trolley tours mobile al

Hear our history, experience our culture, see our natural beauty, feel our soul, and enjoy the heart of our beautiful city.

City of Mobile Trolley Tour

Celebrate mobile aboard one of our beautiful climate controlled trolleys.

Pick up the rhythm of the place where Mardi Gras began and you will know why we are Born to Celebrate! Our 90-minute fully narrated tour takes you down moss covered streets in front of buildings with stories to tell and along one of the most diverse eco-systems in the country. Here, a rich past meets a modern thriving culture with something to offer everyone. Museums, historic homes and buildings, parks, fountains, music, food, drink, and entertainment all abound along our route. It's all So Mobile!

Visit Mobile Welcome Center

111 South Royal Street

USS Alabama Battleship

2703 Battleship Parkway

Departure Locations

Tour schedule, tour pricing.

Kids 12 and under are free

For parties of 10 or more, please call our office for prices. Special pricing and times can be accommodated for your group.

Reservations are not required

We are dog friendly

Wheelchair lift available

(by request only)

Route Highlights

Locations Visited Includes The Following

COLONIAL FORT CONDÉ

Church street cemetery, callaghan's irish bar & washington square, oakleigh historic complex, carnival museum, gulfquest / al cruise terminal, battle house hotel, richard's dar house, african american museum, bienville square, uss alabama.

251-633-0560

251-633-4012, [email protected], www.gctbus.com, © 2024 by travis roy.

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Mobile Alabama Tours: Trolley, Walking, Bus, Boat Or Hop On Hop Off

What kind of tours and where can I find information about tours in the Mobile, Alabama area?

The Mobile, Alabama area has vast selection of tours from bus, walking, boat, trolley or a hop on hop off tour for your group or family.  Either on land or on the water checking out the history of Mobile where four flags have flown over the city or finding out about the ecosystem on the delta, find what you need here.

Here you will find a detailed listing of all the tours, locations and details and how you can get involved in finding out about the history and the surrounding water ecosystem of the 

Airboat Express

Tour the Mobile delta with an exhilarating ride on an airboat.  These boats will seat up to six persons and depart from the Original Oyster House restaurant on the Causeway in the Spanish Fort area.

Tour guides will take you on an excursion to see the wildlife in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta area.  These flat bottom, air powered boats allow the guides to take you where normal boats can’t go.

Reservations and a four person minimum is required for each tour.  This company has an excellent safety record and fully insured.

Airboat Express offers four touring options:

• One Hour Eco Tour – tour guide will show off the local plants, trees, flowers, birds and yes, the alligators.  A highly educational tour for anyone interested in learning about the native, natural wildlife of the Mobile Delta and photographers.
• Half Hour Fun Run – This tour is all out!  An ½ hour of fast turns and wild rides. You’ll still get a peek at the alligators, but fast enough not to get caught by them.
• One Hour Sunset Tour  – Perfect for photographer’s.  Just like the One Hour Eco Tour, but at sunset at 7pm during the summer months.  This however requires a minimum of 6 passengers.
• Half Hour Night Tour – Also called the “Alligator Adventure” because this is the time you’ll be guaranteed to see some big ones!  Alligators feed at night, so open water is the best place to see them. You’ll see their eyes light up at night. However, this tour is extremely seasonal and is dependent on the weather, temperature and wind conditions.  So, call in first to see if it’s available.

Tours are held between 10am and 4pm in the Spring and Fall months.  Summer times are 8am to 11am (it’s hot here). Sunset and Night tours vary, so call for details.  Night tours start 30 minutes before sunset.

Pricing is as follows:

Taxes are not included and children pricing is based on 12 years old or younger.  Cancellation requires a 48 hour time frame. All cancellations after 48 hours will be charged full price.

They are closed from November 15th to February 1st each year.  It is recommended that you make your reservations 24 hours in advance.  Groups smaller than the recommended per each tour above will be combined with other groups when available.

An online shop is available to purchase T-shirts and gift souvenirs and gift cards are available online.

Contact Airboat Express at 251-370-7089 or visit the website for additional details .

Tour Categories :

Guided, Tour, Boat, Interactive (no you don’t swim with the alligators, but you can take pictures).

