Everything Mobile...

[Mybearsbaby]

Hey everyone...Thought this would be a good info thread to start...

 

If you have cruised from Mobile, AL and have any tips, suggestions FYI, etc... about the ships, parking, hotels, things to do/see or general news/experiences...please post :)

 

 

Also, is the Elation the only cruise ship that leaves from Mobile??

[LindaKE]

Yes, Elation is our only ship. We're hoping to get another, but haven't so far.

 

The great seafood restaurants are on the Causeway (through the tunnel from the port). We like Original Oyster House, but others like Felix's, Ed's, or the Blue Gill.

[Mybearsbaby]

The USS Alabama is a great sight-seeing thing to do while in Mobile...doesn't take too long and is very neat!

[luvmysox1]

we'll be here for 2 days before the cruise. any suggestions on things close to Hampton downtown that we can walk to?

[Mybearsbaby]

luvmysox: Not sure about within walking distance...I'll let u know if I hear of anything good.

 

There is a CVS close by to the port if you are like me and forget a hairbrush and bobby pins, lol!!! DH forgot his electric razor, too. :eek:

 

Also a fancy McDonalds :D

[LindaKE]

we'll be here for 2 days before the cruise. any suggestions on things close to Hampton downtown that we can walk to?

 

Fort Conde is about the only attraction that is walkable from downtown. Here's a list of attractions, but most require a car. http://www.mobile.org/vis_attractions.php The battleship is close, but you have to go through the tunnel to get to it. It's on the Causeway where you'll find the best seafood restaurants.

[Mysticks1]

we'll be here for 2 days before the cruise. any suggestions on things close to Hampton downtown that we can walk to?

 

This is a link to the downtown Mobile website - lots of information here. http://downtownmobile.org/ The events section will show you any special events in the downtown area.

 

The Exploreum and Imax Theatre http://www.exploreum.com is across the street diagonally from the Hampton at the intersection of Royal and Government. You can see it from the front of the hotel.

 

There is a small movie theatre on Dauphin St. - Just one movie at a time though. It is just a few blocks walk from the Hampton.

 

Riverside Park is next to the Convention Center on the river at the intersection of Government and Water St. If the weather is nice it is a nice place for a picnic and a good spot to view the ship before boarding. Quite a few benches there.

 

There are several bar and grill type places to eat along Dauphin St that are within walking distance. Spot of Tea is good for breakfast and lunch, not sure of their nightime hours. At night there are lots of bars open along there as well.

 

There are some beautiful old homes along Government St if you have a vehicle to take a drive. Old oak trees overhang the street all along it.

 

Here are some links for some of the local attractions.

 

http://www.braggmitchellmansion.com/

 

http://www.bellingrath.org/ They have beautiful Christmas Light displays if you are here around the holidays.

 

http://www.ussalabama.com/

[Mysticks1]

The attached PDF will show you where a few things are in relation to the cruise terminal.

Mobile Map.pdf

[pinklucky61]

i live pensacola, but work out of mobile. the schedule says ship arrives 8 a.m., but ship usually sailing inland to turn around for docking around 6 a.m. i love seeing it all lit up in the dark.

[luvmysox1]

This is a link to the downtown Mobile website - lots of information here. http://downtownmobile.org/ The events section will show you any special events in the downtown area.

 

The Exploreum and Imax Theatre http://www.exploreum.com is across the street diagonally from the Hampton at the intersection of Royal and Government. You can see it from the front of the hotel.

 

There is a small movie theatre on Dauphin St. - Just one movie at a time though. It is just a few blocks walk from the Hampton.

 

Riverside Park is next to the Convention Center on the river at the intersection of Government and Water St. If the weather is nice it is a nice place for a picnic and a good spot to view the ship before boarding. Quite a few benches there.

 

There are several bar and grill type places to eat along Dauphin St that are within walking distance. Spot of Tea is good for breakfast and lunch, not sure of their nightime hours. At night there are lots of bars open along there as well.

 

There are some beautiful old homes along Government St if you have a vehicle to take a drive. Old oak trees overhang the street all along it.

 

Here are some links for some of the local attractions.

 

http://www.braggmitchellmansion.com/

 

http://www.bellingrath.org/ They have beautiful Christmas Light displays if you are here around the holidays.

 

http://www.ussalabama.com/

 

What is the best place for Nightlife around the Hampton?

[futaba951]

What is the best place for Nightlife around the Hampton?

 

Haven't been here myself, but, I hear a lot of people that liked Veets.

 

http://www.veetsbarandgrill.com/about.asp

[JustJamieH]

What is the best place for Nightlife around the Hampton?

 

Grand Central, Boo Radley's and Soul Kitch on Dauphin Street if you're there Thursday, Friday or Saturday nights.

[2112]

I'm planning on making a day trip from Biloxi to Mobile in late February a couple days before my cruise out of New Orleans. It will be my wife, my 4.5 year old son and myself. I'm thinking the following:

 

9:00 - Leave Biloxi

10:00 - Arrive in Mobile and visit the USS Alabama

12:00 - Lunch at seafood restaurant near USS Alabama

1:30 - Visit Fort Conde

2:30 - Take a downtown historic area walk (could use advise on route and timing)

4:00 - If time, visit a historic home or at least do a drive by - Would you recommend Oakleigh, Bragg-Mitchell Mansion, something else, or neither?

