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Beach House Rentals Dauphin Island

Your next vacation doesn’t have to be far from home. Plan a weekend getaway in Alabama and enjoy a change of scenery while still being close enough to drive from home. If you are looking for a destination where you can experience beautiful beaches, small-town charm, local history, and wildlife, look no further than Dauphin Island on Alabama’s Gulf Coast. Spend a weekend in a Boardwalk Realty vacation rental and fill your itinerary with these fun activities:

Please keep in mind that Boardwalk Realty has a three-night minimum stay for many of our rentals.

Friday

Arrive on Dauphin Island in the afternoon and check into your Boardwalk Realty vacation rental. 

If your rental is four bedrooms or less, check-in begins at 3:00 pm. If your rental is five bedrooms or larger, check-in starts at 4:00 pm. After getting settled into your rental home, start exploring the island. 

  • Walk to the beach and relax on the white sand shoreline, while suntanning, swimming, and beachcombing.
  • Grab dinner at Pirate’s Bar & Grill and enjoy fresh seafood, burgers, and drinks while overlooking the waterfront.
  • Check the Dauphin Island events calendar and attend a special event during your visit. 
  • Return to your vacation rental to relax and unwind before resting up for a full day of adventures tomorrow. 

Saturday

Wake up early and start exploring everything Dauphin Island has to offer. 

  • Start your day at Lighthouse Bakery and sit down to enjoy one of their breakfast specials or order delicious pastries to go and enjoy them by the beach. 
  • Visit the Alabama Aquarium and see marine life from Mobile Bay in the aquarium exhibits. Check to see if any excursions are available during your visit to get an up-close look at marine life in the waters surrounding Dauphin Island. 
  • After learning about life in the water, head on land to watch for birds at the Audubon Bird Sanctuary.
  • Visit the Dauphin Island Marina and sign up for a guided sunset cruise or dolphin watching tour. If you are hungry before or after, you can stop for a meal nearby at Capt’n Snapper’s Marina Bar & Grill. 
  • Head back to the beach for more fun in the sun. If you are staying in one of our Dauphin Island vacation rentals with a pool, you can head back and splash around there instead.
  • Stop at Skinner Seafood and pick up some fresh seafood to prepare for dinner. 

Sunday

  • Explore Historic Fort Gaines and walk through the remnants of this historic site that has guarded Mobile Bay for more than 150 years.
  • Rent a kayak or pontoon and get on the water for an afternoon of sightseeing, wildlife watching, and fishing. 
  • Sign up for a fishing charter and fish the abundant inshore and offshore waters of Dauphin Island with a local expert. 
  • Shop for souvenirs and local artwork at the gift shops in town. 
  • End the day with a delicious dinner at a Dauphin Island restaurant.

Monday

Check out of your vacation rental by 9:30 am. Head home for the weekend, or check out some of the attractions and activities you have missed over the weekend. 

Browse our Dauphin Island vacation rentals and find the perfect accommodations for your Alabama weekend getaway!

Located along the east end of Dauphin Island, Fort Gaines has guarded Mobile Bay for more than 150 years. Pay a visit to our island’s historic site and uncover Georgia history during your stay with Boardwalk Realty. Step back in time and see the original cannons, blacksmith shop, kitchen, and tunnels. Discover the Fort’s role in the Civil War and the Battle of Mobile Bay by reading the informative signs scattered throughout the grounds. Plan your visit and read on to discover the significant sites and events at Historic Fort Gaines:

Things to See at Fort Gaines

Built in 1821, Fort Gaines features many buildings and historic artifacts that can still be seen today. Grab a self-guided brochure at the entrance and see features like:

  • Gun mounts, firing stations, ammunition magazines, range finders. All of these were used to protect Mobile Bay during the Civil War. 
  • Tunnel system that leads to the Northwest Bastion, the best-preserved bastion at the Fort with features like ventilation ports and ammunition rooms. 
  • A bakery that once housed ovens and several storerooms. You can still see a few of the ovens that were used by soldiers today. 
  • Latrine, accessible from the tunnels. It was one of the first “flushable” latrines that sent waste to sea twice daily. 
  • Blacksmith Shop, where any forging for the Fort took place. Today, you can watch local blacksmiths make crafts like horseshoes and handles. 
  • Quartermaster office where supplies, food, and uniforms were kept. Today, it is used to store historic artifacts for visitors to see.
  • Kitchen Courtyard that was used to prepare meals for the soldiers.
  • The orderly room where organizational and administrative management of the Fort took place. Today, this area is used for the restrooms.
  • The Guardhouse Building was built to hold soldiers, prisoners, and guards. Today, it is the site of the Fort Gaines Gift Shop.
  • Anchor from U.S.S. Hartford, Admiral Farragut’s flagship during the Battle of Mobile Bay. 

Annual Events at Fort Gaines

In addition to self-guided tours, Fort Gaines also offers several exciting events throughout the year. Every summer, the Fort hosts monthly Sunset Concerts, where you can listen to live music. During the spring, you can observe the Battle of Mobile Bay anniversary during Thunder on the Bay. And during the fall, you can attend the October Renaissance Festival. 

Dauphin Island Vacation Rentals

Whether you are a history buff or just looking for an educational outing for the kids, Historic Fort Gaines is a great addition to your Dauphin Island getaway. Want to learn more about local history during your stay? Take the Mobile Bay Ferry and visit Fort Morgan just across the water. At the end of the day, return to your Dauphin Island vacation rental with Boardwalk Realty and unwind!

DAUPHIN ISLAND WEATHER
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