Great little family pit stop. Learn some history View the…read moreocean and oil rigs. Take pics of cannons and be astounded by what they had to do in 1600's to survive It's crazy.... Human race has come so far yet not. .. Technology is super interesting....

What an amazing piece of history! Just walking through all the tunnels and between various areas…read moreyou get a real sense of what it was like when the fort was in use. It's quite harrowing. I wish I'd had an extra hour to look at all the artifacts and read everything in the museum, but with three kids under four, no way. Definitely plan to spend a half day here. There are restrooms and access to the beach, but no food (and no food allowed in the museum).

It was hard to find, and there was no clear path, so you were searching for them, and walking on an…read moreunkempt and overgrown land. Cool once you found it, which is the reason for three stars.

If you are heading out to the Barber Marina, you might as well see these Knights In The Woods! One…read moreknight has seen better days. It is missing most of his right arm. These guys are life-sized, yet they are hidden in plain sight! I didn't realize there are four knights out here. I only saw two. I don't know if you are really allowed to park on Harpoon Dr or not, but it's easiest to access the knights if you park just off to the side of that road. Otherwise, there is a parking lot with easy access to the knights. The path wasn't obstructed by brush when I went from the parking lot. Good thing there are other sights you can visit while you're out here. On your way in on Barber Parkway, you will pass the Dinosaurs In The Woods, Bamahenge and a Giant Sundial. In the Marina sometimes sits a Lady In The Bay. Some are a little hidden, but if you know to look for them, you can find them! Everything is free to enjoy as long as you can find them! Be sure to check out the gorgeous large fountain at the roundabout.

Unique, but quite a drive out there…read more Facility and grounds are beautiful, but not sure it's worth the 20 mile drive from Orange Beach.

Lady in the Lake was damaged during hurricane Sally in September 2020, but her creator was able to…read moresalvage the pieces and put her back together. It was originally in January 2012, fiberglass sculptor Mark Cline received a phone call from an employee of George Barber, a billionaire art patron. "Mr. Barber," said the voice, "is interested in you building a fifty-foot woman." So it happened, a fiberglass floating woman was born, but it's essentially just her head and knees but this lady would be taller than the Statue of Liberty if she were a full standing figure. She began life as the "Lady in the Lake" in Leeds but was moved to Barber's Elberta property several ago and is now 10 years old. The good news is she's all repaired and will be returning to her watery home at Barber Marina any day now. So, what some other things to see while you're on your way to Barber Marina? Well, there's a fiberglass Stonehenge replica, which is located in the woods by the road, and an assortment of other artworks by Cline including four dinosaurs, a T-rex, brontosaurus, stegosaurus and triceratops. Those sculptures weren't damaged by the hurricane because they are located farther inland and sheltered by woods. There's a few other surprises like a beautiful marble fountain, a giant metal spider and more :-) There's not much else out there because this is way out in the woods BUT you're not far from Pirates Cove, home if THE cheeseburger in paradise (see that review for details) and it's a great place for a cold one and, of course, a darned good burger on the sandy beach by the bay, don't miss that! Directions: Drive US-98 either eight miles east of Foley, Alabama, or 21 miles west of downtown Pensacola, Florida. Turn south onto County Rd 95. Drive 5 miles. Turn right onto Fish Trap Rd. Drive a 1/2 mile. Turn left at the Barber Marina sign. Drive 2.5 miles to the Barber Marina. Drive halfway around the traffic circle, then park in the lot as close to the water as you can. You'll see the Lady floating out toward the end of the dock; you can walk out to her. Bottom line: It's not everyone's cup of tea, but I thin it's cool. https://facebook.com/ElbertaDinos/

Relax on Orange Beach's beautifully landscaped boardwalk along the wall perfect for enjoying the…read morewaterside view for boat watching, fishing, & sunsets. If you're hungry, feel free to walk on over & catch a bite at orange beach's premiere beachside restaurant The Gulf & Seize the day. After a few years of being an eyesore and left to deteriorate, me and my family are finally glad to enjoy this beautifully improved and restored boardwalk. With plenty of bench seating available, we were able to enjoy the many sites that are offered on this boardwalk along the wall. The city of Orange Beach has done an excellent job with the landscaping adding some beautiful palm trees seagrasses & lighting that make this an awesome sight after watching beautiful sunsets which I have enjoyed many here throughout the summer before catching a bite at The Gulf. Which I have reviewed back in July this year. Locals and tourists who are fishing enthusiasts enjoy this spot for the variety of fish they catch like flounder and redfish, just to name a couple. If you also love shrimping you're in luck as there's a big shrimp run along here & people cast nets to fill coolers full of that fresh delicious catch. Whether you're a tourist who loves the sights offered here or an angler that's looking to catch the big one this spot is yours to enjoy. Be sure to like on FB & tell a friend. Perdido pass https://www.facebook.com/Perdido-Pass-Orange-Beach-Al-785508528246429/ The Gulf https://www.facebook.com/thegulfal/ Join this group for fishing happenings along the Perdido Pass Boardwalk. https://www.facebook.com/groups/100528992808/?ref=share

