two places to visit in alabama

42 Fun Things To Do & Places To Visit In Alabama

By: Author Jerric Chong

Posted on Published: November 20, 2020  - Last updated: April 30, 2024

Alabama, known also as The Cotton State and the Heart of Dixie, is a beautiful place with delicious food, delightful natural landscapes, deep historic roots, and of course, football galore!

It’s packed with lots of options for what to see, no matter what you’re interested in, so there is a lot to add to your vacation ideas.

How can you decide what tourist hotspots you’ll want to check out when you arrive?

To help you out, here is our travel guide for 42 things to do and places to visit in Alabama that you should add to your bucket list.

Table of Contents

1. U.S. Space & Rocket Center

U.S. Space & Rocket Center

The U.S. Space & Rocket Center is a unique museum that should be among any space-lovers’ list of where to visit in the state of Alabama.

Located in Huntsville , this museum showcases the history of the space program of the United States through information and artifacts.

The U.S. Space and Rocket Center is both a Marshall Space Flight Center for NASA and a Smithsonian Affiliate, and it’s also considered one of the largest space museums on the planet.

More than 1,500 different artifacts are on display and it boasts one of the biggest collections of its kind.

Among the most exhibits at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center are memorabilia and items from Army rocketry and aircraft, the Apollo program, the International Space Station, and the Space Shuttle program.

It can tell you all about the Space Race and the evolution of space exploration.

Some of the best things you need to check out are the genuine Apollo 16 capsule, a Skylab solar array, capsule trainers, and space travel simulators.

A number of traveling exhibits occasionally stop by here, and two camp programs are held at the museum.

There are also movies shown every day at the National Geographic Theater and the IMAX Theater, and you can tour the grounds with a bus tour.

All in all, this is one of the most fun things to do in Alabama.

Address: 1 Tranquility Base, Huntsville, AL 35805, United States

2. Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House Museum

Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House Museum

The Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House Museum is one of the key architectural points of interest in Alabama.

It’s one of the most beautiful buildings that the great Frank Llyod Wright created in America and the only one by him at all in the state.

In 1940, the Rosenbaum house was created for one family: Stanley and Mildred Rosenbaum.

Until 1999. Mildred would continue to live here, and then the house was entirely donated to the city of Florence.

It stands now as a prime example of the Usonian style of Wright, an aesthetic that only arose following the Great Depression.

“Usonian” is a bit of an acronym, basically meaning “United States of North American”, and the buildings in this style were designed to be affordable, functional, and well-blended with the world around them.

This meant natural materials with lots of horizontal lines, glass windows, and cantilevered roofs.

Wright had this down to a T, with a large open living space, cozy appearance, and even an added extension that fit perfectly when the Rosenbaum family grew to include four sons.

In 1948, more sleeping room was added as well as a Japanese garden, and Wright was extremely happy with this – it was a sign of practicality that the building could be so easily changed and extended.

While not the most fun design of Wright’s homes, a trip here will give you a new appreciation for the architect’s genius.

It definitely should be on your list of places to go!

Address: 601 Riverview Dr, Florence, AL 35630, United States

3. Gulf Shores

Gulf Shores

Gulf Shores is a beautiful destination to head to this weekend as one of the best beach locations in Alabama.

It’s packed with different options for what to do, no matter what kind of trip you’re seeking.

32 miles of white-sand beaches cover the area.

Local attractions cover things like museums, shopping, art, and golf.

Naturally, there are also plenty of water activities to enjoy, like parasailing, boating, kayaking, jet-skiing, fishing, paddle boarding, surfing, scuba diving, and cruises.

You can also simply lounge on the beach and relax, or work on a tan!

4. Huntsville Botanical Garden

Huntsville Botanical Garden

Termed as one of the most popular vacation spots , the Huntsville Botanical Garden is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Alabama and also one of its top attractions, welcoming about 308,000 visitors on an annual basis.

It’s open all throughout the year, no matter the season, so it’s a great, reliable option.

One of the most loved spots within the Huntsville Botanical Garden is the Nature Center and Children’s Garden, which is the home of the biggest seasonal butterfly house in America.

It’s also specially designed just for kids, with themed spaces like a space garden, dinosaur garden, and storybook garden.

