Dauphin Island, Alabama Travel Guide - Places To Go, Restaurants and Hotels -
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Dolphin island florida10 Things To Do (And Love) About Dauphin Island, Alabama.
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Check out the island's campgrounds at Historic Fort Gaines, which has guarded Mobile Bay for over a century. The unique fort, located on the Gulf of Mexico, began construction in , finishing in , and stands as one of the best-preserved examples of 19th-century bread seacoast fortifications in the east. During your visit, see actual cannons used in battle, an original blacksmith shop, a bakery, and Officer's Quarters building.
Stop by the Arts of Dauphin Island gallery to discover artwork created by local and regional artists. This gallery features art classes and exhibits depending on the time of the year, so contact the center before your trip to see what is available.
Artists feature a range of items, including paintings, photography, and items made from clay or wood. Stop by Bayou Heron Lake for a picnic at one of the waterfront tables.
There is a small dock for fishing but check with Alabama's Fish and Wildlife department to ensure it is open to the public during your visit. It's hard to resist a family-friendly game of mini-golf while on vacation.
Island Golf is a course suitable for beginners and just as fun for adults. This activity is excellent for the entire family when you need a break from the beach if you ever need one. In the summer guests leave from Dauphin Island, and as the weather cools down the trips are moved farther inland toward Mobile Bay. The chartered trips are open to beginners, advanced fisherman, and everyone in between.
The lighthouse was originally constructed by the renowned Winslow Lewis in , but was destroyed during the Civil War and rebuilt nine years after the war ended. The land it stands on has also shrunk through the years from acres to less than one acre today.
Efforts have been made by the residents of Dauphin Island to maintain and preserve the lighthouse such as transferring tons of granite, rock, and sand in order to expand the land around the tower. Visiting the lighthouse is free of charge, but requires a boat rental or tour in order to get there. The masonry fort stands at the tip of the Fort Morgan Peninsula and was used to guard the area where the bay and the Gulf of Mexico connect. Visitors can marvel at the original structures throughout the fort along with several canon displays.
Several nature attractions can also be found such as nature trails, bird watching areas, picnic areas, and beaches. From their fresh gulf seafood to the handcrafted half-pound burgers, everything on their menu is guaranteed to be made from scratch with fresh, real ingredients. Other customer favorites from the menu include a pan-seared flounder with white wine sauce and the original Dauphin Island Bushwacker, which consists of ice cream, rum, and chocolate.
The island's French history began on January 31, , when the explorer Pierre Le Moyne, sieur d'Iberville , one of the founders of French Louisiana , arrived at Mobile Bay and anchored near the island on his way to explore the mouth of the Mississippi River. In reality, the site was a Mississippian burial mound which had been broken open by a hurricane , not a massacre site; however, the dramatic misnomer stuck. D'Iberville later established a port for Fort Louis de La Louisiane on the island due to its abundant timber, reliable supply of fresh water, and deep-water harbor.
The settlement consisted of a fort, a chapel, government-owned warehouses, and residences. The island served as a major trading depot where goods from Saint-Domingue Haiti , Mexico, Cuba and France were unloaded and a short-lived fur trade was conducted.
Before a channel was dredged , Mobile Bay was too shallow and its sandbars too treacherous for ocean-going vessels to travel up the bay and Mobile River to Fort Louis de La Louisiane. Thus, smaller boats carried the cargo within Mobile Bay to and from Dauphin Island.
In the first African slaves of Alabama arrived at Dauphin Island. After the American Revolutionary War , the territory again came under Spanish jurisdiction, being part of the Province of West Florida until In , the Chickasaw , Cherokee and Choctaw people were forced to cede their lands to the government. The Creek tribes aggressively fought to hold their lands, but eventually were forced to cede in Fort Gaines on the eastern tip of the island was built between and The phrase, " Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead ," was supposedly spoken by U.
Admiral David Farragut just a few hundred yards from Dauphin Island's shore. The present lighthouse ; in use until , has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Its ownership was recently transferred from the U. Department of Interior to the town of Dauphin Island. Dauphin Island is 15 miles 24 km long from east to west, separating the Gulf of Mexico to the south from the Mississippi Sound and Mobile Bay to the north.
The island is less than 0. According to the U. Census Bureau , the island has a land area of 6. The Dauphin Island Bridge , officially the Gordon Persons Bridge, is the island's sole road connection to the Alabama mainland, carrying State Route , which leads north 27 miles 43 km to Tillmans Corner in the southwest outskirts of Mobile. Downtown Mobile is 37 miles 60 km north of the island. The island also offers two public beaches for day visitors at no cost. In addition, all beaches in Alabama are considered open, so once on the sand, there are 14 miles for swimming, fishing, walking, sightseeing, and shell hunting.
Fishing is a popular year-round pastime, with many people booking a one- or two-day experience. Once on the island, you'll have little need to leave, as all amenities are within a short walk or bicycle ride away. There are restaurants serving everything from seafood to pizza to hamburgers, plus stores selling fishing supplies, beachwear, groceries, souvenirs, and more.
Nature lovers , meanwhile, will enjoy the Audubon Bird Sanctuary, which was established in and now offers marked trails, sitting areas, ponds, and access to the beach.
Visitors will also have the chance to observe one of the sanctuary's alligators, either sunning in the grass along the pond's edge or traveling across it. I, myself, have spent hours at the sanctuary, walking the well-marked trails and watching birds and alligators at the small pond. Those interested in history will also find much to do on Dauphin Island, as it's home to the historic Fort Gaines , which was initially established in and served through World War II.
There are about nine public beach access points on the island. The island thins out and expands as it continues west, with small beachside points available as you continue west along Bienville Blvd.
There are all sorts of Dauphin Island places to stay on the beach so you can wake up to the cascading waves and the inspiring view of the sun over the gulf. Dauphin Island makes a better destination than Gulf Shores for its affordable beachside accommodations.
You can keep the smooth beach as your vacation backdrop, providing for that picture-perfect postcard moment every time you look out the window.
Our rentals include uninterrupted beach views and access, close proximity to local attractions, furnished kitchens, and pet-friendly options. View all our beach rentals and find the perfect Dauphin Island accommodations.
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