Alabama’s Coastal Connection
Bayou La Batre Area Chamber of Commerce
12745 Padgett Switch Rd, Irvington, AL 36544
251-824-4088
Dauphin Island Welcome Center
1504 Bienville Blvd., Dauphin Island, AL 36528
251-861-5524
South Mobile County Tourism Authority
101 Bienville Blvd., Dauphin Island, AL 36528
Alabama Gulf Coast CVB
3459 Gulf Shores Pkwy., Gulf Shores, AL 36542
23685 Perdido Beach Blvd., Orange Beach, AL 36561
800-745-7263
South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce
112 West Laurel Ave., Foley, AL 36535
251-943-3291
Foley Welcome Center
104 North McKenzie St., Foley, AL 36535
251-943-1200
Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce
327 Fairhope Ave., Fairhope, AL 36532
29750 Larry Dee Cawyer Dr., Daphne, AL 36526
251-621-8222
This route and the waterways it follows are significant to the state of Alabama and the region for many reasons. Among them are the National Historic Landmarks of Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines, the protected lands of the Dauphin Island Audubon Sanctuary, Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and Gulf State Park, beaches, and unique culture of working waterfronts with distinct scenery.
The waters of Alabama’s Gulf Coast create its strongest connections. Making a living from the waters is a tradition that is alive and well here. Shell mounds hold the stories of early inhabitants who lived off the bountiful waters. Captains run shrimp and charter boats, and research vessels carry those dedicated to understanding the waters and to preserving the ecosystems that are so dependent upon them.
Historic Forts Gaines and Morgan stand united around the mouth of Mobile Bay. In earlier times they stood guard against enemies and their cries of “Damn the torpedoes.” Today, the brick and wooden fortresses tell the stories of those battles and their soldiers to the many visitors who step onto their grounds.
The Dauphin Island Audubon Sanctuary, Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, and Gulf State Park provide more than 12,000 acres of protected lands along the coast. Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is one of only 27 such reserves nationally. See indigenous wildlife, seasonal migratory birds, and a variety of native plants. See the refuge’s bio-diverse habitats, including beaches and sand dunes, salt and freshwater marshes, scrub forests, freshwater swamps, and uplands.
Enjoy a stroll along the shore at sunset or a quiet sail on the bay or backwaters, or go golfing and offshore fishing. And here, dining is definitely recreation! Seafood is standard fare and can be prepared any way imaginable. Whether you’re looking for a campsite, a family-friendly beach house, a luxury hotel, or anything in between, your family will find the accommodations they need.
Alabama’s Coastal Connection has much to share and it beckons you to make your own connection and to learn more about The Waters, Ways, and Wildlife of Alabama’s Gulf Coast.