Wild Native Tours

Here is another service with multiple tour options that also shows off the Tensaw Delta region around Mobile Alabama.

Wild Native Tours offers launch points at three different areas.  Two near Mobile and one in the Gulf Shores area.

• The Delta Wildlife Kayak Tour launches in Spanish Fort, AL at the 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center at Bartram Landing.  This is about 10 minutes from downtown Mobile and 
• The Secretly Awesome Tour departs from Cooper Riverside Park which is just minutes away from the hotels in the Mobile downtown area. 
• The Dolphins & Wildlife Kayak Experience departs from Happy Harbor Oyster Bay at 4159 County Road 6 in Gulf Shores, AL 36542

The Delta Wildlife Kayak Tour

Launches about 10 minutes from downtown Mobile Alabama and provides amazing scenic views of wildlife and beautiful sunsets.  

Pricing: Cost is $49 dollars for adults and $41 dollars for children under 18.

Time: It lasts about 2 hours and is a yearly.  Times can change due to the season you visit.

The Secretly Awesome Tour

This is a boat tour on a fully enclosed, handicap accessible vessel with restrooms on board.  You can bring along a meal and drinks including your camera and binoculars for viewing the wildlife and historic scenes.

You will see the Port of Mobile, which is the 10th busiest port in the US and the 4th largest estuary which is Mobile Bay.

Pricing:   Cost is $28 dollars for adults with Seniors, military and children under 18 for $22 dollars.

Time: This tour lasts about 2 hours and required advance reservations.  It is open year around except for major holidays like Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Special Notes: Contact 251-272-4088 or [email protected] for private group charters or book online.  Cancellations must happen 3 days in advance with no cancellation fee.  See the full cancellation and disclaimer policy below. Tipping is not required, but accepted if you so choose to give.

The Dolphins & Wildlife Kayak Experience

This tour includes a kayak rental, life jacket, paddle, bottled water, a guide and gear transport.  Make sure you have comfortable clothing and can keep your camera and/or binoculars secure. Sunscreen, hat and sunglasses wouldn’t hurt either.

NOTE: Be sure to bring that signed waiver too.

While you are not guaranteed to see them, the bottlenose dolphin is the star of this show.  You will learn about the feeding habits, their history and the intelligence they have.

Pricing:   Cost is $65 dollars for adults children under 18 for $52 dollars.

Time: This tour lasts about 3 hours and required advance reservations.  Time frame varies from season to season. Suggest calling to confirm.

Wild Native Tours also holds:

• Seasonal Tours
• Private Group Tours
• Educational Group Tours
• And Birthday Experience

Group or Individual Memberships Available

You can buy an individual plan and get unlimited “Delta Wildlife Boat Eco Tour” for one year, Special Member Only Tours, 10% off any tour, charter, rental, birthday package or merchandise.  They start at $49 per year for adults and $39 for children under 21, seniors and military personnel.

Corporate packages range from Employee of the Month program, Silver Corporate and Gold Corporate Memberships.

Purchase memberships here and see additional details and restrictions.

Their Cancellation Policy and Disclaimers – 

For reservations cancelled 3 or more calendar days in advance, there will be no cancellation fee.

Cancellations 2 calendar days in advance will be charged a 50% cancellation fee.

Cancellations within 1 calendar day of event will be charged a 100% cancellation fee.

If tour is cancelled by tour operator due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date or refund. Guests will be notified in the event of a weather related cancellation. Due to rapidly changing weather along the Gulf Coast, most weather related cancellations will not be made until day of event.

All tours depart at scheduled departure time. Boats and tours will not be held due to late arrivals. No reschedules or refunds will be issued for late arrivals.

Website And Links

Tour Categories: Guided, Tour, Boat, Kayak, Walking, Interactive (no you don’t swim with the alligators, but you can take pictures).

Dora Franklin Finley African-Amercian Heritage Trail

Experience the rich history of Mobile’s past and how the African-American community contributed to enriching the community and history of this great city.

