You Too Can Enjoy Mobile
Oct 10th, 2003, 07:37 AM
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You Too Can Enjoy Mobile
My husband and I have been flying a lot this year and wanted our annual trip to be somewhere we could get to by car. We are big golf fans and had heard of the Robert Trent Golf trail and then saw the Marriott Resourt and Spa on Mobile Bay was a participating hotel.
But, what to do when we're not golfing? Unlike my husband, I cannot golf 24 hours a day. Of course, we went to Fodors to see what everyone was saying...which wasn't much when it came to the Mobile area. Well, I'm here to say, it can surprise you.
The Marriott hotel, also known as The Grand, is beautiful with a rustic feel. It is right up against the water and provides a beautiful view of many varieties of birds and fish (many seem to fly out of the water). The pool is very kid friendly as well as the man made beach.
Fairhope is right up the street as well as Daphne. Both offer sleepy towns with cute shops -- and if you go in early September, Daphne offers a very kid friendly art festival.
The challenging thing about this area? All the great places to go, don't jump out at you. You have to know where to look. A few great finds:
- O'Neals Diner, locate on Highway 59 just south of Highway 98. Ask for O'Neal himself and he will give you a very long list of what to see and where to go. Especially, if you are a golfer. Not to mention, the traditional southern cooking is fantastic.
- Pelican Point. I believe it's county road 98. The Grand can give you directions. The best grouper I've ever had. Great view too.
- Lulu's. Just off of 98 below an overpass, right on the water (at least until December 2003, the city is forcing them to move out...but, then you can find them in Golf Shores after January 1, 2004). Lulu is Jimmy Buffett's sister. Be sure to try the fried seafood platter. It is more than enough for two people and very good.
- Cold Mil Fleet Dolphin Cruises. Located in Gulf Shores (a 1 hr drive from the hotel) by the Back Porch restaurant, is a two hour cruise around the bay looking for dolphins. The boat ride itself is worth the $15 per person, but it guarantees you will see dolphins. When we went, the boat even got the dolphins to play in the wake - very exciting.
- Azalea City Golf course. This is the best golf deal going. Previously a PGA golf course, it has been taken over by the city, but kept in amazing condition. We played on a Saturday and it was only about $30 a person with range balls and a cart. Amazing.
We also drove around the old neighborhoods in the city of Mobile. They were quite beautiful with the gigantic live oaks hanging across the road. There's also some battleship tours, but we ran out of time.
Is it a week long trip? Probably not...unless you a big golfer. Does it have a big nightlife? Not that we know of, but we did keep hearing about a bar that used to allow a goat to walk around...hmmm...
It's strictly a great place to go to get away from the craziness and unwind. I hope others find it as enjoyable as we did!
But, what to do when we're not golfing? Unlike my husband, I cannot golf 24 hours a day. Of course, we went to Fodors to see what everyone was saying...which wasn't much when it came to the Mobile area. Well, I'm here to say, it can surprise you.
The Marriott hotel, also known as The Grand, is beautiful with a rustic feel. It is right up against the water and provides a beautiful view of many varieties of birds and fish (many seem to fly out of the water). The pool is very kid friendly as well as the man made beach.
Fairhope is right up the street as well as Daphne. Both offer sleepy towns with cute shops -- and if you go in early September, Daphne offers a very kid friendly art festival.
The challenging thing about this area? All the great places to go, don't jump out at you. You have to know where to look. A few great finds:
- O'Neals Diner, locate on Highway 59 just south of Highway 98. Ask for O'Neal himself and he will give you a very long list of what to see and where to go. Especially, if you are a golfer. Not to mention, the traditional southern cooking is fantastic.
- Pelican Point. I believe it's county road 98. The Grand can give you directions. The best grouper I've ever had. Great view too.
- Lulu's. Just off of 98 below an overpass, right on the water (at least until December 2003, the city is forcing them to move out...but, then you can find them in Golf Shores after January 1, 2004). Lulu is Jimmy Buffett's sister. Be sure to try the fried seafood platter. It is more than enough for two people and very good.
- Cold Mil Fleet Dolphin Cruises. Located in Gulf Shores (a 1 hr drive from the hotel) by the Back Porch restaurant, is a two hour cruise around the bay looking for dolphins. The boat ride itself is worth the $15 per person, but it guarantees you will see dolphins. When we went, the boat even got the dolphins to play in the wake - very exciting.
- Azalea City Golf course. This is the best golf deal going. Previously a PGA golf course, it has been taken over by the city, but kept in amazing condition. We played on a Saturday and it was only about $30 a person with range balls and a cart. Amazing.
