2023 Sep 15-18, Gulf Shores, Fairhope, Daphne, AL. and Pensacola, FL. (4 days)

Day 1:

I had planned a day trip to Canton, MS, the day before. The next morning, I asked hubby if he wanted to spend a couple of days in Gulf Shores, Al, after we left Canton. He said yes.

He had been talking about going all summer. So we packed our bags for 3 days. We were just going to wing it. 

After spending all morning visiting museums and walking around the town, we begin our journey to Gulf Shores. 

Shady Acres Village 

We stopped at Shady Acres Village Restaurant Seminary, MS, for a late lunch. I enjoyed a shrimp basket with fries, and hubby enjoyed a 49'er Hamburger with onion rings. 

We also bought several items in their General Store. 

It was a four-and-a-half-hour drive to Gulf Shores. 

The sun was setting as we drove through Mobile. We checked into Staybridge Hotel, and by the time we were settled in, it was dark.

Sunset in Mobile, Al 

We both were too tired for any further adventures, so to bed, we both went. 

Day 2:

The next morning, we rushed to the beach to watch the sun come up, but it was cloudy, and a storm was brewing, so no sunrise. 

We went back to the hotel for breakfast, and then our adventures began.

Cloudy Sunrise 

We rode to the Outlet Mall to shop. I bought a top and pants at Columbia. At T J Max, I bought some spices and a set of Halloween hand towels.

Our next stop was OWA Park Foley. They were having a car show throughout the park. By this time, it was very hot. After I finished taking pictures of most of the cars, we left. 

This was my favorite Car!

We headed down the coastline towards Pensacola, Florida. 

By the time we arrived in the downtown area, the Arts and Crafts Sales was winding down. 

We had enough time to walk through to see their wear. 

We ate lunch at The Fish House Restaurant on Barracks St., where we enjoyed fried Cod served with creamed potatoes, collard greens, and a salad. 

Fried Cod with Collard Greens, Creamed Potatoes 

It was getting late, so we began our journey back to the hotel. 

Day 3:

Once again, we were up, heading to the beach for an early morning sunrise, but once again, it was cloudy. Sunrise was at 6:35AM

 Came back to the hotel for breakfast: scrambled eggs, sausage, fruit, bagel, and juice.

We began our journey up the coast in the opposite direction to Fairhope. 

We stopped at the Municipal Park, where they were having an Arts and Crafts Tent Sale.  

We stopped to talk to a couple that were selling spices. (I bought one for my son).

They saw the camera I was carrying, and we talked about cameras and taking pictures.

The woman was telling me about the Brown Pelicans there at the beach.

Brown Pelicans 

We walked down the long pier, and there were several Brown Pelicans and a variety of Gulls. I took several pictures. 

We rode to Daphne, stopping to eat lunch at Longhorn Steakhouse.

We enjoyed steak with grilled shrimp, creamed potatoes, and Caesar salad. 

We stopped at the Halloween Store in Daphne, where I bought a dress for Halloween. 

We headed back to the hotel but stopped at the Story Walk in Loxley. 

Another long day.

Day 4: 

We headed to the beach (6:35AM) to see the sunrise. Today it was beautiful so I got several pictures.

Sunrise 

Rode back to the hotel, ate breakfast, packed our bags, and began our journey home.

The sun was shining right on my face, so I napped the first part of the trip home. 

Hubby had wanted to stop at Peach Park in Clanton, Al, and when I woke up, he said, I think I have passed Peach Park, and we had.

We did not turn around we just kept going. 

We eat lunch at Oh"Bryan's in Hartselle, Al (his favorite place)

He always orders a steak or baked potato and gets their salad bar.

I ordered grilled chicken and a sweet potato.

We were home way before sunset. 

Another great trip in the books. 

2019 Jan 16-18, 🚙Trip to Gulf Shores , Fairhope, Orange Beach & Foley, Alabama ( 3days)

Jan 16, 2019, Wednesday,

Hubby and I traveled to Gulf Shores, stopping at Jack’s Restaurant(1360 Hwy 43 West bypass Russellville) for breakfast. 

We both ordered a sausage and biscuits with strawberry jelly at 8:56AM and spent $7.06.

