My southern roots lead me home for the holidays. My mother, brother and his growing family live in Florida where I spent most of my childhood. Our middle son also lives a few hours north of Florida with his new bride. So we transplanted "Okies" pack up and all head down to the gulf coast with our two furbabies in tow!
Sandestin Website
Pinterest
There are so many churches in the south that one year we counted churches all the way to keep the boys entertained. I don't remember the exact number they counted but it was in the hundreds!! They are grown now but still remember all the fun things we did before electronics. I 'm sure if you are old enough you have played those car games with your children too. After all back then we didn't have DVD players, cell phones and Ipads!
When we cross the Mississippi River we always take a break and marvel at the Mighty Mississippi River and bridge from a scenic visitor center.
South of Jackson, Mississippi there is a fruit stand that my husband and I have been stopping at since we first got married over 35 years ago!
Donna's website
Donna, the lady that owns it has gone from a small roadside stand to a large store with a gift and ice cream shop. She even has a website! People stop there from all over the country on their journey home for the holidays. I always have to buy some fresh produce and hot boiled peanuts!!
Donna, the lady that owns it has gone from a small roadside stand to a large store with a gift and ice cream shop. She even has a website! People stop there from all over the country on their journey home for the holidays. I always have to buy some fresh produce and hot boiled peanuts!!
They give you lots of napkins so you can nibble your way home!
Highway 98 is our last stretch of road and when we reach there we are "almost home". The highway winds through tall pines down to Mobile, Alabama and finally out to the
Florida gulf coast.
Florida gulf coast.
You do have to go through a long tunnel that goes under Mobile Bay and that was always an exciting part of the trip for my boys.
Another 90 minutes and we are home!
with my family.
Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year!
See you next year!!
Happy New Year!
See you next year!!
Oh, I remember all those road trips to Florida with the kids. And counting certain colors of cars, counting anything but we never thought of churches. Mostly what we heard was, "Are we there yet?"
ReplyDeleteHave a great time!
It all sounds like a fun (hopefully) and picturesque trip! And the destination always keeps you excited. Have a ball!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you and your famiy!!
XO,
Jane
Wonderful post, beautiful place! I'm sure you will enjoy your visit! Merry Christmas, Sonia.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous time...looks like it's going to be a White Christmas here which means I may be snowed in. I'd trade for sunny Florida any day.
ReplyDeleteI think that playing the car alphabet game helped me learn to spell and read as a little bitty girl. We also played a game called "I See a Ship a Sailing, a sailing on the sea.. It's loaded with something that starts with a __. We spent hours playing those games. Sweet memories. Have a blessed trip. Merry Christmas! Cherry Kay
ReplyDeleteHow fun to take a trip each year that has so much tradition for you. Aren't you glad we didn't have DVDs and all that when our kids were little? Have a wonderful trip and let us know how it went.
ReplyDeleteYou take some simply gorgeous photos. Glad you had an interesting trip. Happy New Year to you too. We're not that far in that I can't wish it to you are we?~~Dee
ReplyDelete