by Rhonda Franz, Miss June 2015
This summer, we took a journey south, way south to the beach for our first real family vacation. My husband, me the boys—the longest car trip the kiddos have been on (and our first that wasn’t a stay at the grandparents’ house).
We ended up going through states that are part of The Women Bloggers community, stopping a few places along the way.
We traveled south to Conway, Arkansas, home of some of our south-in-the-state Arkansas Women Bloggers, and a nice stopping point for lunch. (We are the family who takes breaks on road trips.) Who doesn’t love Marketplace Grill?
On to Memphis, where we ate at Huey’s. Burgers, tamales, fries, salads. I forgot to take a picture of my tamales. They sure were good.
Our next stop: Mississippi. Home of the Mississippi Women Bloggers. Birthplace of Elvis.
And then on to Gulf in south Alabama, where the Alabama Women Bloggers live.
We ate great big food at The Hangout on Gulf Shores, a family-friendly outdoor restaurant a few feet from the shore. No shower required.
We made a hotel in Fairhope, Alabama our home for the week, taking a couple of visits to the town pier and beach. Beautiful views, wonderful weather, quaint downtown shops and restaurants: Fairhope is a terrific place to stay, nestled conveniently within an hourish or less drive to Gulf Shores, Mobile, and Pensacola, Florida.
Great service and friendly conversations at every place we stopped helped keep our family vacation enjoyable: an example, I am certain, of genuine Southern hospitality. I suspect it won’t be too long before I’ll want to go back.
Where did (or where will) you journey on vacation this year?
Don’t you just love Fairhope? So quaint and friendly. We’ve been hanging out in the Gulf Shores/Perdido Key area for 30+ years. Remind me to send you a copy of our shortcut directions and fav places to eat for your next trip down. Did you make it over to Foley? I tend to encourage Hubby to go play golf when I head to the outlets:) It saves us both a bunch of stress:) Glad you had such a great trip.
I am long overdue for a good roadtrip… need to get one planned for this summer for sure.
Hi, Rhonda!
We usually have done our southern traveling during the dead of winter. We love donning a jacket and taking in Galveston Beach, or Padre Island, or even Avery Island, which has an amazing botanical garden. My especial favorite of the more organic trips is to travel the Natchez Trace on foot. There are spots where a person can put in and find his own car delivered to where he exits, as in canoe trips. At Thanksgiving folks make such pilgrimages even in period costume with donkey-driven wooden carts. We’ve not gone that far, yet.
Your beach combing days sounded so romantic and fun. Glad you could gather the family in such a special place!