IVY GREEN - TUSCUMBIA, AL

If you have never been to Tuscumbia, AL

 

and strolled up to

 

IVY GREEN

 

you are missing a rich piece of history...

 

If you have children...You REALLY need to go

 

and take them to visit 

 

IVY GREEN:

 

 

THE BIRTH PLACE OF

 

HELEN KELLER

 

 

 

Ivy Green was built in 1820.  It is a design of Southern architecture.  The house survived the Civil War and is maintained in its original state.  It is now kept in a memorial to the blessed miracles in the life of Helen Keller, a 7-year-old blind girl.  Ivy Green is on the National Register of Historic Places.

 

 

 

The address is:

 

300 North Commons Street, West

Tuscumbia, AL 35674

(256) 3834066

 

 

These prices and times of operation were taken from the website.

 

Hours:

Monday through Saturday 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Last tour starts at 3:45 p.m. daily

Holiday closings: Easter, Labor Day, Thanksgiving day, Dec. 24, 25, 26th and New Years Day.

Home Tour Admission:Adults..........................................$6.00
Students ages 5 -18..................$3.00
Seniors & "AAA" members......$5.00
Military (Active and Retired).....$5.00
Group of 20 or more..................Adults $5 & Children $2.00 (Group reservations requested)

 

 

DESOTO FALLS STATE PARK

 

If you feel like going to a

 

 

 WONDERFUL SITE in ALABAMA...

 

 TREK ON UP TO 

 

DESOTO FALLS

 

 

This 3,502-acre park provides lodging facilities including: Mountain Chalets, Log and Rustic Cabins, Motel Rooms, and an Improved Campground with 94 full-hookup tent and RV sites. For the more adventurous, there are also Primitive Camping sites for tents as well as 2 backcountry campsites with shelters. No matter what type of lodging you might prefer or have need of, we have it!

 

DeSoto State Park is conveniently located only 8 miles northeast of Fort Payne, Alabama; and DeSoto Falls - also part of DeSoto State Park - is located about 7 miles north of the park heading towards Mentone, Alabama.

 

 

 

7104 DeSoto Parkway NE

Fort Payne, AL 35967

 

 

 

DeSoto State Park has plenty to do to keep you pleasantly entertained. You can kayak, fish, hike, rappel, picnic, and go exploring.  You will never get bored of enjoying what God has given us to see in Desoto Falls.  Spend the day with your family here.  :)

 

We loved going and enjoying the beauty of the falls. 

 

UNCLE MICKS

UNCLE MICK'S CAJUN MARKET AND CAFE'

UNCLE MICK'S CAJUN MARKET AND CAFE'

in
 

Prattville, AL

 

 

 

 

 

We went on this trip in November of 2012, but still today we  LOVE UNCLE MICK  <3 

 

If you are EVER headed south...You so NEED to STOP by and say HELLO To UNCLE MICK....

GO to this wonderful restaurant.....

 

It is WONDERFUL and It is truly worth your time.  

 

Traveling I-65 South and get off at Exit 179....Go straight into downtown Prattville...and there it was on the right hand side of the road.  It was VERY easy to find. 

It will take you three hours from Athens, AL., but let me tell you what it was well worth the drive..

 

 

UNCLE'S MICK'S CAJUN MARKET AND CAFE'

 

 

 

Uncle Mick

 

Mickey Thompson is the owner of this awesome Cajun restaurant and it is truly wonderful dining experience. It is nestled in beautiful

downtown Prattville, AL.

The decor of the place is really COOL!!Uncle Mick has a place for you to sit inside or a back porch for you to sit and relax on and dine.

He is a super friendly guy and it was wonderful to meet him. We hope to get to opportunity to go back again sometime.   

 

 

I love this place, and feel right at home every time we go.  We have been several times since we went back in November 2012, and are overdue now.   Uncle Mick is behind the counter  serving the food with a smile.  He is so very polite to everyone and is always giving samples, and allowing his customers to try items before they got their meal.



 

 

I ordered on my first trip:

 

1/2 Crawfish Etoufee and 1/2  Shrimp A La Creme, Cajun Potato Salad and Fruit 

Garlic Bread

 

 

Charlie ordered: 

 

Grilled Tilapia with Lemon Butter Sauce

Crawfish Etoufee, Tomato Salad/Feta Cheese and Blackeye peas  Garlic Bread

 

For dessert:

Bread Pudding w/ Bourbon Sauce

 

 

 

 

THE BREAD PUDDING IS SOOOOOO  GOOD !!!!

