Is Mobile the nation’s top summer travel destination?

Many of USA Today’s readers seem to think so, as the Port City is among the leaders in the newspaper’s poll to rank the 10Best Summer Travel Destinations for 2023.

As of Friday, Mobile was in the top spot in the poll. With just one week left in voting, however, the current standings are unavailable to readers to view.

On its Facebook page, the City of Mobile noted Visit Mobile had brought in Catherine Smith, USA Today’s 10Best production manager and social media director, for a tour of the city.

The tour made an impression, as Smith and the rest of the 10Best staff nominated Mobile for the poll. In nominating Mobile, editors wrote the following:

“Located on Alabama’s Gulf Coast, this port city has plenty for everyone to do, from the nearby Bellingrath Gardens and Battleship Memorial Park to art museums and airboat tours. Indulge your sweet tooth at Mo’Bay Beignet Co., learn about Mardi Gras at the Mobile Carnival Museum and take in local history by way of the Dora Franklin Finley African-American Heritage Trail.”

Mobile is one of only two southeastern locales nominated, with Crystal River, Fla., the other.

The remainder of the nominees are Asheville, N.C.; Auburn, N.Y.; Chicago, Ill.; Dinosaur National Monument, Utah; Door County, Wis.; Grand Canyon West, Ariz.; Grand Mesa National Forest, Colo.; Hocking Hills, Ohio; Jackson Hole, Wyo.; Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska; Mackinac Island, Mich.; Mount Rushmore National Memorial, S.D.; Mystic, Connecticut; Ocean City, N.J.; Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk, N.Y.; Roswell, N.M.; Shasta Lake, Calif.; and Shenandoah Valley, Vir.

Alabama cities and locales are no stranger to USA Today’s 10Best lists. In 2014, Montgomery was named the Best Historic City, while the Grand Hotel in Point Clear was ranked 6th on the list of 10Best Historic Hotels in 2015.