If you like to get off the beaten path, get off I-10 at Grand Bay and take a scenic drive along Highway 188 to the traditional fishing village of Bayou La Batre, the “Seafood Capital of Alabama.”
Founded in 1786 by Joseph Bosarge, Bayou La Batre was the first permanent settlement on the south Mobile County mainland. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the village was a thriving resort; tourists rode the BayShore Railroad from Mobile to stay at hotels that lined the beach. The Hurricane of 1906 destroyed the hotels and the railroad eventually ceased to operate.
Today, the heart of town is the harbor, where fish and shrimp boats dock and boat builders and seafood processing plants line the shoreline. Each May brings the Blessing of the Fleet, which is a celebration of the shrimping season and a local cultural tradition.
An array of events fills its calendar throughout the year, many involving outdoor activities such as fishing and kayaking.
And here’s a fun fact: The Black Pearl ship was launched in Bayou La Batre by Disney Studios for the filming of “Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl.”
Take a day to discover the charm and friendliness that awaits in Bayou La Batre.
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