Sun, sand and sea: the beach. There is nothing like a beach to provide endless diversion for families with children. With sand ranging from a powdery-white, to a golden sugar-brown, to an exotic volcanic black, beaches come in all sorts of colors and consistencies. There are those with crashing waves, to the ones that lay like tranquil lagoons beckoning onlookers to dip their toes in their shimmering depths. Listed alphabetically, the following beaches are among the very best that the USA’s Gulf Coast has to offer.

A beach is one of those simple pleasures in life that can provide hours of diversion

Caladesi Island, Florida

Located north of Clearwater Beach in Florida, Caladesi Island State Park is accessed by boat and ferry and has a lovely beach, marina, and activities like hiking, fishing, kayaking, swimming, snorkeling and more that make the most of its natural beauty.

Clearwater Beach, Florida

This beautiful beach offers year-round events, attractions, a marine aquarium and plenty of history dating back to the American Civil War. Its unspoiled waters, white beaches and passionate sunsets set the tone for a relaxing holiday for everyone in the family to unwind and discover the beauty around them.

Destin, Florida

The emerald green waters of this pristine beach located along the Emerald Coast are simply breathtaking. If you are looking for a relaxing getaway to enjoy the powdery-white sand and stunning gulf waters, look no further than Destin, Florida.  It’s no wonder there are many notable residents with a home here including John Grisham, Sheryl Crow, and Britney Spears.

Most of these beaches have sugary-white sand and crystal waters like this beach photo of St. George Island State Park in Florida

Fort De Soto Park – North Beach, St. Petersburg, Florida

Fort De Soto Park is composed of five keys off the shores southwest of St. Petersburg, Florida. North Beach in Fort De Soto Park is a lovely family retreat great for picnics, swimming, nature trails, canoe trails, and more. Its history goes back to include the Tocobaga Indians and Spanish conquistadors.

Galveston Island, Texas

This Texas barrier island near Galveston is lots of fun with its beachfront boardwalk, Schlitterbahn Waterpark, shops, cafes, and year-round family-friendly events. There are 32 miles of gorgeous beaches waiting to be explored and lots of activities for all ages.

Gulf Shores, Alabama and Orange Beach, Alabama

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach in Alabama lie adjacent to each other and are perfect for family vacations with lots of restaurants, shopping and recreational activities. Their renowned white sugary sands and jewel-toned waters are sure to rejuvenate the senses.

There’s nothing like a setting sun over the beach’s smoldering horizon (South Padre Island, photo by Brendajane Herbert)

Panama City Beach, Florida

The gorgeous white sands of Panama City Beach are reminiscent of the tropical island in the film The Blue Lagoon (1980). It used to be a popular spring break destination but has evolved into a wonderful family-friendly beach with plenty of activities for everyone in your clan.

Siesta Key, Florida

This eight-mile long barrier island is lush, tropical and so enticing from its mangrove forests, to its soft white sandy shores composed of 99% quartz, to its shallow coastal waters that make it safe and enjoyable for families with small children. It’s an idyllic spot for swimming, strolling, fishing, dining, sports, or simply relaxing under the sun or shade.

South Padre Island, Texas

South Padre Island is another one of Texas’s barrier islands with beautiful coastlines and activities galore. It stretches 34 miles long by ½ mile at its widest area. It is also a popular spring break destination, drawing students by the droves who are looking for some fun in the sun.

St. George Island State Park, Florida

Located off the Florida Panhandle, the 28 mile long island of St. George Island is loved for its quiet serenity.  St. George Island State Park is composed of nine miles on the island’s eastern side and boasts swimming, hiking, fishing, a variety of boardwalks, restaurants with excellent seafood and more.

Great food and beautiful flowers were two of the pleasures we enjoyed in Birmingham, Alabama

Here are some of our favorite, child friendly food stops and tourism options. Breakfast brought us to English Village and adjoining Mountain Brook Village on the suburban edge of the community of Mountain Brook, just outside Birmingham proper. Here you’ll find the delicious Continental Bakery, a small shop recommended to us by so many locals that we just had to try it. Sidewalk tables make this a pleasant stop for all ages, and the croissants are every bit as fine as those I consumed years ago in Paris.

And once fulfilled, its a short walk down hill to Mountain Brook Village, with pottery galleries, antique stores, and jewelry shops excellent for browsing. If the kids are restive, window shopping may be advised, but its a great location for walking off breakfast. And walk you should, because my lunch suggestion is indeed a rich one: Miss Myra’s Pit Bar-B-Q. Packed full at lunch its worth waiting for a table, and you’ll almost taste the bar-b-q sauce on the air around the place. Once a convenience store, this eaterie offers pork sandwiches, fried chicken, and ribs for carnivores, but even our vegan was easily accommodated with fine vegetable dishes. Inexpensive and friendly, the restaurant also features a large display of porcelain pigs, donated by customers in honor of the non-porcelain variety served up daily. Another dining option right in Mountain Brook Village is Gilchrist Drugs. Here you’ll find an exceptional egg salad sandwich appropriately rated as one of the “100 Alabama Dishes you Must Try.” If eggs aren’t your thing, or you’ve already dined, you’ll still enjoy one of their fresh-squeezed limeades, a sweet, tart alternative to the sweet iced tea, which I might note, they also serve.

