Mobile Bay cuts a large slice out of the southern tip of Alabama. The warm shallow water is home to dolphins, abundant fish and blue crabs; anglers and boaters frequent the area. It's bordered by beaches and wetlands, with the lively city of Mobile bordering the northwestern shore. Visitors can experience the bay through waterside restaurants, car trips across bridges and boat tours.
Tour Companies
- Three local tour companies show visitors around the Mobile Bay area. Tour Wild provides five- or 10-hour tours that include a visit to an alligator farm, beaches, a water park, and bayside shops and restaurants. Taking Off Hot Air Balloon Company's boat trips take you on tours of the bay and surrounding waterways; shorter tours last two hours and others run as long as eight hours. There's also a three-hour sunset cruise option. Visitors can also choose a cruise on the Southern Belle, which leaves from Bellingrath Gardens and motors down the Fowl River toward Mobile Bay.
The Ferry
- The Mobile Bay Ferry runs from Dauphin Island on the southwest end of the bay to Fort Morgan on a barrier island near the south-central part of the bay. The ferry runs year-round and gives passengers the opportunity to take in the surrounding islands and spot dolphins and porpoises. On the Dauphin Island side, beaches and a bird sanctuary await; near Fort Morgan, a historic Civil War fort and the sugar sand of Gulf Shores are the main attractions.
Restaurants
- Several restaurants sit on the Causeway, officially called Battleship Parkway. The Causeway, as locals know it, spans the northern reaches of the bay. Eateries on the bridge include Ed's Seafood Shed, which pairs local seafood dishes with Southern favorites such as cheese grits and hush puppies; the Original Oyster House, specializing in oysters, crabs and fried green tomatoes; and the Bluegill, which serves seafood dishes and often hosts live music. Each restaurant has expansive views of the bay.
Driving Route
- To see the shore from the car, visitors can drive the scenic loop of the Alabama Coastal Birding Trail. The trail passes through the small towns on the bay's Eastern Shore, crosses the Causeway, and loops through Blakely Island. Drivers can stop to look for native birds including brown pelicans, kingfishers, laughing gulls, Caspian terns and barred owls. Two must-see spots for bird lovers are the Village Point Park on Highway 98 and Meaher State Park, both home to many bird species.
