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

Hubby and I traveled over six hours to Theodore, Alabama, to walk through the Christmas Lights at Bellingrath Gardens.
We stopped at Durbin's Farm restaurant in Clanton for lunch.
We split a Ham & Cheese croissant and 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 4:09 P.M., purchased our tickets at Bellingrath Gardens, and walked down to the boat dock to watch the sunset. We walked back up the hill into the gardens, but 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 lights 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, poinsettias, and twinkling lights. Around the lake, we saw swans, alligators, Santa, toys, and a train.
We had arrived early and gotten a parking spot near the front, but when we left, the lot was full and 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 exhausted, so we 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 would not leave me alone.
Rain is 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 6 A.M., where we had breakfast. I ate two sausage links and two pieces of 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" at 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 mother tell stories about the miniature train 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 and Sam's Club.
In Delphne, we stopped at the Mellow Mushroom.

Mellow Mushroom Statue in Delphne, AL 

A friendly wave from Santa Claus 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 raining, 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,n stopping at Noccalula Falls, which was almost dry.
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 7:30 P.M.

🚗2012 ~December 18-19, Eighteen hour drive home from Hartford, Connecticut

Day 1: Tuesday, December 18, 2012

We left the house at 3:15 A.M. and headed to Nashville, TN. I arrived at 5:15. Flight 2315, which left at 6:15 A.M., was the flight. I sat next to the window, and a young black man sat in the middle seat. We talked, and he said he lived in Nashville but was looking to move to Virginia. He had a couple of young children, and his mother was a special-needs schoolteacher.

The morning sunrise in Maryland

We landed in MD, and the young black man got off the plane.
I moved a couple of seats up, and an older couple sat down beside me. The man sat in the middle, and his wife sat at the end (I think she was the boss of the tw;o); he talked my head off. He said he sold hospital equipment, and he was having a Christmas party when he arrived home. He asked me if I wanted to go to his party. I said that we were leaving Hartford as soon as we landed and that my daughter and I were going to New York. The plane landed, and I said goodbye to the couple. I then walked to the baggage claim to collect my luggage. My daughter was late as usual picking me up. 

We filled up with gas at BP, 3500 Conner St, Bro,nx, NY 10475 (I remember this station because the last time we went to NY, my daughter used the restroom here).

My flight arrived in Hartford at 10:40 A.M., and my daughter and I left Hartford, CT, driving to Staten Island, NY. 

Traveling through New York 

Traveling through New York 

We took I-95 south through Meridian, New Haven, Bridgeport, and Stamford, CT, and crossed into New Jersey at Fort Lee. We then crossed the New Jersey Turnpike on I-95, crossing back into NY. We were going to stay at 310 Wild Wood Ave, Staten Island, but the rate was $150 a night, and there was no shuttle on Tuesdays to the Staten Island Ferry. 

We asked at the Wild Wood AV Staten Island Inn desk where we could find a good local place to eat nearby. They suggested West Shore Inn Steakhouse, but it was closed for a Christmas Party. The other place they suggested was Mike's Unicorn Diner, 2944 Victory Blvd, NY.

Eating a salad at Mike Unicorn Dine, Staten Island, NY

Mike's Unicorn Din, er Staten Island, NYMike's

Kes Unicorn Diner, Staten Island, NY 

Mike's Unicorn Dine, Staten Island, NY 

At Mike's Unicorn Diner, we ordered water with lemon. We shared a plate of fried sole fillets, salad, rolls, green beans, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, cheesecake, pasta, and beets, accompanied by bread. It was more than enough to feed two people. After we finished eating, we decided not to go back to New York, so we headed toward Washington, D.C. 

We took I-278 over to I-95. It took us 3 hours and 16 minutes to get from New York to Maryland.

We stopped at 702 W 34th ST. Baltimore, Maryland, to see the Christmas lights on Keswick Rd and Chestnut Street.

The entire block was decorated for the Christmas holiday, featuring movable, indoor, and outdoor displays.

 People were scurrying up and down the block. 

Christmas lights, Miracle of 34 S,t Hampden, Baltimore, Maryland 

Christmas lights Miracle of 34, St. Hamp,n Baltimore, Maryland 

Christmas lights, Miracle of, 4 St. H, Hampden, Baltimoreee, Maryland.  

