MOBILE, ALABAMA, USA -- As with most of our "Ten Best" lists, the order is not an order of preference. If it made it on the list, we thought it was pretty nifty, plain and simple. Be sure to stay tuned at the end of the article for how to get more information about visiting Mobile.

1. Visit Bellingrath Gardens
2. Explore the Battle Ship Alabama
3. Go to Dauphin Island
4. Eat
5. Get in Touch with History
6. Play and Learn at the Exploreum and Science Center
7. Play Golf
8. Gamble
9. Fish
10. Celebrate Mardi Gras

1. Visit Bellingrath Gardens -- A testament to what dedication, hard work and lots of money can accomplish, the breathtakingly beautiful Bellingrath Gardens and Home began as a humble fishing camp, purchased to give Walter Bellingrath, the area's first Coca-Cola distributor, a weekend place to escape the city. Eventually Walter and his wife Bessie moved their permanent residence to the 65 acre estate, continually building and landscaping the land to reflect the natural beauty of the area. Visitors to Bellingrath Gardens will see flowers in bloom all year long as they stroll through the sprawling grounds which include a rose garden, butterfly garden, rockery, formal gardens, Oriental and American gardens, mirror lake, conservatory riverfront walk and an ecological bayou boardwalk, where local wildlife abounds.

Profiled on A&E's "American Castles," the Bellingrath Home was completed in 1935 under the careful direction of Bessie Bellingrath, and showcases her expansive collection of priceless antiques, furniture, silver, china, crystal and cut glass. A tour of the home gives insight into how the generous Bellingrath couple lived and entertained and how they were inspired to create this horticultural masterpiece.

Bellingrath Gardens and Home is located at 12401 Bellingrath Gardens Rd. in Theodore, Alabama, just 20 minutes southwest of Mobile. Allow 30-40 minutes to tour the home and 1-2 hours to tour the gardens, and do wear comfortable shoes. For more information, click on www.bellingrath.org.

2. Explore the Battle Ship Alabama -- World War II history buffs will want to spend a significant amount of time exploring the USS Battleship Alabama Memorial Park where visitors can take a self-guided tour of the mammoth 680-foot long ship at their leisure.

Commissioned in August 1942, the Alabama was nicknamed the "Lucky A" because no American lives were ever lost on board due to enemy fire during her 4 1/2 years of active duty. But this 155-acre park offers much more than just the battleship. Also on display is the submarine USS Drum. Commissioned in 1941, the Drum arrived in Pearl Harbor on April 1, 1942 to begin a series of 13 war patrols, where she sank 15 ships. While the battleship crew numbered 2500, a crew of only 72 manned the Drum.

The park's 36,000 square foot aircraft pavilion is home to 24 planes from the past seven decades, including a super secret spy plane that could fly more than 5 times the speed of sound; one of six existing A-12 Blackbird spyplanes; one of three remaining OS2U Kingfishers from World War II; one of only four remaining F-86L Sabre Jets; one of two ever built YF-17 -- the prototype for the F/A-18 Hornet, still flown today by the navy and marines.

The USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park is located at 2703 Battleship Parkway (Hwy. 90/98) just off interstate 10, exits 17 or 30. For more information, visit their website at www.ussalabama.com.

3. Go to Dauphin Island -- Just a short drive from Mobile you'll find miles of snow white sandy beaches and all the recreational activities that go along with them. You'll also find shops, restaurants, golf, hotels, motels, and campgrounds in this small island community.

Take time to wander, there are more than just beaches on Dauphin Island. Historic Fort Gaines, site of the famous Battle of Mobile Bay, houses the actual cannons used in the Civil War conflict. On weekends, knowledgeable costumed tour guides like the one pictured, add to the educational experience.

While on the island, you can also explore the four key ecosystems of coastal Alabama (the Delta, Mobile Bay, the Barrier Islands and Mobile Bay) at The Dauphin Island Sea Lab and Estuarium. The center houses aquariums and fascinating nature exhibits inside its 10,000 square foot facility.