This organization has four different tour options to choose from:

• Step On Bus Tours where your group charters a bus and their tour guide joins you, narrating the trip with a map for your driver.
• Self-Guided Tours can be taken on your own.  The official website has detailed maps and audio clips of the different history locations where you can complete a self-guided tour.  NOTE: The website is not mobile optimized, but you can zoom in and click on the different history locations and then click the audio file to hear detailed information about each site.
• School Bus Tours work like the Step On Bus Tours, but are for 4th grade classes in the Mobile County area.
• Downtown Walking Tours meet in Cathedral Square in downtown Mobile.  Contact the office for detailed information on these tours or to schedule one.  The walking tours cost $20 per person or $10 of Senior citizens and students.

A downloadable brochure guide and map is available online.

Connection Details:

Eric Finley at 251-725-2236 or email him for reservations or additional details.

Tour Categories: Bus, Walking, Guide, Tour, School, Self-Guided

Bay City Tours

This company has several tour packages, but they can create a personalized tour for you, your family or business.

Here are the basic tour packages found at Bay City Tours

Historic Mobile Alabama Tour

This is a four day tour designed for your group on your bus.  Your group will arrive and check in at your hotel where your personal guide will meet your group on your touring bus. This tour will take in the historic garden districts of Mobile Alabama and a city managed museum.  Refreshments will be served at one of the antebellum homes on the route. Your group will then enjoy dinner at one of Mobile’s fantastic restaurants and then returning to your hotel. This tour is 7 hours long and ranges from about 1pm to 10pm at night.

Day 2 is a 12 tour from about 9am to 9pm where you enjoy breakfast at your hotel before departing.  On this day, you will tour several private homes that are open ot the public and then lunch at one of the area’s restaurants.  You’ll then take a self-guided walk thru the famous Bellingrath Gardens and Home. Then back to your hotel to have dinner at another outstanding Mobile restaurant.

Day 3 involves putting on your walking shoes and taking in breakfast on one of the most awarded USS WWII battleships – The USS Alabama.  You will see the Captain’s Quarters, galley, radio room and sick bay. 5 rarely seen private historic homes will be opened up for your tour group and then back to your hotel for a Madi Gras style dinner with masks and beads.

Day 4   will have a custom tour design especially for you and your group to fit within the time frame you have before embarking on your trip back home.

Or, plan one of the other tour options for your group:

• Festival Of Flowers Tour – 3 Day tour during the last weekend of March featuring Bellingrath Gardens, Eastern Shore and Historic Homes of Mobile AL.
• Wonders Of The Water Tour – 3 Day tour featuring a boat tour of Mobile Bay and Bayou La Batre and Dauphin Island, AL.
• Antebellum South Tour – 3 Day tour featuring a tour of the USS Alabama, Bellingrath Gardens and then over to the Eastern Shore.
• Mardi Gras Tour – 5 Day tour between the first of February and the end of February featuring the coronation of the Queen of Mardi Gras, Bellingrath Gardens and then over to the Eastern Shore.
• Happy Holiday Tour – 4 Day touring event featuring old Mobile Historic Homes, USS Alabama, and a trip over to the Eastern Shore.

You can also take in personal, family or small group 1 Day tours for:

Historic Mobile – One Hour Tour

• Monday through Saturday 10:30am and 2pm
• $16 per person with two person minimum
• Departure from City of Mobile’s Welcome Center at 111 South Royal Street
• Reservations are required

USS Alabama Memorial Park – Three Hour Tour

• $25 per person with two person minimum

Mobile’s Own Ghost Stories Tour – One Hour Tour

• Monday through Friday – Depends on the season – When it gets dark
• Available on weekends with advanced reservations
• $20 per person with six person minimum

Contact Bay City Convention & Tours to plan your customized tour or fill out the online contact form .

Bay City Convention & Tours

PO Box 304, Mobile, AL 36601

Phone: 251.479.9970

Toll-Free: 1.800.338.5597

Fax: 251.479.9918

Tour Categories: Bus (your motorcoach), Walking, Guide, Tour

Personal Guided Tours

If you want to tour Mobile on one-on-one basis and skip the bus or big crowd scene, then get a tour by a local tour guide to see all the sites up close and personal.

Here are two personal guides that will show you the history and grandeur that is Mobile Alabama.

