Fort Gaines & Crabbing

Fort Gaines, Dauphin Island

Fort Gaines is pretty interesting and definitely worth checking out. It is a self guided tour and the cost is $8 for adults and $4 for children.  You will get a brochure that lists everything you can see by number.  The number correlates with the item once outside.  We did our own thing and just started walking and checking stuff out.  The kids enjoyed all of the secret passageways and the stairs.  This Fort is where the famous saying "Damn the torpedoes.  Full speed ahead" comes from.  This would be a great excursion for the history buffs because it does have some historical items on display inside the Fort museum.   

Fort Gaines from "The Duke"

The entrance

One of the many passageways

Braden and Sophia

 The cannon on top of the Fort

Help!  We are trapped!

Hull from a boat found after a hurricane washed it on shore.  Supposedly it's from a ship wreck that was dated to the 17-1800's

Crabbing

Every single time we have a vacation near an ocean, we HAVE to take the kids crabbing.  Last year, Sophia wouldn't even hold the bucket of crabs she was so terrified of them, but this year she was catching them just like the boys were! The crabs we are after generally make their appearance at night, but can also be seen during the day as well.  The crabs are white sand crabs and they are everywhere!  We each take a flashlight and go searching.  I usually hold the bucket and take pictures.  The kids have a blast doing it and I highly recommend it for anyone!  You can't beat the price==FREE!!    All you hear on the beach is kids giggling and squealing and you see dozens of flashlights.  If you get near the ocean, you can find the big blue crabs that you can eat, but good luck catching those bad boys!  Brad caught one by accident while fishing, and he only got it because it was trying to steal his bait and got its claw wrapped up in the line. 

 

All three kiddos on the boardwalk for some crabbing fun

Crab bucket

They found one!

Their bucket got pretty full after this and the crabs started to try and climb out

We released them into Sophia's sandcastle

Next time you go on a vacation on the Gulf, go crabbing!  It's a load of fun for ALL!

XOXO...Becky