Station/Boat Location~
ATC Mobile - HSWL FO
Date there~
2007-2011
Weather~
Incredibly hot summers which last from April - November, then there's a little relief. Winter is very, very mild. We rarely wore our heavy jackets at all. They say it rains as much here as it does in Seattle, but I believe it just downpours more frequently. I can count on one hand how many "rainy days" we've had. Sunshine is abundant!
Military facilities~
ATC Mobile has a small exchange with uniforms, electronics, furniture, clothes, handbags, knicknacks. They have a small commissary attached but there is nothing fresh there. It is mostly pantry items and alcohol. Pensacola has a nice sized exchange/commissary, and Keesler AFB in Biloxi just opened a brand new facility. It's worth the drive!
Medical~
ATC is for AD and retired, but you can get your prescriptions filled there. We elected to stay on Prime. My OB is Dr. Robert Wood at Mobile OB/GYN out of Providence Hospital and I LOVE him. I delivered my daughter at Providence and had a wonderful experience there. The pediatirican we used at Knollwood Physicians left, and we no longer go there because of how we were treated by the staff. We currently live in Daphne and use Pediatrics by the Bay, which I would not recommend.
Housing~
I have heard that we are allowed in the housing in Mississippi, but I don't know much about it. We have lived in West Mobile (for 18mos) and now in Daphne and I can tell you that life on the Eastern Shore is much better for a family with small children. The crime rate is much lower over here and there is a lot to do. West Mobile is very crowded and traffic is horrendous. Daphne has it all, just at a slower pace. You can find homes in Daphne for rent well under BAH. I don't recommend Classic Rentals, though. I do recommend Ole Bay.
Shopping~
Mobile has some good shopping. A great Super Target, Kohls, a few Walmarts, a few strip malls. The Bel Air mall is not that great, but it has the necessities. There is no food court there, but there is a Chick-fil-A. LOL. I just saw that they were putting in a Marshall's across from the mall. There are tons of little boutiques around here, and quite a few big consignment sales for kids to get in on. Daphne has a Bass Pro Shop, which is a big attraction. Also on the Eastern Shore is Fairhope, which has the cutest little downtown area to walk around and shop.
Child Care/Schools~
My son is in school at Daphne United Methodist Preschool and they are AMAZING. The most kind and wonderful people you will meet. All I know about the public schools is that Daphne & Spanish Fort have the best schools in this area. I have not personally heard good things about the Mobile School System, but I don't have kids that age yet, so it's just speculation.
Adult Schools~
University of Southern Alabama, University of Mobile, Faulkner State, just to name a few.
Fun Activities~
Beaches, Aligator Alley in Daphne, Downtown Fairhope, lots of little parks on the Eastern Shore. Bayfest is a huge concert weekend in Mobile in October. Daphne has a bounce house place called Kangarooz that is open play, and they give a nice military discount. Lots of little festivals year round. Foley near Gulf Shores has a great outlet mall. Pensacola is not too far and there's lots to do there, too.
Additional Info~
Overall, we are excited to be leaving Alabama, but our time living in Daphne really changed how we felt about the area. The heat is almost unbearable down here and there is not much you can do outside in the summer, which is what is hard for me. I need to be outside and not sweating to death. The winter is nice and comfortable.
If you will be going to Sector Mobile, it is a closer drive from Daphne than it is from West Mobile. My husband commutes 40 minutes to ATC but he says it is well worth it to live here. We are closer to the beaches and feel much safer here.
Homeport AL
ATC Mobile - HSWL FO
Date there~
2007-2011
Weather~
Incredibly hot summers which last from April - November, then there's a little relief. Winter is very, very mild. We rarely wore our heavy jackets at all. They say it rains as much here as it does in Seattle, but I believe it just downpours more frequently. I can count on one hand how many "rainy days" we've had. Sunshine is abundant!
Military facilities~
ATC Mobile has a small exchange with uniforms, electronics, furniture, clothes, handbags, knicknacks. They have a small commissary attached but there is nothing fresh there. It is mostly pantry items and alcohol. Pensacola has a nice sized exchange/commissary, and Keesler AFB in Biloxi just opened a brand new facility. It's worth the drive!
Medical~
ATC is for AD and retired, but you can get your prescriptions filled there. We elected to stay on Prime. My OB is Dr. Robert Wood at Mobile OB/GYN out of Providence Hospital and I LOVE him. I delivered my daughter at Providence and had a wonderful experience there. The pediatirican we used at Knollwood Physicians left, and we no longer go there because of how we were treated by the staff. We currently live in Daphne and use Pediatrics by the Bay, which I would not recommend.
Housing~
I have heard that we are allowed in the housing in Mississippi, but I don't know much about it. We have lived in West Mobile (for 18mos) and now in Daphne and I can tell you that life on the Eastern Shore is much better for a family with small children. The crime rate is much lower over here and there is a lot to do. West Mobile is very crowded and traffic is horrendous. Daphne has it all, just at a slower pace. You can find homes in Daphne for rent well under BAH. I don't recommend Classic Rentals, though. I do recommend Ole Bay.
Shopping~
Mobile has some good shopping. A great Super Target, Kohls, a few Walmarts, a few strip malls. The Bel Air mall is not that great, but it has the necessities. There is no food court there, but there is a Chick-fil-A. LOL. I just saw that they were putting in a Marshall's across from the mall. There are tons of little boutiques around here, and quite a few big consignment sales for kids to get in on. Daphne has a Bass Pro Shop, which is a big attraction. Also on the Eastern Shore is Fairhope, which has the cutest little downtown area to walk around and shop.
Child Care/Schools~
My son is in school at Daphne United Methodist Preschool and they are AMAZING. The most kind and wonderful people you will meet. All I know about the public schools is that Daphne & Spanish Fort have the best schools in this area. I have not personally heard good things about the Mobile School System, but I don't have kids that age yet, so it's just speculation.
Adult Schools~
University of Southern Alabama, University of Mobile, Faulkner State, just to name a few.
Fun Activities~
Beaches, Aligator Alley in Daphne, Downtown Fairhope, lots of little parks on the Eastern Shore. Bayfest is a huge concert weekend in Mobile in October. Daphne has a bounce house place called Kangarooz that is open play, and they give a nice military discount. Lots of little festivals year round. Foley near Gulf Shores has a great outlet mall. Pensacola is not too far and there's lots to do there, too.
Additional Info~
Overall, we are excited to be leaving Alabama, but our time living in Daphne really changed how we felt about the area. The heat is almost unbearable down here and there is not much you can do outside in the summer, which is what is hard for me. I need to be outside and not sweating to death. The winter is nice and comfortable.
If you will be going to Sector Mobile, it is a closer drive from Daphne than it is from West Mobile. My husband commutes 40 minutes to ATC but he says it is well worth it to live here. We are closer to the beaches and feel much safer here.
Homeport AL
