Baldwin: Coast, Nature and Cultural Heritage

When planning a trip to Baldwin, there are several distinct themes to choose from: time on the water, nature watching, trails and cultural history. Experiences range from kayaking on Lake Shelby to exhibitions, agricultural heritage and art. If you first decide what you want to focus on, you can plan your outings and choose a suitable base for your hotel stay accordingly.

Water and Trails

Kayaking and canoeing are available in the day-use area at Lake Shelby in Gulf State Park. The park also offers hiking, biking, fishing, geocaching and paddling. This puts water activities alongside a variety of options on land. Depending on your interests, you can focus an outing more on paddling, exercise, fishing or geocaching.

The Fort Morgan Trail connects with the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail system and a network of about 28 miles of paved trails. The Fort Morgan Trail adds another trail-focused option.

Coastal Habitats and the Delta

Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1980 to protect endangered and threatened species as well as the habitats of migratory birds. It encompasses 7,000 acres of coastal barrier habitats. Four designated trails offer opportunities for wildlife and bird watching, as well as photography. You can tailor your visit to the landscape, wildlife and bird watching, or photography.

Historic Blakeley State Park encompasses more than 2,000 acres in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. Together with the coastal barrier habitats of Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, it offers different landscape themes to consider when planning your trip: delta and coast. Baldwin County Bicentennial Park is another destination for an outing, covering 367 acres and featuring native flora and fauna.

Culture, Agriculture and Art

A working farm at Baldwin County Bicentennial Park offers hands-on ways to learn about the county’s cultural heritage. Baldwin County Heritage Museum offers a different focus: its mission is to preserve the culture of Baldwin County’s early farming communities. The farm provides a hands-on introduction to cultural heritage; the museum focuses on preserving it. This lets you compare two different approaches to agriculture and history.

Weeks Bay Visitor Center features exhibits, live animal displays, and collections of regional plants and animals. Nature is explored there through exhibits and collections. Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach is dedicated to fine art: its two-story gallery displays works by Gulf Coast artists. Visitors can also make their own glass object. This combines an art visit with a hands-on activity, in addition to viewing the works on display.

Getting There and Planning Your Trip

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are in Baldwin County. From Interstate 10, both places are accessible via Highway 59 or the Beach Express. Fort Morgan can be reached from Dauphin Island by the Mobile Bay Ferry. If you plan to use this ferry connection, check the schedule before traveling. When choosing a hotel base, you can consider which of the destinations and experiences mentioned are most important to your trip.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Spanish Fort, Daphne, Bay Minette, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Loxley, Perdido, Fairhope, Foley.

For the main travel overview: Alabama.