Entire home

Private Bayfront Retreat - Pet Friendly - Boat Dock - Boat Lift - Cargo Lif

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Property grounds
Exterior
4 bedrooms, desk, iron/ironing board, free WiFi
Smart TV, fireplace, DVD player, table tennis
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Reviews
10

Exceptional

Entire home

4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 192800 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • DryerDryerDryer
  • GymGymGym
  • FireplaceFireplaceFireplace
  • WasherWasherWasher
  • Air conditioningAir conditioningAir conditioning
  • Barbecue grillBarbecue grillBarbecue grill

Explore the area

Map
Fairhope, AL
  • Popular LocationWeeks Bay Reserve8 min drive
  • Popular LocationMagnolia Beach23 min drive
  • AirportNaval Outlying Field Barin (NHX)28 min drive
  • Popular LocationThe Park at OWA28 min drive

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About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Private Bayfront Retreat - Pet Friendly - Boat Dock - Boat Lift - Cargo Lif

Looking to vacation on the water and reconnect with family and friends? Southern Exposure Bay House is a secluded, pet-friendly retreat located on Week’s Bay in Fairhope Alabama. This beautiful home sits on 7 acres and offers a private boat dock, boat lift, cargo lift, kayaks, bikes, and games. In fact, the RV barn has been converted into an Entertainment Center with basketball, ping pong, corn hole and jumbo connect4 game!

You'll discover, Southern Exposure Bay House isn't your typical vacation rental. From the moment you walk in, you'll feel the relaxed "Fairhope Vibe” and enjoy amazing bay views from almost every room of the house. With 4 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, and almost 3,000 square feet of living space, the house is roomy enough for family and friends to enjoy their vacation time without tripping over one another. Each of the 4 bedrooms have large wall mounted smart TVs so everyone can escape to stream their favorite shows and movies.

The Fairhope “ART” Vibe is evident throughout the house – especially the bedrooms. Each one is themed for an animal found on the property. The master bedroom is our “Pelican” room that sleeps 4 with a king size bed, a twin daybed, and trundle. This room has an ensuite bathroom, an oversized closet with a washer and dryer, and access to the private screen porch. This bathroom has a jetted bathtub and walk-in shower. Handicap support bars are installed throughout this bathroom.

During your stay, watch for Pelicans to dive into the water to catch a fish – or even hang around and beg for scraps if you’re cleaning fish!

The bedroom with the best view is the “Dolphin” room. This room sleeps 4 with a king size bed, a twin daybed, and trundle. This room also has access to the private screen porch.

Dolphins can be seen swimming around the dock in the mornings and evenings. They typically push the water as they chase fish. You may even see them wave their tails at you as they gobble up something from the bottom of the bay.

The other two bedrooms have views of the bird and butterfly garden. This garden is wild and planted to support the many birds, butterflies and bees that call Weeks Bay (and Southern Exposure Bay House) home.

The Frog room sleeps 7 with a king bed, a full-on-full bunk bed, and twin trundle bed. You’ll find (and hear) many frogs on the property – they love hiding on the top deck. At night they like to make their voices heard very loudly!

The Turtle room sleeps 4 with two queen beds.

You never know when a turtle will turn up – either on the driveway, on the beach, or in the bay – so keep an eye out for them. You may even see one swimming along with you while you’re kayaking.

The roomy hall bathroom has a bathtub shower combination. It is conveniently located near all four bedrooms.

Vacations at Southern Exposure Bay House are about getting EVERYONE together – and the open concept kitchen and living room provides a perfect place with amazing bay views. The newly renovated kitchen has a side-by-side refrigerator with filtered water and ice dispenser in the door, electric stovetop, wall oven, microwave, and dishwasher. The kitchen is also fully stocked with all the cookware, dishes, utensils, and glassware you’ll need to prepare almost any meal – including celebrations for anniversaries and birthdays! There is also a gas grill and a charcoal grill provided for outdoor chefs that like to bar-b-que.

