Making Memories

 

Christmas party at Bay Point Marina.

 

Another Cold Front moves into Panama City.

 

Christmas Eve aboard "The Zone".

 

Bob and Bill acting like they are shopping with the girls at Pier Park.

Christmas morning omelets and Bloody Marys aboard  'Roy El" at Pirates Cove Marina.

Serenity at the beautiful Bay Point Marina in Panama City Beach.

 

Big Mama's on the Bayou for some "down-home" cookin.

 

 

The best fried chicken, mac & cheese, and collards!

 

 

Oh Boy! Kurt's in the dog house now!

 

Holiday dinner with our friends at the Kingfish Restaurant in the Wynham Resort.

Happy Holidays!

Pensacola

Palafox Pier & Yacht Harbour Marina is in the heart of downtown Pensacola. Located at the end of Pensacola Bay's east channel, the fifteen foot deep basin is a favorite for traveling yachtsmen.

Within walking distance of historic Downtown, there are quaint shops and many restaurants to explore.

 
The town was decked out for Christmas and that's when we found out about the Christmas Parade.

That night we walked into downtown with our friends, Bill and Joy to watch the parade and what a surprise, it was huge!

All of Pensacola showed up with over 80 floats, police, fire department, and high school bands. It was quite impressive.

 

 

A good time was had by all!

 

 

A must do in Pensacola, is to visit The National Naval Aviation Museum. The Naval Aviation Museum, is a military and aerospace museum located at The Naval Air Station Pensacola.

 

 

As its name suggests, the museum is devoted to the history of naval aviation, including that of the U.S Navy, the U.S Marine Corp., and the U.S. Coast Guard.

More than 150 aircraft and spacecraft are on display, including four former Blue Angels (the Blue Angels are based at NAS Pensacola).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now that's scary!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fairhope

Just off the eastern shore of beautiful Mobile Bay sits Fairhope, Alabama.

Fairhope is a charming village, known for it's beautiful sunsets and friendly folks.

We pulled into Eastern Shore Marina, happy to see our friends on the boats Krazy Kru and Beulah Bell.

Eastern Shore Marina has a full service boatyard and a laid back, friendly attitude. We would like to thank Debra, Gillian, and Chuck the Cat.

We relax at the water's edge to watch the terrific sunset and catch up on travel news and the town.

And of course, we are happy to see loveable Lucy.

 

 

Fairhope's downtown radiates with the warm and friendly charm of a walkable Southern town.

 

 

The streets are full of boutiques, bookstores, and restaurants featured on the Food Network.

 

Well known for it's gumbo, we stop in at Gumbo's for a delicious lunch.

 

 

The town is decked out for Christmas by day.

 

 

And by night, a beautiful sight!

 

 

Yep, Bob and Kurt think this town is a down right comfortable place to be.

 

 

The Grand Hotel Marriott was our next stop for drinks and old world ambiance.

 

 

F.H. Chamberlain built the hotel in 1847. It was a two-story building with 40 rooms. A separate building housed the dining room and kitchen. A third building housed a bar called "The Texas."

 

In 1864, a portion of the hotel became a Confederate hospital during the Civil War.

 

 

In 1869, a fire destroyed the dining room, kitchen and guest rooms. There were no deaths.

Captain H.C. Baldwin bought the hotel in the 1870s for $75,000. It was 300 feet long

and had 60 suites.

 

 

In 1893, a hurricane destroyed the dining room and "The Texas" bar. Both were rebuilt.

 

 

We came to watch the 'firing of the cannon', a tribute to all of the armed services.

 

 

 

We went back to the Marriot bar with friends, Kurt and Pat, and enjoyed a perfect evening with the best dirty martinis. What a place!

These celebrities and just plain good folks were born in, or grew up in, or called Fairhope home at some time:

• Singer and songwriter Jimmy Buffett.
• Actress and author Fannie Flagg (Fried Green Tomatoes)
• Winston Groom, who wrote Forrest Gump