Why I Swapped New Orleans for the New Amtrak Mardi Gras Train to Alabama
Why I Swapped New Orleans for the New Amtrak Mardi Gras Train to Alabama - The 20-Year Resurgence: Restoring the Historic Gulf Coast Rail Connection
Think back to that weird, empty feeling when the tracks along the Gulf just went quiet after Katrina took everything out in 2005. It's taken two decades, but we’re finally seeing the Mardi Gras Service link New Orleans and Mobile again, and honestly, it feels like a piece of the coast’s soul has been stitched back together. I was looking into the specs, and this wasn’t just about laying down fresh ties; engineers had to basically rebuild the Rigolets Bridge to survive the kind of saltwater corrosion and tidal surges that would melt a normal bridge. They also dropped over $33 million into making sure we don't get stuck behind a mile-long freight train by extending the Mississippi City siding to nearly 12,000 feet. But look,
Why I Swapped New Orleans for the New Amtrak Mardi Gras Train to Alabama - Scenic Coastal Splendor: Why the Journey Is the Destination
Honestly, I’ve always felt that the best part of traveling isn't just getting there, but actually seeing the world change outside your window. Taking the new Mardi Gras line across the Gulf gives you a front-row seat to things you’d miss from 30,000 feet or even from the driver's seat of a rental car. We're rolling right over the Pascagoula River, which is actually the largest river system in the lower 48 that hasn't been blocked up by dams. It's wild to think that as you pass through the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, you're looking at rare wet pine savannas where tiny carnivorous plants are everywhere—like, thirty different species per meter. If you’re a bird person,
Why I Swapped New Orleans for the New Amtrak Mardi Gras Train to Alabama - Mobile’s Carnival Magic: Discovering the Birthplace of Mardi Gras
Most people think New Orleans owns the patent on purple, green, and gold, but you've got to look a little further east to find where the party actually started. It’s kind of wild to realize that Mobile was throwing Mardi Gras celebrations at Twenty-Seven Mile Bluff back in 1703, which is a full fifteen years before New Orleans even existed on a map. We aren't just talking about a casual backyard gathering, either; the Cowbellion de Rakin Society formed in 1830 as the country's first real mystic society. That’s twenty-seven years before the famous Mistick Krewe of Comus ever started their thing in Louisiana. I’ve been looking into the story of Joe Cain, who basically trolled the post-war military occupation in 1866 by parading as a fictional Chickasaw chief just to get around public demonstration bans. It worked, and it’s that kind of stubborn, creative spirit that still defines the city today. If you stop by the Carnival Museum, you’ll see the physical proof of this legacy in royal trains that are 18 feet long and weigh 40 pounds because of all the hand-sewn semi-precious stones. It isn't just about the old guard, though. The Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association has been crowning King Elexis I since 1938, a vital tradition that reflects the deep roots of the city’s African American community. And then there’s the MoonPies—about 500,000 of them fly through the air every season. They switched to the soft snacks in 1952 because, honestly, getting hit in the head with a heavy box of Cracker Jacks was probably ruining the vibe for a lot of people. Taking the train here feels like finally reading the original script of a very famous story, and frankly, the Order of Myths still holding their 1867 parade slot proves the magic hasn't faded one bit.
Why I Swapped New Orleans for the New Amtrak Mardi Gras Train to Alabama - Beyond the Big Easy: The Practical Perks of Choosing the Alabama Route
Honestly, while everyone is fighting for a spot on Bourbon Street, there’s a much smarter way to play the Gulf Coast game that I think is finally getting the attention it deserves. I’ve been looking at the numbers, and choosing the Mobile end of this new Amtrak line actually saves you a ton of cash right off the bat. You’re looking at hotel rates that sit about 45% lower than anything you’ll find in the French Quarter, even during the peak of the season. And if you’re flying in, the move of major flights to Mobile International (BFM) is a total game-changer because the terminal is only two and a half miles from the train station. Think about that compared to the slog from Louis Armstrong International