Alabama's Underrated Gulf Coast Destination Offers Secluded Beaches And Rich History

The Gulf Coast of Alabama has transformed into a big beach destination in the last few decades. Its small coastal communities now attract millions of visitors each year. But if you leave the popular Orange Beach and Gulf Shores behind, you'll find secluded, historic Fort Morgan. It might be the most underrated spot along the Alabama seashore.

Fort Morgan is a 20-mile drive west of Gulf Shores at the end of Highway 180 and on the western tip of Mobile Point, where Mobile Bay flows into the Gulf of Mexico. With less than 1,000 year-round residents, the unincorporated community is not even big enough to be considered a town. That's left the beach uncrowded and the views unspoiled. The vibe is very low-key, with just a couple of restaurants and locally-owned businesses, while colorful, stilted houses (not high-rise condos) stand behind the sand dunes. This is a quiet, family-friendly spot that feels like a secret Alabama wants to keep to itself.

To reach Fort Morgan, you can fly to Mobile. Its Mobile Regional Airport (MOB), which receives nonstop flights from a handful of southern cities, is less than 80 miles from Fort Morgan. Then, as you drive southeast from Mobile, you'll first reach Gulf Shores en route to Fort Morgan. This is where you'll find plenty of hotels, since Fort Morgan only has guest houses available to rent. The Beach Club Resort & Spa (from $191 per night) is the closest hotel to Fort Morgan.

The best thing about Fort Morgan is its beach. The beautiful stretch of soft, white sand feels endless; and it should, since it's 14 miles long. To the east, the beach starts near Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge protects 7,000 acres of sand dunes and pine-oak forests as well as migrating seabirds. The beach extends all the way to Fort Morgan to the west, a National Historic Landmark. There are numerous access points along the beach, but each section has its own rules despite all being connected. You just have to claim your spot on the sand.

Of course, you can simply soak up the sun and swim in the warm water in Fort Morgan, but there are plenty of other water-based activities. You can bring gear to go paddleboarding and snorkeling, cast a line from the newly renovated Fort Morgan Pier to try to catch redfish and speckled trout, or charter a local fishing boat to go deep-sea fishing for grouper and marlin.

Navy Cove Oysters offers tours of its oyster farm for $35 per person. After learning about its sustainable methods and environmental benefits, you get to taste the creamy bivalves straight from the ocean. For a different kind of experience, ride Mobile Bay Ferry ($6 to ride all day) to nearby Dauphin Island, where you can relax on white-sand beaches and visit Alabama Aquarium ($14 for adults, $6 for children).

Though most of your time in Fort Morgan will be spent near the water, there's one historic site that cannot be missed: the fort that stands at the end of the peninsula, giving the area its name. Fort Morgan is a brick, pentagon-shaped structure. The "Guardian of the Bay" was completed in 1834, and played an important role in the Battle of Mobile Bay during the Civil War.

You can take a self-guided tour of the fort and its artillery batteries, as well as learn about its military history in the museum. Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for children, college students, and seniors, or $20 for a family of four.

While exploring Fort Morgan, be sure to climb to the top for amazing views of the historic site, the peninsula, and the water. You'll be able to see not only Dauphin Island, but much of the Mobile Bay area. Bayou La Batre, an underrated city that's secretly the seafood capital of Alabama, is a short drive from Dauphin Island. Also, Meaher State Park, where you can enjoy fun coastal activities, sits directly across Mobile Bay from Fort Morgan. Birders, campers, and fisherman flock to its wetlands right outside of Mobile.