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Dauphin Island is filled with exciting things to do during your vacation. Dauphin Island is a barrier island located along Alabama’s Gulf Coast. Dauphin Island is a vacationer’s dream location with historical attractions, public beaches, and beautiful waterfront views.
From the Dauphin Island Sea Lab to Fort Gaines to Indian Shell Mound Park, families, kids, and partners can enjoy all the island and the surrounding area has to offer.
Visit Dauphin Island any time of the year for lots of exciting adventures. Vacation rentals offer various amenities, and many are ideally situated so that guests can see all Dauphin Island has to offer, from exploring the natural habitat, visiting public beaches, or touring historical sites.
Finding accommodations that fit your budget, lifestyle, and getaway goals is paramount to help ensure a successful vacation to Dauphin Island.
Birdwatch at the Audubon Bird Sanctuary
Dauphin Island is situated in a unique geographical position to offer exceptional bird watching. Specifically, the island is a rest area for many bird migrations, and Dauphin Island is often the first land birds encounter after the birds cross the Gulf of Mexico.
The Audubon Bird Sanctuary is on the eastern side of the island and is home to endangered species of birds, like the piping plover. Guests can walk the three-mile trail through the sanctuary and view the birds’ natural habitats.
The Audubon Bird Sanctuary is a great place to visit for guests of any age.
Visit the Estuarium at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab
The George F. Crozier Estuarium offers visitors interactive exhibits showcasing the four critical habitats of coastal Alabama. The public Estuarium has a large Exhibit Hall and a Living Marsh Boardwalk for visitors to view and enjoy; it is a perfect family-friendly educational adventure.
The Exhibit Hall exhibits spotlighting marine life from the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta, the Barrier Islands, the Gulf of Mexico, and Mobile Bay.
The educational components of visiting the Dauphin Island Sea Lab are nearly endless, so it is a great place to visit with curious minds.
Dine at a Restaurant for Local Seafood
Alabama’s Gulf Coast is known for offering tasty and fresh seafood dishes. Just across the Dauphin Island Bridge on the mainland include hotspots like The Pelican Reef Restaurant, which serves crab claws, and Felix’s Fish Camp, known for its rustic charm and Gulf-sourced seafood. Pirate’s Bar and Grill serves Southern fare and seafood on Dauphin Island, and Capt’n Snapper’s is known for buffalo shrimp and hushpuppies.
From Gulf shrimp to oysters on the half shell to fried catfish, be sure to sample some of the local cuisine fresh from the ocean.
Stroll Around the Indian Shell Mound Park
Indian Shell Mound Park is a historical site on Dauphin Island where prehistoric Indian shell middens, or mounds composed of discarded oyster shells, are prevalent. The park is on the National Register of Historic Places. In addition to the mounds, Indian Mound Park hosts various subtropical plants that are not traditionally native to the Gulf Coast barrier islands.
Interestingly, Native Americans likely imported the plants for medicine or culinary needs. The non-native plant species have distant origins that can be traced to areas of both the Appalachian Mountains and the Yucatán Peninsula.
Over 800-year-old live oaks still stand on the island!
Take a Day Trip to Gulf Shores
If you stay on Dauphin Island for multiple days, you may want to consider a day trip to another local, coastal town like Gulf Shores.
Visitors can either make the two-hour drive around Mobile Bay to access Gulf Shores or take the water ferry to Fort Morgan, then continue to Gulf Shores. Gulf Shores, Alabama, offers various public beaching and water activities like kayaking or paddleboarding.
Additionally, a water park, Waterville USA, is located in Gulf Shores, as is Shrimpy’s Mini-Golf Course and Ice Cream Shop.
Have a Picnic at Cadillac Square
Cadillac Square is a park with large oak trees and several picnic tables that was once the site of Dauphin Island’s first governor’s home. Cadillac Square is near the Silver Pearl, a perfect gift shop for finding some unique souvenirs.
A recreational vehicle park is also in the nearby area as are many vacation homes for rent.
Spend the Day at Dauphin Island East End Public Beach
This Dauphin Island East End Public Beach is located in the Eastern part of the island, adjacent to the Historic Fort Gaines. The small beach under the fort is perfect for children to play and parents to relax. The beach offers an outstanding view of the mouth of Mobile Bay.
The island has a few public beaches, each with its own unique benefits. The beauty of the island is apparent from the island’s end points, making East End Public Beach a great place to spend the day
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Visit a Civil War Fort
Dauphin Island is home to a historic fort and a ferry ride away from another! Fort Gaines is located on Dauphin Island, while Fort Morgan is a military fort that neighbors Dauphin Island. The forts were critical in the Battle of Mobile Bay.
The civil war forts are an interesting place to visit to experience a piece of American history.
Fort Gaines
Fort Gaines is a historic fort on Dauphin Island, Alabama, named after Edmund Pendleton Gaines. Fort Gaines had a vital part to play in the Battle of Mobile Bay throughout the American Civil War.
