Lower Alabama Attractions
Rain or shine, there are so many great things to do while you're here. We've provided a list of favorites below. Be sure to check out America's Amazon Adventures. Ben Raines offers several boat trips that explore our beautiful area.
USS ALABAMA Battleship Memorial Park At Mobile’s Battleship Memorial Park, you don’t have to look very far to find heroes. From the Battleship USS ALABAMA to the Submarine USS DRUM and over 25 aircraft, the spirit of military pride is alive and well. Aboard the battleship you will be able to explore 12 decks. Among those, you can climb inside gun turrets, get locked in the Brig, man a 12mm gun and much more. Also at the park, you will be able to go below and explore inside the oldest Submarine on display, Submarine USS DRUM.
Bellingrath Gardens and Home Bellingrath Gardens and Home is the 65-acre public garden and historic home of Walter and Bessie Bellingrath, located on the Fowl River near Mobile, Alabama. Walter Bellingrath was one of the first Coca-Cola bottlers in the Southeast, and with his wealth built the estate garden and home.
OWA Amusement Park OWA Parks & Resort is a 520-acre family fun destination on the Gulf Coast in Foley, AL with theme park, unique dining and live entertainment.
Alligator Alley Located at 19950 County Rd. 71. Summerdale, AL 3658 | 251-946-BITE
America's Amazon Adventures Ben Raines spent the last 20 years exploring Alabama's wild places and bringing them to you through his articles and films. Now, with America's Amazon Adventures, he takes you with him to see the most spectacular places he knows. In addition to being a licensed charter captain, he's also an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. He discovered the wreck of the Clotilda, the last ship to bring enslaved Africans to the United States, and Simon & Schuster recently published his book, The Last Slave Ship, the True Story of How Clotilda Was Found, View Movie Trailer
Barber Marina Barber Marina is located in the tiny coastal town of Elberta, Alabama. This world-class marina offers a variety of amenities and quite a few attractions, including its famous "Dinosaurs in the Woods" and "Lady of the Lake" and "Bamahenge."
Lower Alabama Beaches
Use the links below to plan your perfect beach day.
Information on local beaches can be found using the links below.
Gulf Shores Beaches
Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism
Flora-Bama (info here
Boat Rentals & Rides
With the new boat lift at Southern Exposure Bay House, you may want to bring your boat. But, if that's not an option, below are some great options for getting out in the water and exploring the area.
Boatsetter.com Boatsetter is the first and only boat rental marketplace to offer insurance on every peer-to-peer rental, so you are protected during all rentals with insurance coverage and on-water assistance through TowBoatUS. Check this website for local boats that are available. Some captains may deliver the boat to the dock - or be open to taking you out and giving you a tour of the local water.
America's Amazon Adventures Ben Raines spent the last 20 years exploring Alabama's wild places and bringing them to you through his articles and films. Now, with America's Amazon Adventures, he takes you with him to see the most spectacular places he knows. In addition to being a licensed charter captain, he's also an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. He discovered the wreck of the Clotilda, the last ship to bring enslaved Africans to the United States, and Simon & Schuster recently published his book, The Last Slave Ship, the True Story of How Clotilda Was Found, View Movie Trailer
Bayside Boat Rental Bay Side Boat Rental offers luxury pontoon boats and floating mats to rent. They're located in Orange Beach. (251) 979-0609
Airboat Express Learn about the wildlife in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta while having a fun airboat ride the whole family will enjoy. Get to know the Delta and see why it is honored as a National Landmark! Airboat Express is the perfect way to see the Delta and learn about the flora, fauna, and wildlife. (251)-370-7089
Dog Parks & Dog Friendly Spots
Fairhope is a dog friendly town. You'll see the merchants in downtown set out water bowls for visiting pups!
BringFido.com There’s 1 off-leash dog park in Fairhope, and 8 more nearby. Use the BringFido link to get an overview of each one, see pictures, print directions, and even read reviews from other dog owners.
Dog Parks in Baldwin County This link provides a list of dog parks in the county along with contact information to ask about rules
Festivals
If you're coming to town be sure to look and see what festival may be happening while you're here. The Fairhope Arts & Craft Festival is hands down my favorite art festival. Go early and wear comfortable shoes!
Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival Foley is the spot for high-flying adventure and family fun at the Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival. Enjoy the entertainment, arts and crafts displays and more at the festival site daily. Balloon flights, glows and tethered rides (weather permitting) add to the fun at dawn and dusk. Typically occurs in May.
Fairhope Arts & Craft Festival This is one of our favorite festivals. The artists are always amazing and it is a HUGE event taking up all of downtown Fairhope. An absolute must if you're in the area. Typically occurs in March.
Bald Eagle Bash Local seafood. Local brews. Local talent. This annual event brings it all together in the perfect South Alabama environment overlooking beautiful—and diverse—Weeks Bay. Typically in April.
Shrimp Festival Gulf Shores The Annual Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores Alabama Enjoy fresh seafood straight from the Gulf of Mexico at the annual Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The National Shrimp Festival celebrates the very best of coastal Alabama with fresh and delicious seafood, local art, live music, and more. The Annual Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores Alabama. Typically occurs in October.
Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Annual Festival Calendar Great resource to see all the upcoming festivals.
Alabama Coast Fishing
If you're planning to do some fishing while your in Fairhope, here's some links you may find helpful. Are you looking for live bait? Fishing tackle? Or maybe a boat launch? We've also included a link to help you see when the fish are biting!
If you're looking for a great charter captain, reach out to Captain Chris Tew and Southern Exposure Inshore Fishing (251).401-2740. Chris books up fast, so be sure to reach out early to schedule your trip! If he can't take you, he'll be able to make a good recommendation.
Alabama Fishing License: If you're planning to fish on your visit to Fairhope, you'll want to make sure you purchase a license. Follow this link to purchase your license online.
Fisherman's Discount is the closest bait shop. Call ahead to see if they have live shrimp. (8438 US Highway 98, Fairhope, AL 36532 | 251-928-4887)
Hooked Up Bait & Tackle is another bait shop that may have live bait if Fisherman's Discount is out. Call ahead to see if they have live shrimp. (100 E 20th Ave Gulf Shores, AL 36542 | 251.955.5550)
FishingReminder.com for Fairhope will let you know when the major and minor bites are on - as well as fishing tides, weather, etc. A great tool to plan fishing for when the fish are biting.
Bay Watch Boat Ramp Located just before the bridge, 11470 US Highway 98 Fairhope, AL 36542
View Point Launch Located at 10471 County Road 1 Fairhope, AL 36542
If you plan to visit Orange Beach, these two tackle shops are worth stopping to do a bit of shopping.
J&M Tackle Sportfishing Outfitter Located at 25125 Canal Road Orange Beach, Alabama 36561 | (800) 483-7069 | (251) 981-5460
Sam's Bait & Tackle Located at 27122 Canal Rd Orange Beach, AL 36561 | (251) 981-4245
World-class Golfing
Alabama has so many wonderful golf courses and many are just a short drive from the bay house.
The Lakewood Club Play the legendary Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at the Lakewood Golf Club, located here at the Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa on Alabama's Gulf Coast. We offer guests a variety of golf packages. (251) 990-6312.
Coast360.com Website with information on what to do, where to eat, and how to save in Perdido Key, FL, and Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Foley, AL!
Coastal Alabama Golf With Coastal Alabama Golf you can experience nine signature golf courses located along the beaches of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach up through the beautiful Eastern Shore along Mobile Bay. Technically challenging and aesthetically beautiful, our courses have been designed by some of the world’s greatest golf course architects – including Arnold Palmer, US Open Champion Jerry Pate, Earl Stone and more.
Area Grocery Stores
There are many grocery stores not far from the bay house. Below I've listed a couple of our favorites. . McKinzie Farms will always be our first choice to grab something quick without going all the way back into town. One of our favorite things to do for dinner the 1st night at the house is stop at Piggly Wiggly in Fairhope and grab a container of shrimp scampi from the International Goat Greek Deli located in the store. They typically have everything that is in the case pre-packaged, so it is easy to grab-and-go. I recommend grabbing some fresh bread from the deli too. They'll be glad to let you sample just about everything! I recommend serving with pasta, maybe even adding some fresh broccoli. So GOOD!