Christmas, lights, Miracle of 34 St. Hampden, Baltimore, Maryland 

Then we drove for another two hours on I-66 from Maryland to Royal Front, VA. 

We stopped at Cool Harbor Inn,n located at 141 E 15th Avenue, Royal Front, VA. 

We checked in at about 12 P.M. ($65 for a king bed in a first-floor conference room).

We were so exhausted that we slept until 10 A.M. the next day.

Cool Harbor I,nn Royal Frontt VA 

Day 2: Wednesday, December 19, 2012

The next morning, we both took showers, packed our bags, and checked out of the hotel.

For breakfast, we had orange juice, apple-cinnamon oatmeal, a banana, and an oatmeal cookie from the tank in the back of the Inn.

We were not far from the Shenandoah Valley National Park.
From the Cool Harbor Inn, my daughter had to drive to Skyline Drive to get into the park. 

I bought a senior lifetime pass for $10.00, which allowed both of you to enter the park. 

Shenandoah Valley National Park

Shenandoah Valley National Park

It was about 11:33 A.M. when we entered Shenandoah Valley National Park, and we stayed inside the park until we reached Luray, VA, where we exited to explore the Luray Caverns.

Luray Virginia Park 

Luray Virginia Park 

Luray, Virginia, a Park Caverns

Lur, ay Virgi,nia Park Caverns

We paid $ 21.00 to visit Luray Caverns, which included admission to the Car and Carriage Museum and the Luray Valley Museum. 

The Luray Caverns offers a guided tour that lasts about an hour. After the tour, you are on your own.

The Luray Valley Museum. 

The Luray Valley Museum. 

We walked down to the Car and Carriage Museum, which features 140 cars, carriages, coaches, & costumes dating back to 1725.

Next, we visited The Luray Valley Museum, which housed artifacts from the Shenandoah Valley dating back to the 1750s to the 1920s. 

Car and Carriage Museum

Car and Carriage Museum 

Car and Carriage Museum 

We ate lunch at Gathering Grounds Patisserie Café, 55 E. Main S, Luray, VA 22835 (Patisserie is a type of French or Belgian bakery that specializes in pastries and sweets in both countries)

I ordered a cup of soup du jour and a half sandwich for $6.96, and a Coke for $1.99, totaling $8.95.

(540-743-1121) The ticket stated Table 16, 2 guests, server Melissa at 4:15 P.M., ID: 0081319.

Gathering Grounds Patisserie Café 55 E. Main St, Luray, VA

Gathering Grounds Patisserie Café 55 E. Main St, Luray, VA

Town of Luray, VA 

We tried to return to Shenandoah Valley National Park, but by the time we arrived at the entrance, it had closed at 5:00 P.M.  

From Luray, Virginia, we took 340 down to Stanley, Virginia, then to I-81, which runs from Virginia to Knoxville, TN.

We stopped at Pilot Store 051 11190 Baileyton Rd, Greenville, Tennessee, at 22:50:35 A.M.

They had a subway and a station.n I bought two glasses of water for $2.00, one 20-oz drink for $1.35, and at Subway, I purchased one 12-inch Veggie Sub for   $5.00 and some chips for $0.99, spending a total of $6.57.

I also bought some lottery tickets.

We drove through Knoxville, TN, on I-40 N toward Nashville, TN, taking I-840 to I-65 S to 360 to 31, then to Spring Hill and Columbia, TN. We turned onto Highway 43 and followed it all the way home.

We arrived at home about 3:30 A.M. 

My husband was asleep, as he had to work the next day, so Lora slept on the sofa, and I slept in the recliner.

When my husband got up to get ready for work the next morning, both Lora and I got into bed.
The next morning, after my husband left for work, my daughter and I climbed into bed, but I couldn't sleep because I could hear it was storming outside. So, I got up and lay on the sofa.

End of another long trip.

December 18, 2012, Flew

Depart 6:15 A.M. from Nashville International Airport (BNA)

Arrive at Baltimore, Maryland, at the International Airport (BWI)

Depart from Baltimore, Maryland, the International Airport  |(BWI)

Arrive 10:40 A.M. Hartford International Airport (BDL)