1. Mobile Was Separated At Birth From The Big Easy
Mobile is like a Mini Me version of nearby New Orleans. Both cities have a similar heritage and feel, except that one is obviously a lot larger than the other thanks to the Mississippi River.
2. But It Celebrated Mardi Gras First
Mardi Gras was first celebrated in the New World in Mobile. And locals still take all the fun very seriously. Carnival season lasts a long time here, starting in November, and stays very active with parties and balls and parades put on by the various mystic societies in town. The last few days of the season are a holiday for local school kids.
3. If You Enjoy Being On The Water, You’re In Luck
Mobile Bay is humungous because it's fed by so many rivers. The Mobile-Tensaw River Delta is one of the largest estuary systems in the U.S. and a great place for eco-exploring by power boat, kayak or stand up paddle board. The best place to begin exploring the waterways is at 5 Rivers—Alabama’s Delta Resource Center.
4. The Bay Is Home To One of The Craziest Phenomena Of Marine Life On Earth
Source: Youtube user gunnerclm1
It's called a jubilee. It occurs when weather and tidal conditions are just so—all the fish and bottom dwelling sea life in the bay beach themselves on the eastern shore of the bay. Locals ring bells, yell "Jubilee!" and head to the water to scoop up the bounty for a seafood feast.
5. And Bayfest Is An Outdoor Music Festival Done Right
Multiple stages far enough away for no sound bleed, but close enough for easy downtown walking, and a lineup of acts that reflects the diversity of the city. That's Bayfest each October.
6. Wintzell's Oysters Are Always Delicious, Whether They’re "Fried, Stewed Or Nude"
And they chargrill 'em too. Wintzell's Oyster House is a landmark restaurant in the city on Dauphin Street. In business since 1938, it's the quintessential seafood dive, most famous for their oysters and walls plastered with cheesy bumper sticker witticisms.
7. The Best Burger In All The Land Is At Callaghan's
Callaghan's Irish Social Club in the shady Oakleigh Garden District is home to the "L.A. Burger." That's Lower Alabama to you. It has spicy Conecuh sausage ground into the beef. And it's awesome. Callaghan's is also one of the best places to catch live music in the town, a small, historic venue with an authentic vibe.
8. The Battle House Isn't Named After The Battle Of Mobile Bay
This classic and historic downtown hotel with its soaring, grand lobby isn't named after the famous Civil War battle of "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" fame. The family that founded the hotel was named Battle, that's all.
9. But Every School Kid In Alabama Visits The Battleship
The U.S.S. Alabama is permanently docked on the bay at Battleship Memorial Park on the Causeway. Every kid in the state takes a field trip or two here growing up, not only to explore the battleship but also to tour the inside of a World War II-era submarine on site, the U.S.S. Drum.
10. The Most Important College Football All-Star Game In All The Land Happens Here Each January
NFL scouts and hardcore football fans descend on Mobile each January to watch the best college players put on a show before draft time during the Senior Bowl. If you want to see the future stars of the NFL before they become household names, Ladd-Peebles Stadium is the place to do it.
11. Mobile Is Hammerin' Hank's Hometown
Hank Aaron, who was the first to break Babe Ruth's home run record, hails from Mobile. As a result, the city is home to Hank Aaron Stadium and the Hank Aaron Museum.
12. And It's A Port Town Without Cruise Ships
Mobile is a major shipping port, one of the largest in the U.S. in fact, so they built a large cruise ship terminal thinking the pleasure liners would follow, but it didn't pan out that way. The Alabama Cruise Terminal now sits empty, but it’s available to rent out for large parties and events.
13. In Hip-Hop Lingo They Call This City Mob Town
Short for Mobile. Get it?
14. But "The Azalea City" Is A More Prominent Nickname
More people call Mobile the Azalea City than they do Mob Town or even the Port City. Because azaleas are everywhere.
Speaking of which, the Azalea Trail Maids are point of pride for Mobile's many traditionalists. They’re a group of young women sporting colorful antebellum-era garb—including hoops skirts—who serve as parasol-holding ambassadors for the city.
15. Take The Causeway For Fun, The Bayway For Speed
Both Interstate 10 and Battleship Parkway cross Mobile Bay, connecting the city to the Eastern Shore. Battleship Parkway is called the Causeway. It's a wide land bridge where Battleship Memorial Park and some longstanding seafood restaurants are located such as the Original Oyster House. The I-10 bridge is called the Bayway.
16. It's A Wonderland Of Historic Architectural Styles
Given the city's long history, it's a given that Mobile contains a buttload of architectural styles spanning the centuries, from the colonial, antebellum and Victorian eras and beyond. Some historic neighborhoods to check out are Oakleigh Garden, Ashland Place and Spring Hill, all of which have picture-postcard-worthy houses and buildings.
A downtown stroll will reveal a plethora of different styles, especially around Bienville Square, the public park that’s the beating heart of downtown.
17. Mobilians Often Have To Breathe Water
Because it rains so much, but no one really complains about it or cares that much. It's a coastal town in the humid Deep South, after all. People are used to getting wet here. Quick rain showers come and go without warning, and sometimes they stick around a while.
18. And It Has A History With Hurricanes
Even if Mobile doesn't receive a direct hit during hurricane season, its position at the head of a major bay brings huge swells and storm surges into the Port City, and high winds, too.
In 1969 category five Camille made landfall in Mississippi but greatly affected Mobile, as have many other hurricanes since, including Katrina. Surge flooding is always an issue when a hurricane strikes the Gulf Coast anywhere near Mobile.
19. You Haven't Been To Mobile Until You've Visited Bellingrath Gardens
Along with the battleship, Bellingrath Gardens is one of Mobile's centerpiece attractions—and another one of those field trip stops for all school kids in the region—with its historic mansion surrounded by 65 acres of lush gardens and landscape architecture next to one of those many rivers that flow into the bay.
20. Mobile Is Now A Prime Spot To Hit The Links
Alabama is home to the acclaimed Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, which contains the best public golf courses in America, so says the New York Times among many other publications. Two of the courses on the trail are in the Mobile area: Magnolia Grove, just northwest of town, and Lakewood Golf Club on the Eastern Shore.
21. There’s Lots Of Heavy Industry Going On, And It's Very Visible
Driving into town you'll see lots of cranes, giant warehouse buildings without windows and other industrial looking stuff. Most of it is related to the shipping, shipbuilding and aerospace industries. This may not be the most scenic part of the landscape, but it’s part of Mobile’s proud heritage.
22. Downtown Has Risen From The Dead
The revitalization of downtown is ongoing... and remarkable. In the not too distant past, a walk through the heart of downtown wasn’t recommended. It was mostly a ghost town with boarded up houses and buildings. Now, there are more places to shop, eat, see and hang out than you can shake a stick at, thanks to the likes of the Mobile Downtown Alliance.