The living room was designed for everyone to gather to cheer for their favorite sports teams, stream a movie, or even play video games on the big 75-inch Smart TV. Our fast internet and 5G WIFI lets you connect your devices and stream movies... even if you're on the boat dock or in the game room!

While you will find amazing amities and views inside the home, you’ll want to step outside to really experience the water and wildlife.

Southern Exposure Bay House is located directly on Week’s Bay – a protected estuary. Simply step outside the kitchen or sunroom to enjoy 180 views of the bay from the top deck. This oversized deck offers patio furniture with seating for 8 to relax and watch the water and wildlife. It also offers a dining table and seating for 6 to enjoy an outdoor meal or simply sit back and watch the mullet jump and dolphins swim by.

Step off the deck and through the yard to access the best place to enjoy the bay – the HUGE boat dock. The dock is equipped with all you need to enjoy a day of fishing, crabbing, kayaking, boating, or sunbathing. Get comfortable on the outdoor couch that seats 6-8, enjoy a meal at the table that seats 4, relax in the sun on one of the 4 lounge chairs, grab one of the folding camp chairs to get comfortable while you fish, or use the 2 sinks for cleaning fish and washing up! With a large, covered living area, a front deck and side deck, you’ll have more than enough space for everyone to enjoy the Bay.

Are you bringing a boat or wave runner? No problem! The boat dock has a new boat lift for easy storage out of the water overnight. The property also has ample room to park trailers. Bring your boat, bicycles, wave runners, and other outdoor equipment because Southern Exposure Bay House has plenty of parking space!

There are two boat launches just a few miles away:
Pelican Point / Viewpoint Launch 10471 County Road 1, Fairhope AL 36532 (1.9 miles)
Weeks Bay Reserve Tonsmeire 11525 US-98, Fairhope Al 36532 (3.5 miles)

When you visit, be sure to use the cargo lift to make packing and unpacking easy – especially in the summer heat.

Southern Exposure Bay House is a pet-friendly home. However, please be aware, the home is located on a protected bay and estuary. Be conscious of wildlife like hawks, owls and even eagles and alligators. Fairhope is a pet friendly town. Many restaurants and shops will let you bring your pups along.

Find the page on our website to plan your trip and see a list of our favorite restaurants and places to go! If you plan your visit for the 1st Friday of the month, you'll want to be sure to go to Fairhope's 1st Friday. They close the streets, have a band, and stores stay open late with refreshments.

Plan to catch at least one sunset from The Bluff at Henry George Park. It sits high above the Fairhope Municipal Pier and overlooks the beautiful Mobile Bay - a perfect location to catch the sunset then dinner in town. Great place to take the pups for a walk too.
Other area attractions you may want to check out include the OWA Theme Park, Sports complex, Live Theater, Shopping District, and the Indoor Water Park. You’ll also find many miniature golf facilities, Glen Lakes Golf Course, The Gulf Bowl Bowling Alley, Tanger Outlet Mall, Gulf Shores Sports Complex, and the beach is only 22 miles away!

Enjoying your stay is very important to us. Throughout your stay you'll communicate directly with me, Lora, I'll be glad to answer any of your questions and recommend some of our favorite places. Contact me for recommendations on caterers, massage therapists, spas, local fishing charters, boat rentals, scenic tours, etc. If for some reason your expectations are not met, please let me know. Our cleaning team is fantastic and will come onsite to make it right.

ARE YOU GETTING MARRIED OR HAVE A SPECIAL EVENT? ASK ME ABOUT HOLDING YOUR WEDDING/EVENT AT SOUTHERN EXPOSURE BAY HOUSE.

Since opening Southern Exposure Bay House in 2021, we have been blessed with amazing guests – many of which have become great friends that come back each year! We hope to welcome many more families to the bay house to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, or just get away and spend time together!

