So late in getting this review done. This stop was near the beginning of our 11K Road-Trip across…read moreAmerica. We were lucky enough to get here right before the Government Shut-Down, Such a Beautiful Coast-Line bursting with views of the ocean and wildlife. Plenty of spots to stop and take it in, have a picnic, use the restrooms, take a quick dip (we did). The Park itself has the standard entrance fee which assists in the upkeep of the area, we have an annual pass so if traveling to a lot of parks in one year (highly recommend). We utilized the campground which was well-maintained, restrooms/showers were good and we tented, but used the electricity availability for my CPAP. The Campground did not realize what a night of loud snoring they were spared. Ask our fellow campers in Death Valley a couple summers ago- talk about stares in the morning. We did a couple hikes around the area, saw Eagles and a variety of wildlife. We were lucky enough to visit the Fort when Ranger Chris was doing a presentation. He has a passion and the ability to share the knowledge he has of the time-period, the fort and the people who built it. I thought it was one of the best that we have ever attended. He challenged the group to further explore the fort and find different items of interest. When we had difficulty finding one particular spot, Ranger Chris took the time to walk us to it, explain the significance and then continued a tour of that side of the fort. My wife and I both agreed that this was one of the best interactions we have had in our National Parks experience. What really impressed me was Ranger Chris and the entire staff enthusiasm and dedication despite the furlough hanging over their heads. As we know shortly after the Government shut-down, we missed out on a lot of parks we planned on visiting, but the memory of this Gulf Island adventure eased some of the disappointment.

If you have your own vehicle, this is a great excursion! Such a beautiful place & lots of…read moreinteresting history. We unfortunately took an Uber out but were unable to take one back. (Wish we'd been warned!) No one would come pick us up The journey home was interesting. But the Fort is surrounded by beautiful sandy beaches and views of an old Lighthouse across the bay.

I've travel to and through Gulf Shores, Alabama a number of times over the year and have never been…read moredisappointed - it's a beautiful place and the folks here are just down right friendly. Our recent RV trip had us staying here for three nights and it was definitely a little bitter sweet when we broke camp and headed home after enjoying a month long trip on the road but there's no doubt we'll be back hopefully for a longer stay next time. There's so much to see and do in and around the area, the beaches are gorgeous and there's some pretty good food options as well. I was a little taken back by the amount of growth this area has seen in the past 5 years or so I guess everyone is trying to get their little piece of paradise we are seeing similar migration in Florida hopefully the vibe here never changes...

I didn't spend too much time on this trip in Gulf Shores but I will do so on my next visit. At the…read moresouthernmost point (or close to it) in Alabama, Gulf Shores is on the barrier island and so it benefits/suffers from the influx of beach goers, retirees and other transients who enjoy the warmer weather but don't want to go to Florida or Texas. Gulf Shores has managed to get slammed by a bunch of hurricanes in the last couple of years (Ivan, Katrina, Sally) but on my visit, I didn't notice any particular damage. The beach is lovely and the people are friendly. Expect to see lots of businesses catering to the beach and the tourists. Mini golf, ice cream, glossy-menu seafood restaurants and such. But if you get off the beaten track, you'll find proper locals who are happy to see you. And don't miss out on meeting up with Barrett O. He's "Mister Yelp Gulf Shores" for sure! [Review 912 of 2024 - 233 in Alabama - 21941 overall]

What an amazing piece of history! Just walking through all the tunnels and between various areas…read moreyou get a real sense of what it was like when the fort was in use. It's quite harrowing. I wish I'd had an extra hour to look at all the artifacts and read everything in the museum, but with three kids under four, no way. Definitely plan to spend a half day here. There are restrooms and access to the beach, but no food (and no food allowed in the museum).

Great little family pit stop. Learn some history View the…read moreocean and oil rigs. Take pics of cannons and be astounded by what they had to do in 1600's to survive It's crazy.... Human race has come so far yet not. .. Technology is super interesting....

Interesting little stop. Very unique structure with intriguing back story. Free stop in a parking…read morelot.

Neat little historical place in Fairhope. It is a little confusing because the directions will lead…read moreyou to a office park, it is located in the parking lot directly behind the offices. Originally, Tolstoy Park was 10 acres in the woods, and secluded. Henry Stuart, The Hermit Poet, moved to Fairhope, Alabama from Idaho because he was diagnosed with consumption (tuberculosis) when he was 65 during the 1920's. The doctor recommended he move to a warmer climate for his health, and Henry Stuart bought ten acres, sight unseen. Mr Stuart ended up living another 22 years before he moved back to Oregon at the age of 88 and passed away. His home is unique, it is round, hurricane proof, and particularly dug into the ground to help regulate temperature. Th Tolstoy House is on The National Register of Historic Places. It is a unique and peaceful place, great for kids, and unique.