Shanon performs personal guided tours in the Mobile Alabama area and has experience as a Concierge for some of the more prominent hotels in the Atlanta area like Embassy Suites and Sheraton.

A wonderful insiders look at old Mobile and an intro to Mardi Gras. Our time with Sharon was like spending time with someone we’ve known all our lives. I am sure we saw places you won’t get on any other tour. Next time we go to Mobile we will be sure to have Sharon show us more. We debated on doing a self guided tour on a trolley. Glad we chose to do the tour with Sharon instead. A fantastic lady. Thank you Sharon.  Donna Krise

Sharon’s Tour Options

Private Concierge Architectural Tour

Sharon will take you on a guided tour in her vehicle to visit the six historic districts of Mobile where you will see homes that survived for about 250 years.

Departure starts at either the airport, your hotel, cruise ship terminal or an address of your choosing in the Mobile area.  You’ll end up back where you started.

This tour is $175.00 for up to 4 individuals and lasts about 2-½ hours.  Sparkling and still water including snacks are provided. Bring about $20 each if you want to stop for lunch and English is the only language available on these tours.

You will need to provide funds for personal expenditures and any souvenirs you may want to purchase.

Private Bellingrath Gardens & Home Including Dauphin Island and Bayou La Batre

Your private guide will whisk you off to the awarding winning Bellingrath Gardens & Home then through the hometown of Forrest Gump and Bubba Blue.  You’ll also tour through the barrier island of Dauphin Island and stop in for a late lunch at one of the fabulous hometown restaurants.

This tour pricing is $325 for 3 individuals and lasts about 6 hours.  Sparkling and still water are included with snacks. Lunch is provided either at one of Dauphin Island’s great restaurants or at the Lighthouse in Irvington, AL.  Admission to all areas are included.

Special Note : The tour vehicle is not wheelchair accessible.  You will need to enter and exit the vehicle on your own. Wheelchairs are available at Bellingrath Gardens & Home.

Private Concierge Tour

This will be an in depth historical tour of downtown Mobile Alabama.

You will see where banana boats use to drop off their cargo over to where the original Mardi Gras floats throw out the beads and moon pies.

From Bienville Square to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

This tour pricing is $200 for up to 8 individuals and lasts about 3 hours.  Sparkling and still water are included with snacks. Lunch is provided either at one of Dauphin Island’s great restaurants or at the Lighthouse in Irvington, AL.  Admission to all areas are included.

You will need to provide funds for personal expenditures and any souvenirs you may want to purchase plus any snacks or food you might want along the way.

Historic Trolley Tours Of Downtown Mobile Alabama

A 90 minute tour of historic Mobile Alabama in a climate controlled trolley.

This tour departs from 111 South Royal Street in Mobile and cost $15 per person with kids under 12 free.  If you have a group of 15 or more, call the office for a discounted rate at 251-633-0560.

A second pickup location is available on Tuesday and Thursday at 11:05am and 1:05pm from the USS Alabama Memorial Park.

Note: Please check out the website of call the main office to make sure trolley tours are scheduled for the day and time you desire.  Weather, road and traffic conditions can hamper the tour schedules.

Book online here .

The general trolley schedule is as follows:

What locations does this trolley tour visit.

Stops on this riding along trolley tour include the Fort at Colonial Mobile, Church Street Cemetery, Callaghan’s Irish Social Club, the Oakleigh Historic Home area, Carnival Museum, GulfQuest National Maritime Museum, National African American Archives and Museum, USS Alabama Memorial Park, Bienville Square and more!

Spot Of Tea’s Segway Tours & Rentals Self Guided Tour

Want to go it alone?  Try out the segway’s tour from the Spot Of Tea on Dauphin Street.

This tour features about 25 different historical sites around the downtown Mobile Alabama area from the resting place of Joe Cain, one of the founders of Mobile that played a key role in the starting of Mardi Gras.

Visit 310 Dauphin Street, call 251-433-9009 or visit their website for additional details.

Tour times at 7am to 2pm Monday through Friday and 7am to 3pm on Saturday and Sunday.

No matter what type of tour you decide on, Mobile Alabama has a history, attractions and restaurants that will satisfy every interest you can have.

