January in Orange Beach, AL

This is our second time in Orange Beach.  We really like Pandion Ridge RV Park, the bike trails, the beach, and the climate.  This time the weather was a little bit rainy and unusually cold with lows in the 20s and teens.  Fortunately we did have enough good weather to enjoy the outdoors.  It was good to be back on the bike path--we logged a LOT of miles!

One new addition to the path were these wooden structures on the edge of a swampy area.  We assumed they were added to provide a resting place for walkers/bikers safe from alligators(?).

On watch for gators!

One of my "artsy" photos

Of course we walked on the beach whether it was cloudy, chilly, or sunny...

Cloudy, windy day

So windy it was difficult to see down the beach

Blue skies!

We even walked in the water

The fifth-wheel needed some maintenance so we treated ourselves to a day (and night) out.  We hit the outlet mall, ate at Lambert's (throwed rolls!), saw a movie, and stayed at the Hotel Magnolia in Foley, AL.  The hotel was built in 1908 and is filled with beautiful chandeliers and antique furniture. The Victorian bed and breakfast has 10 individually decorated guestrooms with private bathrooms.  It has a couple of ballrooms and is a popular spot for weddings.  Here's a small sample of their rooms...

George & Ida Younce Room

Gov. Isaac Shelby of Kentucky room--bed belonged to the governor

We originally booked the Swan Song which was the library in the original house.  After seeing the room we changed our minds--the wood paneling was beautiful but it made the small room feel smaller and it had no windows! 

Teeny, tiny television

Fortunately we were the only guests that day so we were shown all the rooms and picked a different one.  We selected the John and Marjorie Snook room.  It was large and beautifully decorated with a canopy bed and a marble shower.

A rose made from toilet paper!

Our stay included a European continental breakfast and even though we were the only guests, they set out the whole spread for us--coffee, tea, meats, cheeses, bagels, waffles (with hot syrup!), raisin toast, fruit, yogurt, cereal, and more...

I briefly worried that the hotel could be haunted since it is so old, but I slept well that night and they had a staff member stay the night in case we needed anything.  It was a nice change but we were happy to get our "home" back the next day.  There's no place like home!

On January 31 we headed to Okaloosa Island near Destin, FL on the Emerald Coast.  Hoping for good weather!