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Thursday, August 4, 2022

Pensacola Camping at Fort Pickens

34-Day Cross Country RV Trip + 7-Day Caribbean Cruise 2022
Day 10: Bay St. Louis, Mississippi to Fort Pickens, Florida
May 6, 2022

It's time to leave this beautiful beachfront campground in Bay St. Louis. Our drive today is not that far, so we were able to enjoy some of the scenery along the gulf coast which turned out to be very nice. 

Parking for the RV were available at some roadside spots along the highway, making it a little more convenient to enjoy the views.

Just a couple of photos while driving along.

This part of the gulf is definitely calmer and quieter.


Alabama Visitor Center

Then we turned back on I-10 after reaching Biloxi and arrived at our first stop at the Alabama rest area.

huge sculpture on display

Love this sign!


Painted rock




Such a beautiful visitor center. We found that most of the rest areas/visitor centers in the south have so much more to offer. They are beautiful and functional.


While traveling along I-10 in Alabama, I was thinking it would be nice to go check out the USS Alabama in Mobile, but the guys were not interested in it, so a short detour to get gas at a Costco in town, we continued our drive to Florida.

Florida Welcome Center
We made sure that we would stop at the first visitor center in Florida to get our toll pass. I understand that there are many toll roads in Florida and it seems like getting a pass would be necessary.

When we drove into the parking lot, we were at awe at this Blue Angel that's right outside. Apparently, Pensacola is the home base of the Blue Angels which makes this such a special stop.


Finally in Florida!


Many interesting displays and information available in the welcome center. They also offered icy cold fruit juices at the counter, what a welcome gesture on a hot day! Little pins were also given as souvenir. A courteous lady at the Toll Pass booth helped us to understand what we needed to do and how to purchase the pass from the vending machine. Then son had to go online to register and pay for the service. Good thing we had him with us doing all these work.

Then we started heading down to the coast on I-110 towards Pensacola. It seemed to be quite a busy city. I was originally planned on staying at a Harvest Host in town, which is at somebody's property in the downtown area. Thinking that would be more convenient to see the downtown area but later changed my mind and booked this campground on Santa Rosa Island across the bay from Pensacola downtown. No regret. It turned out to be an excellent choice.

Crossing the bridge from Pensacola to Santa Rosa Island.


Our first toll booth in Florida. 

Driving strait through without stopping.

Making good use of the Sun Pass we just got.


After driving through the long strip of sandy beaches called the Gulf Island Seashore, we entered the National Park area of Fort Pickens where the campground is located. We were so fortunate to have booked a site for this Saturday in this busy campground. We have the Lifetime senior Beautiful America card  and only cost $20 a night to stay here. What a nice, spacious spot!

In front of our campsite is a trail leading up to the beach and that was what we did that afternoon.

What a beautiful beach with hardly anyone.

Across the bay is the city of Pensacola.

The bridge that we crossed.


Had to dipped in the water.


Wow! What a beautiful spot to watch the sunset!

This is life!


Perfect end to a day of traveling!

Interested in watching the video of this day? Please click here.


"Therefore I will make the heavens tremble; and the earth will shake from its place at the wrath of the Lord Almighty, in the day of his burning anger."   -- Isaiah 13:13

 

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