Alabama’s southern coast features one of the top getaways, Dauphin Island, offering a wonderful haven of places to see and things to do for a much-deserved quick or long romantic vacation.
Dauphin Island is relatively remote, offering a peaceful and private location for a romantic retreat. Whether you’re looking for adventure or relaxation, Dauphin Island is the perfect escape for all, from young couples on their first getaway to pairs celebrating many years together.
Escape to Dauphin Island with your sweetheart this year. Below are four romantic things to do when visiting.
Take a Boat Trip to Sand Island Lighthouse
Sand Island Lighthouse sits atop a slowly eroding mound of sand a few miles off the coast of Dauphin Island. The lighthouse was decommissioned years ago after a tumultuous and fascinating history – you’ll learn all about this on the tour. Currently, it’s being swallowed by the rising waters and crumbling terrain, now sitting on less than an acre of sand.
To get to the island, visitors will have to take a boat about three miles into Mobile Bay. Go with one of the tour companies on the island, or take your own boat for a more private experience. Our waterfront Dauphin Island vacation rentals with docks make this extremely easy. The lighthouse itself is free to visit.
Plan Your Dauphin Island Visit
Are you dreaming about your beach vacation? Start planning your trip and find the perfect Dauphin Island vacation rental for you.
Action Outdoors (650 Lemoyne Dr.) is an excellent tour company that does trips to the lighthouse. Check out The Dauphin Island Marina at the same location for more options for independent companies that offer tours, private charters, and boat rentals to the lighthouse and surrounding Dauphin Island waters.
For an extra touch for romance, consider seeing the lighthouse while the sun sets on the gulf’s horizon.
Ride the Mobile Bay Ferry and Visit Fort Morgan
For a budget-friendly boat trip, take the ferry across Mobile Bay for fantastic views of the gulf waters and a bit of Civil War history.
The Mobile Bay Ferry (1606 Bienville Blvd.) costs just $5 roundtrip for pedestrians and is the quickest way to get to Fort Morgan, a pentagonal bastion fort at the mouth of Mobile Bay that once served to protect the entrance into the bay.
The 40-minute ferry ride gives you spectacular views of Mobile Bay, Dauphin Island, and Fort Morgan from the water.
For information, contact the ferry officials at (251) 861-3000. Ferries run about every hour. Bicycles, motorcycles, and vehicles are permitted at an additional cost.
Dine with a Gulf View
There’s plenty of spectacular seafood dining on Dauphin Island – a few with particularly romantic atmospheres.
Islanders Restaurant (1504 Bienville Blvd.) has been dubbed “fine dining with flip flops” with good reason. Casual yet elegant, this restaurant offers white-tablecloth dining along floor-to-ceiling bay windows. It is set in a unique building surrounded by palms, raised up for the best panoramic views.
JT’s Sunset Grill (1102 De Soto Ave.) is a casual, diner-style restaurant and bar with a patio right on the dock. Naturally, it boasts some of the best water views on the island. They focus on American-style seafood and southern comforts.
View the Birds at the Audubon Bird Sanctuary
Dauphin Island is a pivotal migratory island for rare and endangered birds from South America and other regions.
Check out the Audubon Bird Sanctuary (211 Bienville Blvd.), a preserve operated by the Audubon Society and the local community. The preserve is scenic quiet, offering an affordable and fascinating romantic retreat on your vacation.
Visiting the sanctuary with your significant other will round out your experience and make it that much more enjoyable.
Book Your Dauphin Island Rental with ACP
Our waterfront Dauphin Island vacation rentals are filled with wonderful amenities and let you take full advantage of the surrounding area during your upcoming romantic excursion.
You can find rentals with boat docks, secluded homes in the woods, and several rentals right on the beach. Contact us at (251) 861-3311 for additional details. Want to customize your vacation more? Explore our variety of rentals: