Alabama Road Trip with Kids: Coastal Creatures, Carnival Magic & Battleship Goodbyes (Day 13)
Welcome to Day 13: Dauphin Island & Mobile Bay
If you’re looking for fun, educational things to do with kids on Alabama’s Gulf Coast, Day 13 is the perfect grand finale. From sea creatures and Mardi Gras sparkle to maritime marvels and a mighty battleship, this day ends the Ethan & Oliver Adventures: Great Alabama Road Trip with a splash—and a salute.
Itinerary Overview
Route: Dauphin Island → Mobile Bay Ferry → Downtown Mobile → Battleship Memorial Park
Total Drive Time: ~1 hour (plus ferry crossing)
Activity Time: ~8–9 hours
Start Time: 9:00 AM
Stop 1: Alabama Aquarium at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab
Website: Alabama Aquarium
What to Expect:
Step into a living classroom where the Gulf of Mexico comes alive. Kids can glide their hands over velvety stingrays, marvel at moon jellies pulsing like glowing heartbeats, and stand beneath the towering jaws of a megalodon. Exhibits showcase the region’s marine life—from playful seahorses to sleek hammerhead sharks—alongside interactive touch tanks and large viewing windows. Knowledgeable staff make marine science engaging for all ages.
NPS Stamp: No
Educational Tie-In:
- Electroreception in sharks and rays
- Animal adaptations in marine environments
- Connections to oceanography, ecology, and conservation
Notebook/Conversation Prompt: Describe your favorite sea creature and how God designed it to survive in its habitat.
Faith Connection: Just as ocean creatures are perfectly equipped for their environments, God has given each of us what we need for our life’s journey. (Psalm 104:24)
Stop 2: Mobile Bay Ferry Ride
Website: Mobile Bay Ferry
What to Expect:
A breezy 40-minute ride across Mobile Bay that blends transportation with history. Keep an eye out for dolphins, seabirds, and lighthouses while imagining the centuries of sailors, settlers, and traders who’ve crossed these same waters. The gentle sway of the ferry and salty air make for a refreshing mid-morning break.
NPS Stamp: No
Educational Tie-In:
- Early French settlement in Alabama
- Waterways shaping commerce and culture
Notebook/Conversation Prompt: Draw what you see from the ferry—land, water, sky, and any wildlife.
Faith Connection: Crossing the water can remind us of God’s guidance in uncertain moments, just as He led His people safely across seas and rivers. (Isaiah 43:2)
Stop 3: Mobile Carnival Museum
Website
What to Expect:
Discover the birthplace of Mardi Gras with dazzling costumes, glittering floats, and traditions dating back to 1703. Kids can hold a Mardi Gras scepter, see photographs from centuries past, and learn how faith, community, and creativity come together in one colorful celebration.
NPS Stamp: No
Educational Tie-In:
- Mardi Gras traditions in Mobile vs. New Orleans
- Cultural influences of French settlers
Notebook/Conversation Prompt: Design your own Mardi Gras float and explain the theme.
Faith Connection: Celebrations can bring joy and unity while still honoring God. (Ecclesiastes 3:4)
Stop 4: GulfQuest National Maritime Museum
Website
What to Expect:
An interactive museum shaped like a ship, filled with hands-on exhibits about the Gulf of Mexico, shipping, and maritime history. Kids can try navigating a cargo ship, face a hurricane simulator, and trace the locations of historic shipwrecks.
NPS Stamp: No
Educational Tie-In:
- Global trade routes
- Maritime technology and navigation
Notebook/Conversation Prompt: Write a short captain’s log entry about a day at sea.
Faith Connection: Even in life’s storms, God is our anchor. (Hebrews 6:19)
Stop 5: USS ALABAMA Battleship Memorial Park
Visit Website
What to Expect:
Climb aboard a World War II battleship that served in the Pacific, exploring its decks, gun turrets, and command center. This historic vessel honors the men and women who served. For our family, it holds personal meaning—Mom was commissioned as a Navy officer here.
NPS Stamp: No
Kid-Friendly Tip: The ship is huge—wear good shoes and bring water.
Memory Maker: The boys stood at attention where Mom had her Navy commissioning ceremony. “Permission to come aboard, sir!”
Navy Tie-In: Tugboats, Mooring Lines & Salutes at Sea
Today’s a great chance to sprinkle in a little ship talk—Navy style.
Tugboats may look small, but they’re incredibly powerful. They talk to each other with horn blasts (just like secret whistles!) and help massive ships like the USS ALABAMA dock safely. Their job is kind of like being the strong little sibling who can still move the couch.
Mooring lines are the heavy ropes that keep a ship tied to the dock. The bigger the ship, the more lines you need—and in storms or strong currents, crews sometimes double them up. Learning how to tie up a ship is one of the first things a new sailor practices.
Teach your kids this trick to remember ship directions:
Port is the left side (both have four letters),
Starboard is the right side.
You can even play a “port and starboard” game while waiting for the ferry!
And if you see the American flag flying at half-mast, it’s a sign of honor and mourning—a quiet way the Navy, and our nation, shows respect when someone important has died.
From ferries to battleships, today’s journey is full of little lessons in leadership, strength, and tradition—just like life in the Navy.
Commissioned to Officer Ceremony
During this day, I told the boys that there was where the family got to see be take off my Chief uniform and see the commissioned officer uniform. I have been stationed in multiple states and overseas, but San Diego has been the place that I have been the longest. It just so happens to be one of the farthest states away from my family in Alabama. So I brought a bit of the Navy traditions to them. With just a short drive to the USS ALABAMA, I was elated that they joined!
Bonus Resource: USS ALABAMA Homeschool & Education Resources
Evening Wrap-Up: Journey Home
As the sun slipped behind the bay, the family headed west toward San Diego—hearts full of stories, souls full of sunshine.
Notebook/Conversation Prompt: What did this trip teach you about being brave?
Faith Reflection: Hebrews 13:8 — “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Check out our tailgate send off as we wrapped up our alabama road trip with snacks on the tailgate
What We Learned
- Alabama’s coastal waters teem with marine life, each uniquely designed for its role in the ecosystem.
- Mardi Gras traditions in Mobile date back over 300 years.
- Maritime trade and naval history are central to Mobile’s identity.
- The USS Alabama is both a war hero and a place of personal family history.
State Symbols Seen Today: Yellowhammer (state bird) on signage at Battleship Park; marine life representing Alabama’s Gulf Coast.
Plan It Yourself
You can map this exact route — and customize it for your own family’s adventure — using Roadtrippers Plus. It’s our favorite trip-planning tool for finding kid-friendly stops, tracking drive times, and keeping everything in one place.
View our full trip on Roadtrippers: Ethan & Oliver Adventures Great Alabama Road Trip Map
