It’s that time of year again…summer is approaching, and families everywhere are planning family vacations. And as a sports writer, I am always interested in photographing great athletes. And among the best of athletes may be the dolphin!
Gulf Shores, Alabama is a short 11 hour drive from Paris, Arkansas. Of the many things to do and experience in the Gulf Shores / Orange Beach area, the dolphin cruises are a “must see” in this writer’s opinion. There are several operators and different fee schedules that you can research on the internet. You purchase tickets online, and the operators are very cordial and accommodating.
Recently, my family and I took one of the cruises that departed at 5 p.m. and returned at 7 p.m. The “sunset cruise” took us out about 30 minutes from the shore on Perdido Bay at Orange Beach. Our boat, along with another boat from the same company, worked in concert with each other to spot the dolphins. Once a pod was spotted, the two boats would run parallel to each other at increased speeds, and the dolphins would swim and jump between the boats, riding the wake of the two vessels.
For dolphin lovers, or anyone wanting to see the dolphins up close while they do what they love to do, it is the trip for you! It is also a great photo opportunity for anyone wanting up close, action shots of the dolphins.
The cruise line that we used was “Surf’s Up Dolphin Cruises” located on Orange Beach. There are other operators that also have excursions as well, and I recommend that you research all of theml. Price vary; our excursion was $18 per person. A good value for the experience, and for two hours of fun on the bay!
The dolphin cruises are just one of many attractions on the Gulf Coast, and we hope you have as much fun on your trip as we did on ours!
