(DAUPHIN ISLAND, Ala.) - After a recent visit to Dauphin Island, I've realized something.
Being a tourist can be fun.
Being an eco-tourist, can be even MORE fun!
Take a shrimp boat, for instance.
Have you ever wondered what comes up in the net besides shrimp?
Now, there's a very good chance you won't be on a shrimp boat anytime soon, but you can get the experience of dragging a net and see what comes up.
And you can experience it with Myrinda McCloskey and Kyle Weis of Dauphin Island Eco Tours.
"I love that you never know what you're going to see," said Myrinda. "I love nature and I love the water. I love the beach. So it's the perfect place for me."
And Myrinda loves showing the island from a different point of view... from beyond the shore on a fascinating journey that often begins with a trip out to the Sand Island Lighthouse.
Myrinda explained how it all got started.
"Well, we got this new boat and we thought it would be perfect to take other people along with us and share our love for the area and what to do around the area, with visitors and other folks that live locally and never have done it."
Capt. Kyle has become good at navigating just close enough to the lighthouse to get a good look at the historic old structure.
Very often, the next destination is the island's south side.
But along the way look for dolphins!
They're something the crew can't guarantee you'll see, but they are seldom disappointed.
And something else that never disappoints.
"We have the shrimp net aboard," said Myrinda. "We can pull that behind the boat and see what happens. You never know what might come up in the end."
The usual catch? A variety of fish... a squid or two... even a sting ray!
The rules?
Observe, examine, and then throw back.
It's always fascinating, even for Kyle and Myrinda.
Dauphin Island Eco Tours can show you a place you think you know, from an entirely different point of view.
You can find out more about Dauphin Island Eco Tours by visiting its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/DauphinIslandEcoTours
