Located in the north-central region of the Gulf of Mexico, Gulf Shores, Alabama, can be a fun-filled destination for families and couples alike. Offering a balance of non-stop activity with peaceful lounge-around time, vacationers here will find an array of options for everyone. Along with cultural and sporting events, historical sites and shopping, Gulf Shores also boasts gorgeous sightseeing opportunities.
A vehicle/passenger ferry, the Mobile Bay Ferry offers a picturesque ride on the gulf waters. The ferry landing is located at the historic Fort Morgan. From there, visitors will take the scenic ride to Dauphin Island, a barrier island on the Gulf of Mexico that has been designated as a bird sanctuary. Dauphin Island visitors can soak up the Gulf Coast sights on one of its white-sand beaches or visit the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, a marine science institution. The ferry operates year round, with two ferries in service during the spring and summer.
Dauphin Island’s bird sanctuary was established in 1961. Spanning 164 acres, it includes a variety of habitats, from gulf beaches and swamp to fresh water lakes and pine forests. Because the habitats are so diverse, there is also diversity of birds; everything from gulls and warblers to egrets and hummingbirds can be spotted. Visitors here can walk the extensive trail system to birdwatch, which includes controlled access to the gulf shorelines, as well as nesting, swamp and dune observation platforms.
Dolphins Down Under features daily dolphin tours aboard a 45-foot glass bottom catamaran. Passengers will be able to spot dolphins in their natural habitat in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as other wetland creatures. While aboard the 1.5-hour cruise, the crew will inform passengers on facts about the Gulf Shores and its wildlife.
Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines provide the perfect opportunity for a history lesson while exploring the Gulf Coast shores. The Spanish built Fort Morgan in the 1500s, only to rebuild it three hundred years later to protect against Native Americans. The fort also had a role during the Civil War, when Confederate and Union naval forces warred for control of the harbor at Gulf Shores. Today, enactors and guides will provide insightful facts on the site, or visitors can opt to take a candlelight tour, held weekly during the summer.
Fort Gaines, located on Dauphin Island and just a short distance from Fort Morgan, is a remnant of when the French had control of Dauphin Island during the 17th century. The fort was modified over the years, and Fort Gaines played a vital role during the Civil War’s Battle of Mobile Bay.
