Go Behind The Masks Of Mardi Gras
Not able to make it into Mobile for the Mardi Gras season? You can still experience the history and highlights of the birthplace of Mardi Gras at the Mobile Carnival Museum. Here you can go behind the masks to discover the art of float and costume design, play dress up with the kids, and even climb aboard a rocking float.
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The Hank Aaron Childhood Home And Museum
Built in 1942 by Hankâs father Herbert Aaron, this home started with just three rooms before being expanded in 1962 and 1972. Hankâs mother Estella lived in the home until 2007, and in 2008, it was moved to its current location at Hank Aaron Stadium, former home of the Mobile Bay Bears.
The home was restored, and in 2010 opened as a museum dedicated to the life and career of baseball legendâHammerinâ Hank.â The museum includes exhibits on his family and childhood, as well as memorabilia, including his 1957 Golden Glove award.
Hank Aaron has the distinguished honor of being one of only two Baseball Hall of Fame inductees to have an entire exhibit dedicated to him, the other being Babe Ruth. Visitors should be aware that the museum is closed on weekends unless there is a special event scheduled.
Address: Hank Aaron Stadium, 755 Bolling Brothers Blvd. Mobile, Alabama
Official site:
Spend A Day On Mobile Bay
Mobile Bay, on the Gulf of Mexico, has a number of lovely beaches, small towns, and historic sites to explore. At the southwest entrance to Mobile Bay lies the Dauphin Island bird sanctuary, with Fort Gaines, which played a part in the Civil War. From here, visitors can take a ferry to the western point of Pleasure Island, home to Fort Morgan. In the southeastern corner of the bay are the fine bathing beaches of the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.
Dauphin Island is home to an Audubon bird sanctuary, an important site for bird migration. On the island is a freshwater lake with opportunities for swimming, fishing, and relaxing on the beaches. Also located on Dauphin Island is Fort Gaines, a location that changed control from France to Great Britain and then to Spain, eventually stopping with the United States seizing control in 1813. Fort Gaines was completed in 1861 and played a major role in the Battle of Mobile Bay. The fort was used in WWI as an artillery garrison and in WWII as a US Coast Guard station.
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The Beaches Of Gulf Shores/orange Beach
Two of the most popular beaches in Alabama are right up against the Gulf of Mexico. Gulf Shores and Orange Beach on the Gulf Coast are two prime places to get some sun and swim.
At Gulf State Park, you can even hang out at Lake Shelby if you want to get some kayaking time in. Do be mindful that alligators populate the park, so just keep an eye out.
In addition to the white sandy beaches, make sure to make time to check out the amazing restaurants that can be found here!
See The Natural Beauty Military History And Working Waters Of Mobile Bay
Straddling the line of fishing rivers to the north and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, Mobile Bay offers great sites and spots for strollers, sitters, historians, and fishers alike. Anchor down on a park bench and watch pelicans and large freighters float past, or grab a line or cast a net and hope for a catch. You can also take a step back in time at the bay’s Memorial Park by visiting the Battleship USS ALABAMA, Submarine USS DRUM, and more than 25 aircrafts full of military pride and history.
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The Oyster Trail In Mobile Alabama
Along Dauphin Street you might spot some of the colourful oyster shell sculptures that make a trail through the city. The Oyster Trail was created in 2013, with 12 stops around the Downtown area and more around Mobile Bay. Its all to raise awareness of the importance of oysters in the ecology of the sheltered bay around the city. The Oyster gardening programme involves volunteers who farm oysters from piers at their waterfront properties, which are then planted on restoration reefs around Mobile Bay and Dauphin Island.
If you download a map of the painted Oyster sculptures around the Downtown area, you can also learn some fun facts from the information on each of the sculptures.
Fun Oyster facts: Do you know how many gallons of water an oyster can filter per hour or how long it takes for an oyster to grow to its full size of 3 inches ? You can find these answers and more as you stop at each of the oyster sculptures.
Read more about the US Civil Right Trail and the Civil Rights locations that I visited on this Alabama Road Trip:
Read More From This Trip
Hotels in Mobile Alabama: Check out the Hampton Inn and Suites where we stayed and other hotels in Mobile
Getting to Mobile Alabama: Its easy to fly to Pensacola Airport with flights from a number of US destinations. If coming from the UK you can connect via other US airport hubs as I did or drive from a larger airport with direct UK flights such as New Orleans. If visiting Alabama as part of a road trip as I did, it is convenient to start in Gulf Shore in the south.
Driving time from Mobile to Montgomery 170 miles / 2 hrs 30 mins
Driving time from Mobile to Gulf Shores 50 miles / 1 hr
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Tour Bellingrath Gardens And Home
The Bellingrath estate occupies 16 acres just outside Mobile and is famous for its fine gardens and historic mansion. In January and February, visitors can enjoy over 400 varieties of camellia, the state flower, and March is a particularly popular time when the garden’s 250,000 azaleas bloom. Another special sight are the Cascading Chrysanthemums, in bloom in November.
