Gorgeous view, scenery and beach...we saw lots on the boat ..we saw dolphins ..we found seashells and had picnics...saw jellyfish, stingray and starfish read more

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Very historical place that's has great events. The ferry is also a great fun thing to do. Great walking area along the main road. read more

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Worth seeing! If you want a slow paced laid back beach town this is it! We chose to make it a day visit bc we like easy access to everything, but if you want the seclusion then staying on the island would be great! read more

Dauphin Island - Loved looking at all the houses along the water's edge! - Local Flavor Near Me - Dauphin Island, Alabama

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Rating is based on Off-season visit. Highlights: the spectacular sunrises and sunsets, the wildlife. It really is a beautiful setting. The beaches are lovely. Drawbacks: Other than the beach, very little free items to do on the island. Very few restaurants on the island. Lack of grocery store on the island. Bewares: Groceries on the island are scarce. We paid over $5 for 1/2 gallon of milk at the convenience store. You pay to park at all public parking areas via an app. Bring something to do indoors if it's cold/rainy and you can't go to the beach. Or be prepared to pay to see aquarium or fort. If you go during the offseason - almost everything is closed! If I return it will not be during the off season. read more

Dauphin Island - Local Flavor Near Me - Dauphin Island, Alabama

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Dauphin Island is a pleasant getaway daytrip located 36 miles south of Mobile and just off the coast of Alabama. I arrived here first thing in the morning and just making the drive was refreshing as you navigate through small town communities on the way and over a 3-mile long bridge connecting the mainland and island with the beach coastline and Gulf of Mexico waters in full view. In fact, I actually pulled my car off the side of the road just before entering onto the island and soaked up the crisp air with an anticipatory feeling like I was far from reality. And right beside me observing the scenery were some people fishing while lounging in beach chairs. This was a nice spot to do some reflecting. It sort of reminded me of making the drive down to the Florida Keys, but in a much shorter distance. So yes...Dauphin Island is a quiet and charming beach town. Upon stepping foot into the downtown area, there's a massive water tower as the focal point surrounded by a memorial park that greets visitors similar to a Welcome Sign. It's definitely good for a picture moment and then you can stroll around the downtown streets. From downtown, if you drive towards the eastern part of the island, you'll head towards the main attraction of Dauphin Island and that being Historic Fort Gaines. Here at Fort Gaines, you can learn some facts about how this place was established and the importance of military geographical presence for the United States back in the 1800's. Plus, it's located beside the beach sand waters, good for taking in the sights. Also, right nearby were some piers for boats heading out to do fishing, snorkeling and scuba diving. After hanging out at Fort Gaines, I returned to the downtown area and had lunch at the Pelican Pub. It's a casual, dive bar kind of place that's symbolic of the relaxing Dauphin Island vibe. I sat outside and admired the beach surroundings and ordered fresh mahi tacos. After lunch, I departed Dauphin Island and returned back inland for 16 miles and explored around beautiful Bellingrath Gardens and Home. Walking around Bellingrath Gardens exuded a pure "southern charm" ambiance. It was a great way to spend the afternoon before going back to Mobile. Lastly...for those interested in getting the most information and ideas out of Dauphin Island, I discovered and recommend visiting this website...https://www.scenicpathways.com/dauphin-island-alabama/ It includes... - What to See and Do. - Attractions. - Where to Stay. - Where to bike and Hike. - Restaurants. Dauphin Island is a worthwhile stop if you are traveling along the Mississippi-Alabama Gulf Coast Scenic Drive (Hwy 90). I'm glad I made the time to visit. read more

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I love coming here! This is our family destination for our beach trips. We always find a good deal on a rental property that fits our budget and now with kids we get lucky and get the bayside part of the island where there is no waves and kids get to just play free and enjoy the beach. Oh, jellyfish are higher on this side but the kids find it cool to find them and put them in a bucket or just find them while walking the shores. They have a few restaurants and shops that during peak season are open and during slow season it's a hit or miss but still a good time (we go there to just be at the beach anyway). The fish store is a good place to find the catch of the day and buy fresh fish but you do have to go early because they run out of supplies quick as they are the only one on the island. They have a couple of gas stations/convenience stores and you can also get out of the island for a trip to the Dollar General if you need more of a "supermarket" shopping spree. They have a few public parks and they also have the ferry station that takes you to Fort Morgan where we have also vacationed at. It's a cool ride too just to go and visit even if you are not staying on that side. Oh and they have a school on the island! Pretty cool that kids get to be by the beach. Overall, This will always be a great choice for us as a family. Yes, this is more of a family/rest oriented atmosphere and definitely not a party place. read more