 

 

EVERYTHING WAS SO WONDERFUL!!!!

 

 

    

He has a great selection of Entrees:

 

Crawfish Etoufee

Seafood Gumbo

Chicken and Sauage

Chicken and Sausage Piquante

Alligator and Sausage Sauce Piquante

Red Beans and Sausage

Crab Meat Au Gratin

Grilled Tilapia with Lemon Butter Sauce

 

and tons of sides 

 

He has lots of desserts --of course I suggest the

BREAD PUDDING !!! haha

 

It is WONDERFUL!!!

 

 

GO SEE HIM!!!

 

IT IS WORTH YOUR TRIP...

 

IF YOU LOVE CAJUN FOOD

 

YOU WILL LOVE

 

UNCLE MICK!!!

 

 

               Tell him that Lisa Giovino from Athens, AL and 
                        Happy Feet Travelin Said HELLO (Used to be SouthernDayTrippers)

 

LOVE YA UNCLE MICK !!!!   

Check out Uncle Mick's Cajun Market out on Facebook at

 

http://www.facebook.com/UncleMicksCajun?ref=ts&fref=ts#!/UncleMicksCajun/info

Guntersville State Park --Check it out.

GUNTERSVILLE STATE PARK

 

Today Charlie and I traveled to Guntersville State Park to see the eagles.

 

We had a great time as we headed out about 8:30 AM and headed north on Hwy 72 towards Huntsville, AL..

We went 231/431 from Huntsville towards Guntersville.  On our first stop...We turned right at the sign that said Guntersville Dam. 

We went about 3-4 miles and take a fork to the right (towards the boat launch) ...then look on the right for a small gravel pull off.  Walk out the little open area...there is a eagles nest high in a pine tree on the right.  There is a picture of this nest  below. 

Eagles Nest


 

 After we visited the nest site, we went to the boat launch and seen the bird

 

nested in the tree. 

 



We have been there on numerous occasions and saw different eagles fly overhead.  Below are a few photographs I made of one flying. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





The Guntersville Lodge is an awesome place to stay also and has some cool displays.    



There is a bear loose in the foyer..








 



 





























ITS A OWL!!!!!















Excuse me?
 

 

 



DEER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!







 

 We saw quite a few deer while we were out on road

This one acted like she wanted to go home with us. 

I decided to name her Lola.   She was adorable :)

Lola the Diva Deer :)

 

 

 

Big Daddy Buck
 

 We had a good time together today exploring the many wonderful animals that God has put on this earth.  I did the driving and Charlie and I took time about doing the photography. 

 

 This is a great trip to take for the entire family.  If you have children this is a VERY educational trip. 

 

 Each year Lake Guntersville has Eagle Awareness Tours....Check out the best time of year to go for EAGLE AWARENESS.....(256)571-5440

 

 

It is truly awesome to see these awesome birds.  :)  

IMPROMPTU DAY TRAVELS OF THE FEET

SATURDAY ESCAPADE IMPROMPTU DAY

    

  WOOT WOOT!!!

    HELLO EVERYONE.......

 

Traveling mouse is up and at it again.  

On this trip, I decided to venture out of my comfortable space and get out on the road again.  

                First we headed down to the

 

ATHENS FARMERS MARKET.......

 

 

     Y  ES we did...where we seen tons of wonderful things.....

 

 

 

      I purchased my favorite vegetable/fruit in the world.... 

 

 

TOMATO

 

 

If you HAVE NOT been to the

 

 

 

ATHENS FARMERS MARKET...Check it out.

 

 

 

THEY HAVE EVERYTHING.......

Anywhere from veggies to granola, to coffee.  They have artistry such as jewelry and even woodworking, and handmade aprons.  You will find a variety of wonderful items at the Athens Farmer's Market..

 

You will also find a lot of friendly, smiling faces.  

 

Also most days you will find entertainment, as there is oftentimes someone there playing some type of musical instrument.  

 

 

 

COME ON DOWN and JOIN IN THE SMILES AND SOCIALZING OF ATHENS FARMERS MARKET...

 

AFM - WHERE EVERYONE IS YOUR NEIGHBOR !!!

 

 

 

 

              AFTER that we scurried onto BIRMINGHAM !!!!!!!!!!! 