Was anticipating a leasurely walk thru the woods but found no trails. Looked like maybe one path…read moreinto weeds.

Bohemian Park is a hidden gem, perfect for both dogs and their owners. The park features a natural…read moreriver or pond that's great for swimming--whether you're bringing your pup for a splash or planning to take a dip yourself. My dog absolutely loves it! I can toss his toy into the water, and he joyfully retrieves it every time. The park also has scenic trails and picnic benches, making it an ideal spot for a peaceful outing. Just a heads-up: the path down to the water can be a bit slippery and muddy, so wear sturdy shoes and skip your best outfit. Bug spray is also a must, especially if you visit during warmer months. I'd recommend going during off-peak hours for a more tranquil experience, but even when there are more people, everyone has been friendly, and it never feels overcrowded. Bohemian Park is not just a dog park--it's a great place to enjoy nature and relax. Gravel and dirt parking too btw.

The W.C. Holmes Memorial Bridge is a fixed bridge carrying Gulf Shores Parkway (aka AL-59) over…read morePortage Creek (aka the Intracoastal Waterway). It is a deck plate girder bridge that was built in 1972. The main span is 180.1 feet long and the total bridge is 1762.2 feet long. It has a vertical clearance of 73 feet, which is tall enough for most sailboats and other traffic. A very busy bridge, it carries more than 10 million vehicles a year. That's a lot - a tenth as many as the George Washington Bridge over the Hudson in New York City! It is named for Doctor William C. Holmes, who opened Baldwin County's first hospital and ran it for 22 years before South Baldwin Regional Medical Center opened its doors. (Don't miss the W. C. Holmes Medical Museum.) Three lanes northbound and two lanes southbound, the southbound side has a breakdown/bicycle lane. There is no stopping on the bridge and I don't know about pedestrians, so I wouldn't recommend popping out for a photo of the Intracoastal. There is no toll to cross the bridge. [Review 915 of 2024 - 235 in Alabama - 21944 overall]

The office and restrooms are currently closed. There's a nice 1/2 mile hike, an area for a picnic,…read moreand a nice hike around the fort. Definitely returning when it the office reopens.

* Fort Barrancas or Fort San Carlos de Barrancas is a United States military fort and National…read moreHistoric Landmark in the former Warrington area of Pensacola, Florida, located physically within Naval Air Station Pensacola, which was developed later around it. I thought it was super cool and really enjoyed walking around it. Both times I went it wasn't open, which is disappointing. Looks very neat inside. (It's closed on Tuesday and Wednesday) - I'm guessing that's the days I went. Anyhow- it was still cool. If you like old historical architecture take time to check it out.

We were in the Mobile area and decided to visit this expansive estate. Azaleas and camellia were…read morethe primary bloomers in mid-March, but there were other things to see in the gardens. Bellingrath is not among the gardens giving reciprocal admissions. After we paid, we were given a map and a brief explanation. Many of the garden paths are shady, while others are wide open. There are areas where there are lots of mosquitoes. Sunscreen and bug repellant are recommended for your visit. We enjoyed the water features, bridges, and the beautiful reflections. The so-called Asian-American garden near the end of the tour had some interesting hardscape but wasn't well maintained. The greenhouses were definitely worth a visit. There were lots of plants for sale during our visit. We didn't visit the Bellingrath Home Museum, which had an extra charge. All in all, we got some exercise and saw beautiful scenery during our visit. I'm guessing the gardens will be much nicer beginning in May. Hopefully the roses will be blooming by then.

It's inexpensive but not very expansive. For anyone traveling from out of state it's nice but…read morenothing incredibly memorable. There are some attractive water features and trees but a lot of the other plants will be garden flowers. It takes about an hour or so to walk through. If possible, avoid during the evening because even during the winter there will be mosquitoes unless it's actually cold. A nice walk and not that expensive so it's worth a trip if you're in the area.

Very interesting place with amazing views of the water and airfield. Very much worth getting into…read morethe air station to visit.

A a short walk from Oak Grove RV Park. My wife and I had a terrific time making the climb and…read moreenjoying the view! Not for the faint of heart or fear of heights.

This was quite educational..things were very tough back then...small quarters, no luxury there...we…read moretoured the entire place...great view from the top...lots of walking but well worth it...great facilities..restrooms, gift shop for postcards (yes they still sell those) and very well taken care of...very helpful staff ...grounds were immaculate..a whole lot of history there...

To be at the place where men fought for our country, and to be standing on the ground where they…read moredid it was a neat experience! The different sections are numbered & they give you a map to go through it. The Map was helpful as we didn't realize there was a lighthouse in the bay til we came to that number & looked out to find it. It is an older fort, but is very well kept. It's real nice & very informative!