Family Reunion in Biloxi, MS (part 3 & final part!)

Tuesday was a day of sightseeing.  

We even got my dad out of the casino!!

Beauvoir, The Jefferson Davis Home & Presidential Library

The eight of us piled into two cars & ventured down the main drag to see the Jefferson Davis home.  My brother, Alan, drove his rental car with my sister-in-law, my sister, Dennise, & myself.  My other brother, Steven, drove my dad's new car with my dad, my sister, Sherry, & my brother-in-law.  Steven led the way & we followed.  

We drove further than we thought we should, but kept going. 

We weren't exactly sure where the home was, but knew we couldn't miss it.

Apparently Steven didn't feel the same way!

We got a phone call from the other car, "Where is it??"  They had turned around thinking they had missed it.

We were yelling at them, "You can't miss it!  There is a big green sign & a mile of white picket fence.  You can't miss it!"

We finally all met up in the parking lot.  There were tours of the home every hour & half hour.  We had about 20 minutes to wait, so we wandered around the presidential library before the tour.

Beauvoir means beautiful view in French.  

The view of the Mississippi Sound was spectacular from the front porch!

 We gathered on the front porch for the tour.

Dennise, Tom, Alan, Steven, Dad, & Sherry!

For more info on Beauvoir check out the following website --> http://beauvoir.org/

If the day had been a little nicer it would have been fun to wander around the grounds.

I guess that is something to do on our the next trip!

 Wednesday afternoon Alan, Janet & I went souvenir shopping at Sharkheads.

 This place was huge!

Out of all the junk, oops, I mean treasures I found a replacement mug for the Clearwater Beach mug that I had dropped & broken.

This looks exactly the same as the Clearwater Beach mug, but it is from Biloxi beach!! 

 After breakfast at the Grand Buffet on Thursday morning we all headed our separate ways - back to Florida, Texas & Indiana.

This was a very healing time for me, as I'm sure it was for everyone else also.

It is so nice to have fun memories to replace the sad memories of the first time I was in Biloxi, MS.

Family Reunion in Biloxi, MS (part 2)

Back to Margaritaville!  

My hubby had pictures on his phone that he sent to me after I did the first posting.

Who is that Shadow panther?

After lunch at the Boomtown buffet we stopped at the "Old Brick House".

It is one of the oldest structures in Biloxi.  It was built around 1835 & overlooks the picturesque Back Bay.  The house was constructed of brick made on the Back Bay.

Back Bay

 Shrimpers on the Back Bay.

Our Monday morning walk was full of reminders of the Hurricanes that have ravaged Biloxi.

Steps to nowhere

Hubby had to head back home at noon on Monday for work the next day.  

My sisters, brothers, sister-in-law, and brother-in-law rode the Casino Hopper down to the Hard Rock Casino.  

We provided quite an afternoon of entertainment for the driver & the rest of the passengers.

We discovered the Casino Hopper is NOT complimentary!

It cost $1.50 per person per ride AND you must have correct change.

Or you could get a one day pass or a three day pass at the bus station.

We had to use our math skills to calculate $1.50 times 7 and then come up with exactly $10.50 change among us.  Now remember we're all high rollers at the casinos, so coming up with chump change was not easy.

All this to wander around some quaint galleries & shops in old downtown Billoxi!

After shopping we passed Mary Mahoney's Restaurant.  A couple exiting the garden area told us there was a 2000 year old tree in the gardens.

Here is the Patriarch!

Mahoney's was established in 1964 & is centered on one of the oldest homes in America, The Old French house, circa 1730.

Of course no vacation is complete without the famous "foot" picture!

Family Reunion in Biloxi, MS (part 1)

It was a bittersweet time in Biloxi, MS.  

My dad, all four of my siblings, my husband, and a few in-laws gathered in Biloxi to make new memories in a place that holds sad memories for all of us.  

One and a half years ago mom passed away in Biloxi.  

She had wanted to go have a good time doing what she loved (playing the slots) while she still felt good.  She had a great time, but then the Lord called her home. 

We all had a great time vacationing together as adults!  

We have always celebrated holidays together, but we have never vacationed all together as adults.

We started the vacation by visiting a few other casinos before we settled in at our home base, the Grand Casino, for four days.

 First up!

 

Pool area

Women's powder room

We drove across the street to the . . . 

The Palace is the only "smoke free" casino.

 

Next stop . . . 

 It's five o'clock somewhere!

Pit stop . .  . 

We had lunch at the scrumptious Boomtown buffet!

to be continued . . . . .