Mobile green spaces? (Birmingham, Daphne, Fairhope: camp, live, shop)

[Stones Throw]

Does Mobile (Lower Alabama) have any accessible green spaces to walk bike run? As opposed to the various smaller pocket parks? A place where you could get to from downtown, if not on foot than a 15-30m by car? Besides the 40m drive Dauphin Islan and 30m Eastern shore (I did see a bike path out in Fairhope). I'd be moving from Southern California, where most cities have some sort of connective tissue of trails or greenbelts, however meager, where you can walk safely without risk of getting mowed down by cars. Grateful if anybody knows of organizations that would be able to hook me up to ways of having a life outdoors.

[P_Mac]

Originally Posted by Stones Throw

Does Mobile (Lower Alabama) have any accessible green spaces to walk bike run? As opposed to the various smaller pocket parks? A place where you could get to from downtown, if not on foot than a 15-30m by car? Besides the 40m drive Dauphin Islan and 30m Eastern shore (I did see a bike path out in Fairhope). I'd be moving from Southern California, where most cities have some sort of connective tissue of trails or greenbelts, however meager, where you can walk safely without risk of getting mowed down by cars. Grateful if anybody knows of organizations that would be able to hook me up to ways of having a life outdoors.

Right now the biking in Mobile isn't very good, BUT there are a few things in the works. Water Street is getting an overhaul as well as Broad Street. Also, I remember some talk of connecting Univ. of South Alabama to downtown via a paved bike trail, but not sure on the status of that right now.

There are tons of bike groups popping up so check out 'Mobilians on Bikes" on facebook. Very active group and they generally put up all the group rides going on!

We may be a few years from being bike friendly, but we are working on it.

[Southsky]

Also, the new bike trails being constructed along Three Mile Creek (this might be what P Mac is talking about re: trails connecting downtown with USA)

[Stones Throw]

Good 2 know it's in the pipeline. Any hiking areas outside of town, or is Mobile/Lower Alabama just not that kind of place?

[Southsky]

Originally Posted by Stones Throw

Good 2 know it's in the pipeline. Any hiking areas outside of town, or is Mobile/Lower Alabama just not that kind of place?

There isn't much in the elevation department, but there are plenty of trails about, including Chickasabogue Park in North Mobile.

[P_Mac]

Originally Posted by Stones Throw

Good 2 know it's in the pipeline. Any hiking areas outside of town, or is Mobile/Lower Alabama just not that kind of place?

Not really. Your best bet is to take a short trip up to Bankhead National Forest, which is just above Birmingham. The Sipsey Wilderness Area is great as is the Walls of Jericho (near the AL/TN border).

Kayaking is your best bet here. We have the 2nd largest Delta in the US and right near the Gulf. Check out the Bartram Canoe Trail. They have floating platforms that you can reserve can camp out on. Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources

A buddy of mine is opening up a new outdoor shop called Red Beard Outfitters, they are on facebook, and hes a huge outdoor guy and he can give you even more recommendations as to where to go and do things.

[luksky]

I'm an original Mobile native, but have lived in Austin for the past decade, so I know what you mean when you speak of "green space" and greenbelts.

Mobile does not have greenbelts. As close as you would come to what you are referring to would be across the bay...Fairhope and Daphne area, and that is even not close to what you are looking for, I don't think and as you said you don't want to have to take the drive over there.

Chickasabogue does have a few trails, and it's probably the closest thing that would come to what you are looking for.

Sadly, Mobile is not a very outdoor friendly sort of city.

[Mauvillian]

Mobile is outdoor friendly in terms of water sports, but is just becoming so for biking under the current Mayor's administration. As pointed out above the Three Mile Creek Trail will strech across town.

[Southsky]

Originally Posted by luksky

I'm an original Mobile native, but have lived in Austin for the past decade, so I know what you mean when you speak of "green space" and greenbelts.

Mobile does not have greenbelts. As close as you would come to what you are referring to would be across the bay...Fairhope and Daphne area, and that is even not close to what you are looking for, I don't think and as you said you don't want to have to take the drive over there.

Chickasabogue does have a few trails, and it's probably the closest thing that would come to what you are looking for.

Sadly, Mobile is not a very outdoor friendly sort of city.

As mentioned in this thread, the Three Mile Creek greenway is in process as well as another route around Brookley; south down the coast of the DIP Peninsula.

[MPC]

Originally Posted by Southsky

As mentioned in this thread, the Three Mile Creek greenway is in process as well as another route around Brookley; south down the coast of the DIP Peninsula.

I know someone who lives near Brookley off DIP and biking is heavy there compared to the rest of the city. They ride a path to I think Brookley or the Bay, can't remember. But I was there for about 5-6 hours and seen at least 100 cyclist, some packs as big as 15-20 bikes.