We ate lunch at KFC Thomasville at @1:17 p.m.

Hubby ordered a fillip box meal, and I ordered a three-piece wings meal with biscuits (that I saved for the birds), we spent $13.46.

We stopped for gas at Marathon at Rams Food Mart 19039 43 hwy  Northport and spent $22.08

Arrived Gulf Shores just before sunset  4:45-5:14PM

We rode to the beach before checking in at the hotel to see the sunset. 

The moon came up before the sun went down and looked like a ball in the red sky.

Gulf Shores Sunset 

After the sun went down, we rode to Staybridge Suites 3947 Gulf Shores, Pky Gulf Shores, and Al 36542. 

We booked for two nights, which cost $170,84 for room 114. 

Their computers were down, and the night manager said we could join everyone in the dining room for grill night.

In the food bar were grilled hamburgers, hotdogs, potato salad, Cole slaw, baked beans, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and onions. 

I fixed a plate with hamburger potato salad, chips, and a glass of wine.

Dinner: hamburger potato salad, chips, and a glass of wine.

There were fountain drinks, tea, and a variety of wines and beers.

We checked into room 114, ground level, and hubby took a long tub bath.

I stretched out on the bed and turned on the Television. My eyes were giving me a fit, so I put eye drops in them. My eyes felt like something was in them, they hurt all night.

I must have gotten sand in them it was very windy when we went to the beach the night before.

Jan 17, Thursday, 

Hubby and I dressed and went to breakfast. I ate oatmeal with nuts, & cranberries and drank orange juice.

After breakfast, hubby and I rode along hwy 98 scenic highway to Fairhope.

We stopped at Valence & Fairhope Municipal Parks, located along the Coastal Highway.

We saw a statue of Maria Johnson, ducks & geese swimming, boats along the pier, blooming flowers, and lots of old trees.

Fairhope’s Municipal Pier, Fairhope’s Pepper Nelson Volunteer Fireman’s Hall, flower gardens, and yellow and white buttercups blooming.

Fairhope’s Pepper Nelson Volunteer Firetruck at Fairhope Museum 

We toured Fairhope’s History Museum outside, we saw the People’s Railroad train car, roses in bloom, and a statue of Craig Turner Shelton, the first public state artist in Alabama’s history. 

Fairhope’s Museum of History is located at 24 N. Section St, Fairhope, Alabama 36532

Inside, we saw permanent exhibits such as Fairhope’s founders, the single tax theory, the town jail built in 1868, the old fire department, a fire truck, a fire hydrant, fire hats, & coats.

Fairhope's historic jail inside the museum 

We saw a miniature replica of Middle Bay Lighthouse, John Bowen, Maria Howard, Della Nichols, Shuah S. Mann, Clarence Mershon, and James Bellanger, the people of Fairhope.

We saw old push-mowers hanging from the ceiling.

We picked up some pamphlets from the Welcome Center next door.

We ate lunch at Greers in Fairhope.

We ordered three chicken fingers, corn fritters, green beans, and cornbread.

Our next stop was Daphne at the Little Bethel Baptist Church, built in 1867. We took a few pictures of the church and a Historic marker nearby.

Our next stop was at the US Sports Academy Walk of Fame Daphne, where we sat in the metal of runners, baseball players, football players, basketball players, Swimmers, Weight lifters, Gymnasts, bikers, and golfers.

 US Sports Academy Walk of Fame Daphne  Baseball Player Statue 

We stopped at Daphne’s Gator Walk, where we saw a nice wooden boardwalk lined with a marker that said: 

Where are you in the Watershed?

Exploration of Ecosystem

Slowing the flow of Storm Water

The Big Picture of the Ecosystem

It is all about the Alligator 

What is this building for?

Along the Eastern Shore Trail

We did not see any gators along the trail, but we did see a few shorebirds.

After that long, hot walk, we needed something to cool us down, so we stopped at Jubilee Square at Krazy Frozen Treats for a waffle bowl of creamy-flavored yogurt around noon.

We chose cheesecake, cookies, and cream.

