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Urban Planner OVERVIEW Mobile Bay
As one of the oldest settlements in theGulf Coast region,Mobile Bay provides an authentic Southern experience in a setting that’s at once historic and vibrant.The lively downtown of this 300-year-old port city, founded by the French in 1703, offersworld-class hotels, lush parks and squares,and several newart galleries, shops,and restaurants.Within the city’s “EasyWalkDowntown” convention pack- age are six hotelswithmore than 1,100 guest rooms, the 317,000-square-foot Arthur R.OutlawMobile Convention Center,and the 400,000-square-footMobile CivicCenter.Aftermeetings have ended, there’s plenty to keep attendees occu- pied, fromAlligatorAlley—20 acres of cypress swamp,where visitors can observe 150 alligators froman elevated boardwalk—to eating one’s fill of fresh local seafood. If you’re here in February orMarch,get ready to let the good times roll:Mobile Bay is home toAmerica’s originalMardiGras.Formore information, visit theMobile Bay Convention&Visitors Bureau atwww.mobile.org.
SIT AND STAY AWHILE
Burned out on
big-time convention hotels? If so, direct discerning atten-
dees or VIPs to the Fort Conde Inn,
a 10-roomboutique hotel/B&B inMobile Bay’s 175-year-old Hall-Fordmanor
house. The historic propertywas
fully restored last year, and now
offers all the luxury of amodern hotel in a unique heritage
setting, just blocks fromthe heart of downtown. To
learnmore, visit www.fort
PLEASURE AND BUSINESS:Mardi
Gras inMobile Bay (top) is a colorful, family-friendly
affair. The Arthur R. OutlawMobile
Convention Center (bottom) takes full advantage of its waterfront set-
SKY AND SEA:Mobile Bay is justifiably proud of its namesake body ofwater. From1559,when Spanish explorer Tristan de Luna firstwaded ashore, to the present day, the city has derivedmuch of itswealth and success fromthewater.
28 pcma convene September 2011
ting,with a num- ber of terraces and riverwalks available for
outdoor events.