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... came back but stayed on the island. WAY better. Don't do the ferry. Stay on the island! Better experience easy beach access.

Absolutely beautiful will be back for certain. Would love to spend more then three days the smells, attractions, the beach, sand, gulf, sea shells, people were beyond my expectations. read more

The guy at the booth who checked us in was very rude and disrespectful. I also contacted someone about it and they did not get back to me as well, so they obviously didn't care that he was rude to customersThis is a waste of trip and money we got over there and no it is not in walking distance like the website says, but if you ask the guy at the booth, he'll ask you if you believe everything, the Internet says and very sarcastically. It is a big island and there's absolutely nothing to do over there like the website says maybe you can go swimming that's about it. waste of money and time very disappointed.! read more

They will put a boot on your car tire if you don't pay to park at the public beaches the sighs are hidden and not really noticable my family had a horrible experience and we barley had the 50 dollars to have it removed they took food out my familys mouth because they are making money with there signs that are not noticable we will never return to dauphin island isn't the same anymore it's just corrupt for money sad to say but it's true save your money and go to Gulf shores or orange beach. read more

We've been a couple of times. Last week we stayed at the goodnuff house. Excellent location. Drawback was a long walk (approximately 100 yds.) to the beach with no walkway. Just deep sand. If we had known we could've taken a ballon tire beach wagon. We had a wagon but it just wouldn't roll on the sand. Great house though. 6 adults and 4 children. Ages from 1 to 11. The pirate pizza place was not very good. read more

The parking at East Beach has GREATLY improved since I was last through here. They have many more spots and handicapped parking is now clearly marked. It was nice to be avle.to pull in and find a spot to listen to the waves and watch the lightning in the clouds. Love to hear the waves it has a calming effect and is so good to hear. It gets dark over this side so it's a good place to come look at the stars. They have also increased the number of port a John's out here so it is less of a hassle to have to fi d a spot. I love the new parking because the hard gravel made it great for my husband's wheelchair to roll on and not sink. If you are a stargazer come to the island and look at the stars, if you are a fisherperson come to the island to night fish either way it will be a gorgeous sight! read more

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The island was okay as first time visitors. Extremely busy! We went over Labor Day, which was expected. The beach was beautiful but, I would much rather scoot over to Florida for the beach's. The history is great here though. The people however are not that friendly. Dogs are allowed on the beach, though people act like they are not. We had an okay time. read more

Dauphin Island - Dauphin island beach - Local Flavor Near Me - Dauphin Island, Alabama

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Great quiet place to go. Beautiful Sunsets. No large condos but can always find vacation rentals.

Wanted to go here for years. Great ferry ride from Florida . One motel on island...pleasant clean and old. No grocery store on island. Very limited restaurants here and most folks we ran into were not friendly. Won't be back. We live near great beaches so this was not impressive. It's a fishing village and not a tourist destination. read more

This is really a pretty cool little beach community. We only drove through - ate one meal - and stopped at one beach during our time here, but we really liked the overall look and vibe of the place. As some other reviews have state, you can literally see oil rigs off in the distance when you have access to see the water. Kind of unique, especially for me coming from the west coast originally. The houses are mostly on stilts - yes, they are all close to the water and it is basically all at sea level. In fact there were spots that we wondered if the road every went under water with the elevation and proximity to the bay/gulf. Great place to experience a sunset over the ocean. The sky was lit up with some light pink streaks as the sun set over the gulf. Pretty cool place, definitely worth taking some time to explore if you find yourself in the area. read more

