Explore Alabama || Mobile

I’m divided on this one. I’m not sure if this is because I had grown to love the city of Baltimore so much during the time I lived there, because Downtown Pensacola (40 minutes in the OTHER direction) reminds me so much of Baltimore that I can’t help but love it too, or if Mobile really just isn’t that great. I’ll be honest with you though, I wasn’t very impressed.

So, Mobile is about 40 minutes from where I live in Fairhope. It’s a very small city, and the only street I found worthwhile was Dauphin St. This is one of the main strips in Downtown, Mobile. Here you’ll find small boutiques, a music venue, multiple bars, and several restaurants. In the immediate surrounding areas, are several parks, a brewery, and a Mardi Gras museum.

Pro: Parking is not/has not been terrible any of the times I have visited. My favorite lot is near Joaquin and Dauphin, you can pay from your phone, and is usually no more than $5 for 3 hours. There’s plenty of side street parking as well, which I believe is free, but I’m impatient and the lot was wide open.

So I won’t tell you quite how my day exploring here was spent, because there are things I wish I’d cut out, and things I wish I’d done sooner. I’ll give my opinion on how a day SHOULD be spent here.

Pro: Downtown Mobile has flexible open container laws. Therefore, everytime I visit, I now start by stopping at a corner slurpee bar called Wet Willie’s (a chain I did not know existed until I made my way south), and grabbing a slurpee to go. Regardless, it’s the perfect place to start a warm, sunny day in Mobile.

Grab a spiked slurpee and head out for a walk around many of the city’s squares. (I think my favorite was Bienville, but Cathedral was pretty too).

If you’re looking to score some unique and trendy threads, pop into Urban Emporium, a quaint boutique right on Dauphin street. When I was there, there was a sale rack loaded with glorious finds for only $20 a piece. The place has unique souvenirs, stickers, and other fun random objects for sale as well, and the people who work here were so lovely.

Just across the street from here is Cathedral, so if you haven’t had a chance to finish that slurpee, walk over, and have a seat to people watch, or walk within and around the structures set up in this park.

I’m going to give you a choice now, okay? If you’re hungry, and have worked up an appetite, you’re going to walk back towards the main strip, and grab a burger at Loda Bier Garten. Ever had a donut burger? What about a waffle burger? Want one? Go get it. I came back a week later with a friend, and we stopped here for food. Kind of busy, so if you’re pressed for time, go before or after lunch time. Regardless, well worth the wait.

If you weren’t hungry, here’s your second option. Contrary to popular uneducated belief, Mardis Gras did not originate in Louisiana, but where? You guessed it; Mobile. As a result, this is a pretty big deal in March around here. If you’re interested in learning some of the history, seeing some pretty tacky costumes, or gawking at mesmerizingly beautiful gowns and trails, head over to the museum. (If you can get away with it, tell them you’re a student, it’s only $5).

Okay, now go get that burger. You earned it.

Beer snobs? Say no more. I’ve gone to two breweries in Mobile (Iron Hand, and Serda). My favorite was Serda. Let me tell you why. Iron Hand is a bit off the strip, kind of in a secluded area in the middle of nowhere, Downtown Mobile. Walking into the brewery, the set up reminds me of some sort of church dining hall (you know, the ones in the basement with that vinyl wood panel siding? and the card tables with fold out chairs? yeah, that one). My biggest peeve however? They only had TWO of their own beers on draft. No outdoor seating, and no view of the actual brewery itself.

Serda on the other hand, has plenty of outdoor seating (which means, DOGS), the brewery is surrounded by a huge wrap around bar, also outdoors, and loaded with board games, cornhole, and other fun things to do with a group of friends. They had tons of beer on draft, my favorite at the time being their Stout Blend. The atmosphere felt so much more like the breweries I’ve always loved.

In Iron Hand’s defense, after speaking with some of the locals. It’s a very new establishment, and they’re working on it. I also can’t attest to the quality of their product, because I did not try one of their personally crafted brews, but Serda stole my heart, sorry.

As I mentioned prior, there’s really not a whole lot to do here other than shop, eat, and drink. So if you’re sold, and you like it here, I’ll list a few other places I’ve really enjoyed when I visit here.

Alchemy Tavern – great atmosphere, has karaoke every night (I think); hidden-ish bar upstairs with skeeball

OK Bicycle Club – Came here for a burlesque show (which was my first, and will not be my last). AMAZING brunch, very cool outside deck in the back

Three George’s Candy Store– Got a sweet tooth? Here’s an old school styled corner candy store that serves up all types of old fashioned candy, lollipops, nuts, ice cream, and baked goods. I liked this place for the environment, with the checkerboard floor tiles and candy bar with spinny stools. But if sweets are your thing, here’s your go to.

Oakleigh District – If you have a love for architecture and big beautiful historic homes, walk around this block for a bit

*For my gay friends, there’s a very cute square of gay bars/clubs if you just walk along Joaquin street (close to Alchemy)

There’s plenty of festivals going on here on a monthly basis, so do your research before you visit if you want more to see/a purpose to your trip.

If you’re looking for some cool shots for the ‘gram, there’s an unlimited amount of really cool graffiti on the walls hidden all throughout the city. So go on a scavenger hunt and take allllllll the pics.

I hate to be so negative, but honesty is policy, right?

With that being said, I’ll leave it at that, with promises of a much more positive and exciting post for you all coming soon.

Who wants to guess where I’m going next week? I’ll give you a hint…What happens in _____ stays in _______ 😉

Until next time!
Don’t forget to follow my new instagram account. I post content here on a weekly basis that sometimes doesn’t make it to this page. So if you’re interested in following my adventures on a more intimate basis.. @unfriendlyadvice

–C