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Polar Express Christmas Tree in Madison A Christmas Story |
Merry Christmas Welcome to Alabama |
The Enchanted Forest Christmas Tree |
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Polar Express Christmas Tree in Madison A Christmas Story |
Merry Christmas Welcome to Alabama |
The Enchanted Forest Christmas Tree |
Today we rode to Huntsville to take Ava to Early Works.
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Grinch guarding the big Red Door |
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Warning Trucks entering the Play Area |
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A meal fit for a king |
But, Ava and her new friends made a meal fit for a king. One of Ava's friends said the meal was half Thanksgiving and Half Christmas.
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Adventures in a Snow Globe at the North Pole |
We ate lunch at 88 Buffet. I ate shrimp, fried Sweet potatoes, chicken, and Rangoon with cream cheese. I did not care much for the fish.
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My plate of Shrimp, chicken, fried sweet potatoes, Sweet rolls, and Rangoon |
Ava ate a plate of fruit, jello, and Ice cream. Ava had been sick and she was not eating much.
We stopped in Rogersville to see Their Christmas Trees. This was our last stop.
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Rogersville Tinsel Trail |
Ava and the Toy Soldier in Red Lights |
Today we stopped at Jack in Athens for two cheesecake pies and a scoop of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream for Ava.
We strolled down North Pole Lane to see the Christmas Trees in Athens.
North Pole Stroll |
We stopped at Murphy's to fill up with fuel.
We stopped at RSA so Ava could see the rockets.
RSA Rockets |
We rode to Ditto Landing to stroll along the Tennessee River to see the Christmas Cards that were dotted along the bank of the river.
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Ava loves animals this was her favorite |
Hubby stopped about halfway down while Ava and I strolled to the end, stopping to take pictures.
A few people were walking and a few were riding bicycles along the pathway.
We stopped at Chick-fil-A South Huntsville to eat lunch. Ava and I both ordered a kid's meal with ice cream. Hubby a chicken sandwich.
Our last stop was at Big Spring Parks Tinsel Trail. Lots of Christmas trees on both sides of Big Spring.
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This is Ava's favorite at Big Spring Park |
Hubby sat in the car while Ava and I strolled up and down and around the park.
We stopped to feed the ducks and fish.
Feeding the Ducks and fish |
Today we ate breakfast at Jacks in Cullman. I ordered gravy with sausage and biscuits. Ave ordered sausage and biscuits. Hubby ordered a ham and cheese sandwich.
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McWane Science Center Birmingham, Al |
We traveled to Birmingham stopping at the McWane Science Museum Center. Hubby went to level 3 to see the train display.
Ava and I went to the second floor to see the dinosaurs, where we saw Super Cell Tank and birds in a tree, Ava was a weather girl, and she rode the Sky High Cycle.
Sky High Cycle |
We walked up to the third floor and Ave rode the train and the Zipline several times.
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Ava rode the Train |
In the basement was the World of Water Aquarium where Ave petted a shark and ray.
We saw coral, a variety of fish, and eel.
On the first floor, Ave made large bubbles and experimented with several science objects. Ava lay on a bed of nails. We went inside the distortion room, on the top corner you were small, and on the bottom corner, you were large.
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Ava on a bed of nails |
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distortion room, "Honey I shrunk the kid" |
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Ava touched a Python before we left McWane Science Center. |
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Ava with the Blues Brothers |
After dinner, we rode to Toyota Field in Huntsville to see the dancing lights.
Winter Wonder Land was not open but we did get to see the light show.
Traffic was horrible in Huntsville.
It was way after dark when we arrived home.
Ava spent the night.
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Making Smores |
We walked downtown Tuscumbia stopping to make smores while we were eating William and his girlfriend came by.
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The carriage being pulled by Clyde's |
Took pictures of the carriages being pulled by Clyde’s Horses. We saw several characters from Dickens Christmas Carrol, and Santa Clause. We stopped to pet the Lama, sheep, Zebra, goats, and Camel.
