Alabama Coasting stories - South Mobile County - tranquil, warm and welcoming

South Mobile County

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tranquil and welcoming community, SOMO (South Mobile County) is rich in wildlife, Southern culture, excitement and so much more. Get your pulse racing with the exhilaration of an international speedway, the thrill of the catch while deep sea fishing or at any of our acclaimed annual events involving music, the arts, coastal cuisine, outdoor activities and more! SOMO offers all the best of the Gulf Coast in one stunning and easily accessible location.

South Mobile County is full of adventure. Whether you prefer to ride bikes around the island, build sandcastles on the beach, search for wild creatures or wander among the gardens, there are many opportunities to explore and discover.

Whether you prefer a beach house, bed and breakfast, condo or campsite, SOMO offers many types of accommodations, including beachfront and waterfront, to satisfy any occasion or group size. After a day of playing on the beach, shopping for antiques and gifts, exploring the waterways and more, you’ll be ready to refuel at one of the unique restaurants found in SOMO. From the sugar white sand beaches of Dauphin Island and the beauty of Bellingrath Gardens and Fowl River, to the charming atmosphere and unrivaled seafood of Bayou La Batre and Coden, hop on your bikes and explore all that there is to do and spend your days finding adventure with the family.

Shrimp boats at Bayou La Batre.

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How do You Describe a Place Like Dauphin Island?

Some people say it’s “laid-back.” Others use the words “old-fashioned,” “charming” and “beautiful.” And it is all of those things.

But let’s start with what Dauphin Island doesn’t have:

l It doesn’t have any traffic lights. Most directions begin with the phrase,

“Turn left (or right) at the water tower ...”

l It doesn’t have traffic jams.

l It has almost no crime.

l There aren’t any “big box” stores or sprawling shopping malls on

Dauphin Island, or even any chain supermarkets.

In fact, if you want to attend church with anybody besides Episcopalians, Baptists, Methodists or Catholics, you have to drive northward off the island. Also, a good number of residents commute to jobs in Mobile, which is 30-45 minutes away, depending on what part of the city their jobs are in.

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l You’ll encounter one breath-taking sunset after another. Dauphin Island is trademarked as “the Sunset Capital of Alabama” for good reason. Plus there is the tranquil lifestyle, water and beaches almost everywhere you look, and a high-rise bridge which offers such a spectacular view of the island that even long-time residents still say “wow” when they cross it. l There are miles of sidewalks and biking/walking/jogging paths. l The local populace is friendly and welcoming. l The island is awash in history. Long before Europeans arrived in 1699 -hundreds of years before -- Native Americans came and went on the island; and long before modern-day folks were opening oysters on the island, the Indians were steaming and roasting them and then discarding the shells at a site now called Indian Shell Mound Park. It’s on the National Register of Historic Places. You also won’t want to miss Fort Gaines, which played a key role in the Civil War’s Battle of Mobile Bay.

By now, you might be thinking to yourselves, why would people go to so much trouble to live on Dauphin Island?

And why do so many people like to vacation there?

And the answer is this: Because the trade-offs are priceless.

l There are birds everywhere (think “eco-tourism”). Dauphin Island is home to a 137-acre Audubon Bird Sanctuary, which draws bird-watchers from all over the country. The National Audubon Society calls the island “globally important” in bird migrations; and it has been voted the “Birdiest Small City in America” several years in a row.

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