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22 Best Things to Do in Mobile, Alabama (A Local’s Guide) The three things to know before you go: Mardi Gras started in Mobile in 1703, fifteen years before New Orleans existed. The modern shipping container was invented here. And you can walk the entire historic downtown in an afternoon. Mobile rewards visitors who know…

Alabama’s Signature Dishes (And Where to Try Them in Mobile) Quick fact: Alabama’s food didn’t come from cookbooks. It came from the Gulf, the cotton fields, the enslaved cooks, the Native peoples, and three centuries of French, Spanish, and British rule all layering on top of each other. If you taste these dishes in the…

10 Hidden Gems in Mobile, Alabama (That Most Visitors Miss) Most visitors see the USS Alabama, walk Dauphin Street, and head home. They miss the best parts. These ten spots are the ones I point out on the tour that make people stop and say, “I had no idea.” Some are hiding in plain sight…

Downtown Mobile: A Walking Guide to 300 Years of History Mobile was founded in 1702, which makes its downtown one of the oldest in America, older than New Orleans, older than the United States itself. You can walk the heart of it in an afternoon, and almost every building you pass has a story. This…

10 Free Things to Do in Mobile, Alabama (A Local’s Guide) The short version: Some of the best things to do in Mobile cost nothing. The city is 300+ years old, walkable, and packed with historic squares, free museums, and a working riverfront, all open to anyone. Here are ten genuinely free things I’d send…

12 Haunted Places in Mobile, Alabama (From a Local Who Tells the Stories) The short version: Mobile, Alabama is one of the most haunted cities in the South, with more than 300 years of history behind it. The most haunted places downtown include Barton Academy, the Battle House Hotel, the Church Street Graveyard, the Boyington…

7 Haunted Historic Homes in Mobile, Alabama (And the Ghosts Inside Them) The short version: Mobile’s most haunted historic homes include the Carnival Museum in the old Bernstein-Bush mansion, the Oakleigh House, and the Fort Conde Inn. These grand homes, many built during Mobile’s wealthy 1800s, have been turned into museums, inns, and attractions over…

The Boyington Oak: Mobile’s Most Famous Ghost Story The short version: The Boyington Oak is a large oak tree growing near the Church Street Graveyard in downtown Mobile, tied to the city’s most famous ghost story. In 1834, a young man named Charles Boyington was hanged for the murder of his friend Nathaniel Frost, a…

The Haunted Battle House Hotel: Mobile’s Most Famous Ghost Stories The short version: The Battle House is Mobile’s grand historic hotel, recently named the best historic hotel in America, and it’s also one of its most haunted. At least three spirits are said to walk its halls: a heartbroken bride in red, a vanishing man…

🎄 10 Best Christmas Party Venues in Downtown Mobile, Alabama If you’re planning your office Christmas party or team holiday gathering in Downtown Mobile, you’re in luck — this city knows how to celebrate! From private dining rooms to full-service experiences where everything is handled for you, here are 10 of…

The Gulf Coast’s Best-Kept Secret Is Just a Train Ride Away The Amtrak Mardi Gras Express is rolling along the Gulf Coast with some of the most beautiful scenic views in the United States! If you’re looking to escape the “Big Easy” of New Orleans for the day, you’re in luck—because just a few hours…

Chris Andrews | Updated: July 3, 2025 The food scene in Mobile has continued to flourish through 2024 and into 2025, with a wave of exciting new openings redefining where (and how) we eat across the city. From buzzy spots like Paul’s Burgers and Ash & Oak Pizza to the much-anticipated return of Firehouse Wine…