Mobile, Alabama is the perfect weekend getaway with unlimited exciting fun things to do! Mobile, a city rich in history is home to the first Mardi Gras celebration in the United States. Many think that recognition goes to New Orleans but Mobile, Alabama is the original home of Mardi Gras. Mobile, the oldest city in Alabama has tons of adventures and attractions to enjoy! Read on for 16 best things to do in Mobile, Alabama!
Contents
- 1. Walk down Dauphin Street and Enjoy Bienville Square
- 2. Explore the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park
- 3. Tour Historic House Museums
- 4. Bellingrath Gardens and Home
- 5. The Mobile Carnival Museum
- 6. The History Museum of Mobile
- 7. Walk around Mardi Gras Park
- 8. Colonial Fort Conde
- 9. See the Oyster Art Trail in Mobile
- 10. Enjoy Street Art in Downtown Mobile
- 11. Stay at The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel and Spa
- 12. Have a Meal at Bob’s Downtown Diner
- 13. Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception
- 14. Cathedral Square
- 15. The Saenger Theatre
- 16. Check out the Reese’s Senior Bowl Headquarters
- Come on down to Mobile!
1. Walk down Dauphin Street and Enjoy Bienville Square
Dauphin Street
Dauphin Street has numerous eateries, and shops to enjoy! Browse art galleries, gift shops, a book store named “The Haunted Book Shop
” and of course the renowned A&M Peanut Shop!
Watch my video and reach out to my post “A&M Peanut Shop.”
Dauphin Street’s charming architecture invites the heart and look of New Orleans.
Dauphin Street is packed with great choices of eateries including Mama’s On Dauphin, Debris PoBoys, Spot Of Tea, and Dumbwaiter. Want some sweets? Try Three Georges! They’ve been making sweets since 1917! There are many more eateries on Dauphin Street!
Bienville Square
Bienville Square is a historic city park located in the center of downtown Mobile. Its entire block is surrounded by the downtown streets named Dauphin, Saint Joseph, Saint Francis, and North Conception.
Bienville Square was named after Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville who founded Mobile in 1711 and served as the governor of French Louisiana during the 1700s.
In 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt spoke in Bienville Square about the importance of the Panama Canal to the port of Mobile.
Bienville Square is a nice park with benches placed strategically throughout and a beautiful circular fountain. There were several people relaxing on the benches, taking in the park’s beauty, enjoying the view and being refreshed by an occasional wind’s breeze during a hot July midday.
The current bandstand, built in 1941, was a gift to the people of Mobile, Alabama from the Sears Roebuck and Company.
2. Explore the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park
USS Alabama Battleship
Visit America’s historic USS Alabama Battleship, a National Historic Landmark at the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park.
The “Mighty A” battleship served in World War II, first in the North Atlantic in 1943, then later the same year in the South Pacific seas.
USS Alabama now rests from its service to our country in Mobile, Alabama as a National Historic Landmark and historic memorial to visitors from all over the world.
The self-guided tour of USS Alabama makes an interesting adventure to see the various integral parts of this mighty battleship.
Submarine USS DRUM
Next to the USS Alabama is the oldest American submarine available for public viewing, the WWII submarine USS DRUM (SS-228), which had over 70 crew on board. The DRUM also has the distinction of being a National Historic Landmark.
Military Tanks, Vehicles and Aircraft
Also available for public touring on the ground next to the USS Alabama are many military tanks and vehicles along with military aircraft available for viewing in the Medal of Honor Aircraft Pavilion.
3. Tour Historic House Museums
Bragg-Mitchell Mansion
Enclosed by huge moss-covered oak trees, the Bragg-Mitchell Mansion, built in 1855 was constructed after the Greek Revival style. Built for Judge John Bragg, the 13,000 square-foot antebellum mansion was for the Bragg family to reside and host friends for the Thanksgiving holidays through the Mardi Gras social season. Its features include an elegant spiral mahogany staircase, double parlors, and large rooms loaded with stunning antique furniture and artifacts. Four large giltwood mirrors purchased by John Bragg in 1860 graces the ballroom with elegance and southern charm. Gorgeous chandeliers suspend from the mansion’s tall ceilings.