Currently, exhibits include an anchor from USS Hartford, original cannons initially used in the Battle of Mobile Bay, and five brick buildings that predate the Civil War. The fort was updated and used for the Spanish–American War. Overall, Fort Gaines is one of the best-protected and maintained Civil War-era masonry forts in America.
Fort Morgan
Fort Morgan is across a strait from Fort Gaines, and a ferry runs between the two locations. Fort Morgan is a historic masonry fort at the mouth of Mobile Bay and is named after Daniel Morgan, a Revolutionary War hero.
Before Fort Morgan was erected, an older stockade, Fort Bowyer, stood on the site and was used for the battles of the War of 1812.
Take the Ferry or Drive to Orange Beach
If you are searching for Gulf coast white sand beaches, then take a day trip to Orange Beach. Orange Beach is a small beach adjacent to Alabama’s Gulf Coast. The Orange Beach Indian & Sea Museum studies Native American and fishing history of the area.
For vacationers who enjoy a vibrant nightlife, The Wharf is a dining and shopping area with a large outdoor arena where notable music acts perform regularly.
Orange Beach is perfect for a Spring Break trip or a summertime family vacation. The beach-centric town offers lots of casual dining restaurants and beach bars as well as more kid-friendly places like playgrounds and parks.
Hang out at Dauphin Island Marina
Dauphin Island Marina is home to various eateries and clubs. The Indian Bay Yacht Club is an excellent place for members to visit that overlooks Dauphin Island Bay.
Guests can place a pontoon boat rental for a day on the water, charter a cruise, or hire a boat and captain for a day of deep-sea fishing. Fishing charters are a popular getaway for anglers who are local or visiting.
The Dauphin Island Marina is the best place on the island to enjoy any water-based activities, and it is the perfect place to launch a boat or hire a captain.
Tour Dauphin Island via Bienville Boulevard
Bienville Blvd spans the length of Dauphin Island and is the perfect route to guide a tour of the island. For instance, Lighthouse Bakery is a local eatery with baked goods, coffee, and breakfast sandwiches.
Dauphin Island is about fifteen miles long from end to end, so marathoners or long distance runners might enjoy a jog from the east end to the west end.
Otherwise, both cars and bicycles are easy transportation options to traverse Bienville Boulevard. Notable attractions like the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Cadillac Square, and West End Public Beach are all connected via the main thoroughfare.
Take the perpendicular Lemoyne Drive for extra exploration of different eateries and shops.
Take Some Pictures at Sand Island Lighthouse
Sand Island Lighthouse is a decommissioned lighthouse located at the southernmost point of Alabama, near Dauphin Island, at the mouth of Mobile Bay. The lighthouse is a tapered cylindrical tower with a balcony and lantern that once included a lightkeeper’s dwelling space.
The lighthouse also served to warn ships during exceptionally foggy days. While the lighthouse is not currently in use, due in part to the continual threat of erosion, its presence on Dauphin Island is a lovely reminder of a time when ships, sailors, and lighthouse keepers were working in unison to keep boats safely at sea.
Take I-10 to New Orleans
New Orleans is about a three drive from Dauphin Island along Interstate 10. Following along the Gulf Coast, through Mississippi, on the Interstate, the travel to New Orleans from Dauphin Island is a relatively easy road trip. Interstate 10 is a main highway system in the United States that runs from East to West.
New Orleans is a key vacation destination for thousands of tourists annually. With professional sports teams, live blues music, and the bars lining the French Quarter, New Orleans is filled with activities for everyone!
If you are planning a multi day vacation, then you might even consider spending some time in New Orleans. A particularly fun place to rent a vacation home is in the lively French Quarter.
Enjoy Vacation Home Amenities
Vacation homes for rent in Dauphin Island offer amenities like access to free Wi-Fi. Swimming pools, kitchens, free parking, and other traveling needs. If you are spending more than three days, vacation homes for rent are a great option.
Not only is staying in a house more comfortable, it is more cost effective, especially for a group of travelers staying together. Some homes also offer special rates when guests can stay for a week or for a month.
Ultimately, travelers can often find a home in unique areas where hotels might not be easily accessible and can save money and time by doing so. Various amenities and comfortable accommodations are the primary reasons to find a vacation home in Dauphin Island.
Final Thoughts
Vacation rentals in the area are perfect for couples or families. Visitors to the island can enjoy beautiful beaches and excellent bird watching. Various outdoor activities are available for vacationers to undertake across the island.
Dauphin Island is a great place to visit during the warmer months of the year. For families seeing educational and fun activities, the island is a gold mine. For birdwatchers and water sports enthusiasts, Dauphin Island is the perfect place to stay. For those who enjoy a quiet and relaxing vacation, the island offers a great mix of leisure activities.
For travelers who enjoy seeing many different places, Dauphin Island is located close to Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, and New Orleans.
The Mobile Bay Ferry is a great way to visit other locations like Fort Morgan, Gulf Shores, or Orange Beach. When visiting the marinas or Estuarium, tourists might even see alligators or stingrays!
Featured Image Credit: George Dodd III
