2023 Dec 20, Christmas Tree Trails, and Christmas Card Lane Madison & Decatur, AL

Today was another busy day. We rode to RSA to take 7 hot Dimino pizzas to Hubby's old co-worker for Christmas lunch.

After lunch, we rode to Madison there, I walked among & took pictures of the Polar Express Christmas Trees.

Polar Express Christmas Tree in Madison
A Christmas Story  

Next, we rode up one side and down the other to take pictures of Madison's Christmas Card Trail. 

Merry Christmas Welcome to Alabama 

We stopped at Ollies in Madison to pick up a few items.

Then we rode to Decature, stopping at Their Enchanted Forest Trail. (It looked as if a hurricane had blown through.) 

The Enchanted Forest Christmas Tree 

We stopped at ALDI USA in Decatur to pick up a few more items for our Christmas Meal.

We saw 3 redtail hawks on power lines on the way home. 

Our last stop was at Wheeler Dam, where we saw several White Pelicans, lots of cormorants, and a few gulls.

2023 Dec 23, Early Works Museum Huntsville and Rogersville Christmas Trees in Heritage Park

 Today, we rode to Huntsville to take Ava to Early Works. 

Grinch guarding the big Red Door.

Warning Trucks entering the Play Area 

It was decorated for Christmas with Christmas trees in every corner. Inside the country store was the Grinch. Before we went inside, we saw an inflatable Grinch guarding the big red door. At the Country Store was a sign: The Grinch Cafe has been serving nauseating food since 1966."A cafe can be bad in every way, but the food is worse." 

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.

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.

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.

Rogersville Tinsel Trail 

Ava and the Toy Soldier in Red Lights

2023 Dec 14, Christmas Card Lane Ditto Landing, Big Spring Park Tinsel Trail Huntsville & North Pole Stroll Athens

 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. 

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. 

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 

2022 Dec 4, Tinsel Trails, Christmas Card Lane Ditto Landing & Toyota Field Christmas Lights Huntsville, AL

 Sunday, we stopped in Decatur to walk through the Enchanted Forest in Founders Park, which is a tinsel stroll supporting Leukemia and Lymphoma.

We stopped in Madison for their Polar Express Christmas on Main Street, where their Christmas trees were displayed. 

We stopped at RSA to take coworkers' Christmas Present Presents.

We rode to South Huntsville to Christmas on the River at Ditto Landing. There, we strolled along the Tennessee River Greenway, looking at 4 x 8 plywood custom-designed Christmas cards. 

Grinchmas

It's Not what's under the Christmas Tree that matters. 
It's who's around it. 

We stopped at every card to get a picture, and before we returned, it began to sprinkle. 

We rode to Huntsville's Big Spring Park to walk through the Big Spring Park Tinsel Trail. 

Big Spring Park Tinsel Trail.

We were afraid of getting wet, but the rain had stopped.

Next, we rode to Toyota Field to see The North Pole Rocket City Christmas Light Show and Winter Wonderland.

Which are a mile and half maze of bright dancing and twinkling lights. We tuned our radio to 95.5 to listen to Christmas music.

The North Pole Rocket City Christmas Light Show 

After the drive, we stopped at Toyota  Field and walked through Winter Wonder Land, stopping for pictures with Santa, Trash Panda, and Frosty. 

Picture with Frosty 

We had not eaten since breakfast and were not sure what we wanted. We were tired and didn't want to go into a restaurant and wait, so we decided to stop at Krystal. Believe it or not, their food was good, or we were very hungry. 

A picture with Trash Panda 

I ordered a double cheese Krystal and strawberry Milkshake. 

It was late when we arrived home, and we both were tired from the long day. Put my cameras away for another day to download and went to bed.

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

Hubby and I traveled over six hours to Theodore Alabama to walk thru the Christmas Lights at Bellingrath Gardens.
We stopped at Durbin's Farm restaurant in Clanton for lunch.
We split a Ham & Cheese Croissant and we split 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 4:09PM purchased our tickets @ Bellingrath Gardens and walked down to the boat dock to watch the sunset. We walked back up the hill into the gardens 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 light 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, poinsettia, and twinkling lights, around the lake we saw swans, alligators, Santa, toys, and a train.
We had arrived early and had gotten a parking spot near the front but when we left the parking lot was full and it was 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 very tired and we both 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 will not leave me alone.
Rain is in the 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 6AM where we ate breakfast. I ate two sausage links, and two 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" when we celebrate 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 man tell stories about the miniature trains' 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, & Sam's Club.
In Delphne, we stopped at the Mellow Mushroom.

