Dauphin Island is a relaxing, care-free beach destination for those looking to have a nice vacation away from the stresses of the world. Dauphin Island is only 14 miles long and 1 ¾ miles wide at the widest point. A small community of about 1,300 permanent residents live here with a school, several restaurants, shops, and the Sea Lab making up a majority of the businesses.
Because the entire island has been designated as a bird sanctuary and thousands of visitors come to experience the annual migrations. Wildlife conservation is extremely important, as is the caretaking of historic areas such as Fort Gaines. Overall, it is a safe area with plenty of natural beauty where kids are free to bike to and from the beach and it is easy to find friendly neighbors willing to give fishing tips.