In Alabama, Mobile is a city with a population of about half a million people. The port of Mobile is located on the inlet of the Mobile River, where it flows into Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. It is the only deep-water port in Alabama. This prospering port city is full of history, traditions, charm, solid southern culture, and heritage with character to explore. It is also known as the birthplace of Mardi Gras. Moreover, the city has a variety of nicknames, including "The Port City," "The City of Six Flags," and "Azalea City."
This city has it all, from rich history, vibrant culture to heritage, and fantastic nightlife, making this place more exciting and an ideal port of call. There are several other activities that you can do while you're in Mobile, such as shopping, sightseeing, drinking, and more. So here are the top five things to do in Mobile when your cruise docks at this Alabama port.
This spectacular architecture is often mistaken for a ship, as it is housed in a metal-glass building on the water's edge. Inside the building, visitors will find almost 100 displays, simulators, galleries, exhibits, and theater rooms dedicated to maritime heritage and culture. You can explore the multiple decks of attractions, including informative films, treks on container ships with replica engines, an on-site restaurant, a gift shop, and more. This is the only place devoted exclusively to the Gulf of Mexico and its unique maritime history.
One of the top-visited tourist places in Mobile is USS Alabama Battleship, Memorial Park. This city offers many military- and history-related tourist attractions, including a WWII-era submarine. It's named after its signature battleship, but it also has a lot to offer outside of that. Other interests include military memorabilia such as the 1950s "skysweeper" guns, tanks, fighter planes, missiles, and bombers. Some of the war machines tell exciting stories behind them, including the aircraft flown by the Tuskegee Airmen. Visit the museum's grounds or explore its interactive exhibits to gain the most from your visit.
If you're wondering what to do in Mobile late evening or night, head towards Dauphin Street. Dauphin Street gives you vibes of traveling to the heart of New Orleans rather than Mobile. Colorful houses line the sidewalks, top-notch restaurants, shopping areas, live music, bars and cafes, and much more to embrace the Mardi Gras spirit. There are also many nightclubs, bars, pubs, and a dance hall with sparkling lights. The street's cigar bar features a drag show with live blues music almost every night.
The Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception was built in the early 1800s. It is one of the oldest houses of worship for Catholics on the gulf coast. There are dozens of stained glass windows lining the walls. In this series, they show Mary at various points in her life, including "Nativity of Jesus" and "Coronation of Mary, Queen of Heaven." This is a popular venue for weddings and there’s a good chance there will be one during your visit. Even if you're not religious, you will still appreciate the glory and majesty of this church.
Mobile Carnival Museum is a good alternative if you don't have time to make it to Mobile during Mardi Gras. You can enjoy all of the splashy wonders of the world's most famous festivals at the museum without ever leaving Alabama. It's dedicated to Carnival Mardi Gras, and it's the only of its kind in the world. Here tourists can find exhibits covering everything from vintage flapper fashion to the gowns and crowns of past pageant queens. In addition, to float construction, there's an informative display about costume design and the costumes on display, including dresses, suits, wands, and jester outfits.
The best months with good weather conditions are February through June and September to December. While January is the coldest month of the year. If you want to go swimming and hang out on the beaches from July through September is the ideal time.