Krazy Frozen Treats  scoop of Cookies & Cream and Cheesecake

We stopped at the Foley Train Depot to watch men run the miniature trains. (They only run at certain times during the week)

Included in the collection were a Ringling Bros & Barnum Big Top Circus, a mini train carrying circus items, a ferries wheel (that worked), cloys with balloons, a lion cage, Roadside USA, a man shot out of a canon, a tattooed lady Lulu the farebeater cost fifty cents and elephants.

Ringling Bros & Barnum Big Top Circus

The miniature town consisted of Aqua Blue Drive-in diner that served fries and hamburgers, shakes, and soft drinks.

Advertisement on the windows that said Speeds Car Wash, green & white car sat next to Car Town (new, used, l& ease) Dealership. 

A tow truck sat in front, and next to the railroad tracks (Consoled gas and power), 76 Union Gas Station, two-story homes, dogs, people walking, riding scooters, mail carries, a lineman working on the power lines, 

There were bridges, factories, train stations, firehouses, and trains traveling in all directions on the many tracks.

We watched the trains until they closed.

We ate dinner at 5:00PM at Bubba’s Seafood House in Orange Beach.

Hubby and I split one CaptainsCaptainsCaptainsCaptains’ combo platter that consisted of Crab legs, grilled shrimp, chargrilled Mahi, Mahi served with corn on the cob, new potatoes, and garlic butter. 

We stopped at Rouses Market, where we bought a Coke, Strawberry cream coffee cake, & three large cannolis.

Sitting in a Large Blue Chair outside Bubba’s Seafood House Orange Beach

Jan 19, Friday

The next morning, we met Hannah at the Ruby Red Slipper Orange Beach before he headed home.

I ordered a stack of cinnamon toast.

Hubby ordered sausage, eggs, potatoes, link sausage, and pancakes.

Hannah ordered bacon, eggs, gravy, pancakes & coffee.

We finished breakfast around 8:30AM  and began our long ride home. $44.52

We filled up with gas at Love's $29.78 in Loxley, Al 

We stopped at CVS to get some eyewash my eyes were red, running, and burning.

I washed both eyes out with the eyewash and slept most of the way home.

Stack of cinnamon toast

We stopped at Firehouse Subs in Athens, and we bought a large and medium steak sandwich with a mushroom on wheat bread. $18.42

We stopped at Aldie in Athens to pick up  a few groceries spent @20.77

We had a great trip, ate breakfast with my granddaughter, and saw many sites.

Got sand in my eyes, which burned every time I closed them. 

2012 ~ April 22-25, Trip with sisters to Gulf Shores, Alabama

Day 1: Sunday, April 22 ,  2012

Was out of the bed by 5:30 A.M. I got dressed, checked my email, updated my laptop computer, added movies to my Iphone, I broke a fingernail while making the bed, finished packing, I ate some chocolate pudding and I was ready to leave by 7:35 A.M.

My sister drove her new Jeep; she picked up sisters and they arriving at my house about 8:30 A.M. Teresa was using her droid telephone as a navigation system. 

We took US 43 to US 72 to Athens, then I-65 all the way to Hwy 287 exit 37 toward Gulf Shores Parkway/Bay Minette/Rabun, we turned left onto Rabun Rd for 4.4 miles then Rabun becomes Al-59 S, we turned right onto West Beach Blvd Al-182 and Condo was on left at 809 West Beach Blvd., Gulf Shores. 

We travel over 400 miles taking over seven hours including stopping for gas and food. 

We stopped at Subway(258 Interstate Commercial Park Loop Prattville, AL 36066(334) 358-4950 for lunch. 

We filled-up with gas at Texaco.
(We were going to eat at Cracker Barrel location 796 businesses Park Drive Prattville; Al., but it was a long line.) 
We arrived at Meyer Real Estate at 3:30 P.M. to buy parking pass for Island Royale.

Arrived at Condo called Island Royale located at 809 West Beach Blvd a mile west of hwy 59, it was a Yellow 17 story building room 1203 (P503). 

We took our luggage up the elevator to our room 503 on the 12th floor. It was very windy and we had to make sure that the balcony door was closed before opening the front door, because of the wind draft.

