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Dauphin Island Vacation Rentals

Along the Gulf Coast of Alabama, you will find beautiful Dauphin Island, a popular destination for both vacationers and migratory birds alike. As a Globally Important Bird Area, Dauphin Island is among the top places in the country to witness fall and spring migrations! Boardwalk Realty invites birders to visit our coastal paradise and discover the diverse habitats that entice hundreds of species to the Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuary. Pack your binoculars, grab your birding checklist, and start your birdwatching adventure today!

When to Go Birdwatching on Dauphin Island

Birdwatching can be enjoyed on Dauphin Island year-round, but the best time to visit is during the spring and fall migrations. 

The fall migration usually runs from mid-September through October and is a great time to see shorebirds. But, if you want to make the most of your birdwatching adventure, we recommend visiting in the spring, when neotropical birds fly across the Gulf of Mexico and seek shelter on Dauphin Island. This season lasts March-May and allows visitors to see more than 300 bird species during one visit. 

Take a look at this field checklist of birds of Dauphin Island before your visit!

Audobon Bird Sanctuary

The Audobon Bird Sanctuary is a 164-acre nature sanctuary and the best birding spot on Dauphin Island! The sanctuary is home to diverse ecosystems, including maritime forests, marshes, dunes, lakes, swamps, and beaches. Stroll through these ecosystems on the 1,000-foot-long boardwalk and keep an eye out for the neotropical migrants on Galliard Lake. Please read this brochure about the trail systems and bird sighting checklist before you visit the Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuary. 

More Birdwatching Spots in Dauphin Island

Dauphin Island is also part of the Alabama Coastal Birding Trail and offers several more fantastic birdwatching spots on the Bayou La Batre Loop: 

Plan Your Dauphin Island Birdwatching Getaway Today

Dauphin Island, Alabama, stands as a true haven for birdwatching enthusiasts and nature lovers! Plan your getaway and spend time at the Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuary, checking off birds from the checklist. Whether you’re a seasoned birder or a newcomer to the world of birdwatching, Boardwalk Realty has the perfect vacation rentals for your getaway!

There are plenty of places to see fall foliage in Alabama, but for visitors looking to extend their summer, we invite you to visit Dauphin Island! Fall on Dauphin Island is the opportune time to enjoy crowd-free beaches, spot hundreds of migratory birds, embark on fishing charters and attend festive events. Choose Boardwalk Realty as your lodging partner and experience Alabama in the fall with us today!

Fall Activities on Dauphin Island

The mild fall weather on Dauphin Island offers the perfect temperature for outdoor activities, such as:

  • Enjoy an afternoon at our Dauphin Island beaches! Depending on the weather, you can enjoy swimming, beach strolling, shelling, watersports, and more!
  • Fall is one of the best times to embark on a Dauphin Island fishing charter! Hit the waters with a local guide and target species like Yellowfin Tuna, Mahi, King Mackerel, Grouper, Amberjack, and more!
  • Witness the fall bird migration on Dauphin Island at the Audubon Bird Sanctuary! Explore the 130-acre sanctuary through maritime forests, marshes, and dunes while keeping an eye out for over 400 bird species!

Fall Events near Dauphin Island

Make your fall getaway on Dauphin Island extra memorable by planning it around one of the fall festivals in the area. If you are interested in attending any of the events on Pleasure Island, we recommend hopping on the Mobile Bay Ferry. 

  • Visit Fort Gaines, a crucial site for the South during the Civil War, for the annual Fall Festival. Enjoy a day full of food, games, candy, music, pumpkin patch, and fun contests!
  • Historic Fort Gaines also hosts a Renaissance Festival every October for visitors who want to experience a day of life in the Middle Ages. 
  • Make the 20-minute drive to Bellingrath Gardens & Home for their annual Boo at Bellingrath! This family-friendly event will include trick-or-treating, scary stories, live music, and food trucks.
  • Visit Fort Morgan for unique fall events like haunted history tours, cemetery walking tours, and living history tours.

Book Your Alabama Fall Getaway on Dauphin Island

Experience Alabama in the fall with Boardwalk Realty and escape the everyday! Browse our collection of over 40 vacation rentals on Dauphin Island and find the perfect property for your group. Whether you are looking for gulf-front, bay-front, or pet-friendly properties, we have you covered. Please contact us at 1-8777-861-3992 and let our rental experts help you create Dauphin Island memories this fall!

Dauphin Island is home to the largest fishing tournament in the world, so it should be no surprise that we offer some of the best fishing in the country! Whether you’re a seasoned angler or a first-time fisher, our Dauphin Island fishing charters offer a diverse range of fish species to target, from feisty redfish and speckled trout to mighty tarpon and king mackerel. Choose Boardwalk Realty to host your getaway, and let a local guide take you to the best fishing spots around Dauphin Island!

Captain Mike’s Fishing

Captain Mike’s Fishing has offered Dauphin Island fishing charters for over 50 years! They offer two charter boats to accommodate short trips, deep sea trips, and group outings. Their walk-on charters are the most popular option, where you can fish for red snapper, vermillion snapper, and triggerfish. And if you are looking for a multi-day fishing adventure, we recommend their three-day Blue Water Big Game Charters!

Captain T’s Fishing Charters

Sign up for a guided inshore or offshore trip with Captain T’s Fishing Charters. Your charter will include rods, reels, bait, and ice. The inshore trips are available as four or six-hour excursions, where you will target trout, redfish, flounder, sheepshead, and tripletail. Or reserve an offshore trip and catch sport fish like amberjack, grouper, and tuna!

