Mobile's got some great street art! From murals of Johnny Cash, Prince, Michael Jackson, to the 27…read moreClub and Muhammad Ali-- the range is epic on Dauphin Street. Don't miss the "We Love Mobile" mural in the outdoor seating area of Brickyard! It's pretty cute. The new "Mobile" mural on the side of Post is creeping up there to the spot of my new favorite local art, but we'll see!

Looking for something interesting to do not too far from Pensacola, we found the Mobile Carnival…read moreMuseum located in old town Mobile, less than an hour from Pensacola. Parking is free, the site is very close to the freeway, the museum staff are very friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful, and the displays are great. We took advantage of the free museum guided tour and learned so much about the history of Mardi Gras, like the fact that the first Mardi Gras celebration held in America was in Mobile, not New Orleans. That was just for starters. The displays are excellent, too, and they change periodically. The cost is pretty reasonable and there's a great little gift shop where you'll get a free moon pie at the conclusion of your visit. I'm sure we'll be back at some point!

What a gem! It was busy because it's Carnival season, but not so packed that we couldn't enjoy the…read moremuseum. There was a guided tour when we were there. We listened for the first part in the large event space, but there was too big of a group to continue through the smaller rooms, so we dropped off and did the self-guided tour. I could not get the QR code to work so that I could follow along with the exhibits, but it was fine- I still enjoyed it. Some of these Mardi Gras Kings and Queens capes are just spectacular. There was one with such precise details and little embroidered hummingbirds. It was my fave. Just gorgeous. Then there were some really creepy older costumes on display too, which were duly fascinating to see. I love the old home where the museum is housed and would have enjoyed learning more history about the building itself.

I happened to be in Mobile playing tourist and decided to have a look around at this museum. The…read morerotating exhibit of Sunken Treasures was very interesting. Of course there are 50billion11 things on the sea floor given how many ships have sunk. The wide variety of things to explore here, I could have easily spent several hours here. There is a section on Mardi Gras, the history of the lands, the peoples who were here before the Europeans. The kids' section was super cute. The exhibit on mourning was also great. I do like knowing about the history of mourning. The timeline that included slavery was eye-opening. The area with all of the buggies was delightful, and I wish I could ride one! Take it out for a spin.

A must see when visiting Mobile is the Historic Museum that is currently hosting a display of…read moreJapanese Samurai's armor and historical artifacts. The curated exhibit is very educational and informative on the Shogun era's. Additionally the museum provides a wide range of interactive experiences on Mobile's history. From the founding of the city that predates the formation of the State to the arrival of the first African slaves to the history of Mardi Gras, it's all there.

The City of Mobile, Alabama is an amazing place filled with great culinary destinations, historical…read moreplaces, a vibrant downtown and much more. In case you are unaware, the first Mardi Gras here in the United States was not in New Orleans, Louisiana, but rather here in Mobile, Alabama. Mardi Gras is still celebrated here yearly and I personally am a huge fan. The Mardi Gras celebration is centered around Joe Cain, the man who brought Mardi Gras to the United States. The Sunday before Fat Tuesday, there is a celebration in honor of Joe Cain complete with the Joe Cain Procession (it is never called a parade). Joe Cain's "merry widows" gather at Joe Cain's grave at the Church Street Graveyard to lay a wreath at Joe Cain's grave. These "widows" are dressed in black for mourning and it is an impressive way to start Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama. The food in Mobile is amazing, as well. You can taste the cajun influence in the food. Mobile, Alabama has been called the "Paris of the South" and this vibrant, hip city does meet up to that comparison. I look forward to my visits to Mobile, Alabama. If you find yourself in this great city,I would recommend that you visit Church Street Graveyard to pay your respects to Joe Cain, enjoy a fantastic po' boy or another cajun dish, and go check out the Gulf of Mexico. I would also check out Dauphin Street, which is the hip part of downtown. I give Mobile, Alabama an overall rating of five stars and I would definitely recommend a visit to Mobile, Alabama.

Ah, yes! What can I say about the city of Mobile? I like to think of Mobile as a somewhat…read moresleepy-town, on the brink of a major awakening-- when the sleeping pill wears off. The location and real estate potential is off the charts. And while other cities (even its neighbors-- Biloxi, Orange Beach/Gulfshores) might've run wild with the possibilities in a New York second, I believe Mobile has a certain "slow and steady wins the race" trajectory. Not too much, not too fast-- not sure if that's good or bad! I am banking on the fact that in my short time here, I've seen many things being added to the city of Mobile. They've got bike rentals, a new pedal tour, a walking foodie tour, great museums, great restaurants, Mardi Gras (the first in the USA) season and parades galore on their side, many new businesses being added, Carnival Cruise Lines, a growing art walk and cultural scene, etc. Again, there's a lot to do (if you're in the know) and so much potential here to be seized and capitalized on.

One of my most memorable vacation experiences ever. It is truly awe-inspiring to climb aboard a…read morepiece of history. Do not pass up the opportunity to visit. They are open every day except Christmas Day. It's a well done military museum experience, made more impactful by the simple fact of standing in a genuine WWII battleship (USS Alabama) and submarine (USS Drum). There is a lot at the memorial: the museum building full of aircraft and artifacts, the battleship, and the submarine, plus a few more vehicles outside. You could easily spend half the day here. Plan for 3-5 hours depending on your level of interest. I am not a military history buff, but I do like history, which "comes alive" when you are standing on the spot where something happened. So if you are even a tiny bit intrigued, just go! Wear reasonable shoes and be prepared to climb up some stairs and ladders, BUT don't let that scare you off, either. Young and old, thick and thin were enjoying the experience with us. FYI, you have to climb stairs up to a grid platform to enter the submarine from the top, and our group member with a heights phobia couldn't handle it, but he did okay everywhere else. You will learn a lot, and you will be able to imagine what the war was like for the men who lived it. My visit fueled my curiosity and prompted me to find and read every page of //World War II At Sea// by Craig L. Symonds, which basically describes every naval engagement in WWII. The USS Alabama is not mentioned by name in the book, but having climbed all over the Alabama and Drum made the harrowing naval history all the more poignant. There is plenty of parking, even for buses and RVs, and parking is $5. If parking a large vehicle (RV, camper), parking is $30 BUT includes one adult ticket (normally $18), so it's not that much more. Don't expect to eat here; we availed ourselves of the vending machine for some water at the end of our visit. I was a little bummed that the gift shop closes early.

Such an awesome, family day, adventure! Especially if you have a history buff in the family…read more Online they do not inform you of paying for parking but it wasn't much and does support the unkept of the grounds and historical artifacts. There is a guided tour option and a self guided tour option. We had our kids with us, so we decided to guide ourselves and it was so fun. The kids learned some fun facts about our military history along with fun facts on how the vessels were used after being shored. Highly recommend making the drive from Pensacola, Gulf Shores, or any of the surrounding areas.