The Yellowhammer state has many things to see and do. Northern Alabama offers hills and forests for hiking and climbing and a long string of lakes for water sports. Cheaha and DeSoto state parks showcase the state's highest point and deepest gorge, respectively, and camping and hiking are popular activities in these forested areas. Guntersville and Wheeler lakes are prime recreational waterways where swimming, fishing, boating, and water skiing are enjoyed almost year-round. Catch a glimpse into the future at the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville; or visit some of Alabama's historic past at the W. C. Handy Home and Museum in Florence or at Ivy Green, the birthplace of Helen Keller, in Tuscumbia. Big-city life can be enjoyed in Birmingham, the state's largest city and home of the famous Vulcan statue.
Heading south, the hills and forests give way to the rich plains of central Alabama, otherwise known as the Cradle of the Confederacy. Great cotton plantations sprang up here in the 19th century, and several can still be toured. The First White House of the Confederacy is in Montgomery, and ruins of the state's first capital city are at Cahawba, just west of Selma. Nearby in Tuskegee is the Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site. Here, among student-made brick buildings, are reminders of the impact made on Black history by such persons as Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver.
Enjoy Secluded white beaches, bountiful fishing, a semi-tropical Audubon bird sanctuary and American history dating to the 15th century. Dauphin Island Campground offers a unique opportunity to enjoy the peaceful beauty of a Gulf Coast barrier Island. Tree-lined paths lead from your RV or tent site to snow-white beaches and the lush woods of the Audubon Bird Sanctuary. Free boat launches/fishing pier and Historic Fort Gaines are within a
short walk. Fishing is so bountiful that our Island hosts ten annual fishing rodeos. There are charter boats, Excursion boat and a 850 ft. fishing pier, where rods can be rented. The Island is cited as one of the ten most globally important sites for bird migration. The Dauphin Island Audubon Bird Sanctuary offers 160 acres of trails, a fresh-water lake, swamp, sand dunes and beach. The local ancient Indian Shell Mounds
also offer bird watching at its best. Migrating butterflies find the Island a convenient rest stop too. Dauphin Island offers modern conveniences without the distraction of traffic lights or buildings over 3 stories high. the main road is only 7 miles so it is a short distance to all amenities including a Gulf-side 18-hole golf course,
public swimming pool, restaurants, markets, bakery, gift shops, churches, a small airstrip and the Sea Lab Estuarium. Although settled in 1699, a bridge was not built from the mainland until 1952. Its fascinating history includes occupation by the French, Spanish and British. Historic Fort Gaines, site of the Civil War battle of Mobile Bay, "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!", hosts living history events all year.