While we couldn’t walk there, we got our exercise in once we arrived at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum about fifteen minutes outside of the city center. This cavernous five story museum contains one of the largest motorcycle collections in the U.S. in a setting that feels more like a massive art gallery than a car museum. Outside there’s the Motorsports Park, where if you’re lucky you can view bikers putting the track to good use racing or practicing for same.

We saw Birmingham’s past personified and walked off more of our Bar-B-Q at The Iron & Steel Museum of Alabama which offers a look at the Roupes Valley Ironworks at Tannehill which once operated in the area. Once a series of charcoal blast furnaces operated during the Civil War, the iron works went on to become the massive Birmingham Iron & Steel District. The Tannehill museum includes military shells from the Civil War era as well as exhibits such as some of the oldest steam engines in America, and the Dotterer engine similar to the Tannehill blast engine which once operated here. Interactive displays about the iron making process made this a fascinating stop for kids of all ages. Best exhibit we felt was the bloomery exhibit using parts of the original Six Mile Forge from 1863 to demonstrate the early iron making process. Fascinating and just gritty enough to hold any child enthralled.

Although walking the grounds of a former Foundry doesn’t burn as much calories as actually working in one, surprisingly, we were ready for dinner when we arrived back in Birmingham proper at the Hot and Hot Fish Club. Another iconic Birmingham eaterie with a laid back, friendly vibe, we loved the healthy, fresh grilled fish, and our plant-based diner enjoyed the couscous and collard greens tremendously. Casual, reservations are a must here, particularly on weekends.

A view of Birmingham - good food, green space, and excellent museums

While we spent two nights of our visit outside Birmingham itself at a convention I was attending held in the suburbs, we moved into town for our last evening, and were glad we did. The elegant  Tutwiler Hotel is ninety-seven years old, centrally located, and recently redone, retaining its old world charm while offering the amenities of flat screen televisions and sleek bathrooms. We loved the great city views from the broad windows, and after our experiences with cabbing into town, walking, and relying on the kindness of newly made convention-going locals to transport us, being in city center was a treat. An audio-guided tour of the hotel’s historic photo gallery was an added bonus, and the whole family enjoyed this look back in time.

Our final city dining experience was at Little Savannah, which bills itself as a quaint Southern bistro. Rich food choices include cranberry-pecan cream cheese French toast and amazing crab cakes. On the healthy eats side of the dining spectrum, their organically sourced salads were plenty delicious, too.  The Birmingham Botanical gardens, with its lovely Japanese gardens and beautifully manicured lawns made an apt final stop for our visit to Birmingham – plenty of room to run off those calories before the long plane ride home, and a beautiful look at the soft greenery and blossoming flowers that are as much a part of this Alabama city as its all-too-tasty sweet iced tea.

We didn't realize Mobile's Mardi Gras pre-dated New Orleans celebrations, but we'd heard about the family friend vibe.

Mari Gras is for New Orleans, right? Well, yes, but along with high prices and noisy celebrating that might not be quite so child-centric, as much as we loved New Orleans, we made our southern Fat Tuesday celebration elsewhere – in Mobile, Alabama. Here the parades and revelry are tamer in a city that claims it, not the Crescent City, is the birthplace of the tradition in the U.S.

When Mobile’s pre-Lent tradition began three hundred years ago, the city was known as Fort Louis de la Louisiane. Today’s modern Alabama version of the celebration describe their celebration as “America’s Original, America’s Family Mardi Gras.” And it lives up to its name. While more low key, you’ll still find a great and colorful parades as well as children’s mask- making workshops, a fascinating Carnival Museum and a beautiful old hotel – the Battle House – to stay in for a fraction of the prices of New Orleans. And substantially less liquor flows, too.

Did I say parades, plural? Yes, I did because it’s true. There are six parades in Mobile on Fat Tuesday, with other parades preceding them in the month leading up to the festival. The parades are individually organized by the city’s secret parade planning society and social groups -ehre called mystics – the equivalent of New Orleans famous krewes. These mystic members ride the floats, build them, toss out glittery cheap necklaces and fake coins to the eager spectators lining the streets. And back to all that sugar we consumed in Alabama – we even snagged a couple of chocolate Moon Pies tossed from a float designed to look like – a moon.

