The community is served by the state's oldest and largest public school system and its oldest institute of higher education. Mobile also has a large parochial school system operated by the Catholic Archdiocese of Mobile and many other excellent private schools operated through churches and private boards. Institutions of higher learning include Spring Hill College, the states oldest, the University of Mobile, the University of South Alabama and many community colleges.

Mobile provides a wealth of things to do and see such as sporting events, deep-sea fishing, historical sites, museums and trails for walking. The Mobile Parks and Recreation Department oversees approximately 85 parks and offers numerous recreational programs for all ages. Municipal Park, also known as Langan Park, features paddle boats, a walking path, a museum and tennis courts, a football field, Azalea City Golf Course and a pavilion

Mobile has been ranked as one of the top 10 golf value destinations in the nation. Courses in the area include: Magnolia Grove, Timber Creek Golf Club, Spring Hill Golf Course, Cotton Creek at Craft Farms, Rock Creek, Heron Lakes and Azalea City Golf Course.

When it comes to shopping, Mobile is second to none offering everything from antiques to everyday items. The Colonial Mall Bel Air features several major department stores in addition to 130 smaller retail stores. For bargain shoppers, the Riviera Centre Factory Stores complex is located 40 miles southeast of Mobile and is one of the country's largest manufacturer outlet centers in the nation with more than 120 stores.

The history of Mobile dates back to the 1700s when the French occupied the area. Since then, the area has always been attractive because of the business that the harbor brought in and also its ideal strategic military location.