The post Pedal Your Way Along the Byway appeared first on Alabama's Coastal Connection.
]]>Alabama’s Coastal Connection Scenic Byway consists of a number of bike trails. To help you explore the byway via bike, we are highlighting two trails to get you started.
Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail – Gulf State Park
The Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail is a series of seven interconnected trails that ramble through Gulf State Park. The trails offer 15+ miles of paved and natural surface paths, with a variety of terrain for all skill levels. Bikers can explore stunning wetlands and coastal hardwood forests while enjoying scenic views and catching glimpses of wildlife.
Eastern Shore Trail – Baldwin County
The Eastern Shore Trail bike trail runs along the eastern shore of Mobile Bay. The trail travels through Baldwin County’s communities, including Daphne, Fairhope and Spanish Fort, and offers breathtaking views of the bay, wetlands and wildlife.
Alabama’s Coastal Connection Scenic Byway is an excellent place for biking enthusiasts. So pack up your bike, grab your helmet, and start exploring the bike trails along the byway!
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]]>The post Watch Out for the Turtles appeared first on Alabama's Coastal Connection.
]]>During turtle season, visitors winding their way along Alabama’s Coastal Connection Scenic Byway may come across these turtles. Beaches along the Gulf Coast are monitored by teams of trained volunteers who work to protect the nesting turtles and their eggs.
It’s not unusual for visitors to see these beloved reptiles digging their nests and covering their eggs with sand, or to watch the hatchlings as they make their way to the water.
But it’s important that visitors avoid disturbing the nests or attempting to touch the turtles. Their safety needs to be a priority over our curiosity. Should you come across an unmarked nest or a turtle on the beach, please report it by calling 866-SEA-TURTLE (732-8878).
Lights on beaches at night should be kept to a minimum, as turtles can become disoriented by bright lights and may not be able to find their way back to the water.
Turtle season is a special time along Alabama’s Coastal Connection Scenic Byway. It’s a chance to witness the incredible journey of these ancient sea creatures and experience the natural beauty of the Gulf Coast in a new and unforgettable way.
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]]>The post Art in the Park appeared first on Alabama's Coastal Connection.
]]>Since 1971, this event has been held over Mother’s Day weekend on the lawn of Heritage Park in downtown Foley. The event attracts thousands of visitors from the Gulf Coast region and beyond, creating a vibrant and lively atmosphere.
Attendees are invited to stroll through the park, enjoying the art and music along the way. This opportunity for local artists and performers to showcase their work and connect with others is always a highlight of the year.
Art in the Park is a favorite tradition in Foley for a reason. See for yourself – plan your visit to Alabama’s Coastal Connection Scenic Byway for Mother’s Day weekend to experience this popular event.
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]]>The post Wildflower Week appeared first on Alabama's Coastal Connection.
]]>How can you celebrate National Wildflower Week along the Gulf Coast? Alabama’s Coastal Connection Scenic Byway is a great place to start. This 130-mile stretch of highway winds through some of the most beautiful, natural areas in southern Alabama, with several stops boasting stunning wildflowers.
Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
This reserve is home to a wonderful variety of wildflowers. Take a guided nature walk to learn about the reserve’s plant and animal life, or explore the trails on your own.
Miles of pristine beaches provide a backdrop of white-sand beauty for the abundance of native plant life. The park’s nature center offers guided nature walks that focus on the area’s wildflowers as well as other natural features.
Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge
More than 7,000 acres of protected land provide a nurturing environment to native wildflowers. Peacefully co-existing here are endangered species such as the Alabama beach mouse and the loggerhead sea turtle.
National Wildflower Week is the perfect time to explore the natural beauty along Alabama’s Coastal Connection Scenic Byway!
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]]>The post Get Involved and Be Part of a Better Tomorrow appeared first on Alabama's Coastal Connection.
]]>The Leave Only Footprints initiative outlines a mission to ensure that Alabama’s Gulf Coast remains a beautiful place to live, work and play. Its programs help individuals make smart and responsible choices for a sustainable future. Removing beach belongings at the end of the day, picking up trash, and recycling are just some of the ways to accomplish that. Other means of educating the population include Dolphin SMART, Share The Beach, Stash Your Trash, and Alabama Coastal Cleanup.
Gulf Shores and Orange Beach is a nesting place for endangered sea turtles. Every year, between May and October, hundreds of hatchlings make their way from the beach to the Gulf of Mexico waters, and it’s the mission of Share The Beach to be sure these hatchlings make it to their destination undisturbed.
Some of the guidelines to help protect these endangered creatures include:
- Avoid using flashlights or flash photography on the beach at night, because sea turtles use moonlight to navigate the beach. The lights confuse them and may die if they can’t reach the water.
- Do not disturb sea turtle nests.
- Leave only your footprints on the beach each night. Female sea turtles will turn away and go back to the water if obstacles are in their way, and babies making their way to the water can become trapped in holes dug by visitors.
- If you see an unmarked sea turtle nest, please call 866-SEA-TURTLE.