 

 

We had plans to do a certain thing --NIKI'S WEST -- but we got side tracked and

 

 

ended up at the

BIRMINGHAM ZOO..

so it was an IMPROMPTU day and it was


 

 

FANTABULOUS !!!

 

 

 

We had a GREAT day .....

 

 

 

 

 

 

      We went to eat at    

 

  NIKI'S WEST 

 

a well known restaurant in Birmingham.  

AFTER THE ZOO...

 

Let me tell you....it was WELL WORTH IT...
 

Charlie had liver and onions..Now don't faint..I know, a lot of people don't like liver and onions, but honey, these were not bad...They were good...When people can make liver and onions taste good...They got something going on... :)  He also had Cucumber salad --YUM, and Coconut Crème pie...(TO DIE FOR) I forget what else..Now on to mine.  haha

 

Well when I got up there (My eyes were bigger than my stomach, as my Mother used to say)  I had ordered more than I thought before I knew it, and I had TOO MUCH FOOD)


 

 

I ordered Greek baked chicken, mac n cheese, turnip greens, pinto beans, broccoli, and of course you have to have a dessert-- so I got cherry pie (YUMM)

 

 

 

They have been serving the greater  Birmingham, Ala., area since 1957.

 

 

Owners, Pete and Teddy Hontzas, are second generation owners who took over the business from their father, the late Gus P. Hontzas.   This place has some GOOD FOOD.....

 

 

 

 

http://nikiswest.com/




Another great day come to an end.....

For the TRAVELING MOUSE.....

and her family



THANKS FOR CHECKING OUT

HAPPY TRAVELIN FEET

:)

Dreamland - The BBQ of Tuscaloosa and Football



On our way back from our vacation, my husband wanted to take me somewhere I had never been. 

                                            He wanted to treat me to something special. 

                      So, we stopped  in Tuscaloosa, AL...Well let me tell you something...
                   If you want a cool place to eat, some good food with some awesome history...

THIS IS YOUR PLACE...

 

DREAMLAND BBQ

 

                     Dreamland is as traditional for Tuscaloosa as ALABAMA FOOTBALL. 

 

In 1958, Paul "Bear" Bryant starting coaching at Alabama, and John "Big Daddy" Bishop opened his first Dreamland Café.  

Big Daddy was a brick mason for many years and he longed for another way to support his family. He had narrowed it down to opening either a mortuary or a restaurant and he got down on his knees and prayed for guidance. The legend says that God had a hand in telling him in a dream to build the café on the land next to his home, and Big Daddy made that dream a reality.

The original Dreamland Café is located about two miles from the intersection of Hwy 82 and Interstate 59 just south of Tuscaloosa in an area known as Jerusalem Heights.

Inside the doors of Dreamland, you will meet friendly faces, and people who will treat you like you have known them for a lifetime.  Big Daddy always said, "You should be good to the grandparents" and his own children would help customers to their cars and open the door for them. The point is that John Bishop didn't just open a café- he made a place that was home to his children and his family and extended that feeling of love to everyone that came by.

The atmosphere at all of our locations is still a feeling of casual-down home. You can sit at the bar reading car tags or slab boxes signed by our guests and rub elbows with somebody famous or have a great conversation about sports with one of your favorite players.

                                               At Dreamland, you will be treated as kin.
 

"Ain’t Nothing Like `Em, Nowhere!"

 

 

The guys at Dreamland wanted to get a picture with me so one of the other guys made this picture before we left Tuscaloosa.  Charlie and I are planning on going back and having some more Dreamland there in the future.     

 

The young man on the left was a lil confused and the others were worried about him due to the yellow band on his wrist.  They are going to try to convince him to seek medical advice for this condition.    :)     

ANNOUNCEMENT: REGARDING SOUTHERNDAYTRIPPERS...

ANNOUNCEMENT

 

For whatever reason, the old

SOUTHERNDAY TRIPPERS

 blog is gone. 

 

NEVER FEAR

 

The NEW

 

HAPPY FEET



blog is here with a pep in its lil ole step.

Come on and follow
HAPPY FEET

and look forward to new and

interesting posts about places to go and things to do, along with some funny stories..  

Watch out!!!

New and exciting posts will

Dakota Ray


be coming up soon !!!

We are now on Facebook too

Check us out at : 

https://www.facebook.com/HappyFeetTravelin3/


HAVE A WONDERFUL FUNFILLED DAY !!