The Estuarium at Dauphin Island Sea LabAs much as we love the outdoors and our beautiful coastal environment, sometimes there’s a need for a little indoor fun on Alabama’s Coastal Connection Scenic Byway. Don’t worry – we have it covered. Yes, pun intended.

If you take a look at the attractions along the byway, you’ll find a multitude of indoor activities to escape rainy days and late summer heat.

  • The Estuarium at The Dauphin Island Sea Lab is one of the most popular stops on the byway. The aquarium highlights the four key habitats of coastal Alabama: the Mobile Tensaw River Delta, Mobile Bay, the Barrier Islands and the Northern Gulf of Mexico. You’ll enjoy 31 aquariums in the 10,000-square-foot exhibit hall that includes a stingray touch pool.
  • The Baldwin County Heritage Museum in Elberta preserves the culture of the farm communities of early Baldwin County through historically significant buildings and documents, as well as artifacts from community life.
  • The Foley Railroad Museum and Model Train Exhibit are housed in the Louisville and Nashville railroad station in downtown Foley. Even if you aren’t a train enthusiast, the 60×20-foot “O” gauge model train exhibit is entertaining for the whole family.
  • Fairhope Museum of History resides in the historic circa 1928 Spanish mission-style building that once served as City Hall. The museum features permanent exhibits of Fairhope’s unique history, including the town jail.
  • The Gulf Shores Museum’s home is in a former beach house donated to the city after Hurricane Frederic in 1979. Explore permanent exhibits and traveling exhibits in the heart of Gulf Shores.
  • Old Methodist Church Museum of Daphne is the second oldest church building in Baldwin County and is listed on the National Register of Historical Places.
  • Orange Beach Indian & Sea Museum includes photos, memorabilia and artifacts about the area’s Native American culture, regional fishing and marine history.
  • The Holmes Medical Museum in Foley is located in the first hospital in South Baldwin County, in use from 1936 through 1958.
  • Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is a public research and education facility that includes an interpretive center with indoor displays.

No matter where you choose to spend your off-beach time when you visit the southernmost region of Alabama, you’re sure to discover plenty of interesting facts and sites to write home about!