Beautiful beaches, shopping, wildlife preserves, historic sites and the freshest seafood you’ll ever put in your mouth are all yours to enjoy on Alabama’s Gulf Coast. Visit the Coastal Connection to take in the natural beauty and experience all there is to see and do here.

Alabama’s southern tip is one of those places where even first-time visitors find a connection. Here, you’ll experience the link between the traditions of the Deep South and a more laid back island lifestyle; between the wildlife of thousands of acres of preserved lands and the good life of a beachfront vacation; between the gun ships of past naval battles and the countless recreational opportunities of the present .  .  .  and the dedication to conservation methods for the future.

Alabama’s Coastal Connection has much to share and it beckons travelers to make their own connection and to learn more about The Waters, Ways and Wildlife of Alabama’s Gulf Coast.

Connecting With Nature

As travelers begin an eastward journey on the byway, the shrimping village of Bayou la Batre and the manicured displays of Bellingrath Gardens offer the perfect sample of the variety of natural settings there are to explore on Alabama’s Gulf Coast. 

The bridge to Dauphin Island offers scenic views of Mobile Bay and Mississippi Sound. Dauphin Island is home to the Dauphin Island Audubon Sanctuary, a haven for indigenous and neo-tropical birds, particularly during spring and fall migrations. The sanctuary is just one of approximately 50 sites along the Alabama Coastal Birding Trail.

Just ahead, the Estuarium at Dauphin Island Sea Lab tells of the importance, the interdependence and the wonder of the coastal ecosystems through displays and interactive exhibits. Public areas including Magnolia Park, the east end beach area and Cadillac Square offer scenic spots for visitors to rest or picnic and bikers enjoy the bike path that spans the length of the Island.

The trip across Mobile Bay is a scenic travel experience aboard the Mobile Bay Ferry. On land at Fort Morgan, the Hummer Bird Study Group sets up just inside the fort gates each spring and fall to learn more about migrant birds as they pass through.

Outside the gates of the fort is the first public beach area of the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge. It is one of several public access areas to the sugar-white sands and warm blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Additional access points can be found on the refuge and at the main Gulf State Park site in Gulf Shores and smaller sites in Orange Beach. The natural beauty of the Gulf beaches is the area’s, and the state’s, number one attraction.

Driving the 22 miles of Highway 180 East is a showcase of native vegetation accented by tempting glimpses of the Gulf, bays and lagoons that surround it.  The Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge consists of more than 6,800 acres of beachfront, marshes and lakes. One of only 10 refuges in Alabama, Bon Secour is home to hundreds of species of native animals. It offers the public interpretive hiking trails, bird and wildlife observation areas, fresh and saltwater fishing, as well as volunteer opportunities, including the annual “Share the Beach” Sea Turtle program.

Continuing the journey east, Gulf State Park offers miles of hiking trails cross the undeveloped areas of the park and the Nature Center staff is on hand to share the park’s natural wonders. Lake Shelby, with cabins and campsites to its north and a day use area to its south, boasts being the closest fresh water body to a saltwater body in the world. – The Gulf of Mexico is just across the street!

Bike paths, which begin in Gulf Shores, continue throughout the park and along Highway 182 and 161 in Orange Beach as well.

The park’s hiking trails are connected to newly completed trails in the City of Orange Beach. As part of the upcoming park renovation, the trail system will be expanded even further and a new nature center will showcase the natural assets of the park and the coastal region. The City of Orange Beach is also planning a canoe and kayak trail through its scenic waterways.

Trails for hiking and biking rim the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay are only the beginning of a planned 30-plus mile master plan that will connect the Eastern Shore with Weeks Bay and beyond.

Connecting the Land and the Sea

Just inland, it is evident that culture and nature follow similar paths. The City of Foley was the early center of this agricultural region of Baldwin County. These “land folks” also shared a connection to the sea, if not for livelihood, at least for recreation. Weekend trips to the beach were typical here and all roads to the coast went through Foley. Foley was home not only to needed supplies, but also to the closest medical facilities. The W.C. Holmes Museum in downtown Foley today is in the same building where hundreds of children were born to area farm and fishing families. Also downtown, the Depot Park notes the importance of the rail system to the early agricultural industry. Foley was truly the cultural hub of the area.

Just west of Foley the Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve displays a similar connection in nature. The watersheds, wetlands and rivers meet the bays and bayous here. This important habitat for aquatic species and indigenous plants is showcased here through exhibits, walkways and educational programs. In nature, estuaries such as these serve as gateways to the Gulf just as the town of Foley has done culturally.

“Jubilee” is a cry that can be heard along the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay, one of few places on earth where the phenomenon occurs. Crabs, fish and shrimp are compelled to the surface of  Mobile Bay by rare environmental conditions. Eastern shore residents are then compelled to the shore for the fish story of a lifetime!

Connecting With The Past

“Damn the Torpedoes! Full Speed Ahead!” Those famous words were uttered during the Battle of Mobile Bay by Admiral David G. Farragut. Historic Forts Gaines and Morgan still stand, guarding the mouth of Mobile Bay and offering a glimpse of the past the visitors of today. Through museums, re-enactments and living history demonstrations, visitors learn about the people, culture and lifestyle of those times, as well.

Dauphin Island, the cradle of the Louisiana Territory, is home to Cadillac Square and Shell Mound Park, each rich with history and legend.   In Orange Beach the Indian & Sea Museum sits along Highway 161 and offers visitors a glimpse of the culture of this “sleepy little fishing village” when it was just that.

Connecting With Each Other

As the state’s top vacation region, Alabama’s Gulf Coast is known as a family destination. But millions of people a year, in all kinds of groups, have made a connection with this coastal area, whether it’s the annual family vacation, a golf outing with the guys or a couple’s long-awaited weekend. While many enjoy the luxuries of the many beachfront condominiums and hotels, others choose one of the colorful beach houses that dot the shoreline.

There are numerous ways to enjoy the area’s waters. Swimming just off the sugar-white shore, canoeing the back waters and setting sail on the bays and bayous are popular options. Public launches are available for those who want to bring their own boat and charter cruise captains are standing by to guide those who don’t.

For the fishermen, the options include casting from the shore, dropping a line from a pier or heading offshore for a big game catch with a captain from one of the local marinas. Off the water, championship golf is a popular pastime. There are several courses immediately on the byway and about a dozen more nearby.

The combination of Alabama’s famous Southern Hospitality and the Gulf Coast’s abundance of succulent seafood is an awesome combination. No trip to this area, or certainly to this byway, would be complete without pulling up to a plate of just-the-way-you-like it seafood. Area restaurants and retailers are always happy to serve up more!