{"id":53546,"date":"2022-08-20T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-08-20T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.travellens.co\/best-things-to-do-in-grand-bay-al\/"},"modified":"2024-03-30T19:11:30","modified_gmt":"2024-03-30T19:11:30","slug":"best-things-to-do-in-grand-bay-al","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.travellens.co\/best-things-to-do-in-grand-bay-al\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Best Things to Do in Grand Bay, AL"},"content":{"rendered":"
Grand Bay is a quiet, laid-back rural community located southwest of Mobile County in Alabama.<\/p>\n
This census-designated place is also part of the Mobile metropolitan area.<\/p>\n
Based on local history, George Cassibry first arrived and settled in Grand Bay in 1853.<\/p>\n
By the mid\u201319th century, there was a growing number of settlers in the area.<\/p>\n
Rural Grand Bay became known for its pecan orchards and satsumas before most of them were converted to residential sites.<\/p>\n
But the community’s watermelon produce remains its trademark, which is well-celebrated during the annual Watermelon festival.<\/p>\n
It may seem like there’s not much to see in this humbling community, but it does offer some scenic sites and unique businesses that showcase its exceptional features.<\/p>\n
Experience the best things to do in Grand Bay, Alabama:<\/p>\n
Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge<\/a> is an unspoiled pine savanna habitat located in Mobile County, Alabama, and Jackson County, Mississippi.<\/p>\n The refuge was established in 1992 and spans over 32,000 acres of marshes, streams, and swamplands that run from the Escatawpa River.<\/p>\n Its vast area serves as a habitat for many wildlife, fish, fowl, and plant species.<\/p>\n Part of the Refuge Complex includes the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge and the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, which you can access by boat.<\/p>\n Delve into the natural sights and get to see some rare orchids in the Mississippi Sandhill Crane area.<\/p>\n Named from the French term “Bon Secour,” which means “safe harbor,” this wildlife refuge area includes some of the state’s remaining intact coastal habitats, which you’ll see have become a sanctuary for different native species of flora and fauna.<\/p>\n At Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge, some species you’ll encounter include American alligators, ospreys, the Eastern Black Rail, Gopher Tortoise, the Western Cottonmouth, and the Eastern Glass Lizard.<\/p>\n The annual Grand Bay Watermelon Festival<\/a> is a different kind of 4th of July celebration you’ll enjoy at Grand Bay.<\/p>\n The tradition has a long history that started around the early 20th century and was later revived in 1973 after a gap during World War II.<\/p>\n The celebrations are held from July 3 to 4 at the Odd Fellows Festival Park and a baseball field on Grand Bay’s west side.<\/p>\n Enjoy and have fun with local music entertainment, rides, and contests.<\/p>\n You’ll catch a car show event, arts and crafts corners, lines of vendors, and informative displays from different suppliers.<\/p>\n Of course, the highlight of the Grand Bay Watermelon Festival is everyone gets to enjoy the free Grand Bay sweet variety on the second day.<\/p>\n A local third-generation farm on Grand Bay Wilmer Road, Sessions Farm Market<\/a> offers fresh crops all year.<\/p>\n They started with corn, soybeans, and watermelons, and the farm has grown to offer seasonal produce to its patrons.<\/p>\n Visit their property and find your pick of plump peaches, juicy cantaloupes, and sweet satsumas.<\/p>\n Are you looking for fresh tomatoes, leafy greens, and Grand Bay’s famous pecans?<\/p>\n You can buy them fresh at Sessions Farm Market, along with other products like cotton, meat, and retail items.<\/p>\n Located on Grand Bay Wilmer Road, Sam’s Super Burger<\/a> is a local burger joint that offers classic all-American favorites.<\/p>\n This establishment has been around for years and is a favorite stop for visitors.<\/p>\n The excellent food and friendly service always give this restaurant a thumbs up from customers.<\/p>\n Try their serving of big burgers, chili cheese dog, and their bestseller, Gulf Shrimp Po’Boy.<\/p>\n Satisfy your appetite with a C.O.B sandwich with homemade jalape\u00f1o sauce or Fish Sandwich and Fish Po’Boy.<\/p>\n Sam’s Super Burger also has a variety of shakes and ice cream flavors on the menu for little ones to enjoy.