You've got to love free moon pies – mmm, chocolate.

We were delighted by how orderly the streets felt – crowded, yes, claustrophobic, no, although crowd estimates can be up to a hundred and fifty thousand in attendance city wide. There are lots of small children, elementary age and teen age children standing everywhere, and parades are scheduled during day time as well as evening hours. One of the reasons for all the children in tow is the fact that public schools are closed on both Monday and Fat Tuesday itself, encouraging family participation. My son wondered if they had to write reports about the experience.

As a supplement to the actual parade or if you’ve missed Mardi Gras season, you’ll enjoy a visit to the Mobile Carnival Museum, located in the lush surroundings of a 19th century mansion. Throughout the mansion’s rooms, you’ll see costumes worn in Mardi Gras celebrations’ past, gowns worn by kings and queens crowned at exclusive, invitation only galas.

The museum also acknowledges the Civil Rights issues in the Mobile area in times all too recently past. Segregated festivals are thankfully no longer in existence, and while the Mobile Area  Mardi Gras Association parade starts in African American neighborhoods it continues on through the streets of downtown Mobile.

Besides the Mardi Gras itself and the Mardi Gras Museum, what else is in Mobile Alabama? As the only port town in the state of Alabama, the downtown area offers some great water front views, and the USS Alabama Battleship Park. An impressive attraction for historical and military significance, it’s also just plain fun for the kids to explore a giant battle ship. The self guided tour took us about two hours, but you could easily spend more time here. Although we did not, you can also tour a submarine.

The kids loved scrambling through the historic battleship anchored in Mobile.

Where to stay? We splurged on the Battle House, an elegant and historic spot in the heart of downtown. Marriott now runs the historic hotel,  and service is excellent.  While rooms can be on the small side, it’s a great location to watch the Mardi Gras parades and has a charming restaurant with surprisingly reasonable pricing. For breakfast, the Trellis Room had a wonderful buffet, and the kids prices for a huge spread of fruit, fresh waffles and more was decidedly budget saving. The hotel was quiet, accommodating, and elegant without being stuffy. And again: location is key.

It’s conveniently located not just to the Mardi Gras activities but to other must -do historical sights such as the Museum of Mobile. Contained in what was once city hall and what is one of the oldest buildings in Mobile, this museum offers a widely encompassing look at the city’s history, culture, and diversity. The exhibits are well laid out and extensive. We learned so much about the city’s past effortlessly. Nearby, the kids will love a trip to Fort Conde, a reconstructed fort built on the site of the fort’s original location. The fort was built to  protect Mobile and its citizens by the French as a defense against British and Spanish attack, and the original stood from 1723-1820. Today, along with the history it offers, the site is a terrific place for kids to explore. And where else can you tour such an historic site while wearing Mardi Gras beads? And follow that up with some lemonade, sipped while watching – another parade!

Related Articles:

Mobile Carnival Museum Alabama: Where Mardi Gras Was Born
USS Alabama: World War II Hero Turned Museum Battleship

Well, no matter what you say, there’s going to be a little momentary disappointment. In my case, “Mom, why couldn’t you keep speaking at conventions in New York? What’s in Alabama?”

But the truth is, there’s plenty in Alabama, in Birmingham itself and throughout the state. Once called the “Magic City,” Birmingham indeed has the power to enchant, and makes a wonderful travel destination. We began our trip in the suburbs, near a large, upscale and unremarkable mall that could’ve been anywhere in the United States due to my speaking engagement.

Once on our own, we discovered a wonderful city with a splendid museum, tasty cheese grits, interesting parks to explore, and a history to embrace. You probably won’t be hampered with the gaff I committed: I was picked up to get to my suburban location, and the next morning was Sunday, a day many car rental facilities were closed locally; and due to a vast number of conventions besides my own in town, I would not be able to pick up a car back at the airport until evening. I didn’t want to waste the time, so we took a long cab ride to Birmingham proper and having walked industriously through New York, we hoofed it here, too.

The kids favored the posterior view of the giant Vulcan statue in Birmingham.

The Vulcan Statue

We began our exploration at the Vulcan Statue, an enormous iron depiction of the Roman god Vulcan, who as forge-god is an apt symbol of Birmingham, whose iron making furnaces were big business in the late eighteen hundreds. Commissioned for the 1904 World’s Fair as a symbol of Birmingham’s pride in its industry, the statue now sits on top of Red Mountain, a rise significant enough to offer a great view of Birmingham’s city sky line. You can go to the top of Vulcan for the view, and let your kids wander the pleasant green space surrounding the statue. Just be prepared for giggles over and photos of Vulcan’s bare posterior. In the gift shop, they’re going to want their own replica, and there are plenty to choose from – pencil sharpeners, mini-statues, soft rubber replicas.