Bird watchers from all over the country regularly flock to Dauphin Island, and with good reason, the entire island is designated as a bird sanctuary! The Audubon bird sanctuary covers 160 acres of woodlands and boasts miles of walking trails that give access to swamp, pine forests, live oak and magnolia clearings and, of course, the gulf beach.

For a free copy of the Dauphin Island Guide, call toll free 877-532-8744 or 251-861-5524 or get more information by visiting www.dauphinisland.org. Visit the Estuarium website at http://estuarium.disl.org.

4. Eat! -- Mobile presents lots of great dining options, especially for seafood lovers. Fresh fish, shrimp, crab and oysters can be found at local restaurants throughout the area. One of my favorite places is Wintzell's Oyster House, a Mobile institution since 1938 where they serve oysters fried, stewed and nude! This casual restaurant is lots of fun, its walls covered with signs and sayings, most by the restaurant's late founder, J. Oliver Wintzell. If oysters aren't your thing, Wintzell's serves terrific shrimp, and their seafood gumbo was judged Mobile's best by the Mobile Area Restaurant and Food Service Association.

Other dining options of note include the casual but delicious Saucy Q Bar B Q (click to read our full article, along with ribs cooking tips from owner Elbert Wingfield), where the BBQ ribs are so tender they practically fall off the bone. Rousso's Seafood Restaurant, where they serve seafood with a Greek flairis known for their signature dish -- scamp, a very mild white fish. While Rousso's serves this delicacy a number of ways, the Scamp Almondine was our favorite. If you're looking for gourmet fare, chef Kerry Burzelleri of the Riverview Café and Grill at the Adam's Mark Hotel turns out some fabulous choices, from fresh seafood, to melt-in-your-mouth tender steaks, to elaborate desserts.

Wintzell's Oyster House has 2 locations: downtown (the original) at 605 Dauphin Street (call 251-423-4605) and at 6700 Airport Blvd. (call 251-341-1111).

Saucy Q is located at 1252 Government St.; for more information call 251-433-RIBS.

You can find Rousso's at Eastern Shore Centre; 30500 State Highway 181 Suite 800; Spanish Fort, AL. Call 251-625-3386 or visit www.roussosrestaurant.com for more information.

The Adam's Mark Hotel (and Riverview Café and Grill) is located at 64 South Water St.; call 251-438-4000 or visit www.adamsmark.com.

5. Get in Touch with History -- Mobile has lots to keep history buffs happy. The Museum of Mobile in downtown gives a wonderful overview of the area, including a fascinating, interactive exhibit on the slave trade. The Oakleigh Historic Complex is really three museums in one, including the Oakleigh House Museum (circa 1833), the Cox-Deasy Cottage (circa 1850) and Mardi Gras Cottage Museum, which boasts a huge collection of elaborate, colorful costumes and traces the history of carnival in the city where Mardi Gras originated (you read that correctly, Mardi-Gras started in Mobile, not New Orleans). The National African American Archives Museum offers detailed information about African-American history, including art, artifacts and exhibits honoring prominent African-Americans.

If that's not enough, the city boasts several historic districts filled with fabulous architectural masterpieces, including Victorian, Federal, Queen Anne, Greek Revival and Italianate buildings. The best way to see it all is on a driving tour, and the Mobile Historic Development Commission has produced a free brochure that will guide you through the best historical neighborhoods. To get your copy, call 251-208-7281.

The Museum of Mobile is located downtown at 111 South Royal St.; call 251-208-7569 or visit www.museumofmobile.com.

The Oakleigh Historic Complex is located at 350 Oakleigh Place; call 251-432-1281 or visit www.historicmobile.com.

The National African-American Archives Museum is at 564 Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr.; call 334-433-8511.

6. Play and Learn at the Exploreum and Science Center -- Children of all ages will enjoy a visit to the Exploreum Science Center where a plethora of interactive exhibits and experiments make learning fun. You can make music on a electronic harp, learn about pulleys and leverage while hoisting yourself high in the air and watch magnets at work as tiny bits of metal filings dance to the beat of various kinds of music. When you're finished, be sure to take in an Imax movie at the adjacent theatre.