Every September, thousands of volunteers unite for one common cause: to pick up trash so we can enjoy trash-free seas and shores. Since its first organized event in 1987, more than 100,000 volunteers have collected 1.7 million pounds of trash along 6,285 miles of coast. This event takes place in multiple communities along the byway, including Bon Secour, Daphne, Fairhope, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Mobile and Dauphin Island. To get in touch with the captain of any of these locations and be a part of this movement, visit the Alabama Coastal Cleanup website.
Do your part to help sustain your local community. Join these organizations on their journey to a better tomorrow.
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]]>The post Crawfish Festival and 5K appeared first on Alabama's Coastal Connection.
]]>The festivities begin on Friday night with a ticketed event featuring the Rebirth Brass Band out of New Orleans. The opening act begins at 6 p.m., with Rebirth taking the stage at 7 p.m. Crawfish will not be served at this concert, but food trucks will be on site.
The traditional Zydeco & Crawfish activities take place on Saturday, beginning at 8 a.m. with the Zydeco Crawfish Festival 5K Run. The 5k leads into the festival excitement with crawfish boiling at 10 a.m., along with music and vendors filling the area all day long. Admission is free, so bring the whole family and be sure to save some time for children’s activities found on site.
The festival provides a great opportunity to try new Southern foods and check out the wonderful talents of local vendors. See you there!
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]]>The post Fuel Your Passion for Vintage Cars at Bama Coast Cruisin’ appeared first on Alabama's Coastal Connection.
]]>The 14th Annual Bama Coast Cruisin’ will rumble into town April 27-29. It will be easy to find, as The Beach Express – part of Alabama’s Coastal Connection Scenic Byway – travels through the The Wharf before crossing the Intracoastal Waterway.
This family-friendly car show features hundreds of beautiful vehicles, from vintage to shiny new models. The event and parking are free to all. A DJ will be spinning tunes all weekend, covering a variety of genres. You may be able to procure some of those hard-to-find products for your own car in the vendor or swap-meet areas. YoHo Rum and Tacos and Mile Marker 158 Dockside at The Wharf are hosting parties Thursday and Friday night, featuring live music and delicious food.
On Saturday afternoon, participants are invited to join a parade to cruise their vehicles through Orange Beach. The parade route will guide you along scenic Perdido Beach Boulevard, over the Perdido Pass bridge and then back to The Wharf. Cruisers are then invited to attend a family-friendly after-party hosted by The Wharf starting at 5 p.m.
Cash giveaways and door prizes will be announced all weekend long, making this an event you will not want to miss!
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]]>The post Celebrate National Garden Month at Bellingrath appeared first on Alabama's Coastal Connection.
]]>More than 250,000 azaleas are exploding in color this season. Other spring blooms include hydrangeas, daisies and more. The stunning rose garden contains more than 2,000 plants representing 36 varieties, with the first full rose bloom usually occurring in late April.
The gardens are open 8 a.m. – 5 p.m daily. Tickets start at $9, with members and children under 5 being free. Upgraded tickets to include a museum tour are available. Discounts are offered to military personnel and their immediate family. The last tickets of the day are sold at 4 p.m.
Find out what is currently in bloom and plan your visit to Bellingrath Gardens to celebrate National Garden Month!
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]]>The post Spring Festivals on the Scenic Byway appeared first on Alabama's Coastal Connection.
]]>March 4 – Bellingrath’s Beers & Blooms
Spend a day on the Great Lawn at Bellingrath Gardens and Home where you’ll enjoy live music and a wide variety of craft brews. Shop the local vendor booths and food trucks for the full festival experience.
March 11 – BBQ & Blues Cook-off
This event of the South Baldwin Chamber Foundation is an annual fundraiser to benefit area schools. Corporate and individual cook teams compete for trophies and bragging rights while the ticket holders get to savor delicious barbecue and listen to live music.
March 11 and 12 – Orange Beach Festival of Art
More than 100 visual, performing and culinary artists pack the grounds of the Coastal Arts Center during this popular event.
March 25 – The Original German Sausage Festival
The namesake German sausage is the star of this Elberta festival, but there’s plenty of other scrumptious foods as well as more than 200 arts and crafts booths.
March 17-19 – Fairhope Arts and Crafts Festival
Downtown Fairhope is the home of this prestigious show. Live entertainment, a food court and more than 200 Alabama exhibitors will be featured in this year’s event.
May 4-6 – Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival
Shop arts and crafts vendors and enjoy live entertainment each day. At dawn and dusk, balloon flights, glows and tethered rides (weather permitting) fill the sky.
Plan your spring visit to the byway and see for yourself what the spring festival season is all about!
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]]>The post Baldwin County Heritage Museum appeared first on Alabama's Coastal Connection.
]]>The museum was organized in April 1981 by a group of residents hoping to preserve artifacts, tools, machinery and more that was used by men and women who lived in Baldwin County many generations ago.
The museum is a non-profit organization and offers free admission, making it a wonderful and affordable family activity.
Private tours may be scheduled for small groups interested in learning about local farming history in more depth. Volunteer tour guides provide detailed information and guide you through the historic buildings.
The nostalgic setting here is often booked as an intimate and unique venue for weddings, as well.
The museum, located in Elberta, is open Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. After a day of learning about local history, refuel at the outdoor picnic space before your next adventure along Alabama’s Coastal Connection Scenic Byway.
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