October is a wonderful time to be outdoors on the Alabama Gulf Coast. Morning temperatures average in the 60s, the fall sun typically warms the days into the mid–70s, and the skies just seem a little bluer. So plan your fall trip on Alabama’s Coastal Connection Scenic Byway for an abundance of outdoor attractions to enjoy during this special time of year.
Beautiful scenery and plenty of fresh air greet you as you travel the byway. Take advantage of the wide-open, white-sand beaches and these family-friendly outdoor attractions:
- The Audubon Bird Sanctuary in Dauphin Island is 164 acres of walking trails, maritime forest, marshes, dunes, a lake, a swamp and the beach.
- Enjoy the tranquil foliage of Bellingrath Gardens & Home in Theodore. The 65-acre landscaped beauty includes the Bellingrath Museum Home.
- The Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge in Gulf Shores provides four scenic walking trails through maritime forests, wetlands and dunes. The visitor center is closed, but the walking trails and beaches are open.
- Take a stroll or bike on the Eastern Shore Trail in Daphne to enjoy beautiful bay views and oak-canopied roadways.
- On Dauphin Island, the Fort Gaines Historic Site spans three centuries of history, including the Battle of Mobile Bay.
- Across the bay, Fort Morgan was an active post from 1834 through World War II. It played an important role in the Battle of Mobile Bay during the summer of 1864.
- Pitcher plant bogs and mixed forests highlight the 484 acres of Graham Creek Nature Preserve in Foley. Make a day of it with activities of hiking and biking trails, a canoe/kayak launch, picnic areas, two 18-hole disc golf courses, an archery park, playgrounds and pavilion.
- Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores boasts 6,500 acres of land with 2.5 miles of beach, three freshwater lakes, walking and biking trails, a beach pavilion, a picnic area and a campground.
- Cast your line or take a scenic walk on the Gulf State Park Fishing and Education Pier, the second-longest pier on the Gulf of Mexico.
- Orange Beach’s Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail encompasses more than 25 miles of paved trails among six distinct ecosystems.
- When you’re looking for high adventure, head to The Wharf in Orange Beach and sail through the air on the Hummingbird Zipline course.
- The Mobile Bay Ferry is a favorite way for Coastal Byway visitors to cross Mobile Bay between Dauphin Island and Fort Morgan.
- More than 25 rare and historic aircraft, military tanks and equipment dot the landscape at the USS ALABAMA Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile. Explore the battleship and the submarine USS DRUM, and visit the nature observatory on the paved walkway.
- The Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is a public research and educational facility with an interpretive center. Hike the boardwalk nature trails through a native pitcher plant bog and visit the center for indoor displays and live animals.
There is no end to the ways to enjoy Coastal Alabama this fall when you follow Alabama’s Coastal Connection Scenic Byway.