Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida - Pensacola Florida

When I was a little kid my mom would always take us to places that were local and fun to visit. When I was really little my mom would take us to this sanctuary in Pensacola that housed animals that could not be released back into the wild or that just needed to heal and then be released or be placed in zoos. Some of the many things that we got to see when we went was a bear cub, owls, and a baby deer that someone had tried to keep in their back yard and it got hurt on the fence. When I was a kid the sanctuary would take cans as donations to help them keep running, I remember helping my mom save these cans so that we could go and help out the animals as well. Well now that I'm older I'm very please to say that I have located this sanctuary and to tell others that it's still around. It might have moved and it's a little different but it's great none the less.

The sanctuary still houses animals that can't be released or that need care to heal. And they help animals that people find and have a phone number for you to call if you find an animal that needs help. They allow people to come by and visit their animals that live at the sanctuary, they house over a hundred animals that can't be released. If you plan to visit the sanctuary then you might want to make sure that you know they keep strange hours, as far as I know right now they only allow people to visit their animals on Wednesdays - Saturday from noon to three thirty, but this can change. This might not seem like a long time but it's a great afternoon outing and it's a relaxing visit.

While I love animals and zoos can be fun this place is much better than any zoo I have been to. It's a calm and relaxing atmosphere and all the animals that that are there are being taken care of to help release them back into the wild or find them a more permanent place because they can't be released, or call the sanctuary home because they can't find homes elsewhere. There are a lot of animals that you see on your visit but it won't take you all afternoon to see them all. The last time that I visited I was able to see a wide range of critters including a serval and owls.

If you find that you can't head out on a weekday keep checking their website because sometimes if you find the right Saturday they might do an open house. This is where people can come and see some of their animals and they might even have animal encounters going on. This is a great way to head out there if you find that weekdays aren't the best for you or your family.

The Sanctuary is located at:

105 North "S" Street
Pensacola, FL 32505

Phone Number:  (850) 433-9453

Hours for Visiting:  Wednesday - Saturday: 12 noon to 3:30 p.m.

If you find injured wildlife drop offs are everyday from 8-5

They only ask for a small donation to help keep the sanctuary running, in order for you to visit.

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party

When the cool of Fall comes to south Florida and the thoughts of ghosts, ghouls and goblins start to cross your mind consider making a trip to the Magic Kingdom. On certain nights during the fall Disney’s Magic Kingdom holds it annual Halloween party, called Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. This is a family friendly Halloween party that it suitable for all ages, from trick or treating to parades and villains dancing, this party has something for everyone.

The Halloween party is an extra admission event that is held at the Magic Kingdom, you have to buy a ticket to the Halloween party, it is not included in park admission, but it’s well worth it. Once the party starts guests can take part in things that aren’t offered during regular park hours. A Special parade is held, along with a villain’s dance party, and trick or treating, not to mention the haunted mansion is made extra creepy for these special nights.

If you have never been to the party its good to know that you should arrive early, you can usually start to enter the park at least thirty minutes before the start of the party using your Halloween party ticket. Once you get in the park you should pick up a times guide for the Halloween events. If you can it’s a good idea to not go on Friday as this can be the busiest day to go.

The Dapper Dan's

I recommend starting out with visiting some of the trick or treat locations that are throughout the park. These locations are marked on the Halloween map; if you hit these early in the evening and late then you should not have much of a wait. So I think its best to hit one or two when the party first starts, and then by 7:30 have your spot for the first parade. Usually the parades will start at 8:30 and 10:30, I think its best to go to the early parade and be there at least an hour early. Most people will go to Main Street but this is a rookie mistake you want to head over to Frontierland to watch the parade, the parade starts in Frontierland and ends on Main Street. Spots will fill up fast and you want to get a good spot. I usually head to Casey’s Corner and grab some corn dog nuggets and find my spot in Frontierland an hour before the parade.

