All types of people from all backgrounds, lifestyles and traditions chose to call the the shores of Alabama home. The beach and the coast bring them together, yet their individualities still shine through.

 This is apparent in all things on Pleasure Island, and it also translates into holidays. What these residents consider “traditional” may not be so traditional to people in other areas of the country, or even slightly off the coast—and Thanksgiving is no different.

 Long time resident Matt Mogan, Broker Associate at RE/MAX of Gulf Shores, said that his Thanksgiving dinner is pretty traditional, but some of the things they noramally have aren’t traditional in other areas. Their meal exhibits traces of Gulf Coast influences with a boiled shrimp appetizer and a bread dressing with oysters in it.

Mogan has lived in the area since 1983, and his family typically travels to visit other family in Destin during the week of Thanksgiving. They’re glad for the opportunity to spend the time together. His family is originally from Indiana, but he’s pretty sure they picked up the oyster addition down here on the Coast, he said.

 More traditional offerings include turkey, mashed potatoes, vegetables including cauliflower and broccoli with cheese, cranberry sauce and yams. 

 Ike Williams of Ike's Beach Service, long time Gulf Coast resident, also said his Thanksgiving meal is traditional, and it is slightly more so compared to Mogan’s.

 Even though they live on the Coast, they still have turkey and dressing, but their dressing is a little bit different as well–theirs is also an oyster based dressing. He credits this to his wife being from Louisiana. He said it’s different, but it’s very, very good.

 Besides, this variation, their meal is mostly traditional.

 “We don’t trade shrimp for turkey, you can’t do that on Thanksgiving,” Williams said. He reiterated the focus on family during this time of year while they have a small window of time off from the busy season of the beach service.

 “It’s a time to be thankful for what we have, eat good and watch football,” he said.

 Whether it’s shrimp, oysters or plain ole turkey and dressing, Thanksgiving can be celebrated in many ways. And, no matter what the tradition, being thankful and spending time with family seems to be the most important tradition of all.