There are also many other gardens for people of all ages, such as the biblical garden, fern glade, daylily garden, and herb garden, and there’s also a cool nature trail to check out.

Seasonal events are often held during the year, such as the Scarecrow Trail, Huntsville Blooms, Galaxy of Lights, and Beaks and Barks.

Check the Huntsville Botanical Garden calendar to see if you’ll be in town at the right time to catch something exciting!

Address: 4747 Bob Wallace Ave SW, Huntsville, AL 35805, United States

If you’re looking for places to vacation by the sea, or just want a place with a lot of historical activities, you’ll do well with Mobile , a port city with a rich past.

It sits on Alabama Gulf Coast, providing visitors with southern hospitality, fun attractions, and lots of historic districts to take a look at.

In Mobile, you’ll have your fill of art museums, performance art, and coastal wonder.

Check out the 1850 Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, wander the beaches for some relaxation, or check out the carnival.

There’s enough to do to keep you busy this weekend!

6. USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park

USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park

The USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park is where you’ll find the USS Alabama, a ship that began construction on the 1st of February in 1940.

It was completed two years later and showed off in an elaborate ceremony.

Captain George B. Wilson became its commander that year on the 16th of August, and about a year later, it would have its first military engagement.

In 1962, the ship was ordered to be scrapped, and it remained unused for the most part until the Battleship Memorial Park was set up in 1977.

Today, the battleship holds status as a national historic landmark and stands alongside many other historic vessels, including fellow national historic landmark USS Drum, which is a submarine.

Both of the aforementioned ships are vessels from World War II.

The Battleship Memorial Park also has some other interesting features, like a patrol boat used during the Vietnam War, military equipment, fighter and bomber planes, and Vietnam War and Korean War Memorials.

It’s no surprise that this location is one of the most rewarding spots for history buffs, and it’s certainly among the state’s top 10 attractions!

Address: 2703 Battleship Pkwy, Mobile, AL 36603, United States

7. McWane Science Center

McWane Science Center

The McWane Science Center is a fun and exciting spot that is one of the main places to see in the state for families with children.

It opened its doors in 1998 and has been thrilling children with informational but entertaining science ever since.

Measuring over 9,000 square feet in total, it is packed with interactive exhibits, a Challenger Learning Center, and an IMAX Dome theater.

Over 500,000 different artifacts are on display here, covering a wide range of different scientific topics.

This includes precious minerals, Native American artifacts, and fossils, like an 80-foot whale fossil that is the official state fossil.

Permanent exhibits are diverse, with favorites like the World of Water Aquarium, Explore! Collections Center, the Shark and Ray Touch Tank, Alabama Dinosaurs, Itty Bitty Magic City, Sea Monsters, the Fox 6 Weather Lab, Science on a Sphere, NatureScope, and High Cycle.

Each one is full of interactive activities that make for a fantastic learning experience.

Address: 200 19th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203, United States

8. Cheaha State Park

Cheaha State Park

The Cheaha State Park is the oldest state park in Alabama, opened in 1933 and boasting about 2,800 acres of land in Northern Clay and Cleburne.

It’s one of the best places to spend time in for all the park activities you can think of: sightseeing, hiking, camping, water sports – you name it!

At the Cheaha State Park, you can head to the camp sites, outfitted with modern amenities, or go to the Cheaha Lodge that boasts a swimming pool and 30 hotel rooms.

If you’re not looking to stay long, head to bodies of water for fishing, swimming, or boat launches.

You can also just go hiking to all the different scenic spots with gorgeous views, following loved paths like the Chinnabee Silent Trail, the Pinhoti Trail, and the Odum Scout Trail.

Aside from the usual park amenities, the Cheaha State Park also has a restaurant and general store.

In other words, this is one of the most well-outfitted Alabama attractions for visitors who want a lot of options!

Address: 19644 AL-281, Delta, AL 36258, United States

9. Bellingrath Gardens and Home

Bellingrath Gardens and Home

The Bellingrath Gardens and Home are truly historic and worth the trip for sightseeing purposes alone.

The grounds cover 900 beautiful acres with the Gardens being the main attraction in this large space in Theodore.

