Fielder's Choice

Spring break trips have long been a tradition for the Burlesons.

Most have ended up at the beach. Some travels have gone elsewhere.

This year seemed to be one for reminiscing.

Pam, Erin and I, along with Erin's friend Sonni, spent a few days last week at Orange Beach, Ala. It was great, from the weather to the beach time to the food ­ everything.

We drove south Wednesday morning, as the newspaper had been printed and was hitting the streets.

We got our first taste of spring break seafood at The Wacky Shrimp, a restaurant in Daphne, Ala. We stopped there en route as our condo would not be available until 3 p.m. No doubt, we will stop there again. Food was great; service was great; workers were friendly and smiling.

The seafood kept coming once we arrived in Orange Beach. We enjoyed Live Bait, Wolf Bay and Fin & Fork. Plus, by myself, I had a "light" lunch of raw oysters and seafood gumbo at Doc's.

Pam always cooks a fabulous breakfast each morning, and this trip was no different.

Our trips to Orange Beach started when Emma and Andy were small and we were living in Aberdeen. Back then and several times since we stayed at Sugar Beach Condos.

Erin, since a small child, has been raised on spring break trips, too.

This time around we were at Seaside Beach & Racquet Condos. It was our first stay there, and that place is certainly one we would return to if the opportunity arises.

We've moved around over the years from Orange Beach to Gulf Shores and also into neighboring Florida, like to Destin, Pensacola and Ft. Walton Beach, plus trips to Disney World in Orlando.

Pam's phone reminded us of years gone by during our brief vacation last week. The pictures seemed like yesterday, even though they were three or five or seven years ago or longer.

One popped up on my phone from several years ago when we took a shorter trip to Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, Ala., before ending up in my hometown of Hamilton to visit with family.

Spring break adventures have also taken us to places like Hilton Head Island, S.C., and Charleston, S.C.

This spring break, possibly, could have been the last of our family-type vacations during that specific week of March. That possibility is sad, but at the same time, we have built many, many wonderful memories to cherish.

Erin is a senior in high school. Emma and Andy and his wife Brooke are all in the working world, and they were not able to accompany us this year.

Once Erin gets to college, spring break will still be there, but other things will start figuring into the equation, too.

Here's hoping we can continue our annual Thanksgiving vacation, which typically takes us to the beach, too.

And speaking of college, it appears Erin will be heading to the University of Southern Mississippi like her two older siblings. The Burlesons were blessed with news last week that she has received additional scholarship money from USM.

We celebrated that good news on Friday night with, you guessed it, seafood.