*I made sure to bold the places I think you should check out!
This trip wasn’t what I expected, but it was everything I needed. If you’re picturing a beach vacation, with temperatures in the 80’s, and sunny all the time, that was not this trip. Instead, I spent time bundled up because of cold temps, going on lots of walks, and working on puzzles.
When my parents picked me up from the airport, we went out for my favorite ethnicity of food, Mexican (at El Toro in Foley). The trip was off to a good start, and it was a cloudy and muggy 70 degrees…much better than the snowy 15 degrees I had come from.
Sunday was the same, and we enjoyed a relaxing day going to church and eating brunch.
However, on Monday the temperatures dropped, but the sun was still shining so we went to different shops and I got some great clothes at really great prices. We checked the Foley area, which is a very cute little town that is pretty quiet right now, but gets very busy in the summer. The area that caught my attention the most is known as “The Wharf,” located near Orange Beach. As I said, the area is very quiet right now, but the little shops and the coffee shop that we grabbed lunch at are adorable and offer something for everyone.
{If you find yourself at The Wharf in Orange Beach, you have to try the Chipotle Chicken Flatbread and Chicken Quesadilla at The Southern Grind!}
Tuesday, we began the day with a walk and then went and looked at a train museum (I know it sounds boring, but it really was cool!) We also got to walk along the beach and onto a pier overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. We even go to see some dolphins and pelicans, which are much bigger in person than I thought they would be!
On Wednesday, the temperatures started to warm up, so we went shopping! I highly recommend looking at the Big Fish Resale shops and Burke’s Outlet; there are also Tanger Outlet Stores that offer great variety at great prices.
Finally, we had our very first beach day on Thursday. The Gulf State Park offers great views of the Gulf as well as the pier that we walked out to on Monday. You should be warned though, it can get very windy, but there are options to seek some shelter behind. That evening, we went to a great restaurant called Flippers. It was about a 20 minute drive from Foley and I highly recommend getting the Shrimp Alfredo.
Today (Friday) was my last day, and we did a bit more shopping and I got all of my souvenirs bought. Even though the sun was not out over the Gulf, but we got to come back and sit by the pool.
So, even though I thought that I was in for a vacation with a full week of beach days, I actually got so much more. I got to spend time with my wonderful parents and my grandma finding all sorts of little adventures. I may be just as white as when I came here, but my soul is lighter and I am refreshed enough to finish out this semester stronger than when I started!
Tomorrow I fly out at 5:30am, so please pray for anyone who comes in contact with me before I have coffee!
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