After Judge Bragg’s death in 1878, the mansion came under ownership to 4 different families over the years. The last owner was A.S. Mitchell, therefore the name Bragg-Mitchell Mansion. The mansion was ultimately donated to operate as a museum.
Historic Oakleigh House Museum
The Historic Oakleigh House Museum sits in the midst of the Oakleigh Garden Historic District, a charming historical neighborhood fashioned with aged beautiful restored homes. The historic Oakleigh House Museum is located in the heart of Mobile’s city limits. The Oakleigh House, patterned after the Greek Revival style was completed in 1837. Oakleigh which means “oak meadow” lives up to its name with an abundance of huge oak trees enhancing the grounds of the property. As you stroll down the paved walkway to the mansion’s front entrance, a quarter-turn, cantilevered staircase rises upward to the front door that welcomes guests to this special House Museum.
Condé-Charlotte House
Also known as the House of Five Flags, the Condé-Charlotte House sits at the site of Mobile’s first courthouse and jail dating back to 1822. It is one of the oldest homes in the State of Alabama. This historic house is a must-see and visitors will appreciate its historic importance to the Mobile area.
My blog post “An Awesome Day Trip: 3 of Mobile, Alabama’s Must-See Historic House Museums” covers in great detail the Bragg-Mitchell Mansion, Historic Oakleigh House Museum and Condé-Charlotte House with photos and contact information! Take a look!
4. Bellingrath Gardens and Home
Bellingrath Gardens and Home located at 12401 Bellingrath Gardens Rd., Theodore, AL about 20 miles south of Mobile, was built and finished in 1935 by a Coca-Cola bottler named Walter Bellingrath and his wife Bessie. It was designed by the renowned Mobile architect George B. Rogers. The 15-room house is a massive 10,500 square foot brick home. The house was constructed using reclaimed handmade bricks from the 1852 birthplace of Alva Smith Vanderbilt Belmont in Mobile and salvaged ironwork from the demolished Southern Hotel in Mobile. The Gardens stone paths are from the old city sidewalks of Mobile. The home is furnished with its original furniture and Bessie Bellingrath’s fine collection of porcelain, silver and crystal. Much of the appliances of the original kitchen remain.
Within the grounds across from the home is a former guest house that displays the Delchamps Gallery of Boehm Porcelain featuring many figurines of animals.
A 65-acre garden features horticultural plants and flowers of all types. Scores of guests come to Bellingrath year-round. The property features a conservatory, rose garden, camellia garden with 400 varieties, Asian-American garden, bayou boardwalk and rock garden. Mobile, Alabama is well known for azaleas and Bellingrath Gardens and Home has 250,000 beautiful azaleas of various colors.
Mr. Bellingrath purchased property on the Fowl River in 1917 to be used originally as a fishing camp. But after time passed, the Bellingraths commissioned a landscape architect and began envisioning a massive country home to be built.
Mrs. Bellingrath died in 1943 and Mr. Bellingrath passed 12 years later. At his death he willed the property to a foundation to operate it as a public memorial to honor his wife and to preserve the Bellingrath Gardens and Home.
A typical tour of the Bellingrath Gardens and Home is approximately 3 hours to view both the house and gardens. After your visit, grab something to eat at the Magnolia Café in the Visitor’s Center. Spend some time viewing the wide selection of souvenirs and gift items in the gift shop and take a restroom break. They have very nice and clean restrooms. Additional information on tours, days and hours of operation and cost is found here.
We have been there twice and enjoyed it both times! The Christmas Holiday tour “Magic Christmas in Lights” is really awesome!
Here’s another video of awesome beautiful gardens in Tallahassee, Florida that we visited! Take a peak of my video and a read of my blog!
5. The Mobile Carnival Museum
The Mardi Gras Carnival began in Mobile, Alabama in 1703 when Mobile was the capital of Louisiana. Since Mobile, Alabama was where Mardi Gras started, the tour of the awesome Mobile Carnival Museum makes Mardi Gras come alive before our eyes. See their marvelous collection of Mardi Gras costumes worn in past parades, past floats and other Mobile Mardi Gras memorabilia.
