When we spent a month along the Alabama Coastal Connection Scenic Byway, we purposely stayed near Mobile. We wanted to experience the family-friendly Mardi Gras there, since the city is the birthplace of Mardi Gras in the United States. So, we made the Mobile Carnival Museum one of the first stops during our visit.
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Foley, Alabama, is a popular side trip from Gulf Shores, just 11.7 miles north on Alabama State Route 59. You also go through the town if you drive Alabama’s Coastal Connection Scenic Byway, even though it’s twelve miles east of the coast. There’s a lot to do in Foley, from shopping and museums to an amusement park and nature preserve. On the day we visited the town, we went to two museums and a soda shop.
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When British military occupied Dauphin Island during the War of 1812, they described the land as full of snakes, alligators, and mosquitoes. The island was “very barren…and produces nothing at all…a very marshy nature.” I suppose some of that is true today, since we saw warning signs about alligators. But developed with museums, restaurants, and condos, the island is a far cry from what the British soldiers experienced.
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Bellingrath Gardens was a must-see visit for us as we explored Alabama’s Coastal Connection Scenic Byway. Sixty-five acres of gorgeous gardens and the impressive 10,500 square-foot mansion, complete with the Bellingraths’ original furnishings, were absolutely worth the visit. But what impressed me most was the story of Mrs. Bellingrath.
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Did you know that more plants and more species of aquatic creatures live in Alabama than in any other state in the United States? When we planned to spend a month exploring the Alabama Coastal Connection National Scenic Byway last winter, little did we know we were headed to the most diverse ecosystem in the country. We learned plenty about Alabama’s ecosystem as we visited parks, museums, and nature preserves along the byway. But we also enjoyed many historical and cultural attractions on or near the 130-mile byway route.
Read moreExperience the fun of Mardi Gras parades without the raucous crowds of New Orleans. Here are our family-friendly Mardi Gras experiences on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and in the Mobile, Alabama, area. (Video or read the transcript)
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