The Caretaker from the Haunted Mansion

Spots for the Boo to You Halloween Parade are hard to come by so guard it well, make sure that your entire party is there and waiting. It’s also important to note that before the parade you can see two things that can’t be seen at any time, the Dapper Dan’s are dressed up and singing stories or Halloween ghouls before the parade, if you are lucky you might catch wind of them signing of the scariest ghoul of all, the Headless Horseman. But beware about five minutes before the parade starts the Headless Horseman himself will ride through the parade route. (Please note, he cannot stop so make sure that you are clear of the route before he rides).  Following the horseman’s ride the parade will start and feature many of your favorite Disney characters dressed up in their costumes. If you are lucky you might catch a glimpse of some Disney ghouls such as the Haunted Mansion’s ballroom dancers, the Caretaker from the Haunted Mansion and his dog, the Hitchhiking ghosts, and classic Disney villains.

The Headless Horseman

Once the parade is over you should have a little time to hit a trick or treating spot or two or maybe a ride with a short line, but watch your time. If you want to catch the special Halloween fireworks show called Happy Hallowishes you will want to make sure that you give yourself plenty of time. Here’s a tip, don’t make the rookie mistake of watching the fireworks on Main Street, go to Beast’s Castle about fifteen minutes before the fireworks and watch them from there. There are fewer crowds, and it’s a much better view.

Haunted Mansion Dancers

After the fireworks it’s a good time to walk around and hit up a few of the rides that have shorter lines, then by about 10:00 the lines for a lot of rides will start to slack off and so will the trick or treating lines. A lot of people will be waiting for the second parade, and then will be leaving after that. So many ride lines that are usually very busy will thin out, when I was there the Peter Pan ride line was only a five minute wait, and Thunder Mountain was walk on. By 11:00 most trick or treat locations were cleared out and had no wait at all. It’s a good idea to make sure that you time your events well, that way you can make the most out of your time.

If you can try to plan visiting the Haunted Mansion during the second parade, the line will be pretty short and it’s a great time to do it. The cast members at the Haunted Mansion will be dressed up with makeup and

Haunted Mansion

cobwebs to look like they are dead and if you hang around in front of the mansion you can meet a ghost with a sense of humor. On the front lawn of the mansion you can meet one of the ballroom dancers, who likes to talk and make jokes at those that are still living. When I went her name was Miss Renalda, but it changes as to who is visiting each night. It can be fun to just hang out and watch her for a few minutes. She can be seen as you enter the mansion and as you exit the mansion.

While the Halloween Party is only a few hours long usually about 5 hours I think, if you know when and how to do things you can make the most of your time without having to rush at all. Just to give you a taste of some of the things to do, here are a couple of videos that I took at the party during my last visit.

Kooter Brown's - Pensacola Florida

So it has been a while since I talked about one of the best features of traveling, the food! It's always so much fun to try out new places to eat that you can't find in your home town. The best way to find some of these places to read up on reviews and to find out what the locals like. And if you want a great place in Pensacola follow the bumper stickers that say "I would rather be a Kooter than a Hooter". One of my all time favorite places is a small local place called Kooter Brown's, they are located in Pensacola Florida.

Kooter Brown's is a small restaurant that is a local place, that serves the typical food that you might associate with watching a football game. As a matter of fact that is the point behind this hidden treasure. It is meant to be a small place where people can come in and have a bite to eat and watch their favorite sporting event, no matter where you sit in this place you can see a television, and if you come in and wish to watch a certain event, all you have to do is request it, and they will either seat you in a place where you can see it, or turn the channel. If you are true sports fan you will also love the decor of the place, they have sports photos, banners and jerseys hanging all over the restaurant. Many professional and college teams are represented but there are also a good amount of local teams supported with their photos on the walls.

Now on to the good stuff, the food. If you find that you want to try out some of their Pre Game Warm Ups, I would have to tell you to try out the Fried Pickles. I love fried pickles and have tried my fair share of different versions, but this is by far my favorite. Most of the time when I go the person that I am with has to be careful before I eat all that they bring us. I would also highly recommend their chicken wings as a main course, my personal favorite is the honey BBQ, but I know that everyone's taste is different. I do have to admit though that they have very good wings, I usually don't care for wings but I keep finding myself craving Kooter's wings.

One thing to keep in mind is that when big games are being played the place is much more packed than when it's an off time for sports. Weekdays during the afternoon is one of the best times to go if you want to avoid the crowds. Plus if you go during the afternoon you can take advantage of the lunch specials. So now if you ever see someone with a bumper sticker in Pensacola that reads "I'd rather be a Kooter than a Hooter" you know what they are talking about.

6014 N 9th Ave 
Pensacola, FL
 32504
 ‎
(850) 484-3100

Witches, Wizards, Ghosts, Monster, and the Headless Horseman!

Yes I know that I have not been posting at all in the past month. But I promise I have a really good reason. I was in Atlanta for a while, and then took a couple weeks to travel down to Orlando. I went to Universal Studios and Disney World. I know you would think that I would get tired of heading down there, but I always turn into a big kid when I head down there. And this time it was even better.

Since its getting close to Halloween the parks were either having or getting ready for their Halloween parties. Disney has the Headless Horseman than rides through the Magic Kingdom at their party, and even though it is not as cool as years ago when we raced through its still something to see. And I can never get tired of the Harry Potter area at Islands of Adventure at Universal, and what better way to get in the Halloween mood that to see the Beetlejuice show at Studios?

Anyway I am trying to get caught up on all my work and editing photographs that I took, and then I promise I will get back to posting. In the mean time keep an eye on my youtube channel because I am finished up trying to upload all the videos from my trip earlier in the year and from this past trip. It should only be a few days before I'm posting again. Yay!

Saint Michael's Cemetery - Pensacola Florida

I know that when most people think of cemeteries they either think of ghosts or somewhere creepy. While this is the case for many cemeteries there are some like Saint Michael's Cemetery in Pensacola Florida that are different. This cemetery is located in the downtown historic district of Pensacola. It's an eight acre cemetery that has people of all faiths resting in it. The cemetery was officially designated a cemetery in 1807, which makes it a very old cemetery and a sort of a museum in its own way.

If you plan to visit this cemetery during your visit to Pensacola there are some things to remember. This is a cemetery and while visitors are welcome from about 9AM to sunset you should be respectful. This is a final resting place for people and many people have loved ones that have been laid to rest in this cemetery, show them the same respect that you want your loved ones shown.

That being said that are some interesting tombstones that you can see while walking through the cemetery, some are just random and may draw your attention. When I walk through the cemetery I can always find some interesting tombstones that I don't remember having seen before. You can walk through the cemetery and explore on your own, or you can go their website and look at a self guided tour. They have some graves that could be of interest. Some of these graves include descendents of the Washington family, seamen from the Gertrude, former mayors of Pensacola, as well as notable places in the cemetery that are not graves, and it will show you some of the oldest marked graves in cemetery and where they are located.

If you plan on visiting this cemetery make sure to check the weather before you head out there, its best not
to go on a day that it has been raining as the ground can get a little soggy and wet. This might not make the trip as pleasant as it could be for you. Like I said before its a good idea to be respectful when you visit the cemetery while its a historic place that should not be missed its still a place that should be shown respect. When you visit you can take as many photos as you want and take as much time as you want before leaving, but you must leave before sunset. While some people will try to visit the cemetery at night it is not allowed and if you are caught it will be viewed as trespassing, these laws are in place to help ensure visitor's safety and to help keep the cemetery from being vandalized. You can however walk around the outer fence to look at the cemetery at night if you want, but remember to be safe when doing this.

If are interested in finding out more about the cemetery or seeing the self guided tour you can visit their website. 

Goofy Golf - Pensacola Florida

The Dinosaur From Course 1

We all have those fond memories of places we use to visit and things that we use to do as kids. For me one of those memories is that of Goofy Golf located in Pensacola Florida. Goofy Golf is a small place that you can go to play put put. There are two courses and they don't have the typical theme that most places these days have. When I was little I use to always ask my parents if Goofy Golf was open, the reason was that they were not open at all times of the year so I was thrilled when they were open and I could go and take some swings. While this little place has changed through the years and it does not seem as new and sparkly as it once did to me, (or perhaps its always been that way but I'm older now) it still holds the same appeal and love as it always did.

There are still two courses and they still hold the same interest with funky characters at each turn. In one course you can start with the Mad Hatters Hat, and work your way through a pumpkin head, cemetery, octopus (this one always took me forever to get), skee ball which looks like a skee ball game, spook house, a tiki hut, a cave, grandmother's house, the dinosaur this one was always my favorite he use to be orange but they have since painted him green I still miss the orange version, da bear who is wearing what looks a lot like a Chicago Bears jersey, shoe, hollywood, candy lane, gator one of my other favorites as a kid the eyes of the gator light up and the mouth opens and closes, chinese dragon, hat and then finally the lion's den.