We also drove around the old neighborhoods in the city of Mobile. They were quite beautiful with the gigantic live oaks hanging across the road. There's also some battleship tours, but we ran out of time.
Is it a week long trip? Probably not...unless you a big golfer. Does it have a big nightlife? Not that we know of, but we did keep hearing about a bar that used to allow a goat to walk around...hmmm...
It's strictly a great place to go to get away from the craziness and unwind. I hope others find it as enjoyable as we did!
May 27th, 2004, 07:59 AM
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Thank you so for this post. I am being sent to Mobile for 3 weeks on a work assignment and was wondering what I would do. My (very new..we got married a month ago)husband will be joining me for a bit in celebration of his 33rd birthday. We are going to drive to New Orleans for the weekend, but am really glad I now have bars and restaurants in Mobile that we will enjoy. (ps. he is also a golfer and will love the info you have provided. We are also staying at The Grand.)
Jun 9th, 2004, 10:59 AM
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Well...being new to Fodors, but having used it to research for my wedding extensively, I did not even consider that the inital post was an advertisment. I am not a publicist and totally resent the fact that an inexperienced person would have their name smudged just for thier first post. I always thought this was such a nice forum...perhaps some of you should quit sitting around posting nasty replies and go on vacation. PS. I am now in Mobile and ate at one of the restaurants suggested. Though it is not somewhere I would go on vacation, I prefer St Barths or London, I do appreciate that the people here are kind and genuine. So, if LTT is an advertiser, she is at least representative of the people in this town, unlike the others who just reply to posts.
Jun 9th, 2004, 01:09 PM
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Liz,
Thanks for your kind words. I was referred to this site to look into a lot of travel that I do for work, sometimes to smaller places like Mobile that I know nothing about. I use flyertalk and sbhonline a lot and have never been so rudely accosted. Thanks to you, I am no longer disheartened about a site that I thought so highly of. Travelers generally have lighthearted personalities...clearly some need to get get off of their computers and get on a plane.
Thanks for your kind words. I was referred to this site to look into a lot of travel that I do for work, sometimes to smaller places like Mobile that I know nothing about. I use flyertalk and sbhonline a lot and have never been so rudely accosted. Thanks to you, I am no longer disheartened about a site that I thought so highly of. Travelers generally have lighthearted personalities...clearly some need to get get off of their computers and get on a plane.
Jun 10th, 2004, 07:53 AM
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seastheday-
my apologies for your confusion - I was referring to some of the original posters' comments that to me stood out like little flags that this might not be a genuine post (I will also mention that this o.p. never re-posted, at least not under the original name). I am glad you had a good trip to Mobile- when I was there in 2002 for a wedding I remember the muggy weather, the muddy river, and getting my sunglasses stolen at a Shoney's.
Regrettably, every so often a spammer/publicist/advertiser posts on these boards regardless of the warnings. Often they are clumsy attempts and easily spotted, but every so often one gets through and is later "outed" for over-hyping, etc.- unfortunately by people who were sucked in. These boards are public and open, so keep your sense of humor and your wits about you if you're really looking for info, and elberko's been around long enough to be really listened to - don't take it personally.
Oh, and yes, darlin', I DO go on trips. I even go on planes!!
my apologies for your confusion - I was referring to some of the original posters' comments that to me stood out like little flags that this might not be a genuine post (I will also mention that this o.p. never re-posted, at least not under the original name). I am glad you had a good trip to Mobile- when I was there in 2002 for a wedding I remember the muggy weather, the muddy river, and getting my sunglasses stolen at a Shoney's.
Regrettably, every so often a spammer/publicist/advertiser posts on these boards regardless of the warnings. Often they are clumsy attempts and easily spotted, but every so often one gets through and is later "outed" for over-hyping, etc.- unfortunately by people who were sucked in. These boards are public and open, so keep your sense of humor and your wits about you if you're really looking for info, and elberko's been around long enough to be really listened to - don't take it personally.
Oh, and yes, darlin', I DO go on trips. I even go on planes!!
Jun 10th, 2004, 10:14 AM
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Thank you Elberto and AHaugeto...will keep enjoying Fodors and its members!
PS..it is VERY muggy here. Much like Florida weather in the summer..rains every afternoon about 3 and cools things down..but still muggy. Curly haired folks beware. Am ready to move on to my next assignment...Colorado Springs...but I still have 2 weeks left here in Mobile.
PS..it is VERY muggy here. Much like Florida weather in the summer..rains every afternoon about 3 and cools things down..but still muggy. Curly haired folks beware. Am ready to move on to my next assignment...Colorado Springs...but I still have 2 weeks left here in Mobile.