The Vulcan is about a half hour from downtown Birmingham on foot, but nonetheless we walked down the hill rather than taking another cab- with cars honking at us, I might note, probably wondering what those crazy people were doing until the sidewalks commenced again. We found it pleasant – and found a patch of wild violets to pick en route, but if you have a stroller you’ll want to be in a vehicle as part of our path included bumpy roadside grass.

We enjoyed walking around Birmingham and the Vulcan Monument grounds. Lots of green space everywhere.

We rewarded our walk with a wonderful pit stop for brunch at Highlands Bar & Grill. A touch of elegant French cuisine inhabits a decidedly Southern menu, my kids loved their first taste of grits. Stone ground and baked with mushrooms and Parmesan cheese, these were awesome and unique. It was also our first taste of sweet tea, something which became ubiquitous for us in Birmingham – probably because the delicious, caloric beverage is secretly addictive to sweet tooths like ours.

Birmingham Museum of Art

Our next stop was the Birmingham Museum of Art. The museum has a wonderful collection of modern art, from internationally acclaimed artists like Salvador Dali to local artists. A black and white photography collection is also impressive. We were most interested in the regional art displayed and a stellar collection of African art. Over sixteen hundred pieces contain sculptures and carvings, ceramics, musical instruments, and costumes from throughout the continent. The museum itself is airy, modern, and spacious; when we were there a jazz trio was playing wonderful music in the atrium, where a Sunday brunch was just winding down at Oscar’s at the Museum – it looked like another good dining choice. We stopped in just for more of that addictive tea and to listen to the music. Small children dancing – no problem.

The museum is about to open a splendid new hands-on gallery for families. Interactive displays will include, we were told, the ability to use your body to create a large, abstract painting. I hope they will provide wet wipes for easy clean up, afterwards.

Founded in 1951, the Birmingham Museum of Art resides in the City’s cultural district, with lovely fountains in a park across the street and a beautiful garden on the museum grounds providing beautiful outdoor space to run off all the sugar from that delicious sweet tea.

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

Our next stop was a very different museum, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. This well laid- out museum thoughtfully presents the story of the civil rights movement in Alabama and throughout the south. It offers a sober but hopeful perspective on both how far Birmingham itself and the United States as a whole has come in regard to civil rights in the last decades. It stands directly across the street from the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, which is the site of the bombing which killed four young girls in the early nineteen sixties. The church is open for Sunday services, and offers tours mid-week. Will children be welcome at the Civil Rights Institute? The answer is yes, and we saw toddlers and babies in strollers. For elementary age children, the exhibits here are a must-see, and are accessibly presented.

Foley, Alabama seems lost in time

Dad and I recently found ourselves in Summerdale, Alabama. We’re members of the Escapees RV club, and the Escapees campground in Summerdale was on our way from Florida to Louisiana. We didn’t expect much from small-town Alabama, but were pleasantly surprised at how much there was to do in the area. We spent most of a day in Foley, just 20 minutes from Summerdale.

About Foley

Foley is perfect for photography buffs

In 1901, wealthy Chicagoan John Foley was in transit to the funeral for President McKinley when he heard good things about South Baldwin County, Alabama. He visited the area the next year and, liking what he saw, set out to build a town. Mr. Foley purchased nearly 50,000 acres and donated parcels to build schools and churches, selling much of the rest to settlers and businesses.

He paid for a train line to Foley from Bay Minette and set up a community wood bin. As people cleared their land, they donated the wood for fuel on the first train to service Foley. The original train station burned in 1908 and was replaced in 1909. That building is now Foley’s museum.

Today the community retains many of its historic buildings. As of the 2000 census, less than 7,600 people lived in Foley. A low crime rate, walkable downtown and friendly population, coupled with a picture-perfect look and feel, make Foley an ideal place for a family to spend a few days.

Foley Visitor Center and Holmes Medical Museum

The old Foley Hospital is now an elaborate Medical Museum

As we drove into town, we spotted a visitor center. These are generally excellent places to get advice on everything from what to see to where to eat, so we headed inside. The rep was incredibly friendly and full of great tips. We could have spent a week just eating our way through Foley based on her recommendations!

Connected to the visitor center is the Holmes Medical Museum. Located inside Foley’s first hospital, the museum is free of charge. Stepping inside is truly like stepping back in time. There are endless displays of medical equipment, all carefully labeled, and many of the rooms are still decorated as they would have been in the 1930s and 1940s.

Take your time and make sure you don’t miss anything. I’m not sure if it’s the layout itself or the slightly eerie and disorienting feel of the place, but we ended up backtracking several times to see things that we missed. We spent over an hour exploring.

