Despite a non-traditional start to a business trip, I was able to get my work done and to enjoy the southern hospitality of this unexpectedly quaint town.
I recently traveled to Mobile, Alabama for work. In typical fashion, I quickly encountered a self-inflicted problem, which I only realized while sitting in the airline lounge at the Narita International Airport – I had forgotten my wallet at home. I immediately contacted my office to have someone get my wallet from my house and then mail it to my hotel by expedited courier (which is two days under the best of circumstances). This meant that I would arrive in Mobile, after nearly thirty hours of traveling (door-to-door), with only the one hundred dollars that I was fortunate to have accidentally put in my pocket, rather than my wallet.
Without a wallet, I was unable to pick up my rental car, so I had to catch a cab into town. I was a bit surprised at the distance, and correspondingly the cost of the taxi, from the airport to the Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa (26 N Royal St, Mobile). So forty dollars lighter because of the ride, I put on my best manners and attempted to check into my hotel without a credit card, or sufficient enough cash. It turns out hotels need one of the two and not having either really sucks for trying to check-in. Fortunately, my office was still open at home and I was able to convince the very pleasant hotel staff to accept a faxed authorization charging my stay to one of my business partners - let the champagne and lobster room service begin.
The next day my replacement American Express card arrived, and the day following that, my wallet did. So, my trip started out a bit bumpy, but ultimately, I did get out and about with my newly minted AMEX card. Here are some of the eateries and watering holes I managed to experience:
The Royal Scam (72 S Royal St, Mobile) – the restaurant looks like a casual dining restaurant and had families in attendance, but the food was well prepared and nicely presented in a way that was anything but casual. They also had some interesting craft beers and a nice bar. It was my favorite restaurant of my trip for quality.
Felix’s Fish Camp (530 Battleship Pkwy, Spanish Fort) – my client brought me to experience Mobile and the food that it is famous for. It was a nice place and the food was surprisingly good, despite the fact that just about everything I ate was fried - including tomatoes of the green kind. Ultimately, it was a fun and yummy meal, and I recommend it for every first-time visitor to Mobile.
Other bars and restaurants I managed to stumble into, and out of, include; the Trellis Room in the Battle House was not bad for a hotel bar. But, most of the fun seemed to be on Dauphin Street. T.P. Crockmier's (250 Dauphin St., Mobile), an old standby in downtown Mobile, I am told; The Dumbwaiter (167 Dauphin St, Mobile), a new, very nice, restaurant with excellent drinks; Mama’s (220 Dauphin St., Mobile), lots of fried comfort foods; and The Haberdasher (113 Dauphin St, Mobile), a very trendy, upscale place that was particularly popular with the downtown professional folks.
In addition to work, food, and drink, I had some time to visit the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park (2703 Battleship Pkwy, Mobile), with the battleship, submarine, outdoor static displays, and nice indoor museum. If you are a military history buff, you’ll like the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park. A little closer to my hotel was Fort Conde (150 S Royal St, Mobile), a partially reconstructed fort that dates back to 1702. It was nice, quiet, and an excellent way to spend an hour or two over the weekend.
Ultimately, despite a non-traditional start to my business trip, I was able to get my work done and to enjoy the southern hospitality of this unexpectedly quaint town.
(All photos, such as they are, were taken by me; all copyrights are reserved).
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