Even the happiest of vacationers need to escape the rush of the busy beaches to enjoy some quiet time in nature from time to time. We picked a few of our favorite spots where you can soak up all the serenity and take time to recharge.
The Alabama Gulf Coast is home to a world of natural beauty beyond the white-sand beaches and sparkling water that is waiting to be explored. Lucky for us, there are some spectacular displays to see, from special local exhibits to what’s blooming in town.
A trip to the following places is a great way to experience a peaceful retreat and indulge all your senses. Plan on amazing photo ops, too!
Bellingrath Gardens
Take a scenic stroll through Bellingrath Gardens, a hidden gem on the outskirts of Mobile. This beautiful site was transformed from a fishing camp to a garden estate in the 1920s.
Bellingrath Gardens FB Page
Throughout the year, this 65-acre garden estate is in full bloom with camellias in the winter, azaleas in the spring, and magical Christmas lights during the holiday season.
Bellingrath Gardens is an enchanting scene of fountains and flowers beneath live oaks and magnolia trees. During the spring, you can also follow the path leading to eye-catching blooms of marigolds, primroses, and tulips. With so much to see, the gardens also include a bridal garden, a nature walk, a chapel, an observation tower, and more.
Guests can also take a tour of the Bellingrath Museum Home, built in 1935, that is filled with the original furniture and collection of china owned by the Bellingraths. The home is a combination of English Renaissance tied in with a “Gulf Coast” look.
Fairhope, Alabama
Fairhope, Alabama is a charming town that sits on Mobile Bay that is always in full bloom. Flowerbeds align the downtown streets; a floral clock welcomes its visitors; and a rose garden sits along the Fairhope pier. The charming architecture, floral displays, and scenic beauty are the perfect backdrop for your beach escape.
City of Fairhope FB Page
The Eastern Shore Trail is a fantastic way to enjoy the great outdoors and the many scenic spots along Fairhope. This 22-mile trail features a variety of terrain and can be explored by foot or bicycle. Joggers and walkers enjoy strolling along bayfront sidewalks, lined with old live oak trees dripping with Spanish moss.
Visitors can also look forward to exploring the Fairhope Municipal Pier that offers a duck pond, tree path, and the park's highlight—the rose garden and fountain—then take a walk out to the fishing pier to witness a spectacular sunset over Mobile Bay! A trip to Fairhope just isn’t complete without at least one stroll down the pier.
Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge
Bon Secour Wild Refuge boasts 6,700 scenic acres, with four trails that are ideal for a family outing or peaceful nature walk. These trails give visitors the opportunity to discover different habitats—including wales, dunes, wetlands, maritime forest, and scrub habitats—and the wildlife that call them home.
Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge FB Page
The transition from maritime forest to dune swales and swamps can be seen on the Centennial Trail, where you’ll encounter wildlife residents, such as alligators, armadillos, red foxes, and various types of birds.
The refuge is also teeming with all kinds of beautiful plant life, including colorful blooms, live oaks, Southern magnolias, longleaf pines and Spanish moss.
The Pine Beach trail features a saltwater lagoon and a freshwater lake. Be sure to check out the observation tower at the one-mile marker for a spectacular view of Gator Lake.
Other scenic spots to explore include the refuge’s wetlands, maritime forest, and Little Lagoon at the Jeff Friend Trail.
Mobile Botanical Gardens
For a truly quiet natural stop in Mobile, make time for Mobile Botanical Gardens, a 100-acre site filled with magnolias, gardens, roses, herbs, and longleaf pines. It also hosts one of the most wide-ranging collections of azaleas in the United States.
Mobile Botanical Gardens FB Page
The Rhododendron and Azalea Garden contains more than 1,000 evergreen azaleas that bloom from early March until mid-June in a spectrum of different colors. The picturesque area includes benches, a Japanese-style bridge, a small pond with a waterfall, and many seasonal plants.
Mobile Botanical Gardens is a non-profit organization that runs on funds from memberships, volunteers, and visitor donations. Their mission is to protect the area's native plants, while also educating the public about gardening on the Gulf Coast.
Throughout the year, there are educational and workshops provided—including a plant sale, featuring common and exotic plants, that is only held twice a year where garden enthusiasts can purchase the plants displayed at botanical gardens for their own personal use.
Downtown Foley — Wilbourne Antique Rose Trail
Foley, Alabama’s Wilbourne Antique Rose Trail, founded in 2007, is a must-see when visiting the area. The scenic, one-mile paved trail is conveniently located in the heart of the charming town, following the path of an old railroad line.
Foley Main Street FB Page
As you wind along the trail, you’ll see a variety of antique roses in chronological order, marked with signs that identify the species—and more than 5,000 roses of 500 different varieties, including Marchesa Boccella, Arethusa, Perle d’Or, and green roses.
Along the way, you will spot bicyclists, joggers, and tourists all taking in the beauty. There are also plenty of benches to sit and relax and places to enjoy a nice picnic.