Maritime / nautical theme area near AL coast? (Mobile, Fairhope: condos, rental)

[breer23]

The coffee shop/bookstore in downtown Fairhope was also fun, and you MUST try the Old Bay Steamer (both are located on Section St, 1-2 blocks south of Fairhope Ave.)

A couple of years ago, for my wife's birthday, we stayed at the Bay Breeze B&B along Old Route 98, and feasted at Bay View further down the way, near Point Clear - both were excellent!

[mrs1885]

Jimmy Buffet wrote several songs about his hometown including one about the library on Gov't street. He still visits the area and I am told he is seen at a pizza place in Daphne (next to Fairhope) when in town.

That right there sold it for me! I'm a huge Parrothead!!!

breer23, I'm going to check it out. We love places like that! This sounds like exactly what we're looking for. I'll send hubby the link to this thread and see what he says, but I'd put money on him loving the idea too!

Thanks everyone!

[Keeper]

Let us know how you like it when you get back from a visit.

You won't be there for a Jubilee since those occur during the summer. When weather conditions are just right, shrimp, crabs, flounders all come in to the shore. Ppl can go down and just scoop up all the seafood they can eat. When ppl find a Jubilee happening they yell 'jubilee' so others will know.

[downtowndoll]

Originally Posted by mrs1885

My husband and I - when we lived in Florida - went to Key West several times a year. We've since moved to TN and are looking for that type of area somewhat closer.

We want to be close to the Gulf. We like history - pirates, maritime history, Civil War history. We're not very active (hubby's disabled) so just a relaxing place, not too many people, really a laid back town we can destress in.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Dauphin Island is REALLY laid back; it's a barrier island about 30 minutes + south of Mobile, AL. Great for day trips to Mobile and beyond. The islanders have limited the condo scene and no giant ones are allowed. The majority are homes on the Beach or on the Bay, which is still very beachy. Very reasonable compared to Gulf Shores and Fairhope.

Fairhope is nice, quaint with special boutique-type shopping, but it's midway up the Bay- not beachy since rivers empty into the Bay. They are forever having water testing warnings; my mother lives there, and I don't allow my kids to swim in the Bay.

This is just my opinion, I wouldn't stay in Fairhope instead of the beach at Dauphin Island. Certainly, its worth a day visit. The Marriott Grande Hotel next door in Point Clear is very nice, but I think it's over-priced for it's location. I mean, this is the Bay and the water is murky. I prefer that sugar sand beach!

Back to Dauphin Island: There is an East End that is protected by a giant sand dune and the beach on this side is very natural. Something you don't see anymore. Fort Gaines is a pre-Civil War fort. There is a great Sea Lab/Estuarium that is state-of-the-art. Wide bike trails. Plus a car/people ferry that crosses at the mouth of the Bay to the other Fort, which is not as good as Fort Gaines. There is a small Indian Mound and also a huge trail area on the East end known for bird-watching. Handicap accessible(the trail area).

Usually we will stay for a week a couple times a year since it's an easy drive to work for my husband plus super cheap really. Many of the houses are pretty dated ;that's why it's so cheap. I've stayed on the beach but I prefer the condos. There are some condos on the east side that are also on the beach but you want to get the front buildings-These are Sandcastle and then there is Surfside, I think, next door. You'll probably want one of the three condos right on the beach. THese are the three main ones; I can't remember their names. They won't be hard to find.

There are not a lot of restaurant options, but enough. I don't like to eat out every night anyway. Very few bars, too.

[Keeper]

How did Dauphin Island do during the hurricane? I had heard there was a lot of damage. I thought I had heard the island was almost cut into? That would be a big concern IMHO if you were planning to make it your home year round. How far is it to medical and shopping?
Been awhile since I have been there as you can tell.

[mrs1885]

Marriott Grande Hotel

Really?? I work in the accounting for Marriott. I can get employee rates at most of their hotels. Maybe that's an option for us. I know what you mean about the prices though. I still expect to may Motel 6 prices everywhere I go. When I see $100+ rooms I just about have heart failure!!

I'm gonna check that out downtowndoll. I've seen pictures and read about Dauphin Island and had mentioned it to hubby. Problem is, he has that very Irish, extremely white skin, so he can't do the whole beach thing for more than half an hour, so he gets bored easily. Sitting under massive umbrellas in the sand is not his idea of a great day. Yet one more thing we do not have in common!! I've got a very good bit of American Indian blood in me and grew up on a little island in SW FL. I could live on a beach!! But maybe it's something we can do a day trip to!!

[Bravo35223]

Do you want to eat where the locals do? In a restaurant practically located in the bay itself?

Don't walk, run to The Bluegill....this place is a Mobile institution and it is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

There are two highways that cross Mobile Bay - I-65 and U.S. Highway 90 (The Causeway). As you department the Eastern Shore (you gotta learn your local lingo now....the Eastern Shore is the shorline of Baldwin County)...take the Causeway and at about mid-Bay, you will see signs to the Bluegill, which is probably 10 feet above the water level.

It's this kind of place that Jimmy Buffet grew up eating in. Try their softshell crabs....to die for.

Blue Gill Restaurant - Mobile Alabama's Best Live Music Venue - Home

Notice the live music offered there....go in when they are having live music. You will then learn the Soul of Alabama....the laid back lifestyle....the great seafood...and the warmth and friendliness of our people...

[Keeper]

You are so right Bravo.. I remember going there many times.
Mobile's seafood is wonderful.. Try the fry crab claws and west indies salad. Oysters are great too.
There is also a restaurant on Fly Creek, next to the Fairhope Yacht club. Not a fancy place but the food was really good.
If you get to Foley there is Wolf Lodge restaurant (seafood) and Lamberts home of the throwed rolls, which is a fun place. LuLu's is owned by Jimmy Buffets sister, seafood was different and not your typical Mobile southern style, also on the expensive side

Check out Magnolia Spring beautiful little town where they deliver the mail by boat. They also have a B&B there. Visit Bon Secour is also a neat place.

[kevin_1975]

LOL

You will have them going to Montgomery on I65. It is I10, but great post Bravo!

Originally Posted by Bravo35223

Do you want to eat where the locals do? In a restaurant practically located in the bay itself?

Don't walk, run to The Bluegill....this place is a Mobile institution and it is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

There are two highways that cross Mobile Bay - I-65 and U.S. Highway 90 (The Causeway). As you department the Eastern Shore (you gotta learn your local lingo now....the Eastern Shore is the shorline of Baldwin County)...take the Causeway and at about mid-Bay, you will see signs to the Bluegill, which is probably 10 feet above the water level.

It's this kind of place that Jimmy Buffet grew up eating in. Try their softshell crabs....to die for.

Blue Gill Restaurant - Mobile Alabama's Best Live Music Venue - Home

Notice the live music offered there....go in when they are having live music. You will then learn the Soul of Alabama....the laid back lifestyle....the great seafood...and the warmth and friendliness of our people...

[cat09lives]

There is a lot of history to be found in Huntsville, alabama. But my favorite place is Pensacola. Ft. Pickens and Ft. Barrancas are wonderful, as is the Naval air museum. I could spend days there. The oldtown district is pretty interesting too.

But I read that the road to Ft. Pickens has been shut off for a while due to Katrina. I have no idea if it's open yet. If it is, it's well worth the trip as a learning experience.

The Warm Springs, Ga area is really a cool place too.

There's an Amish village somewhere around too - can't remember if it's in Ga or Tenn. My husband and father think it's really cool. I've never been.