View of the beach

View from our Room

After getting settled in, we went to Long Horn Steak House 3810 Gulf Shores Parkway Gulf Shores (251-96793480) for supper. We all ordered from the flavorful under 500 calories menu. We each ordered Renegade Sirloin 6 oz at $11.99 it came with fresh vegetables or green beans and a garden salad with raspberry vinaigrette dressing. 
I ordered unsweetened ice tea with lemon, everyone else ordered water. With tip, we each spent $20.00. (My sister and I had leftovers for the next day.)

Long Horn Steak House

After dinner, we went to Target, which was in the shopping center behind Long Horn restaurant. Located at 3820 Gulf Shores Parkway Gulf Shores Al. 

Everyone bought something to eat to take back to the condo. I bought couple frozen dinners, some Jergens tanning lotion. 

We played dominos until about 10 P.M. we were all tired from the long trip. 

My sister and I slept in the front bedroom, which was very noisy, people coming, going, and noisy from the wind. 

Day 2: Monday, April 23, 2012 

The next morning I ate a granola bar, took a shower, Paula, and  I walked up the beach almost to the pier while Becky, and Teresa lay on the beach. It was still very cool, and windy. Becky called on the cell phone, said she and Teresa was leaving,

I told Becky to wait for  Paula and I for we were almost back to the condo.  

We all took shower to get the sand off and we got ready to go out for supper. 

We went to Lulu’s Restaurant located at 200 east twenty-fifty avenue Gulf Shores Al 36542, located just off Al-59 at the intercostals Waterway and Homeport Marina.

Teresa and I ordered Lulu’s Famous Fish Sandwich Blacken with Lulu’s wow sauce and chips $12.95 with ice tea. Becky ordered grilled chicken quesadilla (jack cheddar cheese and sautéed peppers and onions served with Lulu’s sassy Salas and sour Cream) for $9.95 and Paula ordered Seafood Platter.

Teresa ordered appetizer of smoked Tuna Dip $7.95 (never seen the inside of a can) and she ordered Lula’s Favorite Margarita $10.00. (The margarita contained Sauza Tres Generaciones organic Tequila, patron Citronge orange liqueur, and five freshly squeezed limes.)  

Some local was singing and playing music, which Paula said she did not like.

We looked around in the gift shop; Becky bought Steve a tee shirt. We rode up to Tanger Outlet but did not get out. We then went to Wal-mart where I bought some strawberries, cool whip, bananas, and cake. 

Paula bought a Yahtzee game and when we arrived back to our condo, we played dominos and Yahtzee until about 10 P.M.

The wind had died down some and the neighbors were not quite so noisy.

Lulu's

Day 3: Tuesday, April 24, 2012

We sat around until about lunchtime. I ate leftovers from Lulu’s then we went to the beach.

Becky lay in the sand while Teresa, Paula, and I walked up the beach again almost to the pier. 

We dressed and rode over to Fort Morgan stopping to buy gas, which I paid for 36.70 at Chevron. We rode to the Goodwill Store where I bought a pair shorts and a top for $6.00.

Souvenir City of Gulf Shores 

We shopped at Souvenir City of Gulf Shores located at 217 Gulf Shores Parkway Gulf Shores, Al 36542 251-948-7280, Paula bought a dress. 

Bahamas Bobs Beach Side Café 

We at ate Bahamas Bobs Beach Side Café 601 West Beach Boulevard, Gulf Shores, and Al 251-948-2100. 

I ordered Coconut Shrimp $6.00 (Coconut fried shrimp appetizer five large shrimp fried in a coconut batter).

Paula ordered Island Sampler for everyone which included a combination of two fried cheese sticks, fried mushrooms and chicken tenders at a cost of $9.99.

Paula also order Fried Stripped Pangus, with steamed royal reds cost $13.99.

Teresa ordered a Char-grilled delight Tuna sandwich $9.99.

Becky ordered Stanial Cay Chicken Tenders fried golden brown and served with a delicious dipping sauce cost $6.99. 

We stopped at TCBY and we each ordered a Greek Yogurt.

Day 4: Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Today was our last day. 

We cleaned the rooms of any garbage, loaded the dishwasher, put dirty towels into laundry room, packed bags, I ate a bit of breakfast, loaded the car, locked room and put key back into key box. 