CLICK HERE to view all the grocery stores in the Fairhope area and help you plan where to stop on your way to the bay house. We typically make a stop at Sam's in Daphne on our way to the house. If you take 181 to the house you'll also pass ALDI and Walmart.
The International Goat (Piggly Wiggly in Fairhope) The International Goat is a gourmet deli located within Fairhope's Piggly Wiggly - The Pig, as the store is commonly known. The Pig features several stores-within-a-store, including The Famous Lartigue Seafood Market and Andree’s, a Fairhope staple.
Red and White Wine and Gourmet Center Make sure to stop in Red and White while you're shopping in downtown Fairhope. Great wine, great prices, and amazing food!
McKinzie Farm Market This is a great little market with a little bit of everything. It's located closer to Southern Exposure Bay House, so you won't have to go all the way back into town for fresh veggies, meat, bread, milk or whatever else you may have run out of! It is also great to support the local farmers!
Sam's: Pensacola - 1250 Airport Blvd., Pensacola, FL 32504 (850) 484-7508
Sam's Daphne - 29683 Frederick Blvd, Daphne, AL 36526 (251) 626-6909
Walmart Daphne - 27520 US-98 W, Daphne, AL 36526 (251) 626-4784
Walmart Fairhope - 10040 CR-48, Fairhope, AL 36532 (251) 990-9006
ALDI - 10065 CR-48, Fairhope, AL 36532 (855) 955-2534
Publix - 22530 Us Highway 98 Ste 100 Fairhope, AL 36532 (251) 929-7355
Publix - 18125 Wright Blvd, Fairhope, AL 36532 (251) 279-6442
Nature Trails
Fairhope is a walkable and bike friendly town! Even if you're not a hiker or even a walker, you can't miss at least one night walking the bluffs at Fairhope to catch a sunset. You'll walk under the bay oaks with Spanish moss and feel the southern vibe of Fairhope and Mobile Bay. This park is dog friendly, so you'll see many folks walking their pets.
The Bluff at Henry George Park Having one of the best views in Fairhope, The Bluff at Henry George Park sits high above the Fairhope Municipal Pier overlooking the beautiful Mobile Bay. This large charming park is open to the public and an ideal spot for picnics, walking, and boat watching. While the official name is the Henry George Bluff Park, it is commonly referred to as simply, The Bluff in Fairhope.
Weeks Bay Reserve Trail Try this 0.7-mile out-and-back trail near Foley, Alabama. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 12 min to complete. This trail is great for birding, hiking, and paddle sports, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring.
Restaurants
Even with as many times as we've come down to the Fairhope area, we haven't eaten at all the great restaurants! It seems like new ones open every day. We've listed some of our favorite spots below, but also included some great websites that can help you plan a place to eat to satisfy everyone in your group.
Fairhopers.com This is a fantastic site for planning your trip to Fairhope. You'll want to bookmark this site and follow them on Facebook.
Downtown Fairhope Dining List of restaurants in downtown Fairhope.
Foley Dining Map This is a great resource showing a map of all the restaurants in Foley. You may want to download it and print it prior to your visit.
Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Restaurants So many options! This site will help you narrow down your choices.
Delta Grocery Restaurant and Bar This is a new place that we haven't had a chance to try. Let us know what you think. It is close to the house and is a restaurant with live music on the weekends.
PERSONAL FAVORITES:
Flora-Bama Yacht Club See my blog post on the yacht club for recommendations on what to eat and do while you're in Orange Beach/Perdido Key.
Tin Top See my blog post on Tin Top and some things you can do when you're in the Bon Secour area.
Wolf Bay Lodge This restaurant has been around for a long time and has been a local favorite. They have a fantastic salad bar and award winning gumbo!
The Locals Bar & Restaurant Another of our favorites! Check their daily specials - always something good. The blackened mahi sandwich is typically my choice.
