Gulf Shore Getaway

Alabama Photographer covers Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge

This month's Popular Photography features an article by guest Columnist George Ponder, who lives in North Alabama. In his article George discusses photography in one of his favorite photo spots, the Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge on the Alabama Gulf Coast.

Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge

Living in North Alabama as I do, the Gulf Coast is a convenient vacation spot—only a four-hour drive from my neck of the woods. Typically, I grab the golf bag for our vacations and spend time on the golf course while the wife and kids play in the sand. This year, I decided to leave the golf bag at home and carry the camera bag instead.

For the past two years, the Fort Morgan peninsula has been our destination spot on the Gulf Coast . The peninsula lies on the eastern entrance to Mobile Bay and is the home of the Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge. The opportunity to explore this refuge with a camera was too great to pass up.

The Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1980 and consists of approximately 7,000 acres of coastal lands that range from beach dunes to pine-oak woodlands. The refuge runs along the coasts of both the Gulf of Mexico and Mobile Bay and is home to more than 540 species of animals ranging from herons to egrets to alligators to deer. Birds are the most visible habitant of the refuge and offer tremendous photographic opportunities. I spent my mornings roaming the refuge during our weeklong vacation and barely scratched the surface of what this habitat has to offer.

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Orange Beach Billfish Classic a huge success

Records continue to fall all along the Alabama Gulf Coast as yet another fishing tournament meets with outstanding success. This year's Alabama Deep See Fishing Rodeo saw several records broken.

Anglers in last weekend's Orange Beach Billfish Classic turned in record numbers of huge fish. The great fishing off shore in the Gulf of Mexico continues. Look for even more records to fall in this weekend's Conde Cavalier Mardi Gras Fishing Tournament which will be held on nearby Dauphin Island (across Mobile Bay from Gulf Shores and Fort Morgan) at the Dauphin Island Marina.

Fort Morgan National Historic Landmark

Fort Morgan National Historic Landmark is located at the entrance to Mobile Bay. The Fort Morgan site itself is not only in historically significant but also amazingly beautiful to see. The 500-acre Fort Morgan National Historic Landmark is at the end of a long narrow peninsula bounded by the Gulf of Mexico to the south and Mobile Bay to the north. It is accessible via either a drive from Gulf Shores or a pleasant ferry ride across the mouth of Mobile Bay from Dauphin Island to the west.

Fort Morgan is generally regarded as of the most historically significant places in Alabama. The fort played key and decisive roles in the outcomes of both the war of 1812 and the Civil War.

Fort Morgan and the surrounding grounds are open every day of the year except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. During the summer months, the Fort Morgan staff conducts living history programs daily and also holds candlelight tours.

How to get to and get more information about Fort Morgan

Fort Morgan is located 22 miles west of Gulf Shores on Ala. 180 West
51 Highway 180 West
Gulf Shores, Alabama 36542
Phone: 334-567-3002
Directions to and a map of Fort Morgan

Hours of operation:
Gates open to the public
June - September 8am to 7pm
October - February 8am to 5pm
March through May 8am to 6pm

The Fort Morgan Museum is open from 9am to 5pm every day of the week.

Admission:
Adults - $5
Children ages 6-18 - $3
Children under 6 - Free
Seniors - $4

Alabama Beaches among the cleanest in the US

The headline pretty much says it all. What's left to say is about how long Alabama's Gulf Coast beaches have been so, well, so beautiful.

The truth is that nobody really knows. Since 1999 when testing first began, Alabama's Gulf Coast beaches have never been closed for pollution.

State's beaches pass pollution tests, among the nation's cleanest

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — There have been no days this summer when swimmers were advised against entering the waters of Alabama's Gulf beaches, which officials say are among the nation's cleanest.

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Gulf Coast population may affect fisheries

An AP article investigates increases in population along the Gulf Coast - in terms of both vacation usage and in permanent residency. The increase in population over the recent past has caused much greater pressure on fragile ecosystems all along the Gulf Shore.

Of particular concern among environmental groups is the possible effect that increased population along the Alabama Gulf Coast might have on Gulf of Mexico fisheries.

In areas where conservation efforts started in the last century, signs of recovery are apparent, according to the study, partly supported by the Lenfest Oceans Program at the Pew Charitable Trusts.

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Alabama Gulf Coast beaches expect heavy traffic this July 4th weekend

The telephones in real estate offices and hotels have been ringing off the hook as prospective beach vacationers hunt for any open accommodations this Fourth of July weekend.

This year's Independence Day holiday falls on a Tuesday, giving vacationers an extra day, or making it that much easier to extend the weekend into an entire week. With what looks to be very cooperative weather condos, vacation rental houses and hotels in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach report availability is extremely limited.

The whole of Alabama's Gulf Coast is in similar situation, as record numbers of vacationers descend to the the Gulf Coast for a long weekend of sand, surf and July 4th festivities.