<\/p>\n For some fun golf games, you can head to CJ’s Par 3 Golf Course<\/a> on Henderson Camp Road.<\/p>\n This nine-hole Par 3 golf course regularly hosts the local playoffs and special events.<\/p>\n You can play all day with your family and friends or choose to ride the 27 holes with a cart rental included.<\/p>\n If you or your kids are still learning the sport, it’s a great place to practice your swings.<\/p>\n For an affordable and well-maintained course, CJ’s Par 3 Golf Course is a great place to spend your day enjoying a few rounds of golf.<\/p>\n The Grand Bay Savanna<\/a> is a scenic spot for a day of nature tripping.<\/p>\n This complex spans over 5,000 acres and hosts a stretch of coastal marshes, forest areas, and woodlands.<\/p>\n The State Lands Division manages the nature preserve, which serves as a habitat for various plants and animals unique to the area.<\/p>\n The tract is also open for public hunting for those with a valid hunting license and a WMA license.<\/p>\n Have your binoculars and observe an array of wildlife and birds on the wooden deck.<\/p>\n You’ll spot the yellow rail, an elusive marsh bird in the Grand Bay Savanna.<\/p>\n Can’t get enough of seafood?<\/p>\n Kitchen of the Sea<\/a> is an excellent place to get plates of these delicious meals.<\/p>\n The restaurant offers seafood dinners, gumbo, and choices of sandwiches and burgers on the menu.<\/p>\n Get a taste of southern homemade specialties to enjoy at reasonable prices.<\/p>\n Have a bite of their Grilled Chicken and Conecuh Po’boy with peppers, onions, and cheese and served with chips.<\/p>\n They also have daily specials like Spaghetti with Meat Sauce with Salad and Garlic Toast.<\/p>\n You can also try the Shrimp and Grits with garlic toast or have some tasty Crab Claws with two side dishes or their Country Fried Steak with Cream Gravy.<\/p>\n You’ll surely have your fill at Kitchen of the Sea, situated along US-90.<\/p>\n If you’re looking for fresh pecans, Harper Orchards<\/a> offers you just that.<\/p>\n This family-owned business sells locally grown pecans that come straight from the orchard.<\/p>\n You can buy your pecans in shells or have them cracked and cleaned.<\/p>\n You can choose from different pecan varieties available in the season, like Jenkin, Davis, and Stuart varieties.<\/p>\n If you’re stopping by Grand Bay before the holidays, you can visit Harper Orchards on Potter Tract Road for some pecans to add to your recipes.<\/p>\n Located on Grand Bay Wilmer Road, Creekside RV Park<\/a> is a convenient location for RV camping with your family.<\/p>\n Whether you’re going on a road trip or stopping by Grand Bay, this RV park offers great amenities and a spacious area.<\/p>\n You can use their pool and avail of the WiFi service and laundry room.<\/p>\n They also offer long-term rentals.<\/p>\n The site is a few minutes from attractions near Grand Bay like Bellingrath Gardens, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, and Snapper Fishing.<\/p>\n Creekside RV Park is also well-maintained and has excellently clean facilities.<\/p>\n Southern Shells<\/a> offers hearty seafood combinations you won’t be able to resist.<\/p>\n This local restaurant serves fresh crabs, crab claws, and shrimp from the kitchen to the table daily.<\/p>\n Dine with your family to enjoy mouth-watering combo platters like the number two combo, which includes one pound of gulf shrimp with corn, potatoes, butter, and Conecuh sausages.<\/p>\n Try their tasty gumbo or have something different like a Shrimp Salad Croissant.<\/p>\n A meal at Southern Shells is a real treat, especially if you’re a seafood lover.<\/p>\n The Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve<\/a> offers you many natural sights and unique flora and fauna to explore.<\/p>\n Trek the trail loop starting at the Savanna Trail Boardwalk entrance and discover a variety of plants and animals along the wet savanna trail like longleaf pin trees, wildflowers, frogs, and toads.<\/p>\n Walk along the Savanna Trail Boardwalk that leads to the freshwater marshes where skinks, lizards, and colorful dragonflies roam around their habitats.<\/p>\n Get ready to spot osprey nests and bald eagles present during the winter months.<\/p>\n You’ll see other migratory birds like Scarlet Tanagers, Yellow Warblers, and Redstarts at the half-mile Oak Grove Birding Trail, most commonly seen during spring and fall.<\/p>\n Paddle your canoes and kayaks on the calm waters of the reserve’s bayous and creeks.