Alabama - Mississippi - Louisiana - Texas Trip Pictures

May 2003

Christel family in front of the Alamo

We traveled in May through Alabama, Mississippi, Lousiana, and Texas on our way from Pittsburgh to San Antonio and back. Along the way we stopped at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, Huntsville, AL, Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic, Decatur, AL, Vicksburg National Military Park, Vicksburg, MS, Natchez Trace Parkway, MS, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park, LS, The Alamo in San Antonio, TX, and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. We really enjoyed the Southeast!


HTML+TIME slide show of these photos


Family in front of U.S. Space and Rocket Center, Huntsville, Alabama

Family in front of U.S. Space and Rocket Center, rocket in background

Our youngest daughter, the Space Shuttle astronaut

Rocket in Space Center in Huntsville, Alabama

Rockets standing upright at Huntsville Space Center

Our daughter checking out the rockets

Our daughters flying on the Space Shuttle

Our daughter by her favorite rocket

More shots of rockets and boosters in the U.S. Space and Rocket Center

Family in front of a rocket

Our son doing the moon walk (see how he jumps in low gravity!)

Taking a rest break from walking through Rocket Park

Hot air balloons at Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic

More shots of hot air balloons in twilight

Christel family at Alabama Hot Air Balloon Festival

Final shot, hot air balloons as night falls

At Vicksburg, Mississippi right after the rain

Ready to head into Vicksburg National Military Park

Walking the 47 steps up the Illinois Memorial

At the top of the open-ceiling Illinois Memorial

By the Illinois Memorial pillars

Resting after leading us into the Illinois Memorial

Monument to Ulysses S. Grant

Missouri Monument, Vicksburg National Military Park

Magnolia tree in bloom in Mississippi

Shot of Spanish moss draped trees from porch on Natchez Trace

Spanish moss

Close-up of spanish moss hanging from branch

Historic home on the Natchez Trace Parkway

Family in front of historic Natchez Trace home

Close-up of magnolia bloom

Partying on the patio in New Orleans French Quarter

The Christel family in New Orleans French Quarter

In front of St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans

Mike and Diane in front of Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral

Our restaurant where we enjoyed great cajun cookin' in New Orleans

New Orleans street shot, French Quarter

Our hotel courtyard, enjoying biscuits

Sharing the biscuit with an eager bird on the chair

More than happy to share the biscuit with the bird

Diane would rather not share with the birds this morning

Daughters enjoying our hotel courtyard

Children enjoying the 2nd story patio overlooking French Quarter

The hotel pool in our courtyard

Diane and hibiscus in New Orleans

Andrew Jackson statue and St. Louis Cathedral, New Orleans

Close-up, Andrew Jackson statue in front of St. Louis Cathedral, New Orleans

Family in Jackson Square

Throwing pennies in fountain by Jean Lafitte NHP Visitor Center

The Christel family by Mississippi Riverboat

Riding the tour boat looking for alligators...

Alligator sunning himself by the brown bayou

Alligator ready to pounce on... a marshmallow!

Alligator ferociously eating a marshmallow

Alligator off to eat a swimmer, or turtle, or... marshmallow

Happy family enjoying the alligator/marshmallow show

Looking for more alligators in the bayou

Diane and kids in front of the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas

The Alamo, San Antonio, Texas

Christel family in front of Alamo, San Antonio, Texas

Inside the Alamo on a hot 100+ June day

The facade of the Alamo

One last shot of the Alamo from the side

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Inside causeway for mission

In front of Mission Concepción

The story of the Franciscans and Mission Concepción

San Antonio River Walk

Mike and Diane at River Walk restaurant

Our family ready for Tex-Mex at River Walk restaurant!

Hiking in Natchez Trace State Park, TN

Mike with kids in Natchez Trace State Park

Close-up of kudzu

Kudzu taking over trees in Natchez Trace State Park, TN