The 15-room museum home was built in 1935, designed by local architect George B. Rogers. The home’s historical significance is in its repurposed elements, many building materials salvaged from other important structures. Features include a brick façade made from the birthplace of Alva Smith Vanderbilt Belmont and iron work from the Southern Hotel before its demolition.
The garage beneath the mansion was converted into the Delchamps Gallery of Boehm Porcelain. Collections feature the work of Edward Marshall Boehm, including many rare and early pieces. The estate also hosts several special events throughout the year, including an Easter egg hunt each spring.
Address: 12401 Bellingrath Gardens Road, Theodore, Alabama
Watch A Game At Hank Aaron Stadium
Care to watch a game? Hank Aaron Stadium is an awesome venue for that! This baseball park hosted the Mobile Bay Bears, which is the citys pride and professional team. Right now, you can witness exciting games and events at this grand stadium. Grab your tickets and get seated on the comfortable bleachers. Cheer for your team and befriend fellow baseball lovers. You will be impressed to see amazing local players during the game!
Hank Aaron Stadium
Address: 755 Bolling Brothers Blvd, Mobile, AL 36606, United States
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Enjoy Educational Fun At The Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center
The aim of this museum is to educate visitors about various fields of science through displays and interactive exhibits. There is something for people of all ages at this museum. Some of the topics covered include biology, health, the Gulf of Mexico, human interaction, boating, fishing, and ocean life. There is an interactive science lab where children can conduct experiments, and one of the highlights of a visit is the IMAX theater, which shows films about science throughout the day.
When Is The Best Time Of Year To Visit Mobile
Mobile is a city that you can visit any time of the year and have a great time. For the absolute best time of the year to visit Mobile, I would recommend the spring and fall months.
After that, the winter is pretty nice with mild temperatures for winter and dreamy beaches not too far away.
The summers will be hot, humid, and see the most rain. That said I visited in June and had some rain but it came and went usually before I noticed.
I was very surprised to learn that Mobile is the rainiest city in the United States! I had always assumed it would be Seattle and Portland but no
Unlike the Northwest, the rain doesnt tend to linger which is awesome as you can go about your day without it affecting you too much. But carry an umbrella or a rain jacket just in case.
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Why You Should Go
When searching for the best attractions in Mobile to tour with your friends, partner, or family, consider the beautiful Mobile Botanical Gardens. It encompasses roughly 100 acres and is home to a wide array of unique plants and aromatic flowers.
It also sponsors fun events throughout the year and has facilities like designated picnic areas, a shop, venues for rent, and many more.
Things To Do In Mobile Il
The port city is full of informational museums, historic mansions, white sand beaches, spectacular sites, and stunning gardensnot to mention some really good Southern food joints. This area makes the perfect family-friendly vacation spot or a great day trip destination. Without further ado, lets get to our list!
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Fort Of Colonial Mobile
Located a few blocks from downtown and across from Mardi Gras Park is Fort of Colonial Mobile also referred to as Fort Condé.
You dont always see a historic fort with high-rise buildings of a city as the backdrop!
Colonial Fort Condé was built in 1723 by French settlers and protected the people of Mobile for 100 years against the British and Spanish.
Mobile was an important port city so protecting it was vital. Inside the fort, you can view several exhibits, artifacts, and info on the early settlers of Mobile.
If you love history, particularly that of the military then you will quite enjoy exploring Fort Condé!
Hours: Open Monday Saturday from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm and Sunday from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm.
Dolphin And Whale Watching Cruise
If looking for unique tourist attractions in Mobile, Alabama why not take a Dolphin and Whale Watching cruise. The Gulf of Mexico offers views of the Alabama coastline from a different vantage point. There are also sunset cruise options for those wanting a more romantic outing.
On the cruise you will get a chance to watch dolphins swim next to the boat while in their natural habitat, and day cruises you can often spot other aquatic wildlife and birds. There are several departures daily and this is a family friendly activity as well. During daytime cruises, crew pulls up crab traps to show the children the daily catch! All the cruises leave from nearby Orange beach. There are a variety of boat and cruise options that best suit what you are looking for.
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See The Art At The Mobile Museum Of Art
The best attraction in Mobile for art enthusiasts is the Mobile Museum of Art. The museum was founded in 1964, and it is the only accredited art museum in Southern Alabama. There are approximately 10 thousand pieces of art in the museumâs vast and diverse collection. These include pieces from America, Asia, and Europe. Visitors can learn about art form the classical period right through to the current day.
Learn About The Delta
We did this at the 5 Rivers Delta Center. This $10 million facility is filled with interactive exhibits, live animals and enthusiastic staff and docents. And its free!