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Dickens Characters |
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Petting Zoo |
We also went to the Tennessee Valley Art Museum Christmas Mart. Lots of beautiful handmade items for sale. Hubby sat in the car while I toured Ivy Green.
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Ivy Green Birth Home of Helen Keller |
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Christmas at Ivy Green |
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Helen Keller and her teacher Anne Sullivan |
I was told the history of Helen Keller and her home Ivy Green. We also bought some candy(5 packages receep cups) and an upside umbrella for it was raining and we didn't want to get wet.
We finished the day with lunch at Whataburgers. A hamburger with fries and soda.
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Whataburger with french fries. |
We left Cullman traveling 157 Highway toward Moulton.
We always attend Moulton on the Square but this year due to ongoing renovations at the old courthouse the festival was at the Lions Club Fair Grounds.
A large crowd was already there enjoying the festival.
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The entrance to the Christmas Festival |
We saw several displays and places to stop for photos.
We saw Santa Claus talking to the children.
Vendors selling their wear.
The smell of food filled the air.
We enjoyed Tiny Hiney's Petting Zoo where we saw goats, sheep, Lama, Kangaroo, cow, & poney.
Each animal was wearing Christmas attire.
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Poney dressed in Red |
As we were leaving the snow machine began to fill the air with snow. The children enjoyed the snow falling on their faces.
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Let it Snow! Let it Snow! |
We traveled 157 to Cullman to see the German Christkindlmart. We saw Ice Skating, a Christmas Carousel, Mrs Clause, Christkindl Express, several warming tents, and vendors selling unique merchandise there.
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Cullman's Christkindlmarkt |
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Cullman's Christkindlmarkt before dark |
To ride the Christmas train or Christmas Carousel all you have to do is purchase your tickets virtual queue system that allows you to virtually get in line without having to wait. Cost $3
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Christmas Carousel |
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Christmas Train |
We didn't see Santa Clause but we did see Mrs. Clause and Christkind.
Lots of activities for little ones to do.
Toy making with Santa,
Painting with Emily
Decorating cookies with Mrs. Clause
Snow Globes with Mrs. Clause
Charm Bracelets and Wooden Toy Trains with Mrs. Clause
Making ornaments with the Grinch
Elf yourself with Buddy the Elf
Nutcracker painting with Christkind
and Ice Skating.
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pretzel bratwurst |
We walked around the square a couple of times, stopping for a pretzel bratwurst, (delicious) and a drink.
We sat at a large picnic table enclosed on three sides. There we met a couple from Birmingham. A member of Good Bellows stopped and Played Jingle Bells while I played along with the handbells.
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Played Jingle Bells |
We sat and talked for several minutes, the couple left and we followed suit.
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Manger Scene |
We also saw the manger scene.
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We saw North America's largest Christmas Pyramid Lights. |
Did you know that nativity scenes are the heart and soul of German Christkindlmarkt?
These festive markets are not just about shopping they are also a celebration of tradition and faith.
Despite evolving styles and changing times, nativity scenes remain a cherished and enduring tradition.
This extraordinary handcrafted Nativity display, a true work of art, was skillfully crafted by the renowned German company Erzgebirgische Holzkunst Gajlenz- the same talented artisans behind the Welhnachten pyramid.
But that is not all! The Cullman Parks, Recreation, and Sports Tourism maintenance team played an integral role in constructing the stable that houses these exquisite figures. This collaboration between tradition and modern craftsmanship brings to life a Nativity scene that beautifully embodies the spirit of Christmas.
We finished taking pictures and headed to the car.
Day 1:
We traveled with a group of about 37 in a tour bus from Florence, Al to Myrtle Beach, SC.
We left on Monday, Nov 27, at 8:30 AM.
At about 10:18AM, we stopped in at Walmart in Gardendale to pick up 4 more passengers and picked up a few items there.