We left at about 9 A.M. stopping only for gas and to eat lunch at Wendy’s in Prattville, we were half way home.

I ordered Wendy’s hamburger and frosty, Becky and Paula ordered hamburger, fries, and drink. Teresa did not order anything. 

We arrived home about 3:30 P.M.
I always have fun with my siblings. 

    

My husband said that while I was gone the refrigerator ($1,115.00) stop working, the jacks stop working (270) and we needed new tires for RV (3,000) which we decided not to buy.

Cost for motor for jacks was $270.93 from HWH Corp Motor, which My husband installed.

Added oil into jacks. (Right front jack still will not work.) Hose for power Steering busted bought new hose at Alabama Hose products cost $27.47. Bought power steering fluid at Tri Cities Truck parts $88.00. 

Ordered part to fix refrigerator RV Cooling Unit Warehouse $1,115.00 that My husband has not fixed as of (6/2/2012) we had it shipped to Dixie Signs had to be shipped to business.

May 8, 2012, My husband moved RV to drive in front of house because we had concert poured cost $1,900 took from savings.

While sitting in front of house from Tuesday, May 8, 2012, to May Tuesday, May 15, 2012, I waxed the RV.

During this time, we had no direct TV or Internet; we watched a lot of movies. 

2003 Summer Gulf Shores State Park

The summer of, 2003 I rode to Gulf Shores Alabama with my son and his family. 

My son pulled his pop-up camper with his truck to Gulf Shores State Park

20115 State Hwy 135 Gulf Shore, Al 36542 251-948-7275

We parked the truck and camper on the lake on Gator Road. It cost $27.00 per day for four people and $2 for each person over age 6.

Every day we would go down to the state park, public beach and swim and sometimes we would swim in the state park public swimming pool.

At night, we all slept in the camper, my son, and his wife slept on the left side of the camper. My granddaughter and I slept on the right side of the camper and my grandson slept on the table that made into a bed. 

We had a canopy where we put our bicycles, coolers, food that did not have to be refrigerator. We had a cloths line to hang up all the wet cloths and a laundry room to wash and dry cloth. 

There were bathrooms with showers and toilets. 

Our camper did not have these facilities. 

We would use these facilities after swimming and in the morning to get ready.

We would ride our bikes up to the Beach pavilion, which is a facility on the beach that has a unique roof design. 

The pavilion is equipped with picnic tables, bathhouse, and a snack bar. It has two large fireplaces and a boardwalk to get to the beach.

Church actives were going on the week that we were there and the kids took part in the actives everyday.

We visited the Gulf State Park's Nature Center where we saw several exhibits and live animals(snakes, turtles, bats,possums) representing some of the wildlife that can be seen in the park. 
http://www.alapark.com/Gulf-State-Park-Nature-Center

The kids and I rode our bikes, sometimes my son and his wife came along.

Once, while I was riding my bike I put the brakes on too quick and my back wheel went straight up in the air. Another time,when I was riding my bicycle it slid off the edge of the sidewalk. We rode many miles taking various paths and we saw many different types of animals. 

We went to the Navel Museum in Pensacola, FL 
http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org

We went to the Tanger Outlet Shops in Foley, Alabama, where there are over 120 stores.
http://www.tangeroutlet.com/foley 

Address: 2601 S. McKenzle Street Foley, Al 36535 251-943-9303.

We had a week of fun.

2015 November 27, 28, 29, Trip to Gulf Shores, Al, Biloxi, MS & Pensacola, Fl

We left mid-morning traveling on I-65 South to Gulf Shores.
At lunch, we stopped at Peach Park in Clanton Alabama where we enjoyed a delicious fried peach pie topped with a scoop of peach ice cream. Hubby also ordered a large order of onion rings and a barbecue sandwich.

fried peach pie topped with a scoop of peach ice Cream

I walked around Peach Park taking pictures of the giant peach statue sitting on a large bucket with a sign that read, Peach Park Clanton, Al (do not sit on the peach)
I took pictures of a green birdhouse, several wooden bridges, a pond, the playground area, a large red barn where children could play, a swing, a gazebo, a lighthouse, a red caboose (that is rented as an RV) a rose bush, a tractor and my husband sitting at a picnic table.

 large red barn where children could play

Back on the road for another four hours, stopping only for fuel and to use the restrooms.