With numerous fun features that make this one of the state’s most delightful tourist attractions, the Bellingrath Gardens and Home provides plenty to do and enjoy.

The great lawn, bridal garden, and conservatory are among top picks on this garden property.

You can also enter the home, which measures 10,500 square feet and dates back to 1935.

It was built by Mobile native and architect George B. Rogers with handmade brick.

Ironwork comes from the Southern Hotel and the entire building gives off a vibe that can only be likened to the Gulf Coast.

It’s also an interesting way of looking at the architectural history of the general area.

The Bellingrath Gardens and Home have 65 acres dedicated to non-stop color through flowers, no matter what time of year it is.

Azaleas brighten the spring.

Tropical plants, roses, and hydrangeas bloom in the summer.

Chrysanthemums take over in the fall.

And, finally, camellias – 400 kinds of them! – cover the grounds in winter.

Take a self-guided tour through the stunning land and feast your eyes on the flora!

Address: 12401 Bellingrath Gardens Rd, Theodore, AL 36582, United States

10. Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute should be on the bucket list of any American history buff.

Civil rights activists were highly active in Alabama in the 1950s and 1960s, and as such, it makes sense that Birmingham in the state is the site of one of the best places to learn about this powerful movement.

In 1992, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute opened its doors for the first time, welcoming 25,000 guests in its first week alone.

It tells the story of the development of civil rights, the actions of those who fought for it, and the struggle that still continues to this day for equal treatment.

The things to see within the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute are explorable independently through self-guided walks.

As you pass through the exhibits, you’ll follow the journey of the movement and end on a positive note, as the institute hopes to light a spark of hope for the future through its message.

Address: 520 16th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203, United States

11. Florence

Florence is one of the most famous Alabama vacation spots, home to a wide range of scenic, educational, and fun attractions.

Located in Alabama’s northwestern side, it is full of outdoor activities, historical locations, and kid-friendly spots for the whole family.

Only 40,000 people live in Florence, and as a small town, it’s a pretty famous tourist location.

It hosts quaint and delightful events, like the W C Handy Music Festival, and provides vibrancy and life to an already bright state.

12. Dauphin Island

Dauphin Island

Dauphin Island is set within the Gulf of Mexico’s lush waters.

It is a barrier island, across Alabama Port, and accessible through a bridge spanning three miles from the mainland.

As a getaway, it is nothing short of serene – trails for walking are teeming with greenery, beaches glisten with white sand and blue surf, and rare birds fly about, waiting for bird-watchers to spot them.

If you’re keen to explore Dauphin Island, then renting a bike is a must do.

With a bike, you’ll be able to more easily visit the many unique spots on the island, including historic parks, lovely parks, and tropical delights.

It’s known as the Sunset Capital of Alabama for its gorgeous vistas of the horizon, too.

No wonder it’s one of the best things to do in Alabama and one of the most beautiful places to go in the US !

13. Rosa Parks Library and Museum

Rosa Parks Library and Museum

You’re likely familiar with the inspiring but harrowing story of Rosa Parks, an African-American woman who, in 1955, refused to give her seat to a white man on the bus.

Her brave action sparked the beginning of an uptick in civil rights activism and led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

In the Rosa Parks Library and Museum , her legacy is honored today.

You’ll find the Rosa Parks Library and Museum in Montgomery , where its doors are open five days a week.

The museum has an online virtual tour but is certainly worth an in-person trip.

Housed in the former Empire Theatre building, it is split into six different areas that each tell a unique part of Rosa Parks’ story.

Popular exhibits here include a replica of the bus where the inciting incident occurred, a station wagon restored from 1955, and some original documents relating to this historic event.

Other features include an auditorium, “time machine”, conference room, classrooms, and archives.

A children’s wing is available onsite to allow children to learn about Rosa Parks in age-friendly and educational ways.

History buffs should definitely have this museum on their list of what to do in Alabama.

Address: 251 Montgomery Street, Montgomery, AL 36104, United States

14. Alligator Alley

Alligator Alley

No trip to Alabama is complete without a stop at Alligator Alley .

Located in Summerdale, this alligator farm is a haven for lovers of the reptile and for anyone who is interested in learning more about them.

It’s one of the state’s cool things to do, packed with fun, excitement, and plenty of activities.

