Visitors have so many choices when planning a vacation to the Alabama Gulf Coast. They can just hang out by the pool, relax between the sand dunes, or do some cruising. For those yearning to explore our inland treasures, we offer some suggestions. So don your sunglasses, and get on the road. These short excursions offer plenty to see and do.

Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines
Driving west from Gulf Shores along Fort Morgan Road brings you by scenic Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, a haven for nature lovers. You can find a secluded stretch of coast via a long boardwalk for easy wheelchair access. At the end of this peninsula, Fort Morgan stands guard to the mouth of Mobile Bay along with its sister, Fort Gaines on Dauphin Island, a ferry-ride away. Explore both forts and relive the Battle of Mobile Bay, where Confederate and Union forces fought for control of the Port City. While on Dauphin Island, be sure to visit the Dauphin Island Sea Lab.

Bellingrath Gardens and Home
Year-round flora bespeckles the 65-acre gardens created by Walter Bellingrath for his wife, Bessie. Bellingrath Home has been featured on A&E’s America’s Castles series, and the surrounding gardens offer a serenity and beauty unparalleled. Climb aboard the Southern Belle River Cruiser for a relaxing sight-seeing venture.

Mobile
Visit Mobile, which lies about an hour from Gulf Shores/Orange Beach, for a glimpse into 300 years of history, including antebellum mansions, museums, historical homes, and 18th-century Fort Condé, Mobile’s welcome center. Mobile is home to the Exploreum Museum of Science, as well as a cultural scene worth checking out. You can also learn about the Mobile Bay Civil War Trail. And don’t forget sports: Mobile BayBears Professional Baseball at Hank Aaron Stadium, Mobile Mystics Hockey at the Mobile Civic Center, and Mobile Admirals Regional Football at Ladd Peebles Stadium!

Battleship Memorial Park
Mobile Bay’s Battleship Memorial Park has been home to the USS Alabama since 1965, hosting visitors who learn of its medal-winning service in WWII. The park is also home to the submarine USS Drum. The nearby museum showcases a selection of military aircraft and a realistic flight simulator.

Scenic Highway 98
Spend some delightful driving time exploring Scenic Highway 98, and discover the charm and beauty of small towns such as Magnolia Springs, Fairhope and Point Clear. Bring your browsing shoes, as you’ll want to get out and do some shopping. Continue along Mobile Bay for some beautiful sights.

Pensacola
Cross the state line east into Florida and visit Pensacola’s sights, such as the National Museum of Naval Aviation, where you’ll see a variety of military aircraft showcased, including the Blue Angels Navy Flyers. Check out the flight simulator, and don’t miss what’s playing at the IMAX theatre. The historic district in downtown Pensacola offers fantastic art galleries, award-winning theater at the Pensacola Cultural Center, and a variety of shopping and dining venues.