Pros: Quiet island-town, laid-back, and woodsy. Beaches weren't crowded when we went! Several neat attractions such as the Sea Lab, and the Audubon Bird Sanctuary. Cons: Oil riggs could be seen in most every ocean view. Although only 30 mins from Gulf Shores via the Ferry, the water wasn't near as clear and pretty. Also, there were way too many fisherman here for my liking. My husband found a gigantic hook in the sand nearby where my 14-month-old was playing. For a family with 3 young children, this made me uncomfortable that I had to worry about stray hooks and fishermen throwing their lines everywhere. Not much to do on the island in terms of entertainment. Not many restaurants to choose from so get there early. You'll be hard pressed to find a souvenir shop open past 5:00. Not a lot of ice cream/dessert options. The town just seems old and crusty but if nostalgia, laid-back and remote is what your looking for this is your place. As for us we will be going back to Gulf Shores next year! The extra hour is worth it for us! read more

We enjoyed our time on the island. We went in December so not a typical beach vacation but it is very relaxing. We stayed at an AirBnB in the dunes. Went to the fort and the bird sanctuary. Enjoyed biking from one end to the other. There are a number of Christmas trees in the town square decorated differently and cute. Sand is white and beautiful. I would love to come back. read more

Not really the great beach I'd heard about - but then again, I live closer to Destin and PCB and it's tough to too those beautiful white sandy beaches and emerald green water. I didn't expect to see oil riggers so closely - took away from the beach feel. There was a significant amount of debris on shore, and dark oil looking substance certain areas of shore. I suppose it's great for people coming from LA or Mobile - it was just 'ehh' for us. read more

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The island itself is nice. The beach is fairly nice, and it has beautiful sunsets. There just isn't anything here. For real grocery shopping you have to drive 45 minutes off the island, and there are only a couple restaurants. If you're looking for no crowds, and a slow pace, and staying at your house it's a nice place. It can just feel very isolated and stuck read more

The island is perfect for a cheap family retreat. Beaches were clean and the water was nice. The house we stayed in had its own private access to the beach and we were a 3 minute walk from the public beach on the west end. The souvenir shops were cheap enough that I didn't feel I was overpaying for my treasures. Food places were good too, just wish we had a few more choices and they stayed open a little longer. This was our first year visiting but will definitely not be our last! read more

It's a purposely.sleepy town on the outside but this quiet tucked away gem is a great place to escape to without being too far away from the standard creature comforts. Less than an hour away from Mobile, with the big city needs you could want, this quiet island community is clean, quiet and has things to experience all its own. Been here a few times and it has become a regular stop whenever we come to the Gulf Coast. read more

Today was my first day experiencing this place. What a piece of paradise !!!! We stayed in Biloxi and were just not impressed so drove the hour to this small town !!! We will definitely be back. My kids had a blast and there were barely any people which was awesome. The sand was awesome and so was the water. The waves were perfect and walking the beach was peaceful. We had the best day ! read more

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Love it here so much!! We come every year, it is so relaxing, quiet and welcoming. Great family memories. Calm non-commercialized! Good food. Amazing sunsets!!! read more

Dauphin Island - Local Flavor Near Me - Dauphin Island, Alabama

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beautiful and secluded, very small town. perfect for a laidback getaway laying in the sun eating good food

Dauphin Island airport, Jeremiah Denton Dauphin Island Airport, 4R9 doesn't have any aviation fuel. ... It needs self service credit card and debit card LL 100 octane Avgas and Jet A fuel. ... There's fuel for ground transportation trucks and automobiles on the island, and fuel at the marina for boats, but no aircraft fuel availability. The non-availability of aircraft fuel causes Dauphin Island to be a secondary destination for aviators, requiring them to stop elsewhere for fuel. Imagine if automobile and passenger trucks had to plan their trips to Dauphin Island based upon fuel stops elsewhere, then leaving with enough fuel to get back to a fuel stop elsewhere off of the island. ... Availability of aviation fuel at 4R9 would provide a boost to the local tourism economy without being a burden on the limited ground transportation infrastructure. Mobile County manages 4R9. They're missing a significant lucretive revenue opportunity, until aviation fuel is offered at Dauphin Island Airport. read more

