The Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay is Worth a Stay
When: Saturday, February 13 and Sunday, February 14, 2021
Where: Historic Blakely State Park
Cost: $30/night for full hook-ups
Bucket Lists: United States Sports Academy Statues; Driving/Walking Tour at Historic Blakely State Park
Beer: Fairhope Brewery (Fairhope, Alabama)
About midway through our 9-night stay in the Pensacola area, we looked at the forecast back home in Columbia, Missouri. The entire United States was starting to experience record cold temperatures (it would get down to -8ºF in Columbia). Because I was newly retired and Kasie could work remotely, we opted to do what many RV owners do: just keep RVing. Admittedly, given that Kasie and I are pretty much type-A personalities, this was a BIG DEAL for both of us. Neither one of us are naturally go-with-the-flow types. Thus, the idea of not really knowing when we might ultimately get home was a completely new experience for us.
But where would we stay? The year before, we spent two nights in the Fairhope, Alabama area on the way back from Florida and loved it. Thus, we decided to make our way slightly westward about an hour and head back to the area.
Staying at a Harvest Host in Fairhope, Alabama
Finding a place to stay on such short notice proved to be difficult. Our final itinerary included a one-night Harvest Host stay at Bill-E's in Fairhope (f/k/a the Old 27 Grill). This venue touts itself as one that serves the “best…house cured bacon on the Eastern Shore.” Given that I once wrote a song called “Girls Who Like Bacon” and coached a softball team by that name, this was a place we needed to visit.
Bill-E’s also scored extra runs by having a decent pimento spread and Goat Island Blood Orange Berliner Weisse on tap. We had first tried this beer at the brewery on our way to Pensacola and were delighted to find it at Bill-E’s.
Exploring the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay
The eastern shore of the Mobile Bay is dotted with cute, walkable towns having huge Mardi Gras tradition. The highlights from our 2020 and 2021 trips include:
United States Sports Academy
United States Sports Academy sculptures (Daphne, AL).
Located at a private university focused on sports, these outdoor sculptures made of various recycled metal materials are a must-see for both art lovers and sports fans. You can meet “Borzov the Sprinter,” "Arnold the Weightlifter," "Nastia the Gymnast," and "Jordan the Basketball Player." The "The Iron Bowl," commemorates the rivalry between the University of Alabama and Auburn University football teams.
Fairhope History Museum.
Where else can someone find lawnmowers on the ceiling, cool wood sculptures, a firetruck, and an old jail?
Fairhope Brewing.
This brewery is always packed with people, good beer, and the Judge Roy Bean stout is one of my favorites of all time.
Eastern Shore Trail.
This 22-mile biking/hiking trail starts at Spanish Fort and ends at Weeks Bay. There are great views of the Mobile Bay, but it is easy to get distracted by some of the bungalows interspersed among the multi-million dollar homes. And, who doesn’t want to bike to something called Mullet Point?
Warehouse Bakery and Donuts.
Last year, we got the sticky bun. This year, we got the sticky bun.
Eastern Shore Trail
Fairhope Brewing
Historic Blakely State Park
Our final camping destination was Meaher State Park on the east side of Mobile, Alabama, for four nights. After our night at Bill-E’s, we had to play reservation hopscotch and stay one night at Historic Blakely State Park.
Blakely was supposed to be just a place to lay our heads for the night. When we arrived in the afternoon, the camp hosts gave us maps of the campground, which featured various trails with intriguing names like the “Siege Line Trial” and “Skirmish Line Trail.” Because our campsite was not ready (still occupied), we loaded up the dogs in the Jeep and headed out to explore the park.
Historic Blakely State Park
The 2000+ acre park is a real history lesson. There’s a cemetery, old courthouse area, and ghost structures representing the original town. The park is home to the Battle of Fort Blakely on April 9, 1865, the last major battle of the Civil War. The land includes a series of earthen mounds known as “redoubts” that marked the confederate/union battle lines and a large battlefield area. The various historical landmarks are numbered, and we accessed the online cell app to learn more about the park and its history – spending the entire afternoon exploring it. Blakely was an unexpected treasure, and I wish that we would have booked a longer stay there.