Mellow Mushroom Statue in Delphne, Al 

A friendly wave from Santa Clause 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 lighting 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 stopping at Noccalula Falls, which was almost dried up.
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 7:30PM

🎄🎄🎄🎄2016 November 26, Saturday, Tinsel Trail, Bridge Street and Christmas Card Lane.

I had a fun day, my sister-in-law rode to Huntsville with me? 

We stopped in Athens at Duck Pond to see their Christmas tree trail but, only one Christmas Tree was decorated, so we did not stop.

We stopped at Chick-fil-a in Athens where I bought a large Ice tea. 

We rode to Huntsville to see the Tinsel Trail at Big Spring Park.

This year all the Christmas Trees were located near the YMCA because the Big Spring park area near the Art Museum was still under construction.

I am not sure how many trees were decorated but I took lots of pictures. 
The sun was bright, as we walked through the Big Spring Park looking at the Christmas Trees but it was cold in the shade. 
Several times we would come out of the shade into the sun just to warm up. 
We walked through Tinsel Trail twice. 
We wanted to make sure we did not miss any Christmas Trees. We heard several Christmas Carols coming from the loudspeakers overhead. 

Some of my favorite Christmas Trees!!!

Santa in a Helicopter Christmas Tree

Minnie Mouse Christmas Tree 

Troll Christmas Tree 

Owl Christmas Tree

We watched the ducks and fish swimming in the canal, near the Christmas Tree Trail. 

When we were leaving we rode passed Huntsville Hospital looking at all the nearby shops. 

From Governor's Drive, I took 565, exiting onto Old Madison Pike.
We were going to the Bridge Street Centre.

I parked the van near Book-a-million, and we walked inside to use the restrooms. While standing in line in the restroom I met a woman from Madison and we began to talk. I was telling her about going to Tinsel Trail. She said I am glad you told me about the Tinsel Trail, I think we will go today. 
We came out of the restroom and ended up talking for at least 15 minutes.
As we were leaving I said have a Merry Christmas and New Year. She said hope you have the same. 

My sister-in-law had never visited Bridge Street, she said I wished we had something like this back home.

We saw the man-made pond with a large white Reindeer and Christmas ornaments, the carousel, several larger white reindeer, and lots of decorations strung down the center of Bridge Street. 

As we crossed over the bridge we saw Piper & Leaf Artisan Tea.
They had four different samples Cherry Christmas, Caramel Apple Pie, Mistle Grove, and Pumpkin Moonshine Tea. I tried them all, my favorite was the Caramel Apple Pie. 

Piper & Leaf Artisan Tea booth

I ask the owner of the Pumpkin Moonshine Tea had real moonshine in it. 
The young man said you can add your own.  

The Christmas at the end of Bridge Street was decorated in largely white, silver, and gold balls, with a star on top but the twinkling lights were not on. 

Standing in front of the Christmas tree that was near Monaco Theater was a young girl singing Christmas Carols.
Several children were running along the water's edge. 

Christmas Tree, children playing, and young girl singing @ Bridge Street Town Centre

My sister-in-law and I stood listening to the young girl sing when she finished the second song we left and walked back to the van, that was parked near Books-a-million.

In Madison, we rode past several homes that had large handmade Christmas Cards sitting on their front lawns. (Christmas Card Lane)

It was after 2 PM when we stopped at Chick-fil-a in Athens for lunch.
We both ordered kids' two-piece chicken meal, with waffle fries and ice cream in a cup. 

Chick-fil-a Christmas Tree in Athens 

We rode west on 72 with the sun shining brightly in our faces.
It seemed quite warm but the thermometer in my car read 56 degrees.

I guess everyone was out yesterday for Black Friday or was at home for the Alabama Football Game because the traffic was light. 

It had been a great day for going outside and I needed the long walk, after all the food I ate at the  Thanksgiving dinners.  
Earlier that morning it had been ice on my windshield, as the day progressed it warmed up.

We were home by 3:30 PM.