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Fried Shrimp, with Pinto Beans, Tarter Sauce, and hush puppies |
Our next stop was Cracker Barrel in Leeds, AL for lunch around 11:22AM.
We went through Atlanta GA traffic around 4 PM.
Our next stop was Pilot in Braselton, SC. around 5:53PM
Arrived at Holiday Inn Express room 126 in Greenville, SC where we spent the night.
Day 2:
We all ate breakfast at the hotel and began our final journey to Myrtle Beach.'
We stopped at Love's Lugoff, SC around 11:08AM for a restroom break and to fill up with fuel.
We stopped at McDonald's for lunch in Bishopville, SC at 12:31PM.
Checked into the hotel with a few minutes to spare before getting ready for dinner. Compass Cove Oceanfront Resort, room 323.
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Crab Leggs, Corn on the Cob, Baked potato, Shrimp and tartar sauce |
Dinner tonight is at the Giant Crab Seafood Restaurant arrived a little after 4:37 PM.
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Christmas Show at Alabama Theatre |
Day 3:
Breakfast at the hotel.
We loaded onto the bus around 9AM heading to Conway, SC to LW Paul Living History Museum.
After about an hour and a half, we headed to Myrtle Beach Boardwalk.
We walked along the boardwalk that was next to the Atlantic Ocean.
We ate lunch at The Bowery where Alabama the band got their start.
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News Paper article about The Band Alabama |
Alabama Band/Wild Country Jeff Cook, Teddy Gentry, Randy Owen, & John Vartanian |
The band area was closed but hubby asked the waitress if I could go inside to take pictures. The waitress took us inside and I took a few pictures. They were busy so I did not stay very long.
We shared a Cheesecake ice cream waffle cone. After several hours of shopping, we headed back to the bus.
We rode to Walmart to pick up a few items then back to the hotel for a couple of hours.
We ate dinner at Simple Southern Smokehouse.
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Blues Brothers, Dolly Pardon, Elvis, Frank Sinatra, and Aretha Franklin. |
We finished the night with a Christmas Show at the Legends Theatre where we saw the Blues Brothers, Dolly Pardon, Elvis, Frank Sinatra, and Aretha Franklin.
Back to the hotel to rest.
Day 4:
Breakfast at the hotel.
At 9AM we rode to the Asher Theatre to see A Man of a Thousand Voices James Stephens III.
After his performance, we shopped at Barefoot Beach Boardwalk. We ate lunch at Lulu's and bought some hot sauce and spices.
We also bought nail polish and 4 rings at De Sol.
The bus took us back to the hotel to rest.
At 4:40 we rode to Bennetts Calabash Seafood for dinner.
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Caroling Opry |
After dinner, we went to see Carolina Opry and were back at the hotel at about 9:30PM.
Packed our bags we are leaving tomorrow after our shopping.
Day 5:
Watched the sun come up then walked down to breakfast.
9 AM we rode to Broadway at the Beach to watch, The Jersey Boy sing songs of the 1960s by the Four Seasons and Christmas songs.
We went shopping at Broadway at the Beach.
At lunch at Wahlburgers.
Around 2PM we were headed to our next stop Holiday Inn Express Grovetown, Ga.
Arrived around 8:30 PM
Day 6:
Breakfast at the hotel.
On the road around 8:30 AM
Stopped at Western Sizzlin Oxford, Al for lunch.
Stopped at Gardendale, Al to drop off passengers and restroom break.
Arrived home around 5PM.
We had a great week with a lot of Christmas Shows, shopping, and eating at Myrtle Beach, SC.
Shows![]() |
Bennett's Calabash Seafood Myrtle Beach Corn on the cob, cream potatoes, shrimp, and fried green tomatoes |
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Wahlburgers Myrtle Beach |
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1/2 Hamburger and fries at Lulu's Barefoot Landing |
Saturday, we had to be in Scottsboro by 7AM about a 2-hour drive. Loaded onto the bus. I think there were 30 of us including the driver. W...