If you love the outdoors and want to spend some quality time with family or friends, Dauphin is a great place to visit. This Alabama town is known for its white sand beaches and stretches of Gulf Coast coastline. It is also home to the 19th century Fort Gaines, which still has original cannons and a blacksmith shop. Visitors can also take in the wetlands and wildlife at the Dauphin Island Audubon Bird Sanctuary, or check out the Sea Lab, which has aquariums and a living marsh boardwalk.
Audubon Bird Sanctuary
If you love birds, you’ll want to visit the Dauphin Island Audubon Bird Sanctuary. This 164-acre sanctuary is home to more than 420 species of birds. It’s a great destination for birdwatching and is listed as an Important Bird Area by the American Bird Conservancy. Visitors can enjoy miles of peaceful trails as they hike or bike through the wetlands and woodlands.
The Audubon Bird Sanctuary is located on the east side of Dauphin Island. If you want to get a bird’s eye view, start with a map and find a parking spot. There’s a free entrance. The facility is open year-round, so you can visit anytime. You’ll also want to consider visiting in the late fall, as the birds begin their migration. You’ll want to plan ahead, though, since peak migration occurs in mid-April.
The Dauphin Island Audubon Bird Sanctuary is situated on 164 acres of beautiful woodlands. It features educational signs and walking trails that lead to dune systems, swamps, and a fresh water lake. You’ll also find a 1,000-foot boardwalk that leads to Galliard Lake. There, you’ll see hundreds of different species of birds.
You’ll also find several other interesting attractions on Dauphin Island. Fort Gaines is located on the island. You can also visit the Indian Shell Mound Park and Estuarium.
West End Public Beach
Dauphin Island is home to two amazing beaches: the West End Public Beach and the East End Beach. Located on opposite ends of the island, they are both popular with locals. Though both beaches lack amenities, they are both beautiful and serene. They feature deep sand, boardwalks, and picnic tables.
Dauphin Island’s West End Public Beach is open daily from June through September. There are restrooms, a beach food vendor, and a chair rental concession. You can also rent beach gear. This beach is a great place for a family picnic. It also has plenty of shells and a waterslide for kids to enjoy.
The Dauphin Island Park and Beach Board maintains the public beach, boardwalk, pavilions, and pier. Visitors can pay a fee to use these amenities, and the money they collect from the fee will be used to maintain the amenities and to fund ongoing beach renourishment projects.
Located on Dauphin Island, West End Public Beach is just steps away from Bay Beach and Gulf Beach. It also provides direct access to the beach and the 10-mile-long barrier island. In addition, the beach is close to the Audubon Bird Sanctuary. From here, you can enjoy amazing views of the dune fields.
Another great way to explore Dauphin Island is to go boating. The boats are comfortable and safe to ride on, and you can learn about the local wildlife. You can even rent fishing equipment and try some of the local cuisine.
Pirate’s Pleasure
Pirate’s Pleasure is a charming, low-key restaurant located on Dauphin Island. Its friendly staff are sure to make your evening a pleasure. It also offers carryout and bike parking. Admission is $9 for adults and $5 for children ages five to 12.
Dauphin’s Estuarium
For an up-close look at coastal Alabama’s marine habitats, visit Dauphin’s Estuarium. You can even get your hands dirty in the Sea Lab. This interactive exhibit features various animals and plants found in the state’s coastal waters. The entire family will love this interactive museum, and it will definitely keep them entertained for hours.
The aquarium is open seven days a week, and you can even join a Boardwalk Talk program twice a month for free. Inside, you’ll find more than thirty-one aquariums featuring local wildlife, which can be observed up close. You can also enjoy spectacular views of Mobile Bay from the indoor galleries.
A few of the exhibits are hands-on, and many children enjoyed touching them. But while some children were fascinated by a table of sea animal bones, others were frightened and screamed with fear when they touched an empty turtle shell. Fortunately, there are two touch tanks that feature live animals. The smaller one features horseshoe crabs and hermit crabs, while the larger touch tank features rays.
Dauphin Island Sea Lab is Alabama’s primary marine research and education center. It is home to the Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium and the George F. Crozier Estuarium, which focuses on estuarine organisms. Two exhibits recreate the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta and Mobile Bay, and both showcase native species.
Dauphin Island Sea Lab
The Dauphin Island Sea Lab is the primary marine education and research facility in the state of Alabama. It is also the headquarters of the Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium. Founded by the Alabama State Legislature in 1971, this facility provides educational and research opportunities for students and scientists alike. The Dauphin Island Sea Lab has been a major source of information for the community for nearly three decades.
The Dauphin Island Sea Lab is situated on a 17-mile barrier island, about 35 miles south of Mobile, Alabama. It is surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico, Mobile Bay, and the Mississippi Sound. The facility is accessible by ferry, which runs between the mainland and the island. No weapons or pets are allowed on the premises.
Those interested in the sea and the environment should consider joining the Marine Science Course, an academic program aimed at high school students. It offers a unique environment where students will study in a lab setting and participate in 150 hours of classroom and field activities. These activities include lectures, field explorations, projects, and laboratory investigations. Students will also participate in activities such as reef fishing, trawling, and other research activities aboard the Dauphin Island Sea Lab’s 65-foot research vessel.
The Dauphin Island Sea Lab is the state’s primary marine science education and research center. It is also the home of the Alabama Aquarium. The mission of the lab is to promote marine research, improve coastal zone management, and educate students in the field of science.