The Mobile Carnival Museum’s 14 gallery rooms, a pictorial hallway, small theater, a large area filled with floats and historical displays, and a gift shop presents an awesome in-depth tour of the history of Mardi Gras in Mobile. The Mobile Carnival Museum is registered as a historic building.
The Mobile Carnival Museum is located at 355 Government St, Mobile, AL. Reach out to them through their website for more information.
6. The History Museum of Mobile
The History Museum of Mobile, located in the former Mobile City Hall building, has incredible displays of artifacts, and exhibits that showcase the lengthy history of Mobile. With its two floors of exhibitions, the museum provides Mobile’s local history and much more.
The History Museum of Mobile is located at 111 S Royal St, Mobile, AL. Reach out to them through their website for more information.
7. Walk around Mardi Gras Park
Mardi Gras Park, located at 104-148 S Royal St on the site of the old Mobile County Courthouse and directly across from the Mobile History Museum features statues of significant interest to the Mardi Gras parades, such as jesters, musicians, kings, queens, and an Indian chief.
Here’s a great read about Joe Cain, and Chief Slacabamarinico!
8. Colonial Fort Conde
Being a coastal city, Mobile was the first point of defense. Colonial Fort Conde, was built by French explorers in 1723 to defend against invaders was demolished in the 1800s. While a replica now and not the original fort that defended the city of Mobile, it still shows visitors what it was like during that period of time.
Awesome exhibits showcase many artifacts found during that time period.
Colonial Fort Condé is located at 150 S Royal St, Mobile, AL. Of interest is that admission to Colonial Fort Condé is included in your admission price to the History Museum of Mobile.
9. See the Oyster Art Trail in Mobile
See painted oyster shell art sculptures throughout downtown Mobile. The Oyster Trail has 12 stops around the Downtown area. It’s purpose aside from its awesome artistic scenery is to create awareness of the importance of oysters in the ecosystem of the sheltered bay around Mobile.
10. Enjoy Street Art in Downtown Mobile
Downtown Mobile has an abundance of street art painted on the side of buildings and utility covers. The street art with its artistic story is amazing to just stop and wow with awe the creativeness that it brings to the world.
11. Stay at The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel and Spa
The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa is an awesome historic hotel right in the middle of downtown Mobile on N Royal Street.
The Battle House Hotel was built in 1908 on the site location of General Andrew Jackson’s headquarters during the War of 1812, replacing the first Battle House Hotel built in 1852 that was destroyed by fire in 1905.
Notable Guests at the 1st Battle House Hotel
Stephen A. Douglas was a guest of the 1st Battle House hotel the night that he lost the election for United States President to Abraham Lincoln. Other notable guests of the 1st Battle House hotel included Henry Clay, Jefferson Davis, Millard Fillmore, and others.
The 2nd Battle House Hotel
The 2nd Battle House Hotel was an important part of Mobile through World War I and II. President Woodrow Wilson was a guest at the Battle House in 1913. He made his renowned statement that “the United States will never again seek one additional foot of territory by conquest”. Read my blog on President Polk to get some background on the Monroe Doctrine for the background of the statement made by President Wilson.
The Battle House Hotel was purchased by Sheraton Hotels in 1958 and operated it for 10 years under the name Sheraton-Battle House. In 1968 they sold it to Gotham Hotels, and the hotel’s name went back to Battle House Hotel. In May 1973, a group of local citizens purchased it and renamed the hotel as the Battle House Royale. The hotel closed operations in 1974 until the next 30 years. In 1975, the vacant Battle House Royale building was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
About The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa
In 2003, Retirement Systems of Alabama (RSA) purchased and started restoration of the hotel, and the construction of the RSA Battle House Tower. The hotel reopened as The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa on May 11, 2007.
The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa was named America’s best historic hotel by the Historic Hotels of America in 2020.
The 4 Star hotel has 238 rooms, 31 suites, ball rooms, spa, an outdoor pool on the roof, hot tub, 3 restaurants (one of which, “The Trellis Room”, is the only 4-star restaurant in Mobile) and much more. The hotel is pet-friendly.
Of great significance is that the 1st Mardi Gras ball in Mobile was held at the Battle House Hotel in 1852. That continues to the present time with some of the Mardi Gras balls still held in the ball rooms at The Battle House Renaissance Hotel. In addition, the Mardi Gras parade route goes right in front of The Battle House Renaissance Hotel!