Foley Alabama Railroad Museum and Model Train Exhibit

The model train layout is amazingly detailed

This collection of exhibits is located diagonally across the street from the Medical Museum. As of 2011, the Model Train Exhibit is only open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10-2, so plan your visit carefully. Admission is free.

The Model Train Exhibit must be seen to be believed. An immense O-gauge model train layout, the display is 24 feet by 60 feet and utilizes more than a quarter of a mile of track. The layout depicts small-town Americana in the 1950s. Most of the display was donated by Alan Goldman of Montgomery, Alabama. The exhibit opened in Foley in 2006. The level of detail is startling, including a Robert Montgomery film showing on the screen at the Hub Drive-In, and several pieces of working machinery. Volunteers are on hand to point out various details and answer questions, while a short film gives more information on Mr. Goldman and the creation of the exhibit. If you or your kids are into trains, plan to spend at least an hour watching the trains and examining the display.

The Railroad Museum is filled with artifacts from Foley’s early years. I was most fascinated by an old handwritten log of traffic violations, while Dad became absorbed by the various pieces of machinery. Not everything is clearly labeled here, so be sure to ask about anything that catches your eye. The volunteers are quite knowledgeable and eager to share information on Foley’s past.

Stacey Rexall Drugs and Olde Tyme Soda Fountain

The drugstore and soda fountain is a Foley must-do

On the corner near the Medical Museum is an old-fashioned drug store that words can hardly describe. The place seems to be caught in a time warp where nothing has changed for half a century. Display cases along the walls are filled with turn-of-the-20th-century medicine bottles, and a model train runs overhead. In the back, an old-fashioned pharmacy still dispenses medications for local residents.

There is a small collection of gift items, but we were more interested in the soda fountain, where ten-cent coffee is still on the menu. Soda jerks dispense fountain drinks in the way they were meant to be, and Dad and I thoroughly enjoyed our chocolate Cokes (regular Coke for me, diet for him, each with a splash of chocolate syrup). I had a peanut butter and banana sandwich, while he chose a bagel with cream cheese. We chatted lightly and enjoyed the old jukebox, fortifying ourselves for the rest of our day.

Lambert’s Café

Lambert's Cafe is a kitschy Southern diner

We didn’t have the chance to explore the rest of Foley since we were on a tight schedule, but we wanted to go back for dinner a few nights later. Located in the more modern Foley suburbs, Lambert’s Café bills itself as the home of the “throwed rolls.” We love quaint Southern cafés, so we decided to give it a try.

The place is filled to overflowing with Southern kitsch. Check out the mural on the outside wall, the collection of license plates, and a variety of old signs and other artifacts. But keep an eye out, as you will receive your first “throwed roll” on the way to your table. Servers literally walk around the dining room gently tossing warm dinner rolls to customers. It’s a lot of fun.

This is just one dinner, without the Pass Arounds

I strongly recommend sharing food, rather than each person ordering his own. Dad and I split the meatloaf dinner, which comes with mashed potatoes and gravy and your choice of two additional sides. We ended up with the largest portion of meatloaf I have ever seen, half a plate of mashed potatoes and gravy, and overflowing bowls of coleslaw and corn. But that was only the beginning.

Lambert’s specializes in what they call “Pass Arounds.” In addition to the throwed rolls, servers circulate throughout the dining room offering okra, black eyed peas, pasta in tomato sauce, and a fried potato and onion mix. Although we split an entrée, we were given all the Pass Arounds we could eat. We also purchased an “individual” (easily big enough for two) apple pie for $2. Beverages are 32 ounces with free refills.

Dad and I ended up with enough food to split that night, and again for one more meal. Not bad, considering our total tab was $22 with tip. Everything tasted entirely homemade and slow cooked. There were a bunch of kids in the restaurant and everyone seemed to be happy with their food and having a wonderful time. It’s not fine dining by any means, but Lambert’s is a great place for authentic home-style Southern food and hospitality.

Tips for Parents

Take advantage of Foley's green spaces

Foley is a picturesque small town with a highly walkable historic downtown and lots of interesting shops and attractions. While the crime rate is extremely low, always use common sense. Keep an eye on your kids, especially when crossing the street, and don’t let younger children wander off. Take advantage of Foley’s wealth of green space to run and play or have a picnic. Strike up a conversation with a friendly local or just wander around taking pictures. Whatever you decide to do, Foley offers a relaxing alternative to larger and more crowded cities.

Mobile is a truly beautiful city

Mobile, Alabama was always one of those places we just drove through on Interstate 10, on the way between our former home in Central Florida and the new life we had created in New Orleans. What we saw of Mobile out the car windows looked interesting but we always had a schedule to keep, so we never stopped and looked around. Now that Dad and I are full-time RVers, we have nothing but time and no particular place to be. Last month, we decided to stop and see what Mobile had to offer. The Museum of Mobile was the perfect place to get an overview of the city.