The Rat Pack (Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr & Frank Sinatra

We stopped in Bay Minette, Alabama to get our oil changes at Chuck Stevens Dodge.
Inside the deanship, I noticed hanging on the wall paintings of several famous people.

I asked the owner if I could take a picture of the paintings, and he said I will sell you all the paintings for $100 each if you take all of them.
They were paintings of Sammy Davis Jr, (notice the ring on his right hand) Frank Sinatra, (big smile) Dean Martin  (The three members of the Rat Pack).
Lewis Armstrong, (with his trumpet) Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Jimmy Dean, Willie Nelson, Jerry Lewis, Glen Miller, and Madison Bourbon Jazz.
In the painting of Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, and Jimmy Dean they all appeared with a cigarette.

I told him that someone had done a great job, but I did not want to buy them.

Clock Belltower 

We saw a Christmas display in Robersdale.
After we checked into the Staybridge Hotel we rode back to Foley's Heritage Park.
In the park was a Christmas village, a clock bellower, angles, and a flowing fountain.

Gulf Shores Beach 

We ate dinner at Chick-fil-A in Foley.
I ordered some chicken nuggets and a Peppermint milkshake, and my husband ordered a strawberry milkshake, and a grilled chicken sandwich.
Before we went back to the hotel we went to Gulf Shores beach, it was too dark to take pictures.

It had been a long day so after we both had a hot show we climbed into bed for a long winter's sleep.

Saturday morning we were both up before the rooster crowed.
We dressed and headed to the beach to watch the sunrise which was at 6:27 AM.

Sunrise

I was an awesome, white and dark cloud overlooking the blue gulf.
There was a hint of pink, blue, white, and yellow as the sun peeked his head through the clouds.
Slowly this ball of fire raised his head higher and higher changing from yellow to a bright orange then back to a bright yellow, with clouds floating all around him, until you could no longer look directly into his face.
A couple was sitting on a blanket that they had spread out on the sandy beach to watch the sunrise. It was still a chill in the air so they were wearing light jackets.

Watching the sunrise 

As the sun peeked, the sky cleared, and you could see the waves that splashed happily upon the sand beach.
We rode back to the hotel where we enjoyed a nice breakfast of link sausage and an omelet. We had cranberry juice to drink.
We stopped to take a picture of the Bell Tower in Foley's Heritage Park.
The 52-foot Bell Tower has four clock faces that face north, south, east, and west which includes 32 brass bells. The Bell Tower and Plaza were built to celebrate Foley's Centennial on January 8, 2015.
Across the street is the Hotel Magnolia one of Foley's oldest buildings, that is now for sale.

Bell Tower 
We took I-10 from Foley to Mobile driving through the George Wallace Tunnel across Mobile Bay.

As we approached Mobile in the distance we could see the RSA Battle House Tower, The RSA Bank Trust Building, and the Van Antwerp Building.
We stopped at the Antebellum Welcome Center in Jackson County, Moss Point, Mississippi.
The Welcome Center was built to resemble an antebellum home with its spiral staircase, arched doorways, and chandeliers. It is filled with antique furniture, and sculptures by Marlin Miller.

Sculptor Marlin Miller working on a large oak near Hard Rock Casino Resort in Biloxi Mississippi. It is named "Marlin's Marlin". This is just one of his many pieces

We traveled the freeway of the Gulf Coast crossing the swamp land area of Escatawpa River,  through Pascagoula, Gautier, Ocean Springs, to Biloxi, MS.
As we topped the I-10 Interstate in Biloxi we could see several casinos and as we exited the interstate we could see the Gulf, the beautiful white sandy beaches, and the Biloxi Lighthouse. We rode past the casinos to Veterans Memorial Park where we stopped to take pictures.
We rode back to the welcome center to find out where we could purchase tickets to ride the trolley.

