Our second stop on the Sabine Wildlife Refuge park was at an area dubbed Alligator Alley and it did NOT disappoint! Right after we got out of the car and started down the walk we saw this guy!
At first we weren't sure if he was real or not, but then he kind of blinked and moved his head a little and we were SURE! We took a bunch of pictures and continued along the path, of course at this point I was always looking for an alligator but wasn't totally sure what I would do if one was on the walkway!
It was probably a mile-mile and a half walkway, pretty much deserted through marshlands. We passed one family who was having a picnic and he told us we'd probably see several more alligators, but we never did.
Towards the end of the walk Brent had me pose next to the alligator sign for a pic.
Then as I'm standing there he says "Woah, watch out!" Of course he knew I'd been jitterish about alligators and snakes the whole walk. He is so mean.
Lilli thought it was hilarious. She was totally on Team Brent.
We stopped to say Bye to the alligator on the way back out.
Really, we were this close to him. Probably closer than we should have been!
Of course Lilli had to tell him Bye! Alligator is a new word for her on this trip, and she claps her hands like the big "chomp" for alligators now.
She was actually really good in the car on this trip, thanks to a DVD player we borrowed from Eric, Brent's brother. She watched endless hours of Dinosaur Train and some Disney movies on loop while we were in the car.
For lunch we stopped at a Cajun restaurant that had an awesome buffet. We got to sample a ton of different Cajun foods (yum!) and the waitress was so nice she just let Lilli eat off our plates and didn't charge us for her. It was right next to this cemetery - so crazy that in these lowlands you must be buried above ground.
We had to head up the interstate and then back down to the coast for our next stop, the Tabasco factory in Avery Island, LA. I thought this massive bridge was really cool and so unusual.
The Tabasco tour is free, but you have to pay $1 to get on their island. For some bizarre reason the toll booth is on the passenger side, and they stick this enormous stick with clips into your car to take your money. That was worth the $1 right there.
Where Tabasco is made:
One of their little pepper plants, but they for sure don't want you to pick one!
Lilli had fun running around the yard while we waited on our tour. We timed it perfectly, we made it just in time for the last tour of the day at 3:50!
The tour itself was beyond sad. They made you stand in a hallway with this young girl telling you a few random facts about Tabasco. She didn't know much beyond her script because a few over eager tourists had questions and she didn't have a clue. Then she ushers you into a room and they play a SUPER dated film telling you how Tabasco is made. Let's just say it's very old fashioned and very family owned.
Then you can pass by a window and see the bottling area, which was closed for the day.
Basically, they grow the peppers there in LA and also in South America, put them in these drums for 3 years along with some vinegar and pack it with salt mined right there in Avery Island, LA and voila! You've got Tabasco!
Their plant was in such a beautiful area, with large old trees around and they had nice picnic tables and food for sale. You could sample a few things in the gift shop (like jalapeno ice cream that was awful but Lilli loved it, ugh!) She and Brent played around outside while I shopped.
The whole place closed down at 4:30 and we were literally last to leave. Gotta get our $1 worth.
I thought this billboard was funny. Not sure what Reagan has to do with LA???
We found a really nice hotel room that night in Alexandria, LA at a Comfort Suites. They always had the best prices and most night we only spent $69-$80 for a room. Our 7 nights on this trip will end up costing less than 3 nights in Chicago - RIDICULOUS. Since our room was so large and it was getting kind of late we ended up just getting Burger King and bringing back to our room and relaxing. Lilli had SO much fun in hotel rooms, so many new things to climb on, phones everyone and TVs within reach.
Another great vacation day!
At first we weren't sure if he was real or not, but then he kind of blinked and moved his head a little and we were SURE! We took a bunch of pictures and continued along the path, of course at this point I was always looking for an alligator but wasn't totally sure what I would do if one was on the walkway! 
It was probably a mile-mile and a half walkway, pretty much deserted through marshlands. We passed one family who was having a picnic and he told us we'd probably see several more alligators, but we never did.
Towards the end of the walk Brent had me pose next to the alligator sign for a pic. 
Then as I'm standing there he says "Woah, watch out!" Of course he knew I'd been jitterish about alligators and snakes the whole walk. He is so mean.
Lilli thought it was hilarious. She was totally on Team Brent.
We stopped to say Bye to the alligator on the way back out.
Really, we were this close to him. Probably closer than we should have been!
Of course Lilli had to tell him Bye! Alligator is a new word for her on this trip, and she claps her hands like the big "chomp" for alligators now.
She was actually really good in the car on this trip, thanks to a DVD player we borrowed from Eric, Brent's brother. She watched endless hours of Dinosaur Train and some Disney movies on loop while we were in the car. 
For lunch we stopped at a Cajun restaurant that had an awesome buffet. We got to sample a ton of different Cajun foods (yum!) and the waitress was so nice she just let Lilli eat off our plates and didn't charge us for her. It was right next to this cemetery - so crazy that in these lowlands you must be buried above ground.
We had to head up the interstate and then back down to the coast for our next stop, the Tabasco factory in Avery Island, LA. I thought this massive bridge was really cool and so unusual.
The Tabasco tour is free, but you have to pay $1 to get on their island. For some bizarre reason the toll booth is on the passenger side, and they stick this enormous stick with clips into your car to take your money. That was worth the $1 right there.
Where Tabasco is made:
One of their little pepper plants, but they for sure don't want you to pick one!
Lilli had fun running around the yard while we waited on our tour. We timed it perfectly, we made it just in time for the last tour of the day at 3:50!
The tour itself was beyond sad. They made you stand in a hallway with this young girl telling you a few random facts about Tabasco. She didn't know much beyond her script because a few over eager tourists had questions and she didn't have a clue. Then she ushers you into a room and they play a SUPER dated film telling you how Tabasco is made. Let's just say it's very old fashioned and very family owned. 
Then you can pass by a window and see the bottling area, which was closed for the day.
Basically, they grow the peppers there in LA and also in South America, put them in these drums for 3 years along with some vinegar and pack it with salt mined right there in Avery Island, LA and voila! You've got Tabasco!
Their plant was in such a beautiful area, with large old trees around and they had nice picnic tables and food for sale. You could sample a few things in the gift shop (like jalapeno ice cream that was awful but Lilli loved it, ugh!) She and Brent played around outside while I shopped.
The whole place closed down at 4:30 and we were literally last to leave. Gotta get our $1 worth.
I thought this billboard was funny. Not sure what Reagan has to do with LA???
We found a really nice hotel room that night in Alexandria, LA at a Comfort Suites. They always had the best prices and most night we only spent $69-$80 for a room. Our 7 nights on this trip will end up costing less than 3 nights in Chicago - RIDICULOUS. Since our room was so large and it was getting kind of late we ended up just getting Burger King and bringing back to our room and relaxing. Lilli had SO much fun in hotel rooms, so many new things to climb on, phones everyone and TVs within reach. 
Another great vacation day!
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