🎄🎄🎄🎄2016 December 12-14, Christmas on the Gulf

Hubby and I traveled over six hours to Theodore, Alabama, to walk through the Christmas Lights at Bellingrath Gardens.
We stopped at Durbin's Farm restaurant in Clanton for lunch.
We split a Ham & Cheese croissant and a hot fried peach pie covered in peach ice cream.
We usually stop at Peach Park in Clanton, but it was closed.

Hot, fried peach pie covered in peach ice cream at Peach Park. 

We arrived at 4:09 P.M., purchased our tickets at Bellingrath Gardens, and walked down to the boat dock to watch the sunset. We walked back up the hill into the gardens, but it was not quite dark enough for the Christmas lights to shine brightly. There was a concession area near the Bellingrath house, so we stopped for a box of popcorn and a can of Coke while we sat and listened to a local band playing Christmas Carols.
It was now dark enough for the Christmas lights to shine and twinkle, so we began our walk through the Gardens.

Christmas Trees @ Bellingrath Gardens

The pond before dark 

The pond after dark 

Throughout the garden, we saw Christmas trees, a manger scene, poinsettias, and twinkling lights. Around the lake, we saw swans, alligators, Santa, toys, and a train.
We had arrived early and gotten a parking spot near the front, but when we left, the lot was full and spilling over into the no-parking areas.
It was still an hour's ride to where we were staying.

Poinsettias @ Bellingrath Gardens

The setting sun and full moon at the boat docks
@ Bellingrath Gardens

We stopped at Zaxby's in Foley for dinner, and we both ordered salads.
By the time we arrived at the hotel, we were both exhausted, so we took a hot bath and climbed into bed.
I wish I could say I slept like a log, but I could not because I still had a hacking cough.
I had been dealing with this crud for about a week. I had been taking Muniex, and the little Muniex man would not leave me alone.
Rain is forecast for later today, with lots of fog. The fog settled in on us as we rode back across Mobile Bay.
The next day, we took the elevator down to the dining area at 6 A.M., where we had breakfast. I ate two sausage links and two pieces of French toast and drank two boxes of chocolate milk.
We went back to the room, waiting for the fog to lift before we rode to the beach.

Gulf Shores Beach (you can still see the fog)

We stopped at BAM in Gulf Shores to buy "The Night Before Christmas" book. I want my granddaughter, who is graduating with a degree in Elementary Education, to begin a tradition of reading "The Night Before Christmas" at our Christmas Family Get-together.

We rode to Heritage Park in Foley. Last year, they added the Bell Tower, and this year, they have added a crossover. (A beautiful walkway with elevators to cross over the highway to the park).
We visited the tiny Santa Village, the Christmas tree lane, the bell tower, the fountain, and the train depot. We watched and listened to a mother tell stories about the miniature train display, along with a group of children.

CrossWalk @ Foley Park 

There were several school groups throughout the park.

Bell Tower @Foley Park 

Miniature train Display (small part)

Miniature Train Display (small part)@ Foley depot

We stopped at Bass Pro Shops in Spanish Fort and Sam's Club.
In Delphne, we stopped at the Mellow Mushroom.

Mellow Mushroom Statue in Delphne, AL 

A friendly wave from Santa Claus at Bass Pro Shops

We rode to Gulf Shores, walked along the beach, & waited for the sunset. The clouds rolled in, so we did not get to see the sunset.

Sunset at Gulf Shores 

It started raining, so we went back to the hotel. It stormed all night.
We ate sausage, eggs, and muffins for breakfast at the hotel.

On our travel home, we stopped at Joe's Crab Shack in Hoover, Alabama, for lunch.
We rode to Gadsden,n stopping at Noccalula Falls, which was almost dry.
We stopped at the Mary G. Hardin Art Center to see the Christmas Trees created by local schools and the miniature train display.

Finding Nemo Christmas Tree @ Mary G. Hardin Art Center 

Noccalula Falls

We stopped at Chick-fil-A in Athens for dinner and were home by 7:30 P.M.