Arrive in the evening, and the tantalizing scent of charcoal grills greets you from the Gulf-front picnic area. (Suddenly, you’re rethinking your original dinner plan.) The smaller scale and laid-back pace of Grand Beach Condominiums make it perfect for groups and families who don’t need all the razzle-dazzle of the bigger resorts. Plan to spend the bulk of your time at the beach doing a whole lot of not much at all. Pool stops get the thumbs up any time of day since it’s practically right outside your door. And the hot tub’s ideal for end-of-day gatherings once the sun’s long gone. Individually decorated vacation condos feel even more like home once the kitchen cabinets are stocked with your family’s favorite snacks and the freezer’s full of ice cream bars and bomb-pops. Fishing’s a big thing here, with the State Park fishing pier directly across the street. Plus, you’re close to shopping, dining, amusement parks, the Southern Breeze Coastal Wine Tour and the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo.