Bayou La Batre, Ala. sits on the Gulf of Mexico's Mississippi Sound. Known as the "Seafood Capital of America," Bayou La Batre's coastal location provides plenty of attractions in town and nearby for visitors. The city hosts several annual events, such as blessing its shipping fleet and a bayou food festival. There are also opportunities to view Gulf Coast wildlife, go birding and visit historical sites.
Bayou La Batre's shipping fleet gets a spiritual boost every year with the annual Blessing of the Fleet. Usually held around early May, the event offers the same prayer each year, asking God to look over the fleet and crews and to fill fishing nets. The event also doubles as a community party. Boats are adorned in flags and decorations and participate in a boat parade. A locally elected queen holds court for the day and party-goers eat gumbo and other seafood dishes and participate in contests. St. Margaret Catholic Church hosts the annual blessing.
Bayou La Batre's Chamber of Commerce has hosted an annual Taste of the Bayou for more than two decades. The food fest, often in mid-autumn, features the talents of more than two dozen local chefs. The chefs prepare locally caught seafood dishes for Taste of the Bayou attendees, focusing on classic Alabama recipes. The Taste of the Bayou event usually is held at the Bayou La Batre Community Center.
Bayou La Batre's coasts are home to sea turtle populations from May to October. The public may visit areas to view the turtles in their natural habitat. Sea turtles lay about 100 eggs per nest, with an incubation period lasting about 55 to 70 days, although only a few turtles that hatch will make it into adulthood. The nesting turtles are heavily protected and monitored by volunteers, who ensure that human activity does not disturb the animals. Visitors can view green, Kemp's Ridley and loggerhead turtle species along the coast. Known turtle nesting beaches nearby include Dauphin Island, a 27-minute drive from Bayou La Batre
Alabama's coastline is home to many species of bird life, including gulls, herons and pelicans. Casual birders can simply visit the shoreline to see gulf birds. There also are nearby opportunities to for birding. The Dauphin Island Audubon Bird Sanctuary is a 164-acre area rife with bird life and offering different settings from swamp to beach to pine forest. The extensive trails include handicapped accessible areas. The bird sanctuary is a 30-minute drive from Bayou La Batre.
Fort Gaines is a historic fort found on Daulphin Island. The area's history dates back to the 16th century, when the island was first mapped. The French colonized the area to take advantage of the area's timber and other natural resources. The settlement changed hands from the French to Great Britain to Spain and finally to the United States. Fort Gaines was the site of the Battle of Mobile Bay during the Civil War. Today, it is a National Historical Landmark. The fort hosts historical information and memorabilia in a museum and is the site of reenactments. Fort Gaines is a 30-minute drive from Bayou La Batre.
