#vanlife; Alabama

{alabama}

I started off my time in Alabama with a stop at the visitor information center to gather up some ideas of what to see and where to go; there are no shortage of options in a state I’d never visited before, but I narrowed it down to a few highlights that grabbed my interest..

I decided to save Birmingham for my next trip and headed towards Montgomery. My first stop in town was as the Freedom Riders Museum, which is actually inside the historic greyhound station where the attack on the freedom riders took place. It’s a small museum, but very interesting and with an incredible story to tell in the fight for civil rights.

Freedom Riders Museum

Along a walk through the downtown Montgomery I discovered the first White House of the confederacy, which is restored as a museum. The Alabama state Capitol is also in town, which was another interesting building to wander through. Downtown there were plenty more historic buildings to see, and I very much enjoyed the day exploring.

First White House of the Confederacy

Alabama State Capitol

I continued heading south then, spending the night camped out at a casino (gorgeous 24hr restrooms..) then spent the day in gulf shores. It was a beautiful, sunny day spent on the beach with a good book - but also a bit breezy and my pasty Canadian skin overestimated the sun rays it could absorb. For a little afternoon break from the sun I drove across the peninsula to Florida, just for the fun of it! The beach was gorgeous although the water was pretty rough, churning up the water and making swimming a challenge. The evening consisted of a shopping trip for aloe and a couple days of tender shoulders, but it was worth it.. 

Gulf Shores, Alabama

The next day I tried to find some more indoor-based activities, and explored the city of Mobile. I started with a walk around the historic De Tonti Square district to ogle some of the beautiful homes there. Later in the morning I headed over to the Mobile Carnival museum; this museum is dedicated to the story of Mardi Gras, and the tour guide was very passionate about sharing the details of the tradition.  It's quite a spectacle, and along with a couple of sample-floats, the museum mostly featured the trains of past-crowned kings & queens; they are incredible works of art & are commissioned by local designers for tens-of-thousands of dollars.  Walking around town, you could still see bead-spangled trees along the parade routes!  

De Tonti Square

Mobile Carnival Museum; 8th Grade Queen's train

Mobile Carnival Museum; Mardi Gras King's Train

J.