This melting pot of French, British, Spanish and American culture has an interest all unique on its on.

Tim has traveled the Gulf Coast from Texas to the tip of Florida for the last ten years. As the grandson of restaurant entrepreneurs, Tim writes about unique restaurants, things to do and attractions all along the Gulf Coast and Southeast. Just like his grandparents small drive-in restaurant, he loves small town, mom-n-pop establishments as well as interesting and unique places.

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This Coastal Alabama City Is an Underrated Immersion Into the Deep South

M ore than any other American region, the Deep South has its distinctive draws. Large, elegant squares lined with live oak trees dripping in Spanish moss. Grand historic homes with Greek revival columns and cities where every two blocks you see a mansion that could have been ripped from Gone With The Wind . A free-spirited attitude where whiskey flows like water and bars are open until they feel like closing. And heavy air that lends itself to a slower, syrupy way of going through life that feels decidedly different.

There’s a short list of cities where the rest of the US goes to immerse itself in the Deep South. Charleston comes top of mind, right next to Savannah and New Orleans. Some more intrepid travelers may head somewhere like Natchez, Mississippi , or St. Augustine, Florida. Few, however, ever think of Mobile.

But take one walk down the grid of French colonial buildings in downtown Mobile, Alabama, and you’ll realize that the city has all the trappings of the sultry Deep South. The home of the first Mardi Gras is a complete immersion into Southern culture, from the food to the history to the let-the-good-times-roll nightlife. It’s not as big or busy as some better-known Deep South destinations, but that is precisely the point. Mobile is a place where you’ll get the best of Southern culture without gluts of tourists and bachelorette parties.

A historic city where parties run late

Photo: Kristi Blokhin /Shutterstock

Mobile is Alabama’s oldest city, founded by the French in 1702 as the capital of Louisiana. Though it’s been British, Spanish, and American since the mid-18th century, the French influence is obvious in everything from the architecture to the accents. The result of that influence is a Catholic-leaning population, which, if you’re not familiar with the South, means booze flows a lot more freely than it does in Baptist-dominated dry countries farther north.

That creates a distinct party culture in Mobile that, while not nearly on the level of New Orleans, still provides a perfect place to cut loose for a couple of days. Stroll the bars of Dauphin Street running west from downtown, and you’ll hear live music pouring out of places like the Dauphin Street Blues Company and Brickyard until well past midnight.

O’Daly’s Irish Pub packs in a younger crowd that doesn’t much seem to care what night of the week it is. A more sophisticated group lounges inside the Haberdasher , sipping craft cocktails in dim lights. Drag shows and live performances draw people into B-Bobs , and there is, of course, the requisite Wet Willie’s . As the sweet drinks, humidity, and wrought iron balconies combine in a late-night haze, Dauphin Street starts looking a lot like Bourbon Street, but you’ve dropped about half as much money.

Photo: Sabrina Janelle Gordon /Shutterstock

Admittedly, not everyone’s main objective when traveling to the Deep South is to pack themselves into sweaty bars. Those seeking a little more culture and history need only venture a block or two past Dauphin Street to find it. The streets surrounding the historic downtown are packed with historic homes where Victorian, Georgian, and Greek Revival masterpieces alternate along the sidewalks.

Mobile, in its heyday, was a cotton and shipping hub, and the magnates who made their fortunes here all built mansions near the Mobile River. Many are open to the public during select times. Among the most interesting are the Conde-Charlotte House , which was once the city’s first courthouse, and the Italianate Richards-DAR House Museum , first built by a famed riverboat captain then later taken over by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and turned into a museum.

Photo: EQRoy /Shutterstock

Mobile was also home to the first Mardi Gras, a fact people from Mobile will tell you with the same enthusiasm Texans tell you they’re from Texas. Rather than the few weeks Mardi Gras runs in New Orleans, in Mobile it’s a multi-month affair filled with pageants, parades, and debutante balls. You can learn the entire history at the Carnival Museum , set in another of Mobile’s historic homes on Government Street. Or come for the parade during the third weekend in February, which is a decidedly more family-friendly affair than the bacchanal in Louisiana but perhaps more of a cultural education, as well.

