Orange Beach, Ala.

                                                                

Orange beach was our first experience on the incredible beaches here.  We dingied over to one of the  sandbars in the bay for the afternoon and had a picnic there.  The water is too cold to swim (61 degrees), but the beaches are still awesome to be on. They are so beautiful with the white sand and crystal green/blue water that they almost look fake. The Orange Beach marina was great.  We actually spent a couple of days here as we enjoyed the area so much. It is not so developed around here as many other places on the Gulf are.

                                                         

There was a state park right near the marina with miles of bike trails through the dune area and woods. I had a great time bike riding there.  It has really surprised us that there are pine trees here, lots of them, right next to all the palm trees.  

                                                         

There are tons of giant beach souvenir stores everywhere

                                                           

lots of beach bars

It is spring break around here. So far it hasn’t been a big deal for us.

People around here told us not to miss the The National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Fla. We are right on the Ala./Fl. border. We were really glad we saw the museum – it was so impressive!!!  This is the home of the Blue Angels.  It was huge with planes there from WW1 thru the present.  There were space capsules there too.

                                                            

the first Mercury spacecraft - 6 1/2 feet in diameter and held one man

Lunar module that landed on the moon  in 1970

Lunar Rover Apollo 15 that was used on the moon - most expensive car ever to build $38,000,000.

We went to the local bar at the marina one night when there was a band playing.  We were really surprised when people (men and women of all ages) came over just to talk with us. When they heard our story they started introducing us to everyone else around. People were so genuinely friendly it was really refreshing.  That never would happen at home! They told us we had to visit the Floribama bar.

 

The Florabama beach bar - Famous, huge with different rooms and venues, holds several thousand people - No my bra is NOT hanging there!