6/18/20 My daughter (Catherine H. - Pittsburgh) was swimming with my son (Matt O. - Pittsburgh)…read morespring into action. A man had floated off Bird Island lost his float noodle and was clinging to a nearby lady swimmer and both were screaming for help. The lady swimmer was yelling that she couldn't move or hold him up and the man was simply yelling "help" repeatedly. It quicky became a tense situation but my daughter very quickly started swimming back to our boat, called for a life preserver and then began swimming back out to the pair of swimmers in distress. It was just a week ago that three swimmers with flotation devices were swept out of the pass by the current. Only one of those people was saved by a passing boat, the other two bodies washed ashore 10+ miles away the following day, very tragic. The red flags (warning about currents & conditions) were flying across the entire area then as they were today and must always be respected. While the area we were in was several yards northeast of the narrow boating channel and into the inlet just off "Bird Island" l, where we put our pontoon boat onto the sandy beach, the current was surprisingly strong. Both Matt & Catherine had already discovered that, even here, they were being pulled away from the shore and that the further they swam or floated away from the beach, and more into the deeper water. My daughter's actions were quick and decisive and I am very proud of her brave response, and of course, the man in trouble was very grateful to my daughter once he made it to shore. Note: Perdido Pass is a place where the intercoastal waterway (ICW) and large areas where the rivers and Bays flow through a very narrow channel into the Gulf of Mexico. The current in that channel can be deceptively string on a calm day but when rip currents are present it's very serious and potentially deadly. Bottom one: While the pass is a beautiful area the waters here, like everywhere, can be dangerous and the warnings should be respected always. This was a happy ending!

This is nothing like the New Orleans French Quarter. First off it is way cleaner and smells far…read morebetter. This area is also significantly safer than New Orleans. Now I can see how they were going for a gimmick marketing play here but they missed some elements. The restaurants and businesses here offer nothing French I saw and nothing that resembles New Orleans French Quarter. Panani Pete's offers Italian Panani sandwiches so this seems more like the Italian Quarter. Now parts of the New Orleans French Quarter were known as Little Italy or Little Palermo during the late 19th and early 20th Centuries as so many Sicilian immigrants lived in the French Quarter so maybe the theme is back to that era? The HUGE missing elements here are that they have no ability to allow you to carry your booze about everywhere like properly civilized humans should and they force closing times without any 24/7 establishments serving libations as a joy focused culture should. So I just don't get any sort of French Quarter vibe or joie de vivre required for a place to claim French Quarter status. Perhaps I'm missing something?

Cobblestone streets, music being piped through outdoor speakers, water fountains, flowers…read moreeverywhere and adorable little shops? Are you somewhere in heaven? Yes, pretty much. Welcome to Fairhope's French Quarter. Ahh, this little slice of heaven is in the middle of the beautiful little town of Fairhope. Getting to it is just as nice as being there. It's a pretty drive up and down hilly tree lined streets where duck and geese crossings aren't uncommon. Parking was a little challenging since I wasn't familiar with the area (yet, trust me I came here multiple times on my visit, so I learned quickly) but once I found it, it was a breeze and there are plenty of places to park for free. Once you're inside there so much to see and do, not unlike the New Orleans FQ but on a much smaller and less smelly scale. Cute little shops with clothing, books, restaurants, novelties and art. It's totally worth a visit or twenty and I highly recommend checking it out for yourself. I know I'll be back!

On an unassuming corner located at N. Tarragona Street and Wright Street sits a historical marker…read moreto place a connection to Pensacola not only to the Spanish-American War, but to one if the great presidents of the United States of America. It was here in Pensacola on June 1, 1898 that Colonel Theodore Roosevelt and his Rough Riders met. The six railroad cars were filled with men, horses and supply from the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry. From here, a month later that the Rough Riders would take San Juan Hill in Cuba. The city of Pensacola has an amazing history and this is just one more amazing example.

The Coastal Soaring Association is a wonderful group of folks that practice the intriguing art of…read moreglider soaring. Working off of a local grass air strip, the club launches members into the air using a tow plane, and release them for a glider ride around Pensacola. If you've never seen this city from the air, then it's worth a visit! They offer introductory rides at around $75, so if you're looking for something to do on vacation, give these guys a call.

The Bon Secour River originates in the City of Foley, AL, and flows southwesterly into Bon Secour…read moreBay, the Intracoastal Waterway, and Oyster Bay in Gulf Shores. Commercial shrimp boats ply the river and use Bon Secour as a base from which they travel all over the Gulf of Mexico. My little vacation house is on this river and directly across one of the area's thriving shrimp businesses, and my pier faces Aquliia Seafood. This is where I enjoy the annual Bon Secour River Mardis Gras Parade. We've been making it into a small party for friends while we wait for the arrival of the boats coming down the river who motor over to our pier and toss out various treats. There are beads, toys and figurines, doubloons, footballs, plastic cups, the highly coveted moon pies, and more. #FUN Sadly I cannot relay much about the origins of this parade as the folks who started it a long gone and no one seems to have any details but fortunately for us the people who come out with their boats and goodies continue to give their time, and goodies to spread the joy every Mardi Gras season. Bottom line: It's in my back yard and each year I look forward to the boats adorned in vibrant colors, tossing beads, and cruising the waterways, all while celebrating the festive spirit of Mardi Gras! https://www.facebook.com/groups/504285410496763/