presentations. Go ahead and make your reservation. And try out a few of their favorites in the meantime.
Sesame Crab & Avocado Salad
Jumbo lump crab Diced avocado
Toss together with dressing of: 1 part sesame oil 1 part tamari or soy sauce 2 parts canola oil Black and white sesame seeds
Add to bed of: Organic spring greens, red onion, grape tomatoes, yellow tomato, and cucumber
Picturesque Lakepoint State Park is in Eufaula, Alabama on the banks of the 45,000-acre Lake Eufaula. The lake is known as “The Bass Capital of the World” and draws boat enthusiasts and fishermen from all over the country. The park has a marina with boats for rent as well as both covered and uncovered slips for rent. The marina store sells fishing licenses, bait and tackle, snacks, drinks, and supplies. Lake Eufaula is an important location for national bass fishing tournaments with healthy populations of other fish such as catfish, bream, and crappie. In addition to the 101-room hotel and conference center, guests can rent one of the newly renovated cabins.
The two-bedroom Fisherman Cabins were recently updated and renovated with new flooring, remodeled bathrooms and kitchens, and new appliances. Each of the 29 cabins have brand new king and queen-sized mattresses and features a kitchen, dining area, bathroom, and fireplace. In addition, all the cabins have a charcoal grill, picnic table, and outside plug-ins for charging boat batteries. Handicap accessible units are available. These cabins are perfect for a weekend getaway for 2 or a family of 4.
After enjoying all that the park has to offer, many guests make the short drive into downtown Eufaula to shop in the local stores, see the historic homes, and enjoy a meal at the Cajun Corner Restaurant. Don’t forget to include some time to visit Alabama’s Wiregrass Birding Trail in nearby Dothan.
In North Alabama, overlooking the majestic 69,000-acre Guntersville Reservoir, is Lake Guntersville State Park. Guests can get outdoors and enjoy hiking along one of the 36 miles of trails, playing golf at the 18-hole championship golf course, soaring through the air on the Screaming Eagle Zipline, or spending a day at the beach complex and day-use area. This resort park features a full-service hotel with 112 rooms, a conference center and restaurant, and a campground situated alongside the lake with 295 campsites. At the tip-top of Taylor Mountain are 20 chalets that have recently been renovated.
The mountaintop chalets at Lake Guntersville State Park have long reigned as one of the park’s top attractions and are now some of the most beautiful accommodations in the State Parks system after a $2.2million renovation. Birmingham-based bDot Architecture directed the design work for the chalets, and Wyatt Sasser Construction LLC from Andalusia was the contractor. Guests will appreciate the new flooring and roofs while enjoying the updated modern interiors that have a rustic and sophisticated vibe. Wraparound porches provide a great place to relax and enjoy the views. Each chalet is furnished with a living room, cable TV, kitchens with cookware and utensils. One bedroom has a king bed, and the other room has two double beds. All Chalets include a gas fireplace and an outdoor grill.
Make sure to visit Lake Guntersville State Park in January or February when they host the annual Eagle Awareness Weekends. These weekend events are led by Park Naturalists and noted Conservationists who tell participants about Alabama’s Bald Eagle Restoration Program and ensure everyone will see eagles in their natural habitat.
Reservations for the cabins or chalets at the Alabama State Parks can be made online by visiting www.alapark.com or by calling one of the 21 parks directly.
