How can you see them? ·You can bring a blanket and picnic basket and view them from Bat Observation Center at one corner of bridge. They offer educational kiosks, and BCI “interpreters” on summer weekends, Thursday through Sunday, June through August. ·From a cruise on Capital Cruise Boats ( http://www.capitalcruises.com/html/bat.htm ) or Lone Star River Boats. ·From outdoor bat-observation decks of Radisson Hotel on Town Lake, TGI Fridays, and Hotel on Town Lake, and Shoreline Bar & Grill restaurant in Hyatt-Regency Austin hotel.

There is ample free parking around, and it has element of an “old timey’ adventure. This is not Disney World; non-commercial, loosely structured, and basically free. I’ve taken people of all ages to see this, and even those hard-to-impress teens were spellbound.

Call Bat Hot Line - 512-416-5700 (Category 3636) for information.

The Eckert James River Bat Cave Preserve

A combined effort of Texas Nature Conservancy and BCI, this cave is one of largest bat nurseries in US.

Located southwest of town of Mason, TX near State Highway 290. 8 acres, open mid-May to early October for interpretive tours, Thursday – Sunday, 6-9 p.m. Some sunrise tours are available, where you can see bats coming back. A donation of $5 is suggested. http://nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states exas/preserves/art6022.html .

Go here to see a photo of bats emerging at sunset: http://nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states exas/images/o_bat_emergence1.jpg . The bats fly out in a funnel formation that’s fascinating to watch. And if you're an early-bird, they sometimes offer sunRISE watchings. For information, call (325) 347-5970.

The Frio Bat Cave

About an hour and a half northwest of San Antonio, TX you’ll find Frio Bat Cave. It’s near Lost Maples State Natural Area and Hill Country Adventures offers birding and wildlife tours, river tours by kayak (4 and 8-hour versions), SAG support for road cyclists, and our goal here, Sunset Bat Flight Tour.

To “reserve your date with Nature,” they say, call 830-966-2320, and visit them on web here: http://www.hillcountryadventures.com .

This 2000 foot cave houses around 10 million Mexican free-tailed bats. Wear traction shoes, as there’s bat guano on floor of cave.

The history of this cave is fascinating, including fact it figured in a very unusual project involving bats at beginning of World War II. Bats were going to be fitted with “incendiary devices” and dropped like little fire bombs on Japan. I am not making this up. You can read about it in “Bat Bomb: World War II’s other Secret Weapons,” ( http:/ inyurl.com/26d2h ) by Jack Couffer, or on this website: http://www.chiropteraphilia.com/cavehistory.html .

You may wish to take home a jar of Guano-Gro, or a bat house, available here: http://www.hillcountryadventures.com/hca_store.htm .

Bat-watching can add an element of ecology and learning to your vacation trip. Combine it with a spring trip when wildflowers are in bloom! If, when you get back home, you want to build your own bat house for many endangered species of bats, there are instructions here: http://www.nps.gov/wica/bats.htm .

FISHING is a must, and so plentiful, Island hosts 10 annual fishing rodeos. There are charter boats (http://gulfinfo.com/fishing.htm ), and a 850 ft. fishing pier where you can rent fishing rods.

BELLINGRATH GARDENS On your way down from Mobile, you’ll want to stop by Bellingrath Gardens, a 65-acre floral paradise. Keeping a full calendar, here are some of things you can expect:

·February: 50,000 bulbs are planted and you’ll see tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, pansies and more. ·March: The azaleas are in bloom. Here are photos of Spring Garden: http://www.bellingrath.org/bloom/spring.asp . ·May: Over 130 varieties of roses to delight eye, plus marigolds, tropical flowers and foliage, hydrangeas, Allamandas, and more. ·November 9 is Chrysanthemum Extravaganza ·November 15 is Mum Festival ·November 28-December 31 (closed Christmas Day) is Magic Christmas in Lights, with myriads of twinkling lights, music, food, poinsettia displays and more.

You can take a River sightseeing cruise or dinner cruise from gardens on Southern Belle. For admission, schedule, and map, go here: http://www.bellingrath.org/rates.asp .

ACCOMMODATIONS You can rent a private beach house here: http://www.beachhouserentalondi.com/ and this site will show you many options, services and links: http://gulfinfo.com . There is also a Campground ( http://dauphinisland.org/camp.htm ) with 150 sites, pavilion with grills, free boat launches, walking trails into Bird Sanctuary, bicycle rental, playground, and boardwalk to a beach on Gulf.

Porch on rented home: me on porch

And don’t miss some of great food in area. I especially enjoyed Catalina Restaurant, on your way back up to IH-10, it’s on Highway 188 up toward Bayou La Batre It’s on Highway 188 up toward Bayou La Batre (pronounced Bat-Tree). Call 334.824.2104.

Also recommended, if you want to swing east and enjoy a drive in beautiful countryside over toward Pensacola, try Catfish barn on Highway 98. You won’t believe food and you won’t believe prices. Take a look: http://www.webstrategies.cc/P1010607.JPG . Best catfish I ever had and I'm from Texas for heaven's sake!

For a peaceful, idyllic beach vacation, try Dauphin Island. As one person said who goes there often, welcome sign ought to say “Welcome to Paradise.”