Scenic Spots That Leave You Feeling Inspired

It’s not uncommon to go for a stroll along the Eastern Shore and spot an artist set up with an easel painting overlooking the bay, or a photographer posing a model along the flower-studded streets of Downtown Fairhope.

Artists, writers and photographers from around the country travel to the area for inspiration. But you don’t have to have artistic talent to feel energized by the beauty found on the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay.

Below are 10 spots to visit if you’d like a breath of inspiration.

Fairhope Municipal Pier

You’ll find vista views of the bay, the beach, walking trails, a rose garden, fountain and fishing pier all in one spot at the Fairhope Municipal Pier. The pier is also a favorite for locals to take in the brilliant sunsets found here.

The Mobile-Tensaw Delta

The mouth of the Blakeley, Apalachee, Tensaw, Spanish and Mobile Rivers form the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. Load a boat or paddle a kayak into North America’s Amazon where you’ll find the largest variety of plants and animals in the country.

Bayside Architecture

Drive through the beautiful, bayside streets down Scenic Highway 98, and on through Point Clear, where you will see long, live-oak and magnolia-lined driveways leading to magnificent bayside homes and southern cottages.

First Friday Art Walk

On the First Friday of each month the Eastern Shore Art Center hosts Art Walk. They reveal their latest gallery exhibits and art lovers gather to stroll the streets of Downtown Fairhope with the sound of live music in the air.

Sporting Events

From Polo at the Point, to 5K runs, and Friday night high school football games, it’s not hard to find a sporting event to get your energy pumping. The American Sport Art Museum and Archives shows this best with the largest collection of sports art in the world on display, free to the public.

Farms

Pick a County Road along the Eastern Shore and you’ll soon find rows of pecan trees or fields blanketed in cotton, framed by barns and farming equipment.

Historic Blakeley State Park

Rich cultural heritage meets natural beauty. At the Historic Blakeley State Park you can explore the Civil War Battlefield, the early Alabama town of Blakeley and Native American settlements dating back thousands of years. Also enjoy more than 16 miles of walking, biking and horseback riding trails, boat cruises and camping.

Weeks Bay Estuary Research Center

The Weeks Bay Estuary Research Center is the perfect place to spot coastal birds, animals and plants. Take an adventure through the rare Pitcher Plant Bog where carnivorous plants blossom in the early Spring followed by orchids in late Spring and Summer and butterfly attracting wildflowers in the Fall.

Village Point Park Preserve

Village Point Park Preserve is an estuary for wildlife. The park offers nature trails, the massive Jackson’s Oak, a colonial cemetery, beach and pier.

Antique Galleries

Throughout the Eastern Shore, you’ll find a number of antique galleries filled with rich history and treasured finds. String these stores together for a quaint shopping stroll.