Roughly 2,500 Miami University football fans are expected to travel to Mobile, Ala., to watch the RedHawks take on Louisville in Thursday's GMAC Bowl.

For those on the road trip, we thought we'd help out with some things to see and places to eat. We had some help - OK, a lot of help -- from Enquirer associate editorial page editor Byron McCauley, who worked at the Mobile Register from 1995-99, and Register editorial page editor Frances Coleman.

Food, glorious food

You must eat seafood. Here are a few can't-miss restaurants:

1. Justine's at The Pillars, Government Street.

2. Wintzell's Oyster House, Dauphin Street.

3. Nan Seas, Bay Front Road.

4. Felix's Fish Camp, Battleship Parkway.

5. Original Oyster House, Battleship Parkway.

It's not Skyline or Graeter's

Here are some Mobile favorites, courtesy of the Mobile Area Convention and Visitors Bureau:

1. Tiny Diny's coconut cream pie, with meringue piled on.

2. Pollman's Brownies.

3. Three Georges Candy Shop, hand-dipped chocolate.

4. Dew Drop Inn hot dogs.

5. West Indies salad at Bailey's Restaurant.

What to do

Don't limit yourself to Mobile when it comes to sight-seeing. Try these outings:

1. Take a day-trip to the casinos in Biloxi. Beau Rivage is popular.

2. Drive an hour to Gulf Shores, where the beaches are stunningly white.

3. In Mobile, don't miss the USS Alabama, the World War II era battleship. Visitors can crawl around the ship. There is also a museum.

4. In south Mobile County, check out the beautiful Bellingrath Gardens, including a mansion and beautifully landscaped grounds.

5. In that same general area, head on down to Dauphin Island, where there are more beaches and - history buffs will love this - the Civil War fort known as Fort Gaines, with a ferry ride across Mobile Bay to Fort Morgan. Both forts tried unsuccessfully to defend the bay against Admiral Farragut's invading fleet of Union ships. He's the guy who is credited as having said, "Damn the torpedos; full speed ahead!"

Par-ty all the time

Wednesday night is the Mardi Gras Street Party.

Need we say more?

Mobile all-stars

Hank Aaron: Baseball's all-time home run leader.

Mike Gottfried: Former UC football coach and ESPN analyst.

Satchel Paige: Negro Leagues pitching star.

Driving?

Count on a drive taking 11-12 hours (not counting stops), 725 miles.

• Take I-71 south, to I-65 south. Merge onto I-24 east (exit No. 86, on the left, toward Chattanooga/Knoxville, I-40 east.

• Merge onto I-40 west (exit No. 50B, toward Memphis).

• Merge onto I-65 south (exit No. 210, on the left, toward Huntsville).

• Merge onto I-165 south (exit No. 9 toward Prichard/Downtown Mobile).

• I-165 south becomes North Water Street Turn right onto St. Louis Street.