Mobile’s newest historical attraction is Clotilda: The Exhibition , a small museum in Africatown telling the story of the last documented slave ship to land in America. In 1860, a full 52 years after America banned the international slave trade, a rogue ship carrying 110 West Africans wrecked just off the coast of Mobile. The enslaved people who survived gained their freedom a few years later after emancipation and formed the first community in the US run by African-born Americans. The museum houses pieces of the slave ship Clotilda that were found in the Mobile River and tells the story of how this community came to thrive in the years that followed.

Feasting on alligator and fresh seafood

Photo: Mark from Mobile /Shutterstock

Another reason people venture into the Deep South is the food. Fresh seafood and deep-fried everything create menus filled with slow-paced indulgence. As a bay city, Mobile thrives when it comes to seafood, and the best place to try it is The Noble South . This narrow spot is wedged into an historic building on Dauphin Street, where you’ll find Radiatore pasta with alligator Bolognese alongside traditional dishes like redfish and shrimp and grits.

For something a little more varied, head a few blocks away to the Insider food hall , a relatively small space tucked at the end of Dauphin Street. Inside you’ll find sushi, poke, tacos, and Middle Eastern food all next to a full bar. You can also take your food or drinks to the video arcade in the back, which among other things offers a combination Pop-a-Shot and Connect Four game that can keep you there for hours.

Photo: Jjay69 /Shutterstock

For a true Southern diner experience, hit Bob’s Downtown Restaurant , a graffiti-covered institution where streetside hangover breakfasts are a local tradition. While you’d be remiss to leave town without trying the cornmeal fried fish n’ smoked gouda cheese grits, or the alligator sausage and cakes, stopping in for lunch means you can try Bob’s big menu of Po’ Boys made with fresh Gulf shrimp.

If there is one must-eat item in Mobile, though, it’s the burger at Callaghan’s Irish bar. The open, breezy “social club” has one of those dive bar burgers that is inexplicably delicious, cooked on a grill that’s been seasoned for decades. The place feels like a slice of Key West on the outskirts of downtown Mobile, filled with locals swigging cheap draft beer and hungry professionals on their lunch break. You can spend hours inside enjoying the ambience, and even if you’re not hungry, odds are you’ll end up ordering a burger eventually.

Photo: Sean Pavone /Shutterstock

After all that food, you may feel the need to walk it off, and Mobile is a treasure trove of scenic streets. Walk through the city’s three main squares — Cathedral, Bienville, and Freedom — as the route takes you through French Revival architecture and live oak trees. Stop by Fort Conde , a replica of the original French fort that safeguarded the city in the 1700s, and you can hop on a historic trolley tour that teaches you about the city. Once you’re done, take a peek into the Battle House Hotel , the oldest and grandest hotel in Alabama that’s been open since 1908.

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BIENVILLE BITES FOOD TOUR

Guided, walking food tours through the historic streets of mobile, alabama..

ENJOY MOBILE’S BEST FOOD AND DRINK IN ONE EXPERIENCE!

TASTE YOUR WAY THROUGH MOBILE

• Most Popular!
• Hour Glass 3 hours
• Tags All ages

Downtown Mobile Food Tour

Get your tastebuds ready for Mobile’s signature food tour! Taste iconic Gulf Coast dishes at some of the most popular eateries while learning about the fascinating history of the area.

• Delicious Food!

Old Mobile Evening Food Tour

Taste your way through the oldest city in Alabama. This experience brings together classic Gulf Coast dishes, incredible scenery, and a lot of fun!

Team Building Tours

Impress your team with some of the best restaurants and food in Mobile! Allow us to show off the city in a unique and delicious way. Team building has never been more fun!

Private Party Tours

Join us for your next birthday celebration, bachelorette party, or family outing! We would love to host you!

• Celebrate Those Special Ladies! (May only!)

Mother’s Day Brunch Tour: Ladies and Lasting Legacies of Mobile

Discover the inspiring stories of Mobile’s trailblazing women as you indulge in a delightful brunch experience on our Bienville Brunch Tour.

• Celebrate Dads! (June only!)