The Owl From Course 2

If you want to go on the second course you will start with Humpty Dumpty this is a classic, then go on to space battle, cogsworth, sky rocket, captain james, shrek this one was not there when i was little it was added on, lighthouse, perisa, the knight, wormy one my favorites as a kid but I think I just liked to play on the worm, ancient greece, owl, slow poke who has been repainted to look a lot like a koopa trooper from
Mario, Koopa's Castle from Mario, roswell, secret garden, graffiti ramp, and then you can finish up with the igloo.

While I still love both course course two has taken a few more turns and changes over the years so I prefer the first course. They are both still a ton of fun and whenever I go there even now I have to do both courses. It's not the newest or the fanciest of places but it's different and something that you won't find other places, this is the  original Goofy Golf and I don't care if it sounds silly I still think that its something that the entire family can enjoy. If you live in town and have never been or if you are just visiting I would recommend this place. They usually aren't too busy but if you can go in the afternoon or on a weekend you are less likely to run into crowds. If you are looking for one course the second course is a little easier than the first one, in my opinion but I would still recommend if you have the time doing both.

They also have a small arcade and batting cages as well as a couple pool tables that you can use.

Slow Poke From Course 2

Phone Number: 850-456-6794

Address: 3924 W Navy Blvd  Pensacola, FL 32507

Hours:  Mon-Fri 2PM - 10PM 

            Sat&Sun 12Noon - 10PM 

 Four years and older $5 for one course or $8 for both

Three years and under free

St. Petersburg Museum of History - St. Petersburg Florida

A few years ago I went on a trip with a friend and he insisted that we head down to St. Petersburg. One of the things that we did while we were there was head to the St. Petersburg Museum of History. From the outside it's a pretty small unassuming building and more than likely doesn't get a lot of traffic from tourists. I love museums so of course I was all for seeing what it was like. When I first walked in I wasn't really expecting much but to my surprise I ended up really the museum.

Replica of the Benoist Airboat

It's not that big, but that doesn't mean that if you decide you want to see it  that you shouldn't make sure that you give yourself plenty of time. They have a ton of great exhibits and artifacts and always have some sort of temporary exhibit on display. I personally like a few things that stood out, the The World's First Commercial Airline is an exhibit that always stays at the museum. It has a lot of information and artifacts but it included a full sized replica that works, of the Benoist Airboat, which I found very interesting.

There are little things throughout the museum that are fun, including a figure of what the height of the average man was during a certain time frame. It's fun to stand up all your friends next to it and see how they measure

The Sarcophagus of the Mummy

up. I'm sure that for most grown people they will be taller than the figure, I was surprised to see they weren't all that tall. I have to admit that my favorite piece in the entire museum was a mummy and the sarcophagus that belongs to the mummy. This 3,000 year old mummy was the highlight of my trip to the museum. I have always been interested in these things and found it wonderful that I got to see one in person. Actually I was surprised that the sarcophagus was not behind a glass case or anything at all, it was just sitting out next to the display case that holds the actual mummy. I could have leaned up against it or touched it if I had wanted to. (Although let's be honest, that would be more than a little creepy and I had no desire to touch another person's used coffin).

In all the museum has been around for 90 years and has it's own history it was founded in 1920 as the St. Petersburg Memorial Historical Society. In 1922 the museum moved to the site where it is currently located, and has been there every since. With over 30,000 artifacts it will hold your attention and is well worth the visit. Visitors can take advantage of self guided tours or of guided tours if wanted. Visit the museum's website for more information.

Admission

General admission: $12 Senior citizens 60 and up: $9 Students with ID: $6 Children 8-17: $6 Children under 8: FREE

Hours

Tuesday - Saturday 10 AM- 5 PM

Closed on Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Year's Day

Old Town Alabama - Montgomery Alabama

Old Town Alabama is one of the many things that is in Montgomery that can often be overlooked by the traveler. However this particular historic tour is something that I think everyone should make the time to see. While it is considered a tour you do not have to actually go with a tour group to see all the buildings and sites on the tour. You can do a self guided tour. When you buy your tickets you will be given a map of the sites included in your ticket. What I found very interesting is that they have people in costumes that are placed throughout the tour and you can stop and talk to them and ask questions, and the are very informative. You can also leave and come back throughout the day if you need to take a break or go get something to eat and come back.

