Last Updated on May 1, 2022 by Brie
The week before we were to leave on vacation three of the people traveling with us fell sick with ‘the crud” which was basically a REALLY nasty cold. Anyway, we kept packing and decided to forge on with the adventure. So, we packed and packed bit by bit over the duration of the week. The day we were to leave we took our beloved hamster buddy on his first ever vacation…to a friend’s house. We had insisted be kind soul to hamster-sit him over vacation. And we captured his leaving in a pretty shady photo:
When time to load the car had finally rolled around, we found out that indeed: WE HAD A PROBLEM!!! Our five-passenger car was completely jam packed like a dozen clowns in a tiny V W bug. We had to leave some of the no essentials out. Once everyone had piled into the car, there was very little wiggle room, for anyone. But never the less, we put the address in the Garmin, and settled in for a long 7 hour and 40 minute drive till our first hotel stop.
Honestly, I would consider day one of traveling a complete success! We actually started out our by leaving a little after 4:00 in the afternoon. This was mainly because our work schedules wouldn’t allow for any earlier. After we took of we were able to drive for two WHOLE hours exactly (with a toddler) before we stopped to get something to eat, and for this we we’re even able to drive through.
Our first stop on our island adventure was Dairy Queen where we got some chicken strip meals. And I’m happy to say by a little after 6:30 that night we were crossing over to the Arkansas boarder.
Our next stop was a Valero gas station a bit after seven. And this was a pee break because the “wee little three year old” had to pee. The bathroom was a frightful sight, out of any mother’s nightmares. The floor tiles were broken up, and the lighting was dim but you could still see the grim. It was a single stall bathroom and the door didn’t have a lock, and the latch was broken, so we basically had to push the door to and hope no one came in. She didn’t pee.
After this we went just to walk around the gas station a bit and stretch our legs when a very spunky gas station attendant comes hopping around the corner and almost plowed us over! Literally I kid you not, she was hopping and liking an ice cream cone. She apologized of course. Strange place. Anyhow my daughter decided she wanted two bug juices to drink, and it was her first time ever to try bug juice. I insisted she get the apple juice which had 60% real fruit juice and she decided she wanted the blue raspberry one as well. Anyway, she tried both and so did I. I’ll admit the apple was gross. She still needed to go pee a little way down the road so we stopped at a Casey’s gas station which was much nicer and she could go. Outside there was a man playing his banjo in the back of his van with his gas tank sitting outside of it, by him. He must have been wanting someone to buy his gas but we didn’t approach for safety.
By 9:20 that night we were trucking our way across the Tennessee boarder. By this time my daughter had watched her straw berry short cake DVD twice, some team umi zoomi on her leap frog, and had looked at her little puppies in her purse. But honestly, she was behaving amazingly and really didn’t need all the toys we packed. From 9:20 to 11:00 she just chattered away. She likes to make up stories and she’s very creative so she would tell me about all kinds of things from snarks she had seen on the TV, to the jester which she decided was her brother. She would also tell me about her random relatives that she would make up, it was adorable. I haven’t the slightest idea where she came up with the statement “my grandmother makes the most delicious snicker-doodle cookies. They make your mouth water.” To my knowledge she’s never even had snicker-doodle cookies. Oh the funny things kids say! During this time, she didn’t even play with a single toy. Around 11:20 she ended up going to sleep. She lasted way longer into the night than I ever imagined she would.
Much earlier (around 9:45) we had crossed into over into Mississippi. And around 11:00 we made another pit stop outside of tupelo for gas at a Love’s truck stop. It was surprisingly crowed for such a late hour. And around 11:40 we passed the Sweet home Alabama sign welcoming us to a new state. Our destination was about an hour away. We were planning to stop at a holiday in Express about 40 minutes outside of Birmingham for the remainder of the night.
I’m not affiliated with this hotel or anything so this is just my gushing. The hotel was soooo clean, modern, and just overall welcoming! From the modern rooms, wall paints, and blinds. To the sophisticated entrance, and sparkling bathroom counter tops with complimentary bath and body works white citrus lotion, shampoo, and conditioner. The only downside was that the wifi worked very poorly. Check out these lovely photos I took on the brink of exhaustion around 1:00 am.
Also, here is the hotel address:
110 Industrial Parkway, Jasper Al, 35501
(P.S. it only cost $108)
We ended up leaving the hotel around 9:00 in the morning but not after some rides through the halls on the luggage cart for my little tot, and a hot breakfast, which she barely picked at.
Thanks for joining us today to read all about the first day of our vacation! I Hope you found it to be entertaining. Come back for the next seven days to enjoy more vacation posts about our trip to St. George Island.
In the comments, can anyone tell me if they have been to St. George Island, or their favorite Vacationing spots with 3 year old? It would be helpful for planning future vacations, as well as for my readers to look through!
Thanks guys,
Brie
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