Shopping
If you're interested in shopping you have so many options! Downtown Fairhope is an absolute MUST! So many great shops and restaurants. However, be aware the restaurants typically close from 2-5. Bargains can be found at the outlets in Foley - but Foley's downtown is another fun place to explore. The of course OWA and the Warf are always fun too!
Downtown Fairhope (Fairhopers.com) Shopping in Fairhope, Alabama With charming shops offering local goods and top brand items along gorgeous flower-lined streets, Fairhope, Alabama is a long-time favorite for shopping in the South. Browse through curated collections at eclectic antique shops, trendy boutiques, collectible gift stores, and colorful art galleries.
Tanger Outlets Foley Alabama Tanger Outlets is just eight miles from the unspoiled beaches of the Alabama Gulf Coast. With over 120 fashion and brand name outlet retailers,
The Warf This is a great spot in Orange Beach to plan to shop and have a meal. Check their calendar for festivals and live music events. There's always something happening here.
Downtown OWA Inspired by Southern small towns, Downtown OWA’s pedestrian-only streets are a destination for shopping, dining and entertainment! From big names like Paula Deen to coastal favorites, there’s something for everyone in Downtown OWA. Open seven days a week just outside the park gates at OWA, on the Foley Beach Express.
Fairhope Spas
It's always nice to plan a spa day into your vacation schedule. Southern Exposure Bay House is only a few minutes away from The Grand Hotel. This is a fantastic option for a day of papering. The area also has a wonderful float spa in Gulf Shores off Hwy 59. If you haven't tried a float - it is worth the experience! We also have relationships with local massage therapists that will come to the house. Maybe you and your group could do a "massage morning" and relax on property?
The Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa The Spa at the Grand Hotel is 20,000 square feet of elegant tranquility, a place of pampering and renewing, centered on an intention for holistic health and wellness. When you book a treatment during the week (Mon-Thurs) you'll have access to the outside pool which is amazing!
Magnolia Float Spa Being weightless in a clean, private pool with 1000 pounds of epsom salt is one of the best natural ways to help achieve relief from a wide range of ailments. This is one of my favorite things to do while I'm in town.
Area Sport Complexes
Families coming for sport tournaments have been guests at our Fairhope vacation rental. We have a fantastic retreat on 7 acres away from the beach crowds. With bikes, kayaks, corn hole - even a game center with basketball, ping pong and air hockey - Southern Exposure Bay House is a great place to come home to. Better yet, you can avoid the beach traffic and take back roads for most of the trip to the sportsplex.
Gulf Shores Sportsplex The Gulf Shores Sportsplex is a multifaceted sporting facility which annually plays host to many sporting events including USSSA World Series baseball tournaments, the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships, the AHSAA State Track Championships and many more.
Orange Beach Sportplex The Orange Beach Sportsplex is a great destination for sporting events and includes first class facilities such as: baseball fields, softball fields, soccer and football fields and running courses. The sportsplex is conveniently located near local accommodations, restaurants and attractions, just off Canal Road in Orange Beach.
Foley Sportsplex Park offers multi-purpose facilities ideal for year-round play.
Fairhope Wedding Venues
We've hosted many families attending weddings in the Fairhope area - we've even hosted wedding parties! Below are some of the venues closest to Southern Exposure Bay House. We've also hosted bachelor and bachelorette parties at the bay house. The men went out charter fishing and the captain picked them up from the dock. The women had a spa day with massages. We can bring the massage therapists to the house, or a day at the Grand Hotel's spa is always a good idea!
Oak Hollow Farm With full use of their 300-acre farm, Oak Hollow Farm offers a variety of options to make your special day everything you’ve imagined.
Little Point Clear Suites & Space Little Point Clear is a distinctively southern reception space, featuring unique and spaciously designed overnight guests suites.The creative coastal design is perfect for weddings, family reunions, private parties, corporate events, a romantic getaway or family vacation.
The Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa Weddings There has always been something magical, something indefinable, about a grand Southern wedding. And nowhere does this spirit shine more splendidly than at the Grand Hotel in Point Clear, Alabama.
Saint Francis at the Point One of our favorite churches - so pretty. A lovely spot for a wedding.
WeddingWire.com Great resource for the top wedding spots in Fairhope, Alabama