November 4, 2004 -- French for "Fat Tuesday," Mardi Gras is always the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of the Lenten season when periods of fasting occur. Historically, Catholics would eat up their stores of meat, butter and other forbidden tasty bits to prevent food from going to waste. And if you have a lot of food you have to ear, why not go ahead and have a party.
While New Orleans is now synonymous with Mardi Gras celebrations, other points across the country revel in their own way. N'Awlins is at its most expensive while the endless fete takes place, this year ending on February 8. Why not look to these lesser known examples, all the while partying just as hard and saving some bucks to boot?
Mobile, Alabama lays claim as the home of the first North American Mardi Gras celebration, held in 1703 -- trumping the Big Easy as the country's original Mardi Gras fest. Mobile was the original capital of the French-ruled Louisiana Province, well before there was even a mention of an Alabama. While the official celebration kicks off on January 8, 2005, with a celebration on Dauphin Island near Mobile Bay, the fun really kicks into high gear the weekend of Saturday, February 5, 2005, with parades, costumes and extravagant balls. Mobile promises a full day and night of debauchery. For a detailed schedule of Mobile's Mardi Gras, check out www.mobile.org/mardigras_schedule_05.html.
For hotels in central Mobile, the new 20-story Mobile Marriott (tel. 800/228-9290; www.marriott.com) is near the airport and only a shuttle's ride away from the insanity of downtown events. Rooms around Fat Tuesday start at $139 per night. If you want to be in the eye of the party storm, then try to stay at the Lafayette Plaza Hotel (tel. 800/692-6662; www.lafayetteplazahotel.com) smack in the historic district. The hotel shows zero availability for the 2005 parade, but cancellations do come up and the reservations person said just call daily to check if any rooms come up. Down the street, the swanky Riverview Plaza Hotel (tel. 251/438-4000; www.riverviewmobile.com) has rooms for a three-night minimum starting at $180. Hotel taxes are not included in the above prices.
Pensacola, Florida doesn't quite enjoy the historical connection to Mardi Gras that Mobile or New Orleans do, but it does prove to be an early celebration site -- what they lack in experience is more than made up by their enthusiasm. While a detailed schedule of Pensacola Mardi Gras events has not been released, we know it all goes down on February 8. According to a representative at the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce (tel. 800/874-1234; www.visitpensacola.com) details will be available through them or online soon at www.pensacolamardigras.com. Because of the rough stretch of hurricanes in Florida this year, many Pensacola hotels are working fast to prepare for Mardi Gras and other spring events. The Days Inn (tel. 800/329-7466; www.thedaysinn.com/pensacola06384) in the historic district is operating at capacity and is close to all parade activities. Package rates are available, but winter rates start from $39 to $63. Pensacola also has a pretty Southern district known for its grand houses and gothic mansions. The Pensacola Victorian (tel. 800/370-8354; www.pensacolavictorian.com), a charming B&B, has rooms from $75 to $150.
Not to be outdone, Port Arthur, Texas wants a piece of the Mardi Gras action. Several parades, carnivals, balls and parties take the stage at the weekend event called the Southeast Texas Mardi Gras Festival (www.portarthur.com/mardigras/index1.htm). Port Arthur is a stone's throw from the Louisiana border on the Gulf of Mexico just below Beaumont, Texas, so they know how to get down Cajun style. There's even a boat parade. The Ramada Inn Port Arthur (tel. 409-962-9858; www.ramada.com) offers good rates from $55 to $71 a night at a convenient location. The Holiday Inn Port Arthur (tel. 409-724-5000; www.ichotelsgroup.com) has good room rates starting at $64 per night and an outdoor pool.
Laissez les bons temps rouler!
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