<\/p>\n You can enjoy fishing and crabbing in the shallow waters with the free boat launch provided by the reserve.<\/p>\n Experience a great nature trip at the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Moss Point, just 10 minutes from Grand Bay.<\/p>\n Twenty minutes from Grand Bay, the Bellingrath Gardens and Home<\/a> is a lovely garden attraction.<\/p>\n The 65\u2013acre property was opened to the public in 1932, with tours available all year round.<\/p>\n Tour the 10,500-square-foot Bellingrath Home, considered the most modern of its kind during the 1930s.<\/p>\n Get inside the Delchamps Gallery of Boehm Porcelain, where you’ll see a collection of fine American porcelain pieces.<\/p>\n Visit the Bellingrath Rose Garden, Conservatory, Great Lawn, Live Oak Plaza, and Bellingrath Home Terraces, all beautifully landscaped with colorful blooms and lush greeneries.<\/p>\n Drop by the chapel and relax at the riverfront pavilion and Dwight Harrigan\/ExxonMobil Bayou Boardwalk; stroll along the Mirror Lake, Rockery, and pass by the Asian-American Garden.<\/p>\n You can end your visit at Bellingrath Gardens and Home with a lunch meal at The Magnolia Caf\u00e9 and purchase gifts and souvenirs at the Bellingrath Gift Shop.<\/p>\n For a unique, fun experience, bring your family to Gulf Coast Gator Ranch<\/a> in Moss Point, Missouri.<\/p>\n You’ll enjoy a tour of Moss Point’s 105\u2013acre swamp area and catch the sight of alligators, birds, and plenty of marine life in their natural habitat.<\/p>\n You can also explore the ranch on the beautiful walkways and feed the alligators up close.<\/p>\n The tour guides will make sure you’ll have an unforgettable experience here.<\/p>\n Have thrilling fun with your family at Gulf Coast Gator Ranch.<\/p>\n Family-owned and operated Blue Moon Farm<\/a> offers the freshest fruits, vegetables, and nuts grown organically and pesticide-free.<\/p>\n Fifteen minutes away from Grand Bay, this country farm opened in 2005 and has been offering great family trips for flower and blueberry picking.<\/p>\n Even little ones will enjoy seeing birds on the feeders and animals like farm cows and horses.<\/p>\n Enjoy picking different flowers and having them arranged for a personal bouquet.<\/p>\n Blueberry picking, which opens around May, is the main attraction at the farm, with over two acres of organically grown blueberries at their orchard.<\/p>\n You can spend a valuable time with the family at Blue Moon Farm.<\/p>\n Located in West Mobile, the Mobile Museum of Art<\/a> features an extensive collection of art pieces from South America, Europe, Africa, and Asian regions.<\/p>\n More than the featured art displays, the building itself is a fantastic work of art that has well become an attraction in the area.<\/p>\n The institution was founded in 1963, then known as the Mobile Art Gallery.<\/p>\n View over 6,400 interesting artworks with various themes of paintings, sculptures, art decors, crafts, and works on paper.<\/p>\n Drop by the Mobile Museum of Art and see fantastic works by regional artists and exhibitions by recognized artists.<\/p>\n Grand Bay is a rural area surrounded by idyllic reserves offering great outdoor activities.<\/p>\n It’s also famous for local celebrations like the Watermelon Festival, representing its local produce and tight-knit community.<\/p>\n Local businesses also make this small area a nice place to drop by.<\/p>\n There are also plenty of attractions you can visit nearby<\/p>\n For an enjoyable family-friendly trip, head off to this destination and enjoy this list of the best things to do in Grand Bay, Alabama.<\/p>\nEnjoy Fun Attractions at the Grand Bay Watermelon Festival<\/h2>\n
Buy Fresh Crops at Sessions Farm Market<\/h2>\n
Grab Juicy Burgers at Sam’s Super Burger<\/h2>\n
Have a Fun Golf Game at CJ’s Par 3 Golf Course<\/h2>\n
Go Sightseeing and Birdwatching at the Grand Bay Savanna<\/h2>\n
Enjoy Seafood Servings at Kitchen of the Sea<\/h2>\n
Get Fresh Pecans at Harper Orchards<\/h2>\n
Go Camping at Creekside RV Park<\/h2>\n
Feast on Seafood Platters at Southern Shells<\/h2>\n
Other Things to Do Nearby<\/h2>\n
Discover Diverse Habitats at the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve<\/h2>\n
Visit the Stunning Bellingrath Gardens and Home<\/h2>\n
Feed the Gators at Gulf Coast Gator Ranch<\/h2>\n
Enjoy Picking Blueberries at Blue Moon Farm<\/h2>\n
See Interesting Artworks at the Mobile Museum of Art<\/h2>\n
Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n
Discover More of Mobile County, AL<\/h3>\n