6:00 - Dinner downtown

7:00 - Order of the Inca Mardi Gras parade (can anyone tell me where this was filmed as it doesn't look to crowded -

)

8:00 - Head back to Biloxi)

 

Does this seem reasonable? Any insight would be appreciated.

[futaba951]

I'm planning on making a day trip from Biloxi to Mobile in late February a couple days before my cruise out of New Orleans. It will be my wife, my 4.5 year old son and myself. I'm thinking the following:

 

9:00 - Leave Biloxi

10:00 - Arrive in Mobile and visit the USS Alabama

12:00 - Lunch at seafood restaurant near USS Alabama

1:30 - Visit Fort Conde

2:30 - Take a downtown historic area walk (could use advise on route and timing)

4:00 - If time, visit a historic home or at least do a drive by - Would you recommend Oakleigh, Bragg-Mitchell Mansion, something else, or neither?

6:00 - Dinner downtown

7:00 - Order of the Inca Mardi Gras parade (can anyone tell me where this was filmed as it doesn't look to crowded -

)

8:00 - Head back to Biloxi)

 

Does this seem reasonable? Any insight would be appreciated.

 

I think the video was from near Bienville Square. As to your itinerary, I think you might be rushing it just a bit. You could easily spend half a day at the Battleship alone as there is the Battleship, the submarine USS Drum and a large aircraft pavillion with a lot of historic and special AF planes. There is also a Mardi Gras museum downtown near the IMAX theater as well as the City Museum that has a life size replica of the Confederate submarine Hunley which was built in Mobile. (At least they used to before they moved to the new location) You will enjoy the Incas. They are usually rocking downtown. Just keep a good hold on your small child. People seem to lose their minds over senseless, useless trinkets that end up in the garbage the next day. We don't want the little one getting hurt down there. Personally, for me, the coolest sights during Mardi Gras is watching the city crews clean up after the parades. The amount of trash in the streets is mind boggling, and the next morning, you'd never know anything had happened the night before. Hope you enjoy Mobile!

[dixieagle]

For anyone coming to Mobile, the Carnival Museum on Government Street is great. Mobile is the "mother of Mardi Gras" and the Museum is well done.

 

The Museum of the City of Mobile, just across from Fort Conde is fun, and within walking distance of the Hampton Inn (nice hotel, btw - we stayed there for its opening and loved it.)

 

You must visit the Battle House hotel; it has been re-opened a few years now, and is gorgeous. Go take a look at the Crystal Ballroom. Their restaurants are good (if expensive.) I like the Tavern for casual fun.

 

There is a good Thai restaurant on Dauphin Street (Busaba), Wintzell's Oyster House, and plenty of Dauphin Street Clubs. The Crescent Theatre on Dauphin is a delightful, small theatre showing mainly indy movies.

 

There may be something going on in the Saenger Theatre downtown, as well, or at the Mobile Civic Center or Civic Center Theatre.

 

Have a great visit and cruise.

[cookingchick]

I'm planning on making a day trip from Biloxi to Mobile in late February a couple days before my cruise out of New Orleans. It will be my wife, my 4.5 year old son and myself. I'm thinking the following:

 

9:00 - Leave Biloxi

10:00 - Arrive in Mobile and visit the USS Alabama

12:00 - Lunch at seafood restaurant near USS Alabama

1:30 - Visit Fort Conde

2:30 - Take a downtown historic area walk (could use advise on route and timing)

4:00 - If time, visit a historic home or at least do a drive by - Would you recommend Oakleigh, Bragg-Mitchell Mansion, something else, or neither?

6:00 - Dinner downtown

7:00 - Order of the Inca Mardi Gras parade (can anyone tell me where this was filmed as it doesn't look to crowded -

)

8:00 - Head back to Biloxi)

 

Does this seem reasonable? Any insight would be appreciated.

 

I would rearrange the schedule a little bit as follows:

 

10:00 - Arrive in Mobile and visit Fort Conde and Mardi Gras Museum (they're within walking distance of each other)

12:30ish - Lunch near USS Alabama (I recommend Felix's which is closest or you can go a little further East to Original Oyster House or Ed's Seafood)

1:30 - USS Alabama

4:00 - Drive back into Mobile - cruise down Government Street to see some historic homes, go to Oakleigh if time permits

5:00 - skip dinner downtown - the traffic will be ugly by then...people trying to get out of town before they close down the streets for the parade. Grab some chicken on a stick or funnel cakes or whatever from the street vendors (I'm partial to foot long corndogs!). Park your car at the Civic Center, and find a place to stand for the parade. We usually stick around the corner of Church and Claiborne because the floats pass by there twice...they start and finish at the Civic Center. Plus it's an easy walk back to your car if you park there. Here's a map of the parade route:

 

http://www.mobile.org/vis_mardigras_route_a.html

 

I don't have kids so I don't know the stamina of a 4.5 year old but if you have a stroller or something like that I would suggest you use it...that is a very full day for this 53 year old...can't imagine doing it on 4.5 year old legs...LOL.

 

Having said all of that, it sounds like an incredibly fun day and if you have to cut anything out, I'd say skip Fort Conde and Oakleigh and just make it a battleship/Mardi Gras trip. You'll take back plenty of memories no matter what! :)

 

Bon Voyage and Laisse le Bon Temp Rouler!

 

Edited to add: Be sure to wear layers...I have been to parades in February that were downright balmy and some where I froze my tookus off.