I do recommend making sure that you check the weather when you are planning to go because this is an outdoor tour. While you can go inside many of the buildings you will be walking from one to another and they are not always that close together. They also have some gardens that are around some of the old homes and those are worth looking at, especially if you have hit the right time of year so the flowers are in bloom. I found when I went that it was nice to go see a few of the buildings and then find a cool place to sit. Me and the person that I was with were actually lucky enough to be able to find a cool place where someone that worked there was,
so we were talking with him and asking him questions and learned a lot. It was really something that I enjoyed. There are all kinds of little things that you can learn by asking a lot of questions if you aren't too shy.

You are free to roam in and out of all the buildings and can look at your own pace but the Ordeman
House is the only one that you have to have a guided tour of. That is included in your admission so it is not extra, but I would make sure that you look to see what times the tours are when you get your tickets and do it. The inside is amazing, but the outside and the garden are even better. If you are planning to try and see all the buildings and sites then I would make sure that you have the ablity to go for an entire day. It's very nice and relaxing and the more time you have and the better the weather is the more fun you will have. It's also a good idea to make sure that you wear clothes that are comfy and shoes for walking. It's not like a hike would be but it's a fair amoung of walking.

Overall this was something that I though might be nice, but it was much better than I thought it would be, and I wish that I had alloted more time to see the tour. I plan on going back and seeing the tour in a more relaxed timeframe, and I recommend that should you find yourself in the Montgomery area you make sure that you check out this tour, and bring your camera.

Hours are Mon.-Sat. 9AM-4PM last ticket sold at 3PM Mon.-Fri. and 2:30PM on Sat.
Closed Sundays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day
Admission is $10 for adults and children are $5, children under 6 are free

The list of complete buildings on the tour can be found at The Old Town Alabama's Website.

Alabama Shakespeare Festival - Montgomery Alabama

The Alabama Shakespeare Festival is located in Montgomery Alabama. It's something that many people around the south have heard of, but few have actually been there and fewer know the history behind this great treasure. The Festival was orginally located in Aniston Alabama and was in a high school and only ran plays six weeks out of the year. In the early 80s the festival faced financial problems, which is when the new building was built in Montgomery on a 250 acre park, by a lover of the arts. Thus creating the Shakespeare Festival that we know today. This Festival will show about 14 different plays each year and at least three will be some of Shakespeare's works, the other stages will perform other classics from writers such as Shaw, Chekhov, Wilder, and many more.

I myself have been to this Festival two times, when I was younger and once when I was older. The

first two trips that I took, were as school trips and I had fun but didn't truly appreciate it until I was a

little older. The building itself is something to see, but also the grounds. The festival sits on 250 acres of land that is a site to see just driving to the stages. The park is open from dusk until dawn every day, and well worth seeing and it's a great place to picnic and even bring your dog, (but dogs must be on a leash). The normal rules do apply, things like do not harm the wildlife, or mess up the pieces of art that are on the property, pick up after yourself, things that are not only rules but just the right things to do. It's a good idea to make sure that you check the weather schedule before heading out as the more beautiful the day the better.

It's easy to purchase tickets if you wish to see a show at the Festival it's best to contact them through their website. However a few things that you should note, children under the age of six are not permitted in the shows, there might be a show at some point for children but this rule is to ensure the performers safety and the patrons enjoyment of the show. Casual attire is what a lot of people wear to the shows they attend, a wide range of attire can be seen when you go. However the times that I went I worn a casual dress, and felt comfortable and thought it was appropriate, so I would recommend nice, but casual. If you are interested to learn more about the performance or ask the actors any questions you might want to know that after each afternoon performance there is a short question and answer with the cast. I had the pleasure of going to a show that had this and I found out so much about the performances. If you want to know even more about the festival you can book a behind the scenes tour. You should contact the box office to find out when it is available and pricing, I have always wanted to do that, but have not had the chance to yet. Seeing a show here is something that I would highly recommend to anyone.


The Alabama Shakespeare Festival website will have all the information on tickets and shows.

Alabama State Capitol - Montgomery Alabama

The Alabama State Capitol Building is not only a building that is in use today, it's also a place in which many  historic events took place. Today it's used to help run the state of Alabama, but visitors can also take a trip there to see certain areas of the building and grounds. I remember my first trip to the building when I was in fourth grade, and have been a couple since them. Every time I go I notice something different and interesting that I never noticed before. That is why I really encourage people that are going to visit to make sure that they give themselves enough to time to see everything and enjoy it.

