Weeks Bay Nature Reserve in Fairhope, Alabama

Things to Do in Fairhope, Alabama

Fairhope, Alabama, is a small, sleepy town in the midst of scenic natural beauty. While some may say that this isolated, rural location means that there is nothing to do in Fairhope, the residents of the town will strongly disagree. To those who live in Fairhope, the rural location itself is the best thing to do, and in keeping with that spirit they established the Weeks Bay Nature Reserve as a natural wonderland.

Managed and cared for by the Weeks Bay Reserve Foundation, the Weeks Bay Nature Reserve enjoys a beautiful location along the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay. Considered by many to be the jewel of Baldwin County, the Weeks Bay Nature Reserve is located just 40 miles Southeast of Mobile, Alabama, and just 50 miles from Pensacola, Florida. This naturally scenic location is easily accessible for anyone visiting the Gulf Shores area.

The Weeks Bay Nature Reserve is not limited to Alabama's coastal area. Weeks Bay actually encompasses more than 6,000 acres of land, which spans a diverse ecosystem that is home to a large variety of native wildlife. In addition to the coastal waters of Weeks Bay, the nature reserve also reaches out to the Fish River and the Magnolia River. The Weeks Bay Nature Reserve also includes more than 1,600 acres of natural swamp, which is home to some of the most amazing creatures to be found in the Southeastern United States.

The main portions of Weeks Bay is actually a small estuary. This estuary is an area of approximately 3 square miles that, even though it is technically in the Gulf of Mexico, is actually a freshwater environment due to the waters fed into the estuary by the Fish and Magnolia Rivers. The unique location of Weeks Bay creates a unique environment where both freshwater and saltwater aquatic life can be observed from a single location.