Fort Conde

Fort Conde is certainly an attention-grabber in modern-day Mobile

A recreation of the fort that stood guard over Mobile in the 1700s, Fort Conde today houses Mobile’s visitor center. Located at 150 South Royal Street in historic downtown, it is also part of the Museum of Mobile. We stopped there first to get our bearings. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable, full of suggestions on the best places to eat and the best sights to see.

Kids seem to love playing on the open parade ground

The fort itself is open to the public and some rooms house small displays on Mobile’s history. This is a great place for kids to play, as the 4/5 scale reproduction is just the right size to avoid getting lost. Just watch out for very low overhead clearance on some of the doorways.

Free parking is available in the large lot across the street. If that lot is full, as it was when we arrived, more free parking is offered under the bridge at the end of the road. A free hop-on hop-off shuttle bus stops across the street from the fort, providing easy transportation throughout downtown. The area is also highly walkable. Dad and I only used the shuttle bus once, but it is a nice service that the city provides.

Phoenix Fire Museum

The old firefighting equipment has been well preserved

The Phoenix Fire Museum, located at 203 South Claiborne Street, is also part of the Museum of Mobile. The museum houses firefighting equipment and memorabilia from 1838 through the present day. Staffed by a retired firefighter with an extensive knowledge of Mobile’s firefighting history, the museum is well worth a visit. Allow approximately an hour to see the museum in depth.

Take some time to read the informational signs on both the first and second floors. Volunteer firefighting crews were social organizations, and many firefighters increased their social status through their participation. Some of the names figure prominently in Mobile’s early history.

Museum of Mobile

Mobile's ironwork is breathtaking

The main museum is located at 111 South Royal Street in the Old City Hall. Museum admission is $5 for adults with discounts available for children and seniors. Kids under six are admitted free. The museum is closed on Mondays. Admission is free on the first Sunday of each month.

After a full day in Mobile, Dad and I arrived just over an hour before closing. We felt quite rushed and were not able to see everything in as much detail as we would have liked. Try to allow at least two hours for your visit.

Most of the first floor is dedicated to changing exhibit space. Upcoming exhibits range from a tribute to 9/11/01 to a collection of Patent Models. Also on the first floor is a rather elaborate collection of cast iron and wrought iron used throughout Mobile.

How do you put a dollar figure on a person's life?

Upstairs is a vast collection of exhibits that tells the story of Mobile’s history. An entire section focuses on the ugly truth of African-American life in the South from slavery through the Jim Crow era. Another section gives a synopsis of Mardi Gras history.

A large area is dedicated to Mobile’s shipbuilding legacy, while other areas describe the lives of Native Americans and early Spanish explorers in the region. Don’t miss the vast collection of dollhouses, all carefully and authentically decorated inside.

Tips for Parents

The detailed dollhouses are sure to delight

The three buildings of the Museum of Mobile give a wonderful overview of the city’s past and present. All three are family-friendly, offering something for everyone regardless of age and interests. However, the sheer volume of information and things to look at could seem overwhelming to younger kids. Let your children take the lead, lingering at displays that interest them. Expect a lot of questions, as the museums seem to capture young minds. Help your kids put themselves in someone else’s shoes, imagining themselves exploring the New World or living in one of the mansions depicted by the dollhouses.

Allow plenty of time for rest breaks. Mobile is filled with parks and green spaces, offering a wonderful opportunity to run and play. Take time to eat and drink plenty of water. Although your day in Mobile will likely be packed with sightseeing, taking time out to take care of yourself and your family will help keep everyone interested and happy rather than tired and cranky.

The Mobile Carnival Museum is decorated to the hilt

New Orleans, Louisiana has become synonymous with Mardi Gras. People from around the world make the annual pilgrimage for beads, parades, musical performances and king cake. But Mardi Gras actually got its New World start 150 miles down the road in Mobile, Alabama. As long-time New Orleans residents, Dad and I were eager to find out more of the story. Carnival season has just begun, and the Mobile Carnival Museum was a great stop.

Carnival vs. Mardi Gras

Costumes through the ages are on display

Technically, Mardi Gras refers only to Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. It’s actually the day that the party ends. The party season is properly known as Carnival, which officially lasts from Twelfth Night or Epiphany, on January 6, through Mardi Gras. Parades and balls are held throughout the season, but really ramp up in the two weeks before Fat Tuesday. In Mobile Alabama, Carnival-related social events actually begin as early as November. The official date of Mardi Gras varies each year depending on the date of Easter. Confused yet? But most people just call the entire season Mardi Gras and head to a city that celebrates it sometime during the two weeks before Mardi Gras day.