It's always a good idea to check the weather before you go, while you will want to tour the inside of the building there are a lot of things that are on the grounds that you will want to see. It's a much nicer experience if you make sure that the weather is good for your walking around outside. One of the things that you will want to look out when you are on the grounds on the buliding is the Confederate Memorial Monument, which is located on the north side of Capitol Hill. This is a monument that is dedicated to more than 122,000 veterans of the Civil War. On the Capitol's south wing is the Avenue of Flags. This is semi circle of the U.S. Flags with a native stone and an engraving of the state's name in front of each flag.

The steps are the most famous thing to see on the ground of the capitol, these steps have served as historic points throughout history. One of the most noteable moment was The Selma to Montgomery March in 1965 that ended on these steps, as Martin Luther King Jr. gave a speech to the over 25,000 marchers. You can walk up these steps and take photos and admire the beauty, and historic events that took place there.

If you are interested in the inside of the building then make sure that you are aware that while the

entire building is not able to be toured, most of the building is. And while you do not actually need to take the tour to see the building I would recommend seeing the outside on your own, but the inside with a tour. The reason is that it's very hard to know exactly what things are and how they significant unless you have a guide to tell you these things.

Also I have noticed that certain days are much busier, if you can stay away from times in which public schools are in session and go over holiday breaks or summer it's less busy. Many schools will go on field trips to the Capitol Building and this can make it much busier and sometimes louder.

The Alabama State Capitol Building is located at
600 Dexter Avenue
Montgomery, AL 36104

The Tour Office Phone Number is (334) 242-3935

Monday-Friday:
Self guided tours can be taken 9 AM- 4PM
Guided Tours are given at 9AM, 11AM, 1PM, and 3PM (if you have a group of 15 or more, call in advance for a guided tour)
Closed on Sundays and all State Holidays

Civil Rights Memorial and Center - Montgomery Alabama

If you find yourself in Montgomery Alabama, you should know that there is a lot of history regarding Civil Rights here. Because of the importance of this time in Montgomery's history you will find landmarks and markers throughout the city pinpointing where certain events took place or what roles certain places played in this time in history. If you are interested in learning a little more about even making a pledge to stand up againist intolerance then you might want to head over to the Civil Rights Memorial and Memorial Center.

The Memorial itself was dedicated in 1989. It was inspired by the famous quote "we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream" which Martin Luther King said in his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. A round stone fountain in the shape of an upside down cone lets water flow over the base of the cone and over the forty names that the memorial holds. Visitors can touch the water and fountain (or at least they could when I visited). This will only disrupt the smooth flow of the water until the hand is removed. It is truly a beautiful memorial and good reminder of how important tolerance and equality really is. Also please note that this memorial is outside, so you need to make sure that you dress for the weather when going to see it, and make sure that any trash is picked up before you leave as a sign of respect.

After visiting the Civil Rights Memorial you can go see the Civil Rights Memorial Center, in fact the center is adjacent to the memorial. Inside the center is a theater in which vistors can learn about the history of the Civil Rights Movement. Also make sure that you stop to look at the Freedom Mural that is inside the center. Within the mural you will see photographs and quotes that had a lasting impact on the movement and many are images and quotes that we learn about to this day. It is a beautiful and powerful mural that you should not miss.

 If you are interested in pledging yourself to take a stand aganist injustice, and intolerance then make
sure that you sign your name on the Wall of Tolerance. The Wall of Tolerance holds over half a million names that have pledge to take a stand. The wall is 20 by 40 feet and names flow down all the time. If you are interested in taking this stand then you can take the pledge that so many others have already done.

"By placing my name on the Wall of Tolerance, I pledge to take a stand against hate, injustice and intolerance. I will work in my daily life for justice, equality and human rights - the ideals for which the Civil Rights martyrs died."

The names that are placed on this wall are never erased letting a new generation of people join with an older generation to take a stand and remember what is truly important. The Civil Rights Memorial and Memorial Center is really an eye opening experience and something that should not be missed if you happen to be in the Montgomery area.

The Memorial is in an open area that is open to the public 24 hours a days.

