Dauphin Island, Alabama is a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico that can be reached by a three-mile-long high rise bridge or by ferry. This long and skinny island is 14 miles long and 1.75 miles wide. A designated bird sanctuary, the island is a great place for health-conscious and active visitors to hike, play sports, observe local wildlife, learn local history and enjoy fresh and healthy meals.
Hike
Slap on your favorite SPF, lace up your hiking boots and grab your bike, or rent one if you prefer from the Dauphin Island Campground, and burn off any spare seafood calories hiking and biking across the Island. The main road is only seven miles, so bike or hike to various destinations, including the pool, local attractions or the market. For a serious workout on wheels, race along the island-long bike path.
Observe Local Wildlife
Take a brisk walk through 164 acres of Gulf beaches, swamp, pine forest, dune systems and hardwood clearings at the Audubon Bird Sanctuary, one of the most important sites in the world for bird migrations. Observe birds, butterflies, alligators, turtles and fish while you exercise and get informed reading the nature signs along the sanctuary's paths. Or hoof it to the Sea Lab Estuarium to learn about--and directly interact with--marine life native to a variety of habitats in the Dauphin Island area.
Get Active on the Beach
Get hydrated, slather on your sunscreen and play in the sun. Swim in the surf or local pools to cool off and feel the burn. Take a sunrise or sunset jog along Dauphin Island's white beaches. If you're up to the challenge, interval train for a better workout, switching between sprinting, jogging and power walking. The undeveloped beaches on the island are a great place to practice your Pilates or yoga surrounded by nature. Play catch, volleyball or ultimate Frisbee or enjoy 18 holes along the Gulf of Mexico at the city-owned Isle Dauphine Golf Club. There also are nearby courses on the mainland. Badminton, horseshoes and shuffleboard facilities run by the city are also available.
Explore History
Get active while learning about the history of this island paradise that has stood the tests of time, hurricanes and wars. Before Spanish and French explorers landed on the island, it was a Native American fishing and hunting preserve. Evidence of the presence of the island's first settlers can be explored on foot at the archaeological sites at Shell Mound Park on Dauphin Island's northern shores. To learn about the island's more recent history, hike or bike across the island to Fort Gaines from Shell Mound Park. Stroll around Fort Gaines, and take in this 19th century construction that has played a part in American naval defense since the Civil War.
Enjoy Healthy Island Food
Buy quality groceries and make your own healthy eats, and avoid fast-food style fried fish and seafood. Southern comfort foods are high in calories and won't seem so comforting the following day. A few local restaurants offer steamed and grilled items, and those that don't might forgo the batter and oil, if you ask politely. For fine dining and healthier options, head to the mainland, where a wider variety of restaurants is available.
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