H Is For The Hangout

 Every good vacation needs a place to have fun.  The Hangout is our favorite place in Gulf Shores.  Amber and I often joke about opening our own bar and grill.  If we were going to do it, I would want it to have the same kind of energy The Hangout has.  When you come in, you just feel like you've come home.  The wait staff is awesome, the setting is unmatched and there's always something fun going on.  And you can't beat the view off the front porch either...

 It's settled on two acres right off the beach.  It's got an indoor dining room that opens out onto a playground and concert area.  Later this spring, it will be the location of The Hangout Music Festival, a three-day beach party featuring amazing bands that I can only hope to one day get to attend.  (Because it's basically like they pick the lineup directly from my iTunes.)

 I love the decor.  You know that I love unique and this place has it in spades.  I came away with so many great ideas and even a couple of possible craft projects (should I dare to try them).

 And don't even get me started on some of the best parts, like the hallway to the bathroom lined in metal lunch boxes...

 ...the giant hand sculpture...

 ...or the bottom of the DJ box that is covered completely in Pez dispensers.  They all make me entirely too happy.

 And that's not even starting on the food.  We went there for lunch on Monday and dinner on Wednesday, if that gives you any idea how good it is.  We had to have the fried pickles that are unmatched by any other place I've ever had them.  I had the chicken quesedillas and the chicken strips, both of which were great.  Amber got the fish tacos and the shrimp po' boy, because she's daring and actually likes seafood.

 Speaking of Amber, here's what happens when we have a little bit of time to play around in the gift shop, which is an expeience in and of itself by the way.  (They lit up, which you can't tell in the picture.)

 Monday night, we got to hear The Cary Laine Band.  We heard them last year, by chance, and were impressed by how much fun they were.  They can also sing just about anything between Cary and Wes, who plays keyboards and all sorts of other things.  In between sets, I got to introduce myself and talk to Cary a little bit about her upcoming album.  She was so sweet!  (And I totally avoided making a complete fool of myself, so that was good, too.) 

Wednesday night, Amber tried a different look...

 and we were treated to the song stylings of Kyle and Karl.  They were a lot of fun, but we didn't stay for the whole show because we had packing to do!  (BOOOOO!)

 I love the beach, but Gulf Shores wouldn't be nearly as much fun if we couldn't spend our evenings at The Hangout with a couple hundred or so of our closests friends.