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Rental Homes 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!

Dauphin Island is a hidden gem on the Alabama Gulf Coast, where you can experience a blend of nature, history, beaches, and breathtaking sunsets. Plan your next vacation with Boardwalk Realty and discover the natural beauty of Dauphin Island at one of our local parks. Whether you are looking for a place to bring a picnic or watch local wildlife, our parks offer the perfect addition to your vacation itinerary. 

Indian Shell Mound Park

Indian Shell Mound Park is an 11-acre park on the northern end of the island that offers a blend of cultural history, walking trails, and bird watching. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in the 1970s, this park is the site of two prehistoric shell mounds left by Indigenous inhabitants thousands of years ago.

During your visit, you can learn more about this historic site through interpretive signs, walk trails canopied by oak trees, and watch birds fly by. 

Audubon Bird Sanctuary

The Audubon Bird Sanctuary is the largest park on Dauphin Island, covering 137 acres with over three miles of walking trails. Walk through the diverse ecosystems of this sanctuary, and explore maritime forests, marshes, dunes, swamps, and beaches. 

This is one of the most popular spots for bird watching, but you may also encounter butterflies, fish, and alligators during your exploration. Bring your lunch and have a picnic amidst nature!

Cadillac Square

Cadillac Square is a small park where you can relax and enjoy a picnic under beautiful oak and pine trees while watching birds. Amenities include picnic tables and public restrooms. You can find this park on the South side of Bienville Boulevard.

Salt Creek Park

If you are visiting Dauphin Island with kids and looking for a park with a playground, Salt Creek Park is the perfect place. In addition to the playground, you will find a small skate park, basketball courts, and picnic tables. 

Book Dauphin Island Vacation Rentals

Find even more activities for your Dauphin Island vacation on our Boardwalk Realty blog and events page. Spend quality time with your family in a Dauphin Island vacation rental and access attractions like beaches, parks, and wildlife watching nearby. Book with us today and your perfect home away from home on Dauphin Island!

One of the best ways to experience the beauty of Dauphin Island is from the water. Rent a boat and explore the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi Sound, and Mobile Bay on your own. Or enlist the help of a local guide and sign up for a Dauphin Island boat tour. Cruise around the water at sunset, watch wildlife, and take in the sights of top attractions like Historic Fort Gaines. Whether you are visiting with your family, friends, or partner, these boat tours offer the perfect addition to your vacation on Dauphin Island with Boardwalk Realty:

Sunset Cruise

Dauphin Island is known for its breathtaking sunsets. That’s why we have been designated as the Sunset Capital of Alabama. Watch the sun dip below the horizon on a scenic sunset cruise with one of these local outfitters:

  • Sunset Cruise at Dauphin Island Marina: Experience a public sunset cruise along the coast that combines incredible sunset views with sightseeing and wildlife watching. The tour also includes a show and tell of marine life caught in the boat’s shrimp net. 
  • Finatic Fishing Charters Sunset Cruise: Sign up for a private sunset cruise and customize the tour based on your interests. 

Sightseeing Tours

With only 14 miles of coastline, Dauphin Island is easy to explore by water. Sign up for a sightseeing tour and cruise past attractions like Indian Shell Mounds, Historic Fort Gaines, and Sand Island Lighthouse. 

Educational Excursions

Learn about the research done by the team at the Alabama Aquarium with an Educational Excursion. Become a marine scientist for the day and head out to the salt marshes, beaches, dunes, and maritime forests studied by local researchers. These excursions are only offered periodically throughout the year, so make sure to check their availability during your visit. 

Stay at Waterfront Vacation Rentals on Dauphin Island

Beyond boat tours, Dauphin Island also offers several fantastic fishing charters for anglers interested in an epic day on the water. Or reserve a Dauphin Island boat rental and enjoy sightseeing, wildlife watching, and fishing at your own pace. Stay on the waterfront with a Boardwalk Realty vacation rental on the Bay Front or Gulf Front. Soak in views of the water from your private deck, walk to the beach, and relax with your loved ones in your spacious vacation rental!

Looking for a place to spend the summer on Alabama’s Gulf Coast? Head to Dauphin Island and enjoy the small-town charm, scenic beaches, rich history, and breathtaking sunsets we are famous for. Boardwalk Realty is here to help you plan your vacation and determine what to do on Dauphin Island during your visit. So, whether you are looking to lounge at the beach or attend one of the island’s annual events, we offer the perfect properties to experience everything Dauphin Island has to offer. 

Beach Days

There’s nothing like spending your summer vacation at the beach. Soak up the sunshine at Dauphin Island’s beaches with your family and enjoy swimming, beachcombing, kite flying, wildlife watching, building sand castles, and sunset strolls. 

Water Activities

One of the best ways to experience summer on our island is from the water. Head to Dauphin Island Marina, rent a pontoon, and cruise around the water while fishing and taking in the sights. Or let someone else take you around with a sunset tour from the marina. 

Sign up for a fishing charter and let a local guide take you to the best fishing spots around Dauphin Island. With licenses, lures, baits, and rods included, you will have everything you need for a fun and exciting day on the water. 

Summer Events

Every summer, Dauphin Island offers special events for the whole family. Head to East Beach for Free Family Move Nights every Thursday and Friday from the end of May to the beginning of August. Attend the monthly Sunset Concerts at Historic Fort Gaines and listen to live music.

July also brings the largest fishing tournament in the world to Dauphin Island: the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo. Experience a weekend of fishing competitions and live music with your family. 

Check Out the Island’s Top Attractions

  • Visit the Alabama Aquarium and learn about the marine life of Mobile Bay while exploring the visual and interactive exhibits. 
  • Walk through the nature trails of Audubon Bird Sanctuary and see hundreds of bird species together. 
  • Learn about the rich history of the island at Historic Fort Gaines. 
  • Pirate’s Bar & Grill is the perfect place to hang out in the summertime. Grab dinner in the restaurant and head outside to enjoy the beach, listen to live music, or swim in the pool. 

Stay in a Dauphin Island Vacation Rental this Summer

Book your Alabama summer vacation on Dauphin Island and discover the perfect place for family fun on the Gulf Coast with Boardwalk Realty. We offer Dauphin Island vacation rentals throughout the island to accommodate groups of all sizes. Stay close to the beach and enjoy amenities like outdoor decks, fully-equipped kitchens, spacious bedrooms, and charcoal grills. Reserve your vacation home online or contact us at 1-877-861-3992 to speak with our team directly!

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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