The county of Mobile is a laid-back place where nothing is really done fast. People are nice…read morehelpful and friendly down home hard-working folks. The downtown area of the city is being revitalized (aren't almost all cities being revitalized now?) and it is filled with vibrant shops, restaurants, speakeasies, and eclectic shopping boutiques. Now, it is more safe to walk anywhere downtown than it is to walk in other parts of the city. It has never been that way since the time that I grew up here.
There are tourist, attractions (botanical gardens, oldest Mardi Gras Africatown science, center, etc.), history, and a beauty about this area that just must be experienced. Temperatures are mild 50s to 70s all year except in the summertime (June, July and August), when it can be oppressively, hot (80-low 100) and humid.
Beaches (west to Biloxi, MS, south to Dauphin Island, or Gulf Shores, or east to Pensacola, Florida) are just a 50 minute drive from downtown Mobile. Beach fronts in Fairhope are just a 15 or 20 minute drive away depending upon traffic on the causeway (I-10 bridge over Mobile Bay).
Although the cost of living is relatively low, the 10% sales tax is quite annoying. As of 3/16/2024, Alabama does not have a lottery, so people drive to Florida for that (though it's illegal...I think) or they drive to Biloxi Mississippi to gamble at the casinos and take advantage of delicious, expansive buffets there.
While, Mobile is not the thriving port that it used to be in the 1800s and 1900s, it still imports and exports many goods and is a major ship building and metalworking area. After a long hiatus, Amtrak and cruise ships will again offer service to the city.
There are two area airports, one rinky-dink regional one that can only accommodate small jets and a large government airstrip that was abandoned in the early 70s. The city is finally making the airstrip a commercial airport and flights are beginning to arrive and depart from there. Don't get me started on the selfish greed and obtuse leadership in the 70s and early 80s that prevented Brookly Field from becoming the cities, Airport. Instead, palms were greased, and that absurdly small regional airport, which could only accommodate really small, jets and cropduster planes.
Now Mobile is trying to expand, catch-up and recover from small minded politicians and bad decisions that were done in the 70s and 80s which prevented the city from growing like New Orleans, Atlanta and Pensacola Florida have grown. I am excited for its positive future.