Father’s Day BBBQ Tour

Join our BBBQ Tour! No, we didn’t misspell it. Burger, Baseball, and BarbeQue! It’s a tour for the guys (and gals) doing what all guys love – eating! Hear stories along the way of baseball history in Mobile, Civil War, and life along the Mobile River.

COME EXPERIENCE THE BEST FOOD IN MOBILE, AL ON A GUIDED WALKING TOUR!

Mobile’s first and only food tour will give you delicious food from locally-owned restaurants, historical tidbits from our city’s rich culture, and memories to last a lifetime.

#2 FOOD TOUR IN THE U.S.

#1 food & drink activity in mobile.

#1 FOOD TOUR IN ALABAMA

Let's create a memory you'll never forget on our tour.

What a great way to dive into the local history, delicious good and colorful culture of downtown Mobile. Our Food tour guide, Chris, was very knowledgeable and took us to some spectacular eating places and he saved the best for last! You will have to book the tour to find out exactly what I am referring to.

This was one of the best food tours that I have participated in. Our tour guide was phenomenal from start to finish. He was very patient and explained some history behind his beautiful city. Every food destination we went to was extremely flavorful And delicious! I highly recommend this food tour.

Absolutely wonderful!!! Chris was so knowledgeable and so invested in the whole evening! Everything was delightful - the food was delicious and the history of Mobile’s food was great! It is 100% obvious that Chris LOVES what he does. If you are anywhere near Mobile, just do this!!! You will not be disappointed!

The tour covered more restaurants than I anticipated with generous servings at each stop. Fun and relaxing afternoon. Came with my adult children and one of their spouses. Can purchase alcohol at most stops as well.

Virtual Town Tour: Mobile, Alabama

By Bobbye Miller Kenyon

Situated on Alabama’s southern coastline, Mobile sports mild temperatures and scenic locales with lots to see and do, combined with a 300-year history.

Also known as “The Port City,” Mobile is the oldest city in the state. It is home to the second largest river delta and wetland in the country, for which it earned the nickname America’s Amazon. For outdoor enthusiasts, more than 250,000 acres of scenic waterways, woods, wetlands and parks provide a unique eco-adventure that’s only 10 minutes from downtown.

Mobile Bay – Kayak

Mobile is also known for its historic architecture and several museums. The 65-acre estate garden and historic home of Walter and Bessie Bellingrath is at the top of the list. Bellingrath was one of the first Coca-Cola bottlers in the Southeast, building the spectacular floral landscaped Bellingrath Gardens and Home on the Fowl River near Mobile.

The city also lays claim to the oldest Mardi Gras celebration in the United States. If you can’t make it to the annual February event, you can stop by the Mobile Carnival Museum and get an up close look at actual costumes and floats that are created for Mardi Gras. Other notable stops include the GulfQuest National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico, Mobile Museum of Art and the History Museum of Mobile. Historic trolley tours, in rotation daily via Visit Mobile’s Welcome Center in the downtown area, provide a unique ticket to take in several of the city’s historic districts.

Dauphin Street

History buffs may enjoy a visit to Fort Conde, built by the French in 1702. Today’s historic fort area covers nearly one-third of its original space and offers a glimpse into the life of 18th century settlers. For 20 th century history, the U.S.S Alabama Battleship Memorial Park is home to the iconic U.S.S. Alabama World War II naval battleship as well as the U.S.S Drum submarine.  The military history park and museum is located on the western shore of Mobile Bay and showcases a collection of notable aircraft and ships.

USS Alabama Battleship and park in Mobile, Alabama

Downtown offers museums, art galleries, boutiques, nightlife, and fabulous cuisine all within walking distance. Visitors may also take in the city sights and sounds with a tour on a duck boat.

With more than 50 restaurants downtown, an array of dining options are available. Wintzell’s Oyster House serves up fresh shrimp, blue crabs and oysters from the Gulf. From the 34th floor of the RSA Trustmark Bank Building, Dauphin’s provides spectacular panoramic views and select French Creole fare. The Noble South dishes up reimagined Southern comfort food in a rustic-chic setting.  For dining on the water, a coastal cruise and live entertainment is paired with catering by Bob Baumbower’s restaurants aboard the Perdido Queen Paddlewheel.