The Civil Rights Memorial Center is open:
Monday -Friday 9AM-4:30PM
Saturday 10AM-4PM
Children are admitted free, Adult Admission is $2

The address is
400 Washington Avenue
Montgomery Alabama

Alabama Department of Archives and History - Montgomery Alabama

This is really one of those places that people don't even think of when they are planning a trip to Montgomery, nor do they look at it as a reason to head to the area of Montgomery. This reason is that most people are unaware of exactly what you can do and see if you vist the Department of Archives and History. I first went when it was in elementary school, and I had no idea what it was going to be or if I would find it entertaining at all. I have to admit that I enjoyed it so much that a had to go back once I got older.

The first thing that you should know about this place that it has a museum, you would be surprised how many people don't know that there is a museum there, they think that it only houses records and documents. The museum is actually a very extensive collection of artifacts and collections that tell the history of Alabama. When you are visiting the museum make sure that you take note of the bronze map that is on the lawn. It is located on the north lawn or Washington Avenue. It's a map of the state of Alabama with events and landmarks marked on the map. There is a photo of the map and a key to this map is on the official website if you would like to see what is located on the map.

The building itself is a very nice building and when you go inside it might seem a little quiet and you might be inclined to be quiet yourself, this is more than likely a good idea. You don't have to be perfectly quiet but it is not a place that you should go running through yelling or laughing really loud. It is more than a museum and inside the building sound can travel well. The museum itself is actually a very nice museum with seperate rooms that are dedicated to different events and timeframes in Alabama's history. The museum won't take a very long time for you see all of but at least a couple hours should be allotted and perhaps more than that depending on how much time you want to take to see everything.

The other thing that you can do while you are visiting here is go to the research room. This room is designed for people to be able to look up information on Alabama. It can be information that is relating to your past or your town's past or information on a certain subject or event. For instance when I went to the research room I was able to get a printout of all the historic cemeteries and their names in Alabama. There are rules that you will need to make sure that you know when you are visiting the research room. There is no food or drink at all, and no bags this does include purses, laptop cases, and briefcases, and coats are not allowed either, and no ink pens should be brought in. You can bring in your cell phone but you must turn it on silent or off and step outside to take any calls. If you have any items that are not allowed in the research room lockers are available for rent. Laptops, binders, pencils, and folders are all allowed in the reserach room. Please note that if you want to take a break to have a snack or drink they do have another room available.

The Archives Building itself is open Monday-Friday 8:30-4:30
The Research Room is open Tuesday through Friday and the second Saturday of each month 8:30-4:30
The Museum is open Monday -Saturday 8:30-4:30
All of these are closed on State Holidays.
Please visit the official website for more information.

Historic Blakeley State Park - Spanish Fort Alabama

The Cemetery at Blakeley

This state park has a lot of history behind it, and to truly be able to enjoy visiting you have to know some of the history, so before telling you about the park, I will tell you some of the history. Blakeley State Park is a park that visitors can see if they are in the Baldwin County area of Alabama. Blakeley has a lot of history surrounding the park. As a matter of fact the Blakeley is one of the oldest towns in the state of Alabama. In 1814 the town was first chartered.  In 1820 the town's population was about 4,000, which suprisingly was larger that the city that stood across the bay, Mobile. The town had stores, a courthouse, homes, a blacksmith and even hotels. However by the time that 1830 hit, Blakeley was slowing dieing out, the yellowfever epidemic hit this town hard and most of the remaining residents moved on to places like Mobile. For a short time the town began to come back during the Civil War, known as Fort Blakeley. The last major battle of the Civil War was fought at Blakeley with 20,000 men fighting at Blakeley, just hours after the surrender of Robert E. Lee. By the time 1865 hit, Blakeley was no more. The land reclaimed the city and battlefield until 1981 when Blakeley State Park was Opened.

This is a huge park, the first time that I went I made the mistake of thinking that it was something that

Civil War Battlements

would take about an hour and you could walk. I should let you know that it is not. It is a park that will take you back in time to see Civil War battlements, a Civil War Cemetery, as well as where the old town used to sit. In order for you to see all this you will need to drive from place to place. When you arrive you will have to pay and then you will be given a park map. This will show you where to drive to see the different historic places that Blakeley has.

