USS Alabama, Gulf State Park, Al, Naval Museum, Gulf Islands National Seashore

5/9-5/11 Left Mississippi along the beach road and traveled into Alabama. Driving through Mobile we stopped at the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park right off interstate 10. This was recommended to us from a fellow camper and he was right. Great stop visiting the USS Alabama, a submarine USS Drum and the Aircraft Pavilion. This park honors all Alabama Veterans and is self-sufficient through admission fees and donations. Spent 4 hours here then moved on to Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, AL. Huge park and what a resort area.
Left in the morning along the beach road and we were so impressed as we drove into Florida. This area along the panhandle has some of the nicest beaches in the south and the hotels, inns, restaurants along the way are impressive. The beaches with their white sand, no fees just go on and on and on. We drove over 21 miles of it just this morning before the GPS sent us down a dead end street to get on the Naval Base in Pensacola. Came in the back way on the base to see the lighthouse, Naval Museum and Fort Barrancas area. The Naval Museum is impressive and we could have spent a whole day here. It was mobbed at 10 in the morning. Left the base trying to follow our GPS and she was wrong again trying to drive through downtown Pensacola downtown to cross over to Santa Rosa Island where the Florida section of the Gulf Island National Seashore is.
Stopped at the first island to first the Naval Live Oaks Area Visitor Center then crossed over another bridge to Pensacola Beach. What a resort area this is - I can see buying a condo in this town! Headed west on the island towards the National Seashore and Ft. Pickens. One road in and 20 miles per hour with the bay on one side and the beautiful white sand beaches on the left. Since you have to pay an admission fee (not us with golden age) hardly any traffic. Checked in at the campground registration house but then headed down to the fort and visitor center to check it out before we came back and set up camp. We plan to go down to the fort early tomorrow morning to watch the Blue Angels practice at 8:30 in the morning. If it is foggy they won’t go. It is so hot today over 94. We have been in a heat wave for the last four days. Walked to the beach and the water is so warm but there seems to be a little undertow. Staying here tomorrow and plan to swim, bike and visit the Visitor Center and Fort if the heat doesn’t wear us out.