D.I. Reef Monster

Join D.I. Reef Monster for a six-person offshore fishing adventure! Their small group trips offer everything you need for a day on the water, including licenses, bait, ice, and bottled water. Whether you are a novice or looking to target specific species, they offer Dauphin Island fishing charters for everyone!

FinAtics Dauphin Island Fishing

FinAtics Dauphin Island Fishing provides family-friendly fishing charters on the island. All trips have an expert guide, license, rods, reels, tackle, bait, lures, and complimentary fish cleaning. Choose from inshore, offshore, deep sea, and private fishing charters. Gather the family and fish for red snapper, redfish, trout, king mackerel, and more!

Plan an Alabama Fishing Getaway on Dauphin Island

Discover Dauphin Island fishing charters and experience the thrill of fishing the Gulf of Mexico’s abundant waters! Choose Boardwalk Realty to host your Alabama getaway and create cherished memories together in your Dauphin Island vacation rental. Call us at 1-877-861-3992 and let our friendly Dauphin Island rental experts help you create your own Alabama memories!

Nestled on the Gulf Coast of Alabama, Dauphin Island offers families a premier summer vacation destination! We invite you to immerse yourself in Dauphin Islands’ natural beauty, serene beaches, and rich history this summer. Whether you want to cool down from the summer heat at Dauphin Island beaches, attend family-friendly events, or learn about local wildlife, there is something for everyone! Choose Boardwalk Realty to host your family getaway and experience everything our slice of paradise has to offer!

Summer Events on Dauphin Island

Every summer, the town of Dauphin Island comes alive with family-friendly entertainment and events, such as:

Free Family Movie Nights

West End Beach hosts free family-friendly movies Thursdays and Fridays at dusk from the end of May to early August. This year you can expect family favorites like Tangled, Jaws, and The Little Mermaid. Don’t forget to bring beach chairs, blankets, snacks, and sunscreen!

2023 Sunset Concerts

Dauphin Island is the sunset capital of Alabama, and we invite you to celebrate with us during the annual sunset concerts. Concerts are held monthly at Historic Fort Gaines two hours before the sun goes down. Admission is $5 for adults and free for kids 12 and under!

Market in the Park

Shop local during your summer getaway at Market in the Park! Shop for a variety of items from local farmers, crafters, and businesses. The market is held at Green Park every Thursday from 1-5 pm and every second Saturday from 9 am-2 pm.

Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo

The largest fishing tournament in the world happens right here on Dauphin Island every July! Purchase your tickets and experience three days of epic fishing with us!

Other Summer Activities on Dauphin Island

In addition to summer events, Dauphin Island offers several year-round attractions to keep your family entertained throughout your visit:

  • Experience your favorite summer pastimes at our beautiful Dauphin Island beaches. Enjoy 17 miles of white sand beaches, perfect for swimming, beachcombing, and watersports. We recommend West End Beach!
  • Visit the Alabama Aquarium and learn all about the coastal habitats of Alabama together through visual and interactive exhibits.
  • Explore the great outdoors at the Audobon Bird Sanctuary, and keep an eye out for local wildlife like birds, butterflies, fish, and alligators.
  • Play a round of miniature golf at Dauphin Island Golf, and then cool down from the summer heat with some ice cream from the concession stand!

Family-Friendly Vacation Rentals on Dauphin Island

Gather the family and spend your summer on Dauphin Island! Choose Boardwalk Realty to host your getaway and access Dauphin Island beaches right out your front door with our Gulf Front and Bay Front vacation rentals. Whether you are looking for a cozy cottage for your small family or a large home for the extended family, we have the perfect Dauphin Island vacation rentals waiting for you!

The Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo is the largest fishing tournament in the world, and it happens right here on Dauphin Island! Every summer, thousands of anglers and tens of thousands of spectators flock to our island for three days of exceptional fishing! This summer event offers fun for the whole family, with 30 fishing categories, live entertainment, awards ceremonies, and more. 

Visit Dauphin Island the third weekend in July and choose Boardwalk Realty to host your family during the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo!

A Brief History of the Fishing Rodeo

It all started with a fishing trip in the summer of 1928 with a group of businessmen from Mobile, Alabama. After the trip, an idea began to bring a competitive fishing tournament to Dauphin Island. By the following year, the first Alabama Fishing Rodeo was up and running, garnering immediate success. The original destination for the rodeo was Fort Gaines Pier before moving to the location on LeMoyne Drive. Discover more rodeo history on the ADSFR About Us page!

2023 Events at the Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo

Roy Martin Young Anglers Tournament: July 15th

Every weekend before the rodeo is the annual Roy Martin Young Anglers Tournament. Plan your getaway a week earlier and bring the family together through sportsmanship. Around 1,500 young anglers participate in this event annually in over 30 different categories. 

Liar’s Contest: July 20th

The Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo kicks off every year with the Liar’s Contest. This unique contest brings anglers to the stage to tell their best tall tales! Following the Liar’s Contest, Bruce Smelley Band will take the stage from 8-11 pm. 

Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo: July 21st-23rd

The Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo attracts over 75,000 spectators and over 3,000 anglers annually! One Master Angler is awarded every year, along with cash prizes for King Mackerel, Speckled Trout, and Big Game. A cannon blast starts the Friday competition, and three days of epic fishing commences! Make sure to catch the free live music during the rodeo, including:

Follow the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo Facebook page for regular updates leading up to the event, including the 2023 schedule and ticket information!

Vacation Rentals for the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo

Are you looking for places to stay during the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo? Boardwalk Realty has you covered with our collection of over 50 vacation rentals on Dauphin Island! Ranging from two to six bedrooms, we offer a wide range of accommodations for your family to choose from this summer. Join us this July for the world’s largest fishing tournament!

DAUPHIN ISLAND WEATHER
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