2003 Summer Gulf Shores State Park

In 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 car and camper on Gator Road by the lake. It costs $27.00 per day for 4 people, plus $2 per person over age 6.

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

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

We had a canopy where we put our bicycles, coolers, and non-refrigerated food. We had a clothesline to hang all the wet clothes and a laundry room to wash and dry them. 

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 to the Beach pavilion, a facility on the beach with a unique roof design. 

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

Church activities were held during the week we were there, and the kids took part every day.

We visited the Gulf State Park's Nature Center, where we saw several exhibits and live animals(snakes, turtles, bats, and 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, I slid off the edge of the sidewalk. We rode many miles along various paths, and we saw many different types of animals. 

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

We went to the Tanger Outlet Shops in Foley, Alabama, which have 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.

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 to 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 the Gulf Shores beach.

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

Casino

Treasure Bay Casino

Biloxi MS

Monday, July 1, 2002
We rode over to Pensacola, where we toured the Naval Airplane Museum, and 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, and we rode the ferry across Mobile Bay to Dauphin Island.

Ferry taking Cars across Mobile Bay.

Riding the ferry across Mobile Bay

Crossing the Mobile Bayship

The Tall Ship that we saw as we crossed Mobile Bay

The Tall Ship that we saw as we crossed 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 visited the Delchamps Gallery of Boehm Porcelain, the most extensive public collection of Boehm porcelain in the United 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 and saw some of the most picturesque 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, and there are many lovely homes along Mobile Bay. 

Mobile Bay is loaded with vegetation, including delta grass, Spanish moss, live oaks, cypress, and southern pines, which support the wildlife in the 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 into a parking spot when someone backed into the front of our LS Satun.
The accident broke out the passenger's headlight and bent the hood. 

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

In Mobile Bay, large ships were arriving for the Tall Ship Parade, scheduled for July 4, 2002, later that evening. 

Please note that Sail Mobile, part of the tall ship program, is one of the most popular events. 

Mobile's Sail Mobile program plans to display approximately 30 ships, including 5 to 6 class-A vessels and 10 to 12 class-B ships, over five days from July 3 to 7, 2002.

We rode back to Luxury RV Park, sat on a picnic table, and watched the Fourth of July fireworks show over 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-Davidson motorcycle on the front, inside a red star.

Harley Davidson T-Shirt

For supper, we ate fried oysters, French fries, and iced tea at the Original Oyster House in Gulf Shores.

Saturday, July 6, 2002 

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