TNfQu

Property manager

Loralie Davis

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach loungers
  • Beach towels

Pool/Spa

  • Massage

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Onsite parking options include a garage

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Ice maker
  • Kitchen island
  • Kitchenette
  • Lobster/crab pot
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Chef service
  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 4 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Jetted bathtub
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace
  • Living room
  • Wood stove

Entertainment

  • Books
  • DVD player
  • Games
  • Music library
  • Smart TV with cable/satellite channels
  • Stereo
  • Video library

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture

Laundry

  • Laundromat nearby
  • Washing machine

Work spaces

  • Computer monitor
  • Desk
  • Desk chair
  • Printer

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • Welcoming dogs only
  • 2 pets total

Suitability/Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Elevator
  • Wheelchair accessibility
  • Smoke-free property
  • Note from host: Must smoke outside on porches

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board
  • Meal delivery service

Location highlights

  • Near a health/beauty spa
  • Near a hospital
  • Near a zoo
  • Near an outlet shopping mall
  • Near the bay
  • Near the marina
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Arcade/game room on site
  • Bicycles on site
  • Boat on site
  • Golf on site
  • Gym on site
  • Kayak on site
  • Table tennis on site
  • Tennis
  • Water park on site
  • Water sports equipment on site
  • Basketball nearby
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Casino nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Horseback riding nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Parasailing nearby
  • Rafting nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Scuba diving nearby
  • Snorkeling nearby
  • Surfing/bodyboarding nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Theme park nearby
  • Water tubing nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • 1 unit
  • Bicycles
  • Garden
  • Unit size: 2,800 square feet

Similar properties

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs only
2 total pets
Restrictions apply; for more information contact the property at the number on the booking confirmation

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

Property is also known as

Vrbo Property
Private_vacation_home

About the area

Fairhope

Located in Fairhope, this vacation home is near theme parks and on the waterfront. Weeks Bay Reserve and Bon Secour Bay reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include The Park at OWA and Billy's Seafood. Traveling with kids? Consider The Gulf Bowl and Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. Be sure to check out the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

What's nearby

  • Weeks Bay Reserve - 8 min drive
  • Foley Sportsplex - 20 min drive
  • Magnolia Beach - 23 min drive
  • The Park at OWA - 28 min drive
  • Gulf Shores Beach - 50 min drive

Getting around

  • Mobile, AL (BFM-Downtown Airport) - 46 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Big Daddy's Grill - ‬20 min drive
  • ‪Jesses Restaurant - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Saraceno's Restaurant - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Pelican Point - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪The Blue Marlin - ‬8 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Private Bayfront Retreat - Pet Friendly - Boat Dock - Boat Lift - Cargo Lif pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total).

What time is check-in at Private Bayfront Retreat - Pet Friendly - Boat Dock - Boat Lift - Cargo Lif?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Private Bayfront Retreat - Pet Friendly - Boat Dock - Boat Lift - Cargo Lif?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Private Bayfront Retreat - Pet Friendly - Boat Dock - Boat Lift - Cargo Lif located?

This family-friendly Fairhope vacation home is located on the waterfront, 1.7 mi (2.7 km) from Bon Secour Bay, and within 6 mi (10 km) of Weeks Bay Reserve and Mobile Bay. Magnolia Beach and Punta Clara Candy Kitchen are also within 12 mi (20 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 49 out of 50 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 50 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 50 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 50 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 50 reviews" "