Oysters! Yum!

Mobile’s newest marina complex, Dockside Marina, sits in a protected harbor of Dog River, less than a quarter mile north of Dog River Bridge on Dauphin Island Parkway. A gated security entrance provides security for monthly or daily dockage with new dock slips available. Its family-friendly atmosphere has a relaxing 100-foot beach, volleyball net, kayak and stand-up paddle board rentals.

Mobile Skyline

Dog River Marina is conveniently located at the mouth of the Tenn-Tom Waterway, just 22 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, and offers boaters a full-service facility: 1,500 feet of dockage with 75 slips, of which 35 are sheltered. The complex houses a West Marine store, Valvtech fuel products, overnight security and free wi-fi.  Commercial and private airports are near the complex, with courtesy and rental cars easily available.

For those with more time, stunning seaside escapes are less than an hour’s drive from Mobile. The twin resort cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach provide a wide range of outdoor experiences.  Gulf Shores is home to Gulf State Park, Bon Secour National Wildife Refuge and the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, which offers a selection of animal encounters.  Orange Beach is a water sports hub with a fun-in-the-sun vibe to its brilliant white sand beaches. Its Waterfront Park is complete with a fishing pier and picnic areas, and its century-old schoolhouse is now the Orange Beach Indian & Sea Museum, dedicated to the area’s Native American and nautical heritage.

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Maysville, Kentucky’s, Small-Town Charm

Historic river communities like Maysville, Kentucky, mix small-town charm with trendy culture, and boaters can wind through the town with tranquil ease. Coast along the Ohio River and spend a day or two exploring the culinary delights, the arts and entertainment scenes, and the outdoorsy offerings throughout the city.  Situated right along the Ohio River, […] Read More

Boating Beyond Chicago: Joliet to Ottawa

The bright city lights of Chicago have attracted boaters to its waterfront docks and activities for decades. But for boaters looking to escape city surroundings and enjoy the great natural beauty of the Illinois River, there are nearby options on a portion of the Illinois Waterway flowing from Joliet to Ottawa (and beyond). Starting roughly […] Read More

Mobile Mardi Gras Trail Tours

A walking or driving route that recreates the history of Mobile from the colonial period to the early twentieth century and particularly the birth of America's Mardi Gras traditions. Discover the festive side of life during the steamboat era, learn about Creole culture and Guilded Age extravagance, mixed with the intrigue of secret societies, flambeaus and ballrooms. The self-guided tour is available online. Guided tours and trolley tours available.

Getting There

• Downtown Mobile
• Mobile, AL 36602

Where to Stay

Days inn & suites by wyndham mobile i-65, pala verde mobile home & rv park, holiday inn mobile aiport, red roof inn & suites mobile - tillmans corner, la quinta inn & suites by wyndham mobile, woodspring suites mobile, fairfield inn & suites by marriott mobile, holiday inn - mobile west i-10, hampton inn/mobile i-10 bellingrath gardens, upcoming events, ecowild outdoor expo, 24th annual alabama chef challenge, a latin rhapsody, living history crew drill, mobile symphony summer strings, where to eat, braided river brewing company, panera bread, kate shepard's house bed & breakfast, tanner pecans & candies, bake my day, iron hand brewing, half shell oyster house, boo radley's, cammie’s old dutch ice cream shoppe, find your alabama sweet spot.

Find the sweetest Alabama vacation spot perfectly suited just for you. Customize your next Alabama vacation by the type of experience you are looking for, then filter by the region of Alabama you want to visit. Don't know what your Alabama destination should be? Let our interactive location map be your guide. Now, where is your next Alabama Sweet Spot?

Mobile Mystery Dinners

Church Street Graveyard

The Admiral, a Wyndham Hotel

The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa

Flight Works Alabama

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Old Shell Trolley

• 3725 Calderwood Dr., Mobile, AL 36608
• (251) 604-6626

Classic trolley transportation for weddings, reunions, corporate events, private parties and more in Mobile and surrounding areas. Seating for up to 32 passengers per trolley, featuring wooden seats, brass railings, windows, rear platform, A/C and heat, iPod connection, CD player and speakers.