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.

An amazing day at the Battleship Memorial Park. First time here and we had an incredible time self…read moretouring the ship and watching the history of the USS Alabama in the theater onboard. Parking was only $5. Admission was $15 for veterans and seniors, $18 for adults, $6 for children 6-11 and children up to 5 are free, as are active duty soldiers and dependents. Pictures are taken after you pay for admissions and there are quite a few military backgrounds you can choose from. If you choose to purchase the pictures, they're priced at $33 each or 3 for $66 with a magnetic stand frame for each 6x9 inch picture. There are picture packages of various sizes for purchase. There is a gift shop and the prices were relatively reasonable with an abundance of items to choose from. Adjacent to the gift shop is a restaurant in case you'd like to dine after making a day of the trip. We didn't visit the Drum aka the submarine because I don't like tight spaces lol but the history of the battleship was fascinating and viewing all of the decommissioned vessels/aircrafts really made me even more appreciative of the service of our military personnel. This is a place to you must visit. It's very informative, clean and well operated and I would recommend it to anyone.

There are 8 Battleship museums in the US, and this one has been on my bucket list since the 70s-…read moreand I finally made it here! This visit marks my 6th battleship, only 2 to go! What a great time I had! As my Uber approached her, her size almost indescribable, her silhouette unmistakable in the distance. She loomed larger and larger, we stopped and even though it was pouring rain, I stood there and beheld the incredible machine in front of me. Again, as with other ships, I walked the decks in awe and amazement of what happened on the ship over 80 years ago, the men that walked these decks, lived, fought, and died in service to our great country. Their sacrifices not forgotten, but thankfully live on through these museum ships dotted around the USA. Silent sentinels to those who sacrificed so much. They really did a great job with this museum, and they definitely take care of the ship. I wish I and more time, as there are so many other things to visit here- aircraft, a sub, you could easily spend 2 days here! 2 more ships and I will have visited all of them... But I will definitely come back here again!