Considering relocating to Mobile from Long Island, NY- Any advice? (Daphne: hotel, to live)

[roanoker 4]

Mobile is close to the most interesting city in the world: New Orleans.
I think you will enjoy the Gulf coast. Yes, it is southern and many of the people cling to their "looney toon" ways about the "confederacy" but that should not deter you from experiencing Mobile. There is nothing in the world better than jazz, a hurricane drink, Mardi Gras in Mobile & N.O. With their French ancestry I think the spirit of the locals is far more European and you will be impressed coming from New York City. Don't let the southern crazies paint the entire picture of this city. Good Luck!

[RedEagle]

Originally Posted by Susan75

Really? That's fantastic. Does anyone have pictures of the beaches there? What are the neighborhoods like? Do you have little villages with sidewalks or are there long stretches of nothing and then a subdivision, nothing, then another subdivision. We looked at NC a while back and that's what a lot of the area outside Raleigh seemed like. Would you say the area is rural or suburban? I suppose that depends in large part on your definition of suburban/rural of course.

Live Cam from Pink Pony Pub in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan Alabama

[midtownruth]

I think you would like Fairhope, AL. It is closer to the beaches than Mobile and is a beautiful town, full of arts, literate people and is on the bay. It seems to be an open-minded town. I have lived half my life in Baldwin County and half in midtown Mobile. I love both. Midtown and downtown Mobile feel somewhat the same as the Eastern Shore as far as general acceptance goes. Oakleigh Garden District is quite lovely, too. Moderator cut: website

In general, though, public schools are better in Spanish Fort, Daphne and Fairhope than those in Mobile. Bayside Academy is a lovely, non-parochial private school (grades K4-12) in Daphine, right on the bay. Most people I know send their children to private schools in Mobile. The only non-parochial one I can think of is UMS-Wright in midtown Mobile.

Good Luck

[downtowndoll]

Originally Posted by Susan75

I am curious about Mobile and would like some honest opinions of the area, from both locals and transplants from NY. I am married, 34 and have two young boys ages 4 & 2 years old. I am most interested in the best school districts, best areas to raise a family, what the beaches are like and how bad the racism really is. Do they hate New yorkers? What does the area look like? Is it pretty? Is the city nice, are there lots of things to do for kids, is the landscape hilly or flat, rural or suburban, etc.?
Any help would be appreciated

Wow! Lots of really good advice from everyone! I have a friend who moved down here this past summer from New York- oh my gosh, she loves it so much! She was trying to get away from the cold weather mostly. And high taxes or high utilities.

I actually met her when she was visiting at our downtown church and she quickly met everyone and is firmly ensconced in Midtown. Her attitude is "do you know how wonderful Mobile is?" so of course, we can't help but love her. LOL!

I put my children in school at the magnet schools where it is 50/50 black and white because I felt the same way you do... I didn't want my kids picking up a racist attitude.

[7spider]

Originally Posted by downtowndoll

Wow! Lots of really good advice from everyone! I have a friend who moved down here this past summer from New York- oh my gosh, she loves it so much! She was trying to get away from the cold weather mostly. And high taxes or high utilities.

I actually met her when she was visiting at our downtown church and she quickly met everyone and is firmly ensconced in Midtown. Her attitude is "do you know how wonderful Mobile is?" so of course, we can't help but love her. LOL!

I put my children in school at the magnet schools where it is 50/50 black and white because I felt the same way you do... I didn't want my kids picking up a racist attitude.

Most of us New Yorkers that are transplanted in the south love it. The warm weather and the mostly warm southern hospitality is great. New York is a fun great place, but it is also very stressful and that's not good for your health.

[brescott]

