Gulf Islands National Seashore

We just left the Gulf Islands National Seashore, which is a really cool place, with beautiful white sand beaches, a real fort (Fort Pickens) and some BIG guns.  

We started our visit last Sunday by taking a drive to Pensacola Beach, where we accidentally found ourselves in the middle of the staging area for their Mardi Gras parade. It was really fun to see all people dressed in costumes and hear the music as we drove along side the floats.  We even got some beads.  But, unfortunately grandma forgot her camera.  But here are some photos from last year's parade she found on another blog.

On Monday we drove the motorhome over the Gulf Islands National Seashore campground, which was only a few steps from the beach. 

We took a great ranger led tour of the fort which was built in the early 1820s and was used by the military to defend Pensacola until just after World War II. 

But best of all I got to sit on one of the 6" guns that were put on the beach in World War II to protect our country.  Check out the white sand and water on the beach behind me.