Kate Shepard House, Mobile

My husband and I have had the opportunity to stay at the Kate Shepard House twice and will definitely stay there at all of our return trips to Mobile. The house is steeped in history, you could spend hours touring the house and listening as the hosts discusses its past. Wendy and Bill James define southern charm and hospitality. We felt very comfortable and at home in their home. The history, hospitality and wonderful breakfasts are enough to bring you there and keep you coming back.

I can't say enough wonderful things about the Kate Shepard House! If you are going to be in Mobile, or anywhere in the area, there is no other place to stay, period. The Washington Post today (11/04/2007) lists this bed and breakfast as one of the 'must sees' of Mobile and I could not agree more. The house is tastefully finished inside with an attention to detail which far exceeded my expectations. The house itself is reason enough to go spend time here - wandering through it's rooms and searching through its history. All this, however, becomes just an added bonus on top of the Southern grace and charm of the proprietors Bill and Wendy. Close to some fantastic restaurants and tucked in a quaint and beautiful old neighborhood, the entire experience is one of repose and continual delight. I am planning more trips to Mobile just to stay here again!

The busy port and paper manufacturing city of MOBILE (pronounced Mo-beel) traces its origins back to a French community founded in 1702. These early white settlers brought with them Mardi Gras, celebrated in Mobile continuously since 1704 � several years before New Orleans. Virtually every street is transformed in early spring by the delicate colors of azaleas, camellias and dogwoods � a beautiful complement to the many early eighteenth-century Spanish and colonial-style buildings. Parallels with New Orleans are everywhere you look, from wrought-iron balconies to street names like Conti and Bienville and gumbo specials in the restaurants. Mobile survived the torches of the Union army during the Civil War, and possesses enough antebellum buildings to designate four sizeable areas as historic districts. Even so, the city is unlikely to hold your attention for more than a day. The obvious place to start exploring is Fort Conde (daily 8am�5pm; free), a reconstruction of the city's 1724 French fort that was constructed to mark the Bicentennial in 1976. Dioramas in its low-ceilinged rooms cover local history, while its ramparts provide a good view of the World War II battleship USS Alabama permanently moored nearby (fort & ship daily 8am�6pm; $10, parking $2). Fanning out north of the fort, the Church Street Historic District holds 59, mostly pre-Civil War, buildings, as well as two museums (both Tues�Sat 10am�5pm, Sun 1�5pm; free). The Museum of Mobile, 111 S Royal St (Mon�Fri 9am�6pm, Sun noon�5pm), displays glittering Mardi Gras costumes and lavish horse-drawn carriages, while steam-powered fire engines, resplendent in original livery, shining brass bells and trumpets, are the stars of the Phoenix Fire Museum, 750 S Clairborne St (Mon�Fri 10am�5pm, Sat�Sun 1�5pm). Downtown Mobile's lack of action outside of Mardi Gras is made up for by an amazing display of greenery, particularly down its main thoroughfare, Government Street, which is shaded by a canopy of adjoining oaks, and central Bienville Square, a popular picnic spot with free lunchtime concerts every Wednesday during summer. Information by Rough Guides

We had an absolutely wonderful stay at the Kate Shepard House. We've stayed at many B&Bs in the US and around the world and I've got to say that the overall ambiance, hospitality and service at the Kate Shepard House was absolutely excellent. The house itself is beautiful and tastefully appointed. A real romantic destination or simply for a visit to this historic city or the nearby gardens.