At the Beach

The Gulf State Park's two miles of beaches greet you with white sun-kissed sand surging surf, seagulls and sea shells.

Gulf State Park Pier

Fishing for Rays

The Gulf State Park Pier is the second longest pier on the Gulf of Mexico and Alabama's only public pier on the Gulf. It is 1540 feet long, 20 feet wide and boasts almost 2,500 feet of fishing space.  Cost to go on pier? $3 Only $9 if you want to fish off the pier. Fishing gear and bait available on the pier.  

Don't Forget to Look Up and Enjoy the Scenery

Seafood Festival at The Wharf in Orange Beach

Art at The Wharf

The Seafood Festival is a fundraiser for youth sports in Orange Beach, A. Proceeds are used to purchase uniforms, and equipment for youth baseball.

There were 85 Arts and Crafts vendors selling jewelry, pottery, watercolors, metal items, candles, textile arts etc.  There was also a car show displaying 40 treasured automobiles. 

The Wharf

The Wharf is an entertainment district located on the water between Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.  It has great shops and restaurants and marina attractions.
The Wharf Ferris Wheel is the largest Ferris Wheel in the Southeast at over 112 feet high carrying 140 people in 24 gondolas.

Olive Oil Anyone?

It's a day of music, food, arts and crafts, and military memorabilia.

Kickin' Up Their Heels

Stormy Weather

This year we experienced unusual weather in the south, mostly due to El Nino. 

The El Nino phenomenon is a warming of the Pacific waters, which can have an effect on weather patterns.

There were three tornado warnings in the Ft Meyers area and two tornado warnings in Foley-Gulf Shores-Pensacola while we were staying in those areas. The Gulf states rarely have tornadoes at this time of year. Tornadoes are worse than hurricanes because they know when a hurricane is likely to hit.

Back to the Beach

Senior Trip

The view at The Hangout in Gulf Shores, AL is awesome.  You can sit in the restaurant and watch the waves crash on the white sand beach that stretches for miles. The restaurant was changed up since our last visit two years ago, the bar was moved and more tables were available for up to 350 diners.  

The Place to Be in Gulf Shores

The food is your basic hamburger, hot dog, shrimp basket, etc. but it was good.  The burgers were so big it was hard to wrap your mouth around it.

That's One Big Bite!

Shark Attack Cocktail

The Hangout is located at the "T" intersection of Hwy. 59 and Beach Boulevard. It has a new outdoor stage in the outside patio where you can kick up your heals along with a little sand.  The Hangout hosts many events such as The Hangout Music and Arts Festival and Shrimp Festival.

A New Addition at the Hangout

Hang Loose

Celebration - I am a Seenager (Seniorteenager)

Live every day as if it were your last.  Some day you will get it right.

Happy Birthday,Pati

It was a day to remember. LeRoy took me birthday shopping and when we got back to our coach he gave me a special birthday card. I have everything that I wanted as a teenager only 50 years later.

Later we dined with friends at the Big Fish restaurant in Orange Beach. We enjoyed our meals of fresh seafood and hand-cut steaks, cocktails, a lovely courtyard along with our sassy waiter.

We enjoyed cake and ice cream back at our coach and sat around the campfire talking smart and solving all the problems of the world. A great time was had by all.

Eisenhower Tribute

Eisenhower Recreation Center in The Villages

In The Villages there is a recreation center where visitors can see history on display.  Many residents and families of The Villages have shared their armed forces collectibles for display here.

Representative of White House Entrance

It is a military museum with military memorabilia from World War 1 through the Gulf Wars, focused on the 5-Star Generals and Admirals of WWI.

Original Painting by Dwight D. Eisenhower

The Eisenhower Recreation Center is done in a military theme with uniforms, medals, letters, weapons, photos, military items and stories of veterans.

Monogrammed Leather Travel Case 

A volunteer pointed out the travel case owned and used by General Dwight D. Eisenhower during WWII and his White House years, a flag captured on Iwo Jima and a Civil War document bearing the signature of Abraham Lincoln.

Captured Japanese Flag

Civil War Document

Original Signature of President Abraham Lincoln on Civil War Document

I Like Ike

The Villages

We have heard about The Villages in Florida for several years and now we have had the opportunity to visit this city of approximately 120,000 residents. The Villages, located in central Florida, north of Orlando. has more than doubled in size since 2010. It is part of a planned active 55 and older community. 

Lake Sumter Landing It's a Beautiful Day in The Villages

The Villages has three hometowns, Spanish Springs, Lake Sumter Landing and Brownwood. They are quaint hometown settings where residents and visitors shop, dine and enjoying entertainment. 

Favorite Band "Rocky and the Rollers"

There is always something happening - parades, festivals, and entertainment in the three squares and designated venues.  You can enjoy free entertainment 365 days a year every night from 5 – 9 in the gazebos at all three town squares. 

World Record for Most Golf Carts

Year round personal enrichment opportunities are available for residents at The Lifelong Learning College.

Clock with Steam Operated Whistle

Triple Crown

Happy Campers

As we are staying at Grand Oaks, a 400 acre equestrian resort, it seemed appropriate to sign up for the on-premise Sunday brunch, Florida Carriage Museum tour, and a horse-drawn carriage ride around the property, a/k/a The Triple Crown.

Meet Bud and Weiser

On the property, we saw a few of the 3,000 Buddha statues which were uncovered in China. They are on loan from a collection in Mexico and could be up to 1,500 years old.

Buddha Statues

In the Austin Carriage Museum we saw a collection (160 carriages) that reminded us of the Remington Carriage Museum (270 carriages) in Alberta, Canada.

One of the International Carriages

The Grand Oaks Carriage Museum has one of the world’s largest private collections of carriages and equine artifacts. Gloria Austin's collection includes.

Replica Wells Fargo Stage Coach

The Golden Chariot

The exquisite 1850 Armbruster Dress Chariot was once owned by the Emperor of Austria, Franz and Elisabeth Joseph. 

Wooden Carousel Horse

Fire Chief's Phaeton

Replica of King Tut's Chariot

Hansom Carriage

Fruit and Veggie Stand

Nicolette, A Rare Poitou Donkey

The Poitou donkey is a large breed of donkey originated from the Poitou region of France, about 300 miles south-west of Paris.  It has a thick matted and tangled coat and a white underbelly, nose and rings around its eyes, The breed is rare as there are only about 100 of them in the world.  For hundreds of years, this French donkey was bred solely to be used for agriculture.  They nearly became extinct after WWII as motorized vehicles took over and the mule demand collapsed. Grand Oaks keeps Nicolette shorn, otherwise she would have dreadlocks to the ground.

Nicolette's Partner is Izzy, a runt Clydesdale