Watch my video on The Battle House Renaissance Hotel!
The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel is located at 26 North Royal Street in downtown Mobile, Alabama. Phone 251-338-2000.
We enjoyed our stay and will be going back to this awesome historic Hotel!
12. Have a Meal at Bob’s Downtown Diner
Bob’s Downtown Diner located at the corner of St. Francis St. and N. Jackson St. in downtown Mobile Alabama offers breakfast and lunch menu selections Monday through Sunday from 7am to 3pm.
We decided to visit Bob’s for breakfast. We enjoyed a short stroll from our room at the Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa on North Royal St. We found Bob’s Downtown Diner to be a laidback, comfortable, customer friendly eatery.
Bob’s Downtown Diner has indoor and outdoor seating. We chose to eat inside the red-block structure and was able to find an unoccupied spot facing the front. It was evident that the food would be great since the inside was jam-packed with customers and the outside had only a few tables available.
I glanced about and saw patrons who no doubt were regular customers of Bob’s Downtown Diner. Fire and EMS, police officers, and locals who were greeted by name by the staff of Bob’s Diner. Bob’s Downtown Diner is your hometown America eatery.
One awesome notable thing I noticed about their made from scratch daily meals include personalized menu options like Pam’s Omelet, Robb’s Cakes and Eggs, Big Al’s Breakfast, and Granddaddy Tom’s Special Sausage gravy.
I had scrambled eggs, grits, bacon and biscuit while my wife had grits, bacon and a biscuit. We ordered coffee, and I also ordered a glass of sweet tea. The meal was delicious and the customer service was filled with southern charm and hospitality.
The lunch menu includes salads, burgers, sandwiches, Po-Boys, fried Hot Dogs and seafood.
The Owner and Executive Chef, Tony Sawyer, has over 30 years of culinary experience from his hometown Saint Augustine, Florida, to the Coast of Alabama, and to downtown Mobile, Alabama. No wonder Bob’s Downtown Diner is the success that it is!
Give them a try when in the Mobile area for breakfast and lunch. You will not be disappointed!
Bob’s Downtown Diner is located at 263 St. Francis Street. Dial them up at 251-405-1497 or connect with them online.
13. Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception
The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, located at 307 Conti Street, one of the oldest Catholic places of worship along the Gulf Coast was built in 1711. The Cathedral’s tall columns at its front entrance is particularly noticeable.
14. Cathedral Square
In front of the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is the Cathedral Square. The Cathedral Square is a small park just two blocks away from Bienville Square. The park has a grass area, a gazebo, and benches to sit and relax on. Cathedral Square hosts many cultural events, including Mobile’s Artwalk.
15. The Saenger Theatre
The Saenger Theatre, built in 1927, is a historic downtown Mobile entertainment landmark. The historic Theatre with its archetectural design and almost 2,000 seat auditorium provides over 100 entertainment events per year.
Today, the theatre is a performing arts center and the official home of the Mobile Symphony Orchestra. Each year the Saenger Theatre features a Summer Movie Series and throughout the year hosts many concerts, lectures and special events.
The Saenger Theatre is located downtown at 6 S. Joachim Street. Dial them up at (251) 208-7778 or reach out to them online for more information.
16. Check out the Reese’s Senior Bowl Headquarters
For football fans this is an awesome attraction to go to in Mobile! The Senior Bowl, headquartered in Mobile, Alabama since 1951 relocated to a renovated historical building at 151 Dauphin Street in downtown Mobile in 2008.
The Senior Bowl, features an interactive museum with many photos of past football athletes who has made great contributions to college football.
The staff was very courteous and friendly and even gave us a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup!
Admission to the Interactive museum is free.
Reach out to them before going at (251) 438-2276. or the Reese’s Senior Bowl website for more information about the Senior Bowl and all the good that they do! Their office hours are: Monday – Friday from 9am – 5pm.
Come on down to Mobile!
Mobile, Alabama has many exciting and fun adventures. These are just 16 of them. Make your travel plans to come to this historic southern port city and visit the downtown area and the other attractions found in this article! Thanks for your read!