Carnival in Mobile

The Strikers Independent Society was an early Mardi Gras krewe

As the legend goes, in 1699 a group of French Catholics were camped in a small settlement that would later become Mobile. Although they intended to sail back to France, they realized that Mardi Gras day would occur while they were at sea. Preferring to celebrate on dry land, they held the first Mardi Gras on what would become American soil. Once Mobile was established in 1703, the holiday became an annual tradition, with the first known parade occurring in 1711. Mardi Gras in New Orleans did not begin until 1723, when that city became the capital of French Louisiana.

Mobile was also the first to expand Carnival to include Twelfth Night, a tradition brought by Spanish settlers after the American Revolution. In 1831, the tradition expanded again to include masking, or the wearing of masks during celebrations. The first masked krewe, the Cowbellion Society, was highly exclusive and refused to admit new members, even their own sons. Eventually the Cowbellions died out, but their sons started a new masked krewe, the Strikers Independent Society.

Who are the mysterious Merry Widows?

Carnival died out in Mobile during the Civil War, but was resurrected by a man named Joe Cain in 1867. When Joe Cain died in 1904, the people of the city had a Mardi Gras picnic by his grave, trashing the cemetery in the process. The city declared that from then on, the cemetery would be closed on Mardi Gras except to the relatives of people buried there.

The next Mardi Gras, a mysterious woman dressed in black, her face veiled, arrived by limo at the cemetery. Claiming to be Joe Cain’s widow, she was admitted to the cemetery, where she wailed over the grave for awhile before heading out to a Mardi Gras parade.  The next year, two women arrived together. The numbers continued to grow, and today there is a group of 13 veiled “wives,” known as Cain’s Merry Widows, along with a group of “girlfriends” in red dresses. Interestingly, the identities of the both the widows and the girlfriends have never been exposed, though numerous people have tried over the years.

Mardi Gras Today

The African American Society opted to remain independent

Today Mardi Gras in Mobile is both a public party and a private season of balls and parties. Most krewes are exclusive and somewhat secret societies that hold a full schedule of private events from November through Mardi Gras day. There are at least 40 krewes in modern-day Mobile, both single and mixed-gender. There are two separate organizations, one for African-Americans and one for whites. Although the two discussed merging a number of years ago, they did not want to lose the rich traditions that each enjoys. Both are highly respected today.

This was a particularly nice collection of Mardi Gras souvenirs

Commercial advertising in the parades was banned in 1975, so Mardi Gras remains a free public party organized by private groups. For two weeks leading up to Mardi Gras day, there is a parade virtually every night. Float riders throw small aluminum coins called doubloons, beads and trinkets to the waiting crowd. The party is family-friendly and great fun for all ages.

Mobile Carnival Museum

Our tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable and super friendly

The Mobile Carnival Museum occupies a former private home in the historic district. There is only one float, but numerous costumes worn by Mardi Gras Kings and Queens throughout the past decades. The tour is guided by a local resident with a great deal of Mardi Gras knowledge. Each room focuses on a different aspect of the Carnival experience.

As our tour began, our guide asked each group where we were from. When she learned that Dad and I are from New Orleans, it set up a good-natured rivalry that is as long-standing as Mardi Gras itself. She also had us fill in a few details here and there to help explain to others on the tour how the celebrations differ between the two cities.

The museum tour takes about two hours and is packed with information about the past, present and future of the holiday. Those who are unfamiliar with Mardi Gras will get a great deal of new information, while those who have experienced Mardi Gras have the opportunity to dig deeper.

Tips for Parents

You and your kids are welcome to try out the float

Kids are an important part of Mardi Gras in Mobile, even serving as pages in the Mardi Gras Court. Kids on the tour are invited to step up onto a float and even try on costumes. While some of the information may go over their heads, the brightly colored costumes and frequent video clips keep most kids riveted throughout the tour.

As of 2011, the Mobile Mardi Gras Museum costs $5 per adult and $2 for kids 12 and under. Children under 3 are free. The museum is closed Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. The last tour departs at 3 p.m. The well-stocked gift shop offers items in every price range including low-cost masks and other fun souvenirs.

The USS Alabama is an impressive battleship

The USS Alabama, a World War II battleship docked in Mobile, Alabama, has been on my bucket list for some time now. Dad saw it several years ago with my then-husband, but as the day was snowy and icy, my mom and I elected not to go. When Dad and I found ourselves in Mobile Alabama on a gorgeous February day this year, I finally had my opportunity.

History of the USS Alabama

The USS Alabama is taller than a 20-story building

The sixth of seven ships to carry the Alabama name, the battleship USS Alabama was commissioned in 1940. Following a series of training drills, the Alabama briefly participated in the Mediterranean theater of World War II before departing for the Pacific in late 1943.

