A Saturday in Alabama

Last weekend we had no plans but to be together as a family. So we took the 45-or so minute trek to our favorite marker on the map: Fairhope, Alabama.

And why is it our favorite?

I’m so glad you asked!

Creatures of Habit

We have perfected our routine: we arrive in time for lunch at Panini Pete’s and for some reason are disappointed every time the waitress tells us they’ve run out of beignets. It’s a brekky menu thing—unless it’s Sunday. Or so I’ve heard.

And what do I order? Always a panini burger because it hasn’t failed me yet. I get it medium well, hold the onion. The lettuce and tomato and special sauce between a toasted ciabatta bun (come on now!) is chefs kiss. And if I’m not hangry I remember to ask for ranch for everyone at the table. Trust me. I’ve got two syllables for it: home.made.

For a side you can have anything from homemade chips (very yum), fresh seasonal fruit, some bougie sounding salad I cannot recall at the moment and wait for it… shoestring fries that has a spice blended in with the sea salt for absolute perfection. Just dip everything into that ranch and then take a look around the surroundings.

Panini Pete’s was featured on one of Guy Fieri’s food shows so it’s on the Food Network map and tucked right in the middle of Fairhope’s French Quarter. So you’ll notice the iron structures, and sense a Parisian flair about the dining areas.

Keeping It Interesting

I’m a mom, okay. And my youngest is two. One thing that has helped us avoid too much chaos at the table is walks until the food arrives. (Yes there was a time phones assisted with that but thank you Lord did we did undo that).

Apparently it was a busier-than-usual day so said two year old was getting super restless. I decided to take a walk (which turned into many laps) around the French Quarter. There is a perfect loop that leads away from and right back to our table but with an exceptionally nice stop along the way . . . wait for it . . . a bookstore!!

Since I just had the one kiddo with me who was content to simply observe and listen to me narrate I decided to step into Page and Palette (what a lovely name!) and enjoy a bit of heaven.

Of course I found the section I would literally live in if I could. And come to think of it I cannot believe I didn’t scan all those beauties into my Goodreads app. Eh. They’ve all probably already been marked haha!

Then unexpectedly I realized that on Saturdays Page and Palette will often have an author present to sign and talk books. And I ran into one!

This was her card. Had to snap a pic in case it was about to get torn or lost. IYKYK.

She was such a neat lady! Cherith Fluker started the conversation (I actually didn’t see her until I heard her greeting) and we had such a sweet little chat. She shared about her Secret Birmingham book and I was immediately intrigued. I love reading about/researching/and writing about the little old town I live in! So I felt a kindred spirit there. (Not to mention she recognized kindly how attentively my little one was listening to her).

That was an unexpected and delightful interaction. I hinted at being a blogger myself and interest in my own local writing but I think I need to work on promoting all that a bit more.

Another lesson for another day, most assuredly.

Timeless Haunts

After lunch concludes we’ll leisurely walk through the quaint downtown portion of Fairhope. There’s honestly a place for everyone under the sun. From a year-round Christmas shop, boutiques (second hand or “Vineyard Vine-y”), toys, books, furniture, music, souvenirs, tchotchkes, gelato, coffee and so much more—literally just take your pick!

There’s even a Chinese restaurant that absolutely slaps, as the kids say.

And for some reason it surprises me but my kids ask to visit the museum every time we’re there. It’s a cute little old place with an OG jail, some 3-D displays on the second floor, and even a scavenger hunt that leads you to a safe you have to crack open. And yes, there is a prize. So much fun.

Recently whoever has been manning the museum as we wander has been telling us some untold secrets about the town. A couple stops ago we learned there are actual castles not too far away. And this recent time the lady told us some cool facts about the Pier and where to find some really good ice cream. (We’ll have to return for that part).

And not last and surely not least there’s an old train car parked in the back (you can also spy the fabulous library beyond it) that my littles were just over the moon about. Choo-choo for days.

I couldn’t choose just one. There’s so much detail in each shot.

The Ultimate Ending

Depending on our timeframe sometimes our day out ends with the walk about and we head home but when we have nowhere else to be we will take a little jaunt to Point Clear and a pretty magical place. The Grand Hotel Golf Resort and Spa, Autograph Collection.

I hope this place continues to stake a hold in our lives endlessly. My man discovered it way back when and deemed it a good place to propose. And that was the start of that.

We return on a random free Saturday here and there to enjoy the grounds and we’re lucky when it’s about to be 4 p.m. so we can “share a spot of tea” (it’s coffee and cookies—fabulous) in one of the dining rooms. It’s just the cherry on top of a family’s day out.

This is the place we want our kiddos to look back and remember with fondness, this down time, holidays, and just sheer memories made in an exclusive space.