The Science Center is located just around the corner from the Museum of Mobile at 65 Government St.; call 251-208-6887 or visit www.exploreum.net.

7. Play Golf -- Golf Digest ranked Mobile as one of the top ten golf value destinations in the United States. But more than just great value, golfers will find a wide variety of challenging courses to play. There's something for golfers at all levels and the scenery is spectacular. Try the Earl Stone designed Peninsula Golf Club, which follows the natural terrain through lakes and wetlands. The Arnold Palmer designed Cypress Bend at Craft Farms features wide fairways that wind through a setting of glistening lakes, sprawling bunkers and lush marshlands. The Rock Creek Gold Club's excellent service earned this facility four stars from Golf Digest and the Magnolia Grove course hosted the Nike Tour Championship in 1998 and LPGA's Golf Champions tournament in 1999.

And that's just a few of the many golf options. To find out more about golfing in Mobile, visit www.mobile.org/html/guide/golf.php.

8. Gamble! -- After a day of sightseeing, golfing or beaching, the Mobile Greyhound Park is a fun place for those 18 and over to spend the evening. Featuring wagering and first class dining, you won't mind "going to the dogs."

If you feel like taking a drive, it will take you less than an hour to get go to Biloxi on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, where you'll find lots of gorgeous casinos, complete with Las Vegas style entertainment. The drive is quick -- interstate all the way, and also beautifully sceni as you cross lots of brigges, bays and bayous.

To get to Mobile Greyhound Park take the exit 10 off I-10. For more information visit www.mobilegreyhoundpark.com. To get to Biloxi, keep heading west on I-10 untilk you see signs and billboards directing you to the various casinos. For more information about visiting the Mississippi Gulf Coast, click on www.gulfcoast.org.

9. Fish -- Mobile is a fisherman's paradise with the bay and nearby rivers teaming with speckled trout, redfish, flounder and more. You'll find lots of fishing charters options in Mobile Bay and at Dauphin Island. One great outfitter is Making Waves Charters. Captain Cindy Frank and her crew provide everything you need -- rods, reels, bait, tackle, instruction and saltwater fishing licenses. Families, children, serious fishermen and even non-fishermen all have a great time on Cindy's charters. For more information call 251-443-9463 or email makewaves@earthlink.net.

10. Celebrate Mardi Gras -- Mobile (not New Orleans) is the birthplace of Mardi Gras and the city takes this celebration very seriously. For a month or so before the actual Mardi Gras Day you'll find parades winding through Mobile streets. In fact Mobile regularly becomes an RV City at Mardi Gras time when thousands of RVers park in the city to take part in the festivities.

If you're not in Mobile at Mardi Gras time, you can still take part by visiting the Oakleigh Historic Complex's Mardi Gras Cottage Museum, where you'll see tons of priceless Mardi Gras costumes and memorabilia. The historic Admiral Semmes Radisson Hotel is decorated with seven spectacular murals depicting Mobile's Mardi Gras History. Currently under construction is a museum completely dedicated to Mardi Gras in Mobile, but we'll have to wait for that.

For Oakleigh information, see number 5 above. The Admiral Semmes Radisson Hotel is located at 251 Government St.; call 205-432-8000. For much more information about spending Mardi Gras in Mobile, click here to check out LA Jackson's informative article.

MORE ABOUT MOBILE

For more information about travel in and around Mobile, visit www.mobile.org.

If you plan on flying, US Airways flies into the Mobile Regional Airport. For more information, visit www.usairways.com.

In the Nearby Area

• Mobile: A Kinder, Gentler, More Family Friendly Mardi-Gras Celebration
• Making Award Winning Ribs at Saucy Q
• RVing and Camping at Dauphin Island
  

Cheri Sicard, in addition to being the editor of FabulousTravel.com and its sister site, Fabulous Foods.com is the author of The Great American Handbook: What You Can Do For Your Country Today and Every Day. To learn more about Cheri, click here.