The Alabama saw heavy combat throughout 1944, participating in a series of battles that changed the course of the war. According to historic records, the Alabama fired 1,250 shells, shot down 22 enemy aircraft and never took damage from the enemy. Five men were lost on board due to a malfunction of one of the ship’s own guns, but none were lost to the enemy. The Alabama earned a total of nine battle stars for her service. By the time the ship entered drydock in January 1945, the war was nearly over.

After the war, the Alabama served as a transport ship, bringing American soldiers home. The ship was decommissioned in 1947, but remained in the United States Pacific Reserve Fleet until stricken from the records in 1962.

The USS Alabama Battleship Commission was formed by citizens of Alabama to raise money to turn the ship into a memorial. Local schoolchildren raised nearly $100,000 in small change, while a large corporate fundraising effort brought in almost $1 million. In 1964, the ship arrived at its new home in Battleship Memorial Park, in Mobile. It was opened to the public in 1965.

USS Drum Submarine

The USS Drum submarine was a lot of fun

The USS Drum joined the Alabama at Battleship Memorial Park in 1969. Commissioned in 1941, the Drum was the 12th of its class but the first completed and the first to enter World War II. The Drum saw heavy combat off the coast of Japan in 1942 and 1943. Having sunk 15 ships for a total of 80,580 tons, the Drum received 12 battle stars for her service. The Drum was decommissioned in 1947, but provided service for the Naval Reserve in Washington, DC until 1967. She joined the reserve fleet in Norfolk, Virginia in 1967.

Hurricane Damage

The park sustained major damage during Hurricane Katrina in 2005

Mobile Bay has been battered by hurricanes over the years, most notably Hurricane Georges in 1998 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The Drum was originally docked behind the Alabama, but Hurricane Georges violently moved both ships, nearly causing them to collide. For safety reasons, the Drum was moved on land for permanent display, reopening in 2001.

Hurricane Katrina flooded southern Alabama, causing almost $7 million in damage to Battleship Memorial Park. The aircraft pavilion was virtually destroyed and the Alabama was violently rocked, creating a list of approximately eight degrees to the port (left) side. After extensive repairs, the park reopened in January 2006, although the Alabama retained a three degree list.

Visiting Battleship Memorial Park

The aircraft pavilion was well done

Today the park is a massive tribute to military history, encompassing not only the two ships but also an aircraft pavilion. Although the official recommendation is to allow two hours, Dad and I spent closer to three hours exploring and still felt rushed at the end of the day.

As of 2011, admission is $12 for ages 12 and up, and $6 for ages 6 through 11. Kids under age 6 are free. Parking costs $2 per vehicle and must be paid in cash as you enter the lot.

Access to the Drum is through the aircraft pavilion, offering an efficient way to tour both. Since we had just been to the National Naval Aviation Museum a few days prior, we did not take a lot of time to explore the pavilion. It appeared very well done, though, with informational signs providing details about each aircraft.

Watch your head and step in the small hatches

The submarine was fascinating to both of us. Watch out for low overheads and a high step through each hatch, as well as narrow stairs to enter and exit. The focus is on how sailors lived on board, and a series of signs explains what you are looking at and what role it played in the activities of daily life.

The engine room was slightly creepy

Next up was the USS Alabama. There are three separate self-guided routes which, when taken together, allow you to visit virtually every inch of the ship from the engine room to the top of the conning towers. The sheer size of the battleship should not be underestimated. Approximately two football fields in length and taller than a 20-story building, the ship was a floating city carrying nearly 1,800 men. Access between levels is via narrow metal ladders.

Pay attention to the colors and numbers of the route markers

The self-guided routes can be slightly confusing, but it is well worth the trouble to follow them. It would be easy to get lost on board, as Dad and I found out! Some work was being done on the ship, requiring a detour on one of the routes. We decided to climb a couple of unmarked ladders to see if we could find another way to the inaccessible spots, and ended up climbing the entire conning tower by mistake! Each route is a marked by a different set of colored and numbered signs. Pay attention to the signs and check your paper tour map periodically.

Tips for Parents

All three battleship tour routes converge at the Tour Entrance

Both ships were built for warfare, not comfort. Hatches have low overheads and a high step-up, while ladders are narrow and metal. Keep a close eye on your kids and do not let them wander off on their own. All three battleship tour routes begin and end in the same spot, near the battleship entrance. Consider taking a break between routes to rest everyone’s legs or let the children burn off some energy.

Consider reading up on the ships’ history and life on board before your visit. My dad was stationed on a nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser when I was small. Though the ships were different, there were many similarities. Dad was able to fill in many of the details for me, which further enriched my experience.

Allow as much time as you possibly can. We could easily have spent an entire day seeing things in more depth and taking a bit of time to relax. With smaller children, I doubt that we would have gotten through everything in the three hours we had.