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Steven S., New Smyrna Beach

Liked: Cleanliness
What a gem on Weeks Bay
The place was absolutely perfect for what we needed. Extremely well appointed with regard to anything you may need during your stay. Lora communicated well, the pet friendly home was very clean, the rooms afforded privacy, and the the home had plenty of space. Our favorite place was the dock, where we spent many afternoons in the cool breeze from the bay. We sure hope to stay again next year.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Laura S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Family Fun in Fairhope
We loved our stay at The Bay House for Spring Break! It was the perfect spot for our college kids and high school son to all hang out with us for a long, lovely Spring Break/Easter weekend. The guys played golf on both Robert Trent Jones courses at the nearby Grand Hotel, and the girls enjoyed shopping at the Tanger Outlets in Foley and at the local shops in charming downtown Fairhope. We had dinners at the Tin Top in Bon Secour, Ravenite pizza in Fairhope and a special family night at the gorgeous Wash House. One day we toured the USS Alabama and had lunch at Felix’s on Mobile Bay. In between touring the local area, the Bay House was perfect. We took walks every morning, fished from the dock, enjoyed coffee while we hung out on the deck, played ping pong and grilled delicious steaks one night followed by S’Mores around the fire pit. Our dog loved swimming in Weeks Bay. The kitchen is perfect with so many handy tools and dishes. We saw dolphins and loved seeing the many different types of birds fishing in the afternoons. Lora was a kind and welcoming host. The house has so many comfy beds and the huge TV in the family room was perfect for watching basketball. I highly recommend this wonderful house and sincerely hope our family can visit again! We had a lovely, relaxing, wonderful stay!
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Janet C., Tallahassee, FL USA

Liked: Cleanliness
Callahan Family
The house was amazing and the listing does not do it justice! You must stay to get the full enjoyment and experience! Lora is amazing and available always-she was the best host and we’ve stayed at a lot of properties on VRBO and I would rate this one and our host as the BEST BY FAR!!!
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jenna

Travelled with family, Travelled with group
This was just like a visit to grandma and grandpa’s house! We felt right at home, everything you need is there and so much to do you don’t need to leave the property. Looking forward to staying again.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful Fairhope
My family and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The bayhouse was very comfortable and had everything that we needed. The pier and boathouse were wonderful. Overall we would definitely come back.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

DeeAnna C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful area
We had a great time. The sons had fun fishing off the dock. We saw wildlife in the bay. We had fun using the kayaks. Gulf shores was a 30 minute drive away. The house was stocked well. The owner was easy to communicate with. Only suggestion would be to get groceries before you drive to the house.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

David J.

Liked: Cleanliness
50th Anniversary
My three grown girls and their families joined us in celebration of our 50 years of marriage. The kitchen was fully set up for cooking for 13 people. Publix was just 10 minutes away and plenty of eating near by. Weeks bay was beautiful, very nice celebration.
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness
Bay House Family Vacation
Large house with 4 bedrooms but lots of beds. Big kitchen that's stocked with pots pans dishes etc. Very clean!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Andrea H., Sarasota

Liked: Cleanliness
Girls trip
This was an awesome find on Weeks Bay. We celebrated a birthday/ girls trip here. The house was fully equipped for cooking and enjoying the bay. The property manager was very helpful in getting suggestions for our itinerary and suggested someone to help with some food and massages that were both excellent.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tim E.

Liked: Cleanliness
Relaxing
This is a great property for anyone who wants to just get out of the house and relax over Weeks Bay. The boathouse was such a great place to hang out. We fished a lot and caught some crazy species (croakers, stingrays, trout, lots of catfish, eel, crabs, black drum, etc.). We did have a Blue Crab dinner which was really fun for someone who hasn’t caught, cleaned and cooked crabs before. The house was great too. There were only 6 of us so there was plenty of room. We used the sun porch, deck and kitchen most. Didn’t really watch a lot of TV though we did bring our Apple TV for convenience. Only real issues were that most of the bikes did’t work. I spent some time fixing what I could of the bikes but most needed new tubes so we couldn’t really go exploring which would have been nice. Additionally, there were no fishing poles so I had to go buy 4 new poles. Fisherman’s Discount was super to work with and we got to know them well. Overall, it was truly enjoyable. We checked out places we haven’t in the past like Biscuit King which just made it fun to explore areas outside of Fairhope (which we love!). Lora was fantastic. Always reaching out or trying to help where she could. We definitely recommend this as a place to stay with family or friends.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2023