Mobile, Alabama is a small city at the very bottom of the state, on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. It is in the short 68-mile (109 km) stretch that connects Mississippi with the Florida panhandle.
I was there in February, hardly Alabama's time to shine (is any time Alabama'a time to shine? I kid, I kid...). However, there was still a lot less snow than back home in Minnesota, so you won't hear me complaining about the brown marshes!
Meaher State Park is on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay, and offers a great view of the skyline over on the western shore (something I did not capture well, as that above photo indicates). There is a beautiful pier that juts out into the Mobile Delta, allowing you to admire the marsh, bay, and skyline simultaneously. Unfortunately, we were there on a cloudy winter's day, but it must offer absolutely incredible sunsets on better days than we had the luck to choose. The marsh itself is beautiful, even in the brown winter, and there are plenty of opportunities to see both wetland and sea creatures from the pier.
The visitor center takes full advantage of their animal diversity, engaging visitors with a well-done exhibit on the unique animals found in this part of the country. My personal favorite part was the tiny baby alligator they had (isn't he cuuuute??). I have seen giant fully-grown alligators before, and it was really interesting to compare those monsters with this adorable face.
Maeher also offers typical state park affairs: camping, cabins, and picnic tables that all offer great views of nature. Unfortunately, we were in a bit of a rush and were unable to spend the night. But if I ever find myself in Mobile again, I will gladly head back to this beautiful park. If only to see more baby alligators.