After our crazy summer and settling into our new home, Justin & I planned a little road trip to Gulf Shores. Gulf Shores is only a 7 hour drive from where we are and we knew we wanted to go there eventually. Eventually came sooner than we thought when we realized Justin had a week off in between training camps. We did our research & had one of the best weeks ever.
We drove all the way down through Mississippi and cut across the bottom of Alabama. This was one of the sights on the way! Maybe we'll stop next time.
I love, love, love these trees!! I think they're Southern Live Oak (??) and it was my first time seeing them in downtown Mobile. :')
Before leaving Mobile, we stopped to tour the USS Alabama, a WWII-era battleship. It was amazing. The ship had three decks we could explore with facts, videos, and displays everywhere. We learned about the missions of the battleship and everywhere it had travelled to protect our country. 
There was a submarine that accompanied the battleship as well. The hallways, doors, bunk rooms - everything! was so small. I couldn't imagine being underwater inside that submarine. It was the perfect space to tour for a few minutes.
One of the FOUR propellers for the battleship.
Such a cool experience to learn about history in that way. Thanks, Ali for the recommendation!
and finally, after a long day of travel, we made it to our ocean destination. We hadn't been to the beach since our quick trip to L.A. a few months earlier. This time around was much more relaxing. 
I really didn't like going on "first dates" because it meant asking and answering the same questions over and over that I had tired of asking/answering. Thankfully, Justin was my last first date. On that date, one of those questions was, "Where does you family like to vacation?"
Justin went on to tell me about their annual family vacation to Branson MO. One of the highlights of those vacations was visiting Lambert's, an amazing southern restaurant where they throw HUGE, hot, homemade rolls. Since that date, anytime Branson was mentioned, someone would follow with, "Wait until you go to Lambert's!"
Our Airbnb host gave us a coupon book for the area and Justin didn't believe me when I told him Gulf Shores had a Lambert's. He thought there were only 2 in the world, but little did we know, the third was tucked into Folley, Alabama. :') It was SO good and I can't wait to go again in Branson. 
post-hot thrown rolls, country fried steak, potatoes, fried okra, etc. etc. 
We had the best time and I love this boy so much. So grateful that we're married & get to do life together. 