The Hiding Tree

The first thing that you will see is the cemetery. The cemetery itself spans a pretty good amount of land but there are only a few cement crosses that mark these graves, and some of them have broken and fallen over with time. It's a site to see, but at the same time a bit sad and humbling. Depending on the route that you take, you can go to see the Civil War battlements that are still standing today. Just head over to the battlefield. You can get out and walk around on the battlefield and even stand behind the battlements and feel exactly what the soldiers that were fighting that day felt. I always find that I can't stand on that field without thinking about the men that fought and died that day, and the sacrifice that they made. If you are interested in seeing more from the battle then over near the boardwalk you will find a tree that is called the hiding tree. This tree was naturally hollowed out and is large enough to hide at least one grown man in it. Soldiers would use this tree to hide from oncoming attacks and as a way to ambush to attackers after they run past. If you find that you are brave enough and want to go inside the trunk of the tree and get your photo taken, it's one of a kind. The tree is marked on the map and points of interest that you will get when you enter the park, unless that has changed.

If you find that Civil War and battlefields aren't your favorite thing to see. You can go to where the


The Hanging Tree Branch

town of Blakeley used to be and see the site of
the old courthouse and church. There is not much if anything left to see of this town, however there are markers that indicate where buildings and homes use to stand. If you head over to the area of the courthouse there is a tree that you will find is called the hanging tree. If you take a moment and look up at this tree you will see what looks like a knotch in the tree. This knotch is from the ropes that were used to hang people. As an added creep factor take someone that does not know this history and tell them to stand under the branch and look up, then explain what the knotch is, and then inform them that they are standing in the exact place that people were hung. It's something that can send chills up your spine to know that, but most people don't think of this when looking at the tree.

If you are a nature lover then you will find that you can walk on nature trails and see all sorts of wildlife. There have been sightings of snakes, foxes, coyotes, and other animals. Most of the time they won't be in the areas that are visited a good bit, at least during the day. Often times they will wander onto the nature trails, or come out later in the day and at night. Blakeley does have options for campers to stay overnight, but it's best to make sure that you are prepared and ready for the night. The park is locked up overnight and there is nobody that stays at the gatepost overnight. Day or night visitors are welcome to bring food and drink into the park, just as long as you make sure that you clean up after yourself.

Blakeley also has special events on occasion. If you would like to find out more about the park and the events then you can visit their website Blakeley State Park.

The park is located from 9 AM to Dusk 7 Days a Week

Sheldon Castle - Fairhope Alabama

Sheldon Castle in Fairhope Alabama was built in 1946 by Craig Sheldon. Sitting right next door to this castle is the Castle that his daughter built with her husband many years later. Some call the newer castle Mosher Castle but for many of the locals they are both just part of Sheldon Castle. The detail that went into these two castles is amazing however if you take notice of both of the castles and look at the details you will find that while both are amazing and beautiful there is much more detail in one. This would be the first castle that was built, Sheldon Castle.

While Fairhope can be a nice little town to visit it doesn't really have a lot anymore for guests to see. Many of the old rustic charms that were once there have faded or been shut down. Sheldon Castle is one of the few charms that Fairhope still has. This castle use to be able to be rented for events and was once called the Storybook Bed and Breakfast. This was short lived lived. Sheldon Castle was built to be a residence for a family, and while the bed and breakfast was a great novelty and surely attracted many guests for the few years that it was rented, eventually the family decided to make it a residence once again.

There is no reason that you can't drive by and see the castles as many people do, but it would be wise to remember this is soemone's home and it is something that you should be respectful of. If you do take the time to go see these castle you will notice that it is not just the actual castles that make the atmostphere unique. There is a small bridge and little decorations that add to the charm of this castle. Even the windows and doors are something that must have taken a lot of time and imagination to build.

I am sure that the owners are used to people coming and taking photos of the castles and being in their driveway and yard, I do not recommend this and would not say that you should do this. When I attended the castle to photograph I contacted the owners prior to my coming and got permission to photograph the castles.

The problem is that this is now a private residence and while I am unaware of there being any problems with people seeing the castles I do not wish to tell anyone that it is okay, I strongly recommend contacting the owners before showing up. However if you are interested in learning more about the castles you can go to  http://fairhopecastle.com/ to see the website that Mosher's have set up. The castles are located on Oak Street in Fairhope Alabama.