🎄🎄🎄🎄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 arrive 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, we 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

2002 ~ June 29-July 6, Luxury RV Campground Gulf Shores, Crossing Mobile Bay, Theadore, AL & Biloxi, MS

Hubby drove our  Damon Escaper RV to Gulf Shores, Alabama 

We stayed at Luxury RV Campground in Gulf Shores from June 29-July 6.

Saturday, June 29, 2002
We spent most of the day riding to Gulf Shores which takes about six hours. We rode our bicycles to Gulf Shores beach.

Sunday, June 30, 2002
We rode to Biloxi, Mississippi where we spent the day, we saw the Beau Rivage Casino,  President Casino Boardwalk Resort and Biloxi Light lighthouse.

Casino

Treasure Bay Casino

Biloxi MS

Monday, July 1, 2002
We rode over to Pensacola, where we toured the Naval Airplane Museum, we ate supper at Lambert's Café III "the home of the trowed rolls" in Foley. Come Hungry, leave full & Hopefully have a laugh or two!

Tuesday, July 2, 2002

We toured Fort Meyers “Morgan,” in Mobile Bay,  we rode the ferry across Mobile Bay over to Dauphin Island.

Ferry taking Cars across Mobile Bay

Riding the ferry across Mobile Bay

Crossing the Mobile Bay

Tall Ship that we saw as we crossed the Mobile Bay

Tall Ship that we saw as we crossed the Mobile Bay

We saw many people boating, sailing, and fishing.

Wednesday, July 3, 2002

We drove to Bellingrath Gardens located at 12401 Bellingrath Gardens Road Theodore, Al 36582.

The Bellingrath Gardens are located on sixty-five acres of Southern Estate, including the rose garden. 

We saw the Delchamps Gallery of Boehm Porcelain, it is the largest public collection of Boehm porcelain in the states.  

In the Bellingrath home, we saw priceless antiques and furniture.

Bellingrath Gardens 

Inside Bellingrath Museum

Bellingrath Gardens 

Bellingrath Gardens 

We took a relaxing scenic cruise along the Fowl River aboard the Southern Belle River Boat, we saw some of the most secular natural sights.
Mobile Bay is the perfect place to connect with nature, we saw Osprey, pelicans, blue herons, seagulls, egrets, and songbirds.

Riding the Southern Belle Cruise boat 

Bird in Nest

taking the Southern Belle Cruise boat

Waiting on the Southern Belle boat

The freshwater mixes with the saltwater of the bay, there are many lovely homes along Mobile Bay. 

Mobile Bay is loaded with vegetation of the delta grass, Spanish moss, live oaks, cypress, and southern pines support the wildlife in the mobile bay. 

Thursday, July 4, 2002

We went to the Gulf Coast Emporium Science Museum and IMAX Dome Theater in Mobile, Alabama.
My husband was trying to get a park when someone backed into the front of our LS Satun.
The accident broke out the passenger headlight and bent the hood. 

We exchanged insurance information, we then went to the Gulf Coast Emporium Science Museum where we explored the 100 hands-on science exhibits. 

In Mobile Bay, large ships were coming in for the Tall Ship Parade that will be happening on July 4, 2002, later that evening. 

Please note that Sail Mobile, part of the tall ship's program, is one of the most popular events. 
Mobile’s Sail Mobile program plans to display approximately 30 ships which will include 5 to 6 class-A ships and 10 to 12 class-B ships over a five-day period from July 3 to 7, 2002.

We rode back to Luxury RV Park, we sat on a picnic table where we watched the Fourth of July fireworks show that was coming off the Gulf Shore Beach, we were just a few blocks from the beach.

While staying in the park, we enjoyed the swimming pool and riding our bikes to the beach.

For dinner, we ate fried oysters and shrimp at Gulf Shores Sea and Suds, where they have the freshest seafood at affordable prices.

We visited the Tanger Outlets Stores in Foley, Al. 

Friday, July 5, 2002 

We rode to the Harley Davidson located at 3260 Pleasant Valley Road, Mobile. I bought a white T-shirt with a picture of a Harley Davison motorcycle on the front of the shirt inside a red star.

Harley Davidson T-Shirt

For supper, we ate fried oysters, french fries with ice tea at the Original Oyster House in Gulf Shores.

Saturday, July 6, 2002 

Traveled six hours in our RV to Florence, we stopped to eat lunch at a Country Market.