Alabama · best-of list
9 Top Things to Do in Alabama
All 9 things to do our route editors picked in Alabama, across 2 destinations, gathered in one list. Expect sights and experiences, with Mobile contributing the most (5).
Our curated picks
9 things to do in Alabama, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Mobile 5 picks
Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception
Mobile · On our New Orleans & Gulf Coast route
Greek Revival cathedral with German stained glass, steps from downtown.
Tip: Free to enter outside Mass times.
Photo: DXR · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colonial Fort Condé
Mobile · On our New Orleans & Gulf Coast route
Partial reconstruction of the 1700s French fort, next to the welcome center.
Tip: Pair with a walk down Dauphin Street.
Photo: Colonial Fort Condé · Google
Mobile Carnival Museum
Mobile · On our New Orleans & Gulf Coast route
Mardi Gras gowns, trains and floats from America's oldest Carnival city.
Tip: Open limited days; check hours first.
Photo: Altairisfar · Public domain
Oakleigh House Museum
Mobile · On our New Orleans & Gulf Coast route
1833 Greek Revival mansion with guided tours in the Oakleigh Garden District.
Tip: Tours by the hour; azaleas peak in March.
Photo: Historic Oakleigh · Google
USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park
Mobile · On our New Orleans & Gulf Coast route
Tour a WWII battleship, the submarine USS Drum and an aircraft pavilion.
Tip: Wear shoes for ladders; allow 2–3 hours.
Photo: Aaron's Roadtrip Photography · Google
Gulf Shores 4 picks
Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo
Gulf Shores · On our New Orleans & Gulf Coast route
Hands-on zoo with animal encounters on the edge of town.
Tip: Book animal encounters in advance.
Photo: Acdixon · CC0
Fort Morgan State Historic Site
Gulf Shores · On our New Orleans & Gulf Coast route
Brick star fort that guarded Mobile Bay in the 1864 battle.
Tip: Combine with the Bon Secour trails nearby.
Photo: Fort Morgan State Historic Site · Google
Gulf State Park Pier
Gulf Shores · On our New Orleans & Gulf Coast route
1,540-ft fishing pier for sunsets, dolphins and pelicans.
Tip: Small walk-on fee; rent tackle on site.
Photo: Jodybwiki · CC BY-SA 3.0
Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail
Gulf Shores · On our New Orleans & Gulf Coast route
Paved trail network through pine and marsh, great for biking.
Tip: Rent bikes at Gulf State Park; watch for gators near lakes.
Photo: Jodybwiki · CC BY-SA 3.0
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the things to do in Alabama?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 9 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Alabama has the most things to do on this list?
Mobile has the most (5 of 9), followed by Gulf Shores (4).
Are any of these free?
2 picks on this list are marked free in our route notes: Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail. Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
More lists for Alabama
Top things to do nearby
Destinations on this list
- Mobile 5 on this list
- Gulf Shores 4 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.