Dauphin Island has a lot to offer if you are looking for a nice relaxing place to vacation. There are lots of choices of beach houses to rent right on the beach and numerous things to do all around the island. You can swim, fish, bike ride, bird watch, parasail and just have fun. Check it out and see for your self. read more

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this is a good place to go hang out it's clean everyone there is nice the beaches are amazing

We rented a 6 bedroom home for 2 families to share for a week. The house was brand new and very nice. It was set up with 2 master bedrooms and 4 rooms for the kids. Perfect for dual a family vacation. The island was great. Very quite and full of families. The beaches are clean. There really isn't much to knock this place over. I would prefer blue water, but I am willing to sacrifice if for peace and quite times with the family. read more

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I love it here!!! It is my second time being here, and it's awesome!!! It's not too crowded, I you can easily take precautions for COVID-19. It's veryyyy clean, and GORGEOUS. The sunset is beautiful, and the waves are great. They aren't too huge that little kids can't play in it, but they are big enough to get a lot of fun out of them!!! Definitely WILL be coming back. read more

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Been coming to Dauphin Island as far back as I can remember. I remember sitting in traffic waiting on the bridge to let a boat go by back when it was a draw bridge. This is a sleepy little beach community that is both in inviting and relaxing. Much more suitable for a nice day at the beach then someplace like GS where it's just mass amounts of people. I love coming here and taking the ferry over to the Baldwin county side. Whatever you like to do, fish, swim, golf, eat, or just worship the sun, DI is a GREAT place to do it. read more

We drove the Coastal Connection Scenic Byway and it took us to this sleepy island across the Dauphin Island Bridge. We were the only car on the bridge and when we crossed onto the island we were met by people riding beach cruisers, the feeling of being in a place that hasn't been touched by time and a quaint village. We stopped into a few places and the locals were friendly and inviting and you could immediately tell you were in the deep old school South. There are plenty of rental vacation spots and I figure this is where people come to get some rest and relaxation. This is a tourist town but, not a normal one because it's more of a place where locals greet you at every turn as if you are a friend and not a stranger, the roads are bike friendly, beach access is ample with plenty of parking and you can schedule a fishing charter with a local fisherman. I highly recommend this town if you are looking for a place to recharge, sit by the water to read a book or are looking for a spot to have a romatic island vacation without the hassle or touristy trap type places. read more

Dauphin Island - The bridge into the island - Local Flavor Near Me - Dauphin Island, Alabama

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Dauphin Island is a beautiful and relaxing place. It is the place to go for a calm relaxing vacation. There is plenty to do and see on the Island and nearby. Everyone is friendly and moves at a slower pace. See everything the island has to offer on bicycles or rent a golf cart from one of the several rental places on the island. There are so many great restaurants such as Islanders and Pirates Bar and Grill or visit Skinner's Seafood for take home fresh seafood to cook or let them steam it for you along with red potatoes and corn. You have multiple places to eat, see and shop. There is so much to enjoy but don't forget to enjoy any of the clean beautiful beaches. read more

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Enjoyed our beach afternoon on Dauphin Island. There aren't any bath houses or restrooms close to the beach and parking is also very limited so we parked at the fort and paid $9 per person to park and use the restroom. The sand was white, but dirty and the water looked dirty too. Overall, we had a nice afternoon. Just wish the restrooms and parking were more accessible. read more

OK place to go if you want a very slow paced atmosphere. We went over Spring Break and everything seemed to close pretty early if it was open at all. We had three kids with us so we weren't looking to party! I was the most unhappy with the view from our rental house, we counted no less than 15 oil rigs in our direct view. The water is pretty brown, which may be typical of gulf coast, and the beach was littered with quite a bit of trash. Definitely not our favorite beach trip. read more

Despite the fact that this is an island and easy to get to, it is not really busy and still gives you a feeling of days gone by. I would suggest anyone looking for the franchise places and glitter of night lights go elsewhere. This place is still kind of quaint. We took the ferry from Fort Morgan to the island and it made the journey there more memorable. We took the bridge back toward Mobile, and it is impressive also, but the ferry is what will last in my memory the longest. read more