re: Any of you baws or bawettes prefer Dauphin Island over Gulf Shores/Orange Beach?

quote:

---

It will prove to be one of your biggest regrets

---

Why do you say that?

quote:

---

I am aware that the water is much murkier than it is east of Mobile Bay.I have stayed around Gulf Shores many times over the years, but I’ve never been to Dauphin Island.

---

I went to the beach once on Dauphin island, the water resembled too much like Grand Isle. It was also pretty dangerous with rip currents on the eastern end. Why drive 3-4 hours for the same nasty arse water when Grand Isle is about 45 minutes from my house unless I am visiting an aunt that lives in Coden. Also, Daulphin Island, I think, instituted new parking guidelines to make you pay by car to use the beach.

Now as you get to Orange Beach the water turns more greenish, hence the nickname the Emerald Coast. Now if you really want to get to the clear blue water, it will start around Navarre. I drove there one time and it was nice.

I drove through the state park to get to Pensacola. I noticed that they kept reserve sand on big hills behind the beach with vegetation. That should be something Grand Isle should do. So they can comeback and replenish any sand loss without having to wait for a dredge.

quote:

---

It's called dunes, and the vegetation is there to keep the dunes from eroding. The dunes are to protect the island from being washed away. Never will you see anyone demolishing dunes to replenish the beach.

---

Those were not average dunes. They were pretty beefy compared to the levee on Grand Isle or any barrier island restoration projects that are built in Louisiana. So that is why I thought they were used as a sand storage area and construction crews were working on the dunes when I passed almost 8 years ago in 2017.



If you ask me, that is why most of our beach restoration projects fail because they do not build up the sand enough to allow vegetation to grow. They get the islands to just a few feet above sea level and there is nothing hard to attach to and vegetation doesn’t mature enough.

A good friend of mine has a place on DI. We were down there roughly 10 years ago. We were in the water and got out to get another round of beers. All of the sudden we see this chick in a bikini (very well endowed I’ll add) running towards me and my friend. We were feeling like badasses as she ran up to us.

She certainly had my attention at this point. This hottie began to tell us there was a gator headed our way and to get out of the water. We tell our wives and they get on the beach. Less than 5 minutes later we see a gator 10-15 long swim right past where we’d been in the water.

Went to eat at pirates that night, told the bar tender and she was said “Oh yeah! That’s ______. He loves Moon Pies!”

Who knew?

Not that it’s a secret anymore, but Fort Morgan is a mix of both. It’s still semi low key but just close enough to do stuff in town.
I’ve been going down there since the 90’s and granted, it has grown up a lot but the beaches and traffic aren’t nearly as bad as GS/OB.

quote:

---

Fort Morgan

---

That’s our favorite place. The beaches are nice and not crowded at all. We get a house there for a couple weeks a year. It’s far enough out to get away from the crowds but close enough to town for dinner etc

quote:

---

Not that it’s a secret anymore, but Fort Morgan is a mix of both. It’s still semi low key but just close enough to do stuff in town. I’ve been going down there since the 90’s and granted, it has grown up a lot but the beaches and traffic aren’t nearly as bad as GS/OB.

---

Agreed and I like ft Morgan too but……


But you have to drive alllllll the way down to gulf shores and then down ft Morgan road which is just a pain in the arse to have the same type water as you’d have on dauphin island. Imo, ft Morgan is for the person that might want to go into gulf shores from time to time for activity but likes some privacy in ft Morgan but if you are okay with no or little activity, dauphin island wins.

If you build on the west end (no trees) your lot is going to wash away and your house is going to be in the gulf within a few years. If not, it’s going to be destroyed in the next hurricane. With the building codes and corrupt town employees, good luck rebuilding or getting home owners insurance.

A good rain leaves half the island inaccessible unless you have a 4-wheel drive.

The residents are mostly yankee liberals who are great until you disagree with them.

Like all govt entities it is corrupt. However, being so small and insulated from the world the corruption hits hard on a personal level. You really feel it.

The dregs of society love to hit the beaches and short-term renters love stealing from the neighbors.

Now, if all you do is drink and launch your boat then you’re good.

quote:

---

Dauphin Island

---

Only if you are big fisherman who prefers Coastal and marsh fishing. Even at that, DI is 15 minute boat ride from Ft. Morgan launch

quote:

---

If you build on the west end (no trees) your lot is going to wash away and your house is going to be in the gulf within a few years. If not, it’s going to be destroyed in the next hurricane

---

There are streets on the west end of the Dauphin Island that are on the beachside, if you can call it a street. It is more like a shared driveway. Some have 2-3 houses on them. The houses are right on the beach in front of the levee that protects the road. Some of them are even in the surf line.