Gulf Shore Getaway

13th annual "Colonial Isle Dauphine"

Colonial Isle Dauphine' to be presented at Fort Gaines Historic Site on Dauphin Island

Come to Dauphin Island on the weekend of November 12th and 13th. The 13th annual "Colonial Isle Dauphine" will be presented at Fort Gaines Historic Site from 9am to 5am each day.

You'll explore life as it was in the early 1800s. The "Colonial Isle Dauphine" is a living history weekend which illustrates what life was like at Fort Gaines. Actors in period costumes will be dressed as soldiers who will perform drills and fire the fort's cannon. Women will cook over open fires and traders will offer their wares from their blankets.

Alabama swordfish is a record

It's official. The record swordfish caught off the Alabama Gulf Coast is officially a record. Del Sawyer's 448-pound swordfish surpasses the previous record swordfish by nearly 100 pounds. The previous record had been only 1 year old.

The trophy swordfish was caught 100 miles due south of Mobile and about 50 miles west of the edge of the DeSoto Canyon. The DeSoto Canyou is a geologic formation which forms the continental shelf for Mississippi, Alabama and West Florida.

A lot of people don't know that we have swordfish here in the gulf. It used to be that nobody went fishing for them. People don't realize it, but you could catch a swordfish every single night, year round.

Sunken ship rises from Fort Morgan sands

Ah, just in time for Halloween. A mysterious sunken ship has risen from the deep along the beach just west of Gulf Shores.

Local historians don't have any idea what ship it might be. They didn't even know it was there. They do know about the Civil War blockade runner known as the Ivanhoe, which ran aground on July 1, 1864. That ship is buried under the beach about 2½ miles east of Fort Morgan. This one is obviously not the Ivanhoe.

The ship appears to be about 150 feet long and 30 feet wide.

You can learn more about the history of the area in Jack Friend's, book West Wind, Flood Tide: The Battle of Mobile Bay"

Related searches: ships of Mobile Bay | Battle of Mobile Bay

Development Continues Along Alabama's 'New Gulf Coast'

Alabama Towns Stay True to Southern Roots

ORANGE BEACH, Ala., Oct. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Construction continues along Alabama's Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), an area that is now commonly referred to as "Alabama's New Gulf Coast." The ICW, completed in 1949 and once used for only industrial barge traffic, is now a true "Southern" cornerstone of growth in towns such as Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, Alabama.

2006 Alabama Coastal Birdfest begins Thursday

The 2006 edition of the Alabama Coastal BirdFest begins this Thursday and runs through the weekend. It's that time of year. Many of the northern species of migratory birds have begun their southern migration this year and have found their way to the southeast.

All along the Alabama Gulf Coast neo-tropicals are flocked together, fattening up for the big push south across the Gulf of Mexico where they'll winter in warmer climates.

The Coastal BirdFest is the best place for birders to be right now not only because of the birds' arrival but because the organizers of the Alabama Coastal Birdfest go out of their way each year to make their event the premiere birding event for birders. Whether you're looking to get started and hungry for learning about birding, or you're a seasoned birder who knows where to look and what to look for, the Alabama Coastal BirdFest is just the ticket to birding success.

Not only that but it's a great social gathering too.

Alabama tourism ramps campaigns to lure vacationers

All along the Alabama Gulf Coast efforts are underway to bring in the tourism dollar. This time of year the weather is about perfect regardless of where you're from and what kind of weather you're used to.

Areas north are turning colder, and that means the fall migration is on. Birders head to the Gulf Coast this time of year because places like Gulf Shores are overrun by the little feathered ones stocking up on food for the big trip south across the Gulf of Mexico.