A visit to the center is well worth the 10-minute drive from the historic downtown. It celebrates the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta, the second largest river delta system in the US, behind the Mississippi River delta. The Mobile Tensaw River Delta is where the Mobile, Spanish, Tensaw, Appalachee and Blakely rivers flow into Mobile Bay.
I got a chance to lure an owl to land on my padded glove. There are swamp snakes , a real live osprey nest and plenty of educational displays.
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Things To Do In Mobile Alabama
In the heady years leading up to the Civil War, this port city was known as the Paris of the South. That was in the 1800s, when Mobile was the 10th wealthiest city in the United States, thanks to the port and the cotton trade. Today, it is a city coming back from much less heady times. The downtown area is reviving, the foodie scene is bursting with flavor and there are lots of ways to enjoy the water, from Duck boat rides to kayaks. This is a town that still feels Southernfrom the famous Southern hospitality to the racial divide. Even the Mobile Mardi Gras celebrations honor two sets of kings and queensone black, the other white. Visiting an all-black jazz club in a mixed-race group of one black and three white women drew us some curious looks, but nothing more.
Here are the 11 best things to do in Mobile, Alabama, and three great places to eat.
Crescent Theater Mobile Alabama
Located on Dauphin Street in historic downtown Mobile, Crescent Theater presents independent films, live performances, and locally-produced films. The theater originally opened in 1885 as a vaudeville theater and switched to a movie theater in 1912.
Rebuilt in 2008, the theater plays an important role in the Entertainment District and the LoDa Arts. With a seating capacity of 90 people, the theater screens art-house films that are not shown at other standard movie theaters in the Mobile area.
The live performances include improvisation comedy troupes, live music concerts, radio plays, and more. The theater also hosts the SoAL Film Festival and the Mobile Bay Film Scramble.
208 Dauphin St, Mobile, Alabama 36602, Phone: 251-438-2005
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Saturdays At The Coop
The concert series at Cooper Riverside Park is BACK! The City of Mobile Parks and Recreation Department, in partnership with Visit Mobile, invites you to a series of FUN and FREE Events. One Saturday each month. Relax and enjoy evenings under the stars with: live music, food trucks, local vendors, and more! Live music will
Things To Do With Kids In Mobile Al
- TripBuzz found 59 things to do with kids in or near Mobile, Alabama, including 37 fun activities for kids in nearby cities within 25 miles like Fairhope, Spanish Fort, Daphne and Point Clear.
- From Battleship USS ALABAMA to USS Alabama Battleship, the Mobile area offers 58 different types of family activities, including: History Museums, Historic Homes, Parks and Historic Ships.
- The third most populated city in the state of Alabama, the city of Mobile is the only city located on a salt water port. As one of the Gulf of Mexico’s most popular cultural points of interest, tourists can choose from an array of recreational activities to enjoy. Aside from the many shopping and dining options, the cities art scene includes an orchestra, ballet, museums and theatres.
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Start Your Day At Spot Of Tea
You might have already noticed Spot of Tea while on a stroll down Dauphin Street in downtown.
Spot of Tea is the classic place for breakfast or brunch when in Mobile with its circa 1836 building serving up traditional American options to British High Tea!
Since 1994 when they opened their doors, Spot of Tea has welcomed locals and visitors to Mobiles Flagship restaurant.
Their friendly motto is everyone needs a Spot of Tea in their life and how true that is!
I had the right start to my day with getting a hearty and filling breakfast of a waffle, scrambled eggs, and black coffee.
Another great dish is the Eggs Cathedral which has eggs, crab, and a creamy sauce over an English Muffin. Or if you crave something a little sweeter try the Bananas Foster French Toast!
From omelets, pancakes, and sandwiches you are bound to find something delicious to enjoy. Oh, and dont forget to grab yourself a cuppa before you leave!
If the weather is nice, opt to sit outside on the sidewalk for the perfect spot to people watch and view Cathedral Square across the way.
Hours: Open Monday Friday from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm and Saturday & Sunday from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Old Church Street Graveyard
Im not sure what it is, but I love visiting old cemeteries wherever I go. Maybe it is the spooky vibes they have and in an odd way their beauty.
In 1820, the city of Mobile created the Church Street Graveyard to replace the original one located by the Cathedral.
The front gate with wrought iron adds to the historic feel and adds an elegant touch to the entrance.
Covering four acres, the cemetery has residents going back as far as 1819 with many losing their lives to Yellow Fever at the time.
Several people buried at Church Street Graveyard include the founders of Mobile. The most famous person buried here is Joe Cain.
Joe Cain is known as a founder and father of Mardi Gras in the United States. It was his organization and planning that led to how Mardi Gras is celebrated in modern-day involving balls, parades, and elaborate costumes.
Two other notable people buried here are Eugen Walter and Julian Lee Rayford both of whom were authors.
It is said that Church Street Cemetery is the most haunted cemetery in Alabama. I visited during the day so I didnt experience anything unusual but Im sure if I had gone at night my experience might have been different
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