RV Lifestyle Story and photos by Rex Vogel The day-use area features a picnic area and comfort station for visitors. Big rig-friendly Meaher State Park offers 56 modern campsites with 50/30/20-amp electric service, water and sewer connections. Semicircular pull-through sites exceed 30 metres in length. Most back-in sites are in the 18- to 30-metre range. The campground also features a bathhouse with laundry facilities and Wi-Fi. There are also 10 improved tent sites with water and 20-amp electric service. Current RV camping rate is $35/night; tent sites are $22/ night. Weekly rates for RV sites are $182. Monthly rates for RV sites from November through March only are $623. Reservations are available by contacting the state park. For more outdoor adventures, the nearby Mobile-Tensaw, W.L. Holland, and Upper DeltaWildlifeManagement Areas offer hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities. Also located near Meaher State Park, just north of Interstate 10, is the Five Rivers- Alabama’s Delta Resource Center which features an exhibit hall, theatre, gift shop and canoe rentals. The 32-hectare nature complex is the gateway to the Delta, a 101,200-hectare wetland playground designated as a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service. Besides the more than 300 bird species, 126 fish species and 500 plant species found there, the delta is the exclusive home of Alabama’s state reptile, the endangered Alabama red-bellied turtle. Begin at the Shellbank Visitors Center, where movies preview this free facility’s recreational opportunities. A stroll across an observation deck brings you to a museum filled with artifacts and displays depicting the delta’s rich cultural, historical and ecological heritage. Picnic facilities, nature trails and a gift shop occupy the site too. For up-close explorations, you can rent a canoe or kayak or launch your own. Canoe, kayak and pontoon boat tours are offered. While camping at Meaher State Park, take advantage of the abundant shopping and dining options in the Mobile metro area. The white sands of Alabama’s Gulf Coast are only an hour away. USS Alabama BattleshipMemorial Park and GulfQuest National Maritime Museum are also located nearby. Whether you plan to stay for a week or a month, the area’s welcoming hospitality, sun-drenched climate, sparkling waterways and wide range of activities will have you describing Mobile Bay as “the place where fun floats.” Near the mouth of Mobile Bay, Dauphin Island provides an atmosphere with attractions aimed at the family. Graced with all of the necessities, Dauphin Island allows you to get away from the hustle and bustle of more developed areas. CSANews | WINTER 2017 | 29
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