Things To Do In Mobile

Built in 1857, the Southern Market/Old City Hall building served as home to three groups: the mayor and his city council meetings, several local militias, and a food market. Since then, the Italianate building has been deemed a national landmark, and its tenants have been whittled down to one: History Museum of Mobile. With its permanent exhibitions, the museum preserves more than 300 years of Mobile history, starting with the city's first Native American inhabitants. Interactive exhibits and artifacts—including antique silver and a cannon recovered from the CSS Alabama, which sunk during an 1864 battle—usher guests all the way to the present day.

Along with its mainstay exhibitions, the museum hosts events dedicated to film screenings, lectures, and debunking myths purported by Magic 8 Balls. History Museum of Mobile team has also helped open two other historical sites in town, including the Phoenix Fire Museum, which houses horse-drawn steam engines.

In 2014, Alpine Hills Swim Club celebrates its golden anniversary, marking a half century—and several generations—of community cohesion engendered through splishing, splashing, and cool summertime dips. Group and individual swim lessons are available for all ages, and kids aged 4–18 can join the Sharks swim team. Each May through Labor Day, the club also hosts regular events such as movie nights and cookouts.

The Double-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Mobile BayBears have won four Southern League championships since their debut in 1997. The club grinds their cleats at Hank Aaron Stadium, a classic, 6,000-seat venue that serves as a lively monument to Mobile native and Hall of Famer Henry Aaron, Jr.

Every four to five weeks, Improv Comedy Underground puts on an unscripted, interactive show filled with spontaneous jokes and side-tickling chortles. Each show consists of a group of improvisational performers who participate in a series of wit-testing games led by a host and audience suggestions. Because of the on-the-fly nature of the hour-long shows, the content isn't always predictable and may contain adult language and humor, so it's not recommended for young children or stoic philosophers in the midst of vision quests.

Established: 2006
Handicap Accessible: Yes
Staff Size: 25–50
Parking: Parking lot
Reservations/Appointments: Recommended
Most popular offering: Classes

Q&A with Sean, Owner and Director

What makes your business stand out?
We are a progressions-based program to help promote safety for our athletes. Our staff attends continuing education regularly to make sure we are staying up-to-date with the latest techniques and coaching trends.

What inspired you to start or run this business?
A passion for cheerleading and a desire to bring a reputable program to the Gulf Coast area. We wanted a family-friendly gym where athletes can be trained safely and correctly.

What is the best reaction you’ve ever gotten from a customer?
We regularly see athletes in the gym who have since gone off to college and are now cheering on scholarship throughout the Southeast. They are part of the CF1 Family and are always welcome.

What’s your favorite part about your job?
Being the positive experience in a child's life each week.

Experienced photo gurus Doug Box and Randy Kerr impart practical photo skills to curious shutterbugs during engaging seminars that have appeared across the States and in eight countries abroad. Doug Box, author of myriad photography-technique books, is one of 13 Kodak mentors and is the Executive Director of the Texas Professional Photographers Association. His co-teacher, Randy Kerr, heads World Photographic, which uses photography as a vehicle for illuminating humanitarian and environmental topics. Both men have been teaching photography classes for years and help amateurs take photos that capture piercing looks, toothy smiles, and elusive dodo sightings.