We were told that we would have to hurry to catch the trolley because it was leaving in a few minutes.
We walked down the hill, across four lanes of traffic to catch the trolley that was leaving the station.
I caught up with the driver, Carla Beaugez Taconi, she said to climb aboard, that she had not collected for the ride.
So we climbed aboard the back of the open-air trolley, so I could take pictures.
We introduced ourselves as the newcomers to the ride, and then off we went hair blowing in the wind.
When Carla was not telling stories about Biloxi, she was playing upbeat music from that area.
As we rode down the street many residents waved to us and we waved back, Carla knew many by their first names and they knew her name.
Carla showed us what real southern hospitality is all about the way she greeted everyone she met.
Carla made you feel like you were a part of her family and her neighbor.

We rode past many vacant store buildings and empty lots that Katrina had destroyed with her violent winds and waters.
We saw old mansions and homes that had survived the storms of time.

We stopped at the 12-foot-high Hurricane Katrina Memorial where we saw a glass case containing various items found after the storm and a black marble wall listing the names of those who died or were lost during the hurricane.

We stopped at the Magnolia Hotel Museum built in 1847 serving as a lodging establishment but now it serves as a Mardi Gras Museum.
In it, we saw memorabilia from carnival celebrations with a variety of colorful Mardi Gras costumes.

Trying on the colorful Mardi Gras costumes

We ended the tour by riding past the works of art on Beach Boulevard, which is a sculptured garden teeming with pelicans, egrets, seagulls, blue marlin, and a shark.
After Katrina destroyed most of the trees along Beach Blvd a chainsaw artist carved six oak trees into marine sculptures that are now displayed along the median of Beach Blvd.

Katrina Sculptured Garden 

We thanked Carla as we exited the trolly.
We walked along the beach to the pier where I took a few pictures.

We had to cross four lanes of traffic back to the Visitor Center.
The Visitor Center is a museum in itself, it has a wealth of information, a gift shop, multi-media exhibits, Biloxi Memorabilia, and on the second floor it has a 67-seat movie theater. The Visitor Center has a striking resemblance to the Dantizier House that once sat at this site, and it has two-story porches, a grand staircase, and floor-to-ceiling windows.

We started our journey home stopping at Taco Bell for a snack.

We arrived just in time for the setting of the sun in Gulf Shores. The sunset was at 4:50PM.

Sun Setting 

We stopped at Lucy Buffett's Lulu's for dinner.
We ordered the Sea Food Sampler with iced tea to drink.
It had been a long day we were both too tired to do anything else.

Sea Food Sampler at Lulu's 

The next morning we slept a little later, got dressed went down for breakfast. We came back upstairs packed our bags, and checked out of the hotel.

We rode to Pensacola, Florida.
We rode through the historic area of Pensacola, touring the Historic Village and taking many pictures.
The village consists of twenty properties in the Historic District which includes the Museum of Commerce and Industry, Julee Panton Cottage, Manuel Barrios Cottage, the McMillen House, Lavalle House Lear-Rocheblave House, Dorr House, and the Old Christ Church. All were closed on Sunday.
We also walked through the park, stopping to take pictures of the T.T. Wentworth Florida State Museum and many other historic state buildings in the historic town.

We went inside the Atlas and Fish House which is along the riverfront to use the restrooms.
 Some of the famous people that have eaten here are American Pickers, Neil Armstrong and Gene Cernan (Astronauts), Elton John, Steve Martin, and Mariah Carey just to name a few.

Historic Village in Pensacola, Fl 

Old Christ Church 1832

I took pictures of John Wesley Hardin (Criminal turned lawyer), the First Baptist Church site, Old City Hall 1907, Mooring Anchor, I never throw anything away, gateway to Florida's History, and many others.
We stopped for gas in Cantonment Florida near the Paper Mill which was giving off an awful vapor of steam.
We ate lunch at Burger King.
On the way home we stopped in Flomation Alabama to take pictures of the marker, L & N train car, and Train Depot now a visitor center.

The closer we got to Montgomery the heavier the traffic got, it was bumper-to-bumper because of the Thanksgiving Holiday.

We took a detour along Highway 31 coming out at Calera where we stopped to eat at Cracker Barrel.
We headed back to I-65 hoping the traffic had moved on but no it was worse.
We saw wreck after wreck and traffic backed up for miles but this time it was headed south.
It took several hours longer than we expected to get home. With my intestines in knots, we finally made it home. I think the break on my side of the card did not work too well.