1-877-861-3992

Vacation Rentals Dauphin Island AL

No visit to Dauphin Island is complete without visiting the island’s top attraction, the Alabama Aquarium. This aquarium, operated by the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, offers visitors an inside look into the key coastal habitats of Alabama. Plan a visit and learn about the unique ecosystems surrounding our island through the 10,000-square-foot exhibit hall and guided excursions led by local experts. Stay with Boardwalk Realty and discover everything the Alabama Aquarium has to offer during your visit:

Dauphin Island Sea Lab: Alabama Aquarium

The Dauphin Island Sea Lab, a marine research and education center, operates the Alabama Aquarium. Dauphin Island, surrounded by Mobile Bay, the Mississippi Sound, and the Gulf of Mexico, offers the perfect destination for marine research. The lab’s mission is to share information about ocean life and conservation with the public. The aquarium allows visitors to get a firsthand look at local marine life and learn about DISL’s work.

Things to Do at the Alabama Aquarium

Purchase tickets for the Alabama Aquarium and learn about Alabama’s coastal habitats through these attractions:

  • Stroll through the 10,000-square-foot exhibit hall featuring species of Mobile Bay including drum, pipefish, and the diamondback terrapin. 
  • Visit the 7,000-gallon stingray touch pool and pet a live stingray! Species include Atlantic, Blutnose, and Cownose Stingrays. 
  • Explore the Living Marsh Boardwalk.

Alabama Aquarium Education Opportunities

The DISL also offers education opportunities and excursions for an additional fee. Fill out a reservation form or contact excursions@disl.edu for more information!

  • Boardwalk Talks is a series where you can learn about the current projects DISL is working on and a broad range of science topics.
  • Salt Marsh Excursions allows you to become a marine scientist for the day by learning how to collect samples and specimens from a salt marsh. 
  • The Beach, Dune, and Maritime Forest Excursions allow visitors to explore all three ecosystems. Visitors can also get an up-close look at wildlife by using nets and digging for moles and ghost crabs.
  • R/V Alabama Discovery Excursion takes you on a two-hour boat ride around Dauphin Island with a professional DISL educator. 

Book Your Dauphin Island Vacation Rental Today!

There is plenty to do on Dauphin Island beyond the Alabama Aquarium. Enjoy miles of beachfront, exceptional fishing, outdoor exploration, and historic sites. Choose Boardwalk Realty to host your getaway and stay in one of our Dauphin Island vacation rentals. Check out our specials and save on your upcoming Dauphin Island vacation!

When you vacation on Dauphin Island, not only do you have access to exceptional beaches and activities on the island, but you are also a stone’s throw away from some of the top attractions on the Gulf Coast! Boardwalk Realty invites you to plan an Alabama day trip from your Dauphin Island vacation rental to Mobile, Gulf Shores, Biloxi, or Pensacola. Whether you are interested in local history, exploring the great outdoors, or family-friendly amusement parks, there is something for everyone to discover on the Gulf Coast:

Mobile, Alabama

Mobile, Alabama, is just a 40-minute drive north of Dauphin Island on Highway 193. Once you have arrived in Alabama’s oldest city, we recommend checking out these top attractions in Mobile:

Gulf Shores, Alabama

Getting to Gulf Shores is easy with the Mobile Bay Ferry, transporting passengers from Dauphin Island to Mobile Point. The ferry will drop you off at Fort Morgan, where you can explore this National Historic Site before heading out to explore what Gulf Shores has to offer:

Biloxi, Mississippi

Biloxi, Mississippi, is just over an hour from Dauphin Island on Interstate 10, offering the perfect Alabama day trip from your vacation rental. The city is best known for its eight first-class casino resorts, where you can enjoy endless games and entertainment!

Pensacola, Florida

Make the one-hour-and-a-half drive from Dauphin Island to Pensacola and experience the attractions of the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle:

Book Your Dauphin Island Vacation Rental Today

After your Alabama day trip, return to your Dauphin Island vacation rental with Boardwalk Realty. We offer over 40 vacation rentals ranging from two to six bedrooms to accommodate groups of all sizes. Save on your Dauphin Island getaway with our vacation specials, and plan your trip to the Gulf Coast today!

Skip to content