I'm from Mobile. I lived there about fourteen years before moving to Dallas for my husband's job. Mobile is a laid back, friendly town. There isn't better food anywhere. Find Osmans, Via Emilia, and Butch Cassidy's and you'll see what I'm talking about.
Racism: There's still quite a bit of segregation in Mobile. The racial problem, oddly enough, has more to do with the younger generation. There's a LOT of young, black, "ghetto" kids who tend to cause a lot of problems. I've never seen so many kids walking around with poor manners and baggy pants than I do while walking around the mall (or the parking lot of USA Med Center). They are also responsible for the high crime rate, as it is mostly black on black crime in the 'bad' parts of Mobile. My husband and I worked at the trauma center at USA long enough to see that.
In general, working and middle class (and above) black couples (interracial or otherwise) are widely accepted. I don't think most people are prejudiced against color; it's the culture these younger southern blacks have embraced that is annoying. Having said that, nobody likes the Jerry Springer trailer park meth head white kids either!
I lived in the Cottage Hill area for a few years while single. I always felt really safe. My neighborhood was a 50/50 mix and I never had any problems.
I know a lot of resident physicians and other young professional couples that live in MidTown. I never felt safe enough to buy there, but LOVE the houses. I don't know anyone personally that has been a crime victim. Those neighborhoods are a little pricey, but they are a lot of fun.
West Mobile is a great place to raise kids, but traffic is a killer.
The 'Eastern Shore' has much better schools and is a little more laid back.

[android2u]

I lived in Mobile and the biggest issue was "culture shock". Most stores and restaurants close by 8pm and there is absolutley nothing to do at night unless you hang out with people you know. Also make sure you remain intellectually stimulated as you will be "dumbed down" becuase NY has a higher eductaion rate . No offense, just an observation. People on the otherhand are much Nicer and cordial and the scenery is gorgeous in some areas. IF YOU like dramatic thunderstorms and huirricanes(I actually love it) then it's a fun place. The bellengrath gardens are pretty and the southern seafood on the shore in baldwin county is second to none. Just do not rely on Mobile to satisfy and cutlural passions. Youc an drive 2 hrs to new orleans or 1 hour to pensacola.

[PortCity]

Andoid2u ^^^ You must didn`t get out much because Mobile has a pretty strong night life Dauphin street is full of bars/clubs/ and places that offer live music !! New Orleans and Mobile share the same culture being that in New Orleans the culture is a little thicker than Mobile. No offense to you my friend but I don`t know who you were around but to say the entire city is un educated is just crazy to me. Mobile has 5 institutes of higher learning USA - 17,000 , Springhill college-2,500, Mobile University-5,000,Bishop State-5,000,USA-Eastershore 5,000(Often travel to Mobile campus for certain classes). So i`m sure you had to have ran into some individual with intellect .I have friends who are in school,proffesionals,and have only a high school diploma but are all able to hold an intellectual conversation.I was living in New York a couple of summers ago and for as intellect goes it was the same as it is in Mobile. I was in Huntsville for 3 years , and Huntsville is a city that has over 45,000 engineers and the convosations we had were just as intellectual as the people that I associate with daily in Mobile.Pensacola doesn`t have more culture than Mobile, Pensacola has a beach.To be honest unless you live in Chicago,L.A,Atlanta,Houston, or Miami then of course you wouldn`t be surrounded by as much ethnic groups(culture) like New York.When I visit New orleans i see black and white and other ethnic groups here and there like Mobile.


I`m sorry that you surrounded your self with people who couldn`t read,write,or whole an intellectual coverstaion with you about the ananatomy of the Human body,graduate level Physics,Calculus 350,Botany,and Organic Chemistry during your stay in Mobile.

[southernnaturelover]

Originally Posted by android2u

Also make sure you remain intellectually stimulated as you will be "dumbed down"

^^Sounds like you got a double dose of that.

[Valnf]

Originally Posted by Susan75

I am curious about Mobile and would like some honest opinions of the area, from both locals and transplants from NY. I am married, 34 and have two young boys ages 4 & 2 years old. I am most interested in the best school districts, best areas to raise a family, what the beaches are like and how bad the racism really is. Do they hate New yorkers? What does the area look like? Is it pretty? Is the city nice, are there lots of things to do for kids, is the landscape hilly or flat, rural or suburban, etc.?
Any help would be appreciated

I just want you to know that I relocated here from New England (RI) and I can't say enough. We live in Eastern Shore Spanish Fort and there are new shoppings, best beautiful beaches ever, great schools, unbelievable sports and probably the best family oriented area that I have ever seen. If you haven't relocated I would consider this place over many others. Mobile economy is better than the north east. The quality of living w/housing costs and taxes are way cheaper than the north east. Actually no comparison. Mobile is much older and I would recommend Eastern Shores area. Closer to Florida and beaches. Good luck and if I can give any more tips don't hesitate to email back. You will be happy you did the move. A little hotter but you wouldn't be moving down south if you didn't like the heat. No depressing winters like up north.