Alligator Alley was set up in 2004 in Alabama as a farm with a natural environment for these many-toothed reptiles.

The alligators here have come from all sorts of bad situations, rescued from dangerous environments, and brought here to live a healthier life in a better home.

There are also some other animals that have been taken in, either – you can find bullfrogs, owls, ospreys, and turkeys in different areas of the grounds.

A guided adventure takes you through Alligator Alley, beginning at the impressive viewing platform elevated above the ground.

Through it, you can see more than a whopping 450 alligators of all different ages engaging in their daily lives: sunbathing, nesting, courting, and relaxing!

Once the tour is done, you’ll get to head to the gator station, where you’ll be able to hold an adorable baby alligator.

Don’t forget to stick around for the feedings, which happen three times daily; you might even get to participate!

Address: 19950 Co Rd 71, Summerdale, AL 36580, United States

15. Fort Gaines

Fort Gaines

Fort Gaines is an excellent option among Alabama destinations for a sightseeing stop.

Located on Dauphin Island, it provides all-around views of the beautiful sand and surf, and its wealth of history makes it one of the best places to stop by when you’re on the Gulf Coast this weekend.

The Fort has been around for over 150 years and has been kept surprisingly well-preserved, remaining on the “entrance” to the stunning Mobile Bay.

It boasts its original canons and kitchen to this very day, as well as a blacksmith’s shop.

There is also a museum and gift shop on the premises, and guided tours are conducted by staff in period costumes who take you through the many interesting tunnels.

You’ll get to watch the art of smithing and even see a cannon fire!

Fort Gaines is considered one of America’s most endangered historic locations, which makes it a rare find in Alabama but also one of the most melancholy.

It was once a key factor in the Battle of Mobile Bay and is the site of the famous “Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!” order from Admiral Farragut.

If you do plan to go to this location, be aware of the erosion on the shoreline.

Address: 51 Bienville Blvd, Dauphin Island, AL 36528, United States

16. Birmingham Zoo

Birmingham Zoo

The Birmingham Zoo is a zoological part that covers 122 acres of its titular town.

More than 470,000 visitors head here on a yearly basis, and there are lots of activities held throughout the year that make it worth a trip while you’re in Alabama.

It opened in 1955 with only a handful of animals in a firehouse and has since grown to accommodate over 800 individual animals from 200 different species.

Some of the most fun attractions around the Birmingham Zoo are the Kangaroo Kountry, Predator Building, Flamingo Lagoon, Primate Building, and Alligator Swamp.

If you’re looking for more stuff to do, keep an eye out for camel rides, available seasonally, and the Sea Lions Splash Show.

There is also the delightful Schaeffer Eye Center Lorikeet Aviary, which charges a small fee to let you interact with and feed birds!

Address: 2630 Cahaba Rd, Birmingham, AL 35223, United States

17. Ave Maria Grotto

Ave Maria Grotto

The Ave Maria Grotto in Benedictine Abbey is an impressive work of art that makes it one of the best places to visit of religious and general artistic significance.

It comprises more than 125 different little miniature reproductions of buildings, shrines, and churches across the planet.

The Ave Maria Grotto was built by Brother Joseph Zoettl, a Brother of the Order who resided in St. Bernard Abbey.

He was born in Bavaria but arrived here in 1892.

In his time here, he began work on the Grotto, which was actually just a project he did as a hobby.

He used recycled materials and the Grotto soon grew into a famous feature of the Abbey.

For three acres, the grotto will transport you away from Alabama and onto the streets of many beautiful locations in different parts of the world.

It is even commonly called “Jerusalem in Miniature”, and it’s an apt name for such a masterpiece.

Address: 1600 St Bernard Dr, Cullman, AL 35055, United States

18. Birmingham Museum of Art

Birmingham Museum of Art

The Birmingham Museum of Art is one of the must do Alabama attractions for art aficionados.

It is considered among the finest art collections in Alabama, and perhaps even in the Southeast of the country.

It opened its doors in 1951, has the support of an education program, and is home to more than 25,000 exhibits.

Multiple cultures are well-represented at the Birmingham Museum of Art through decorative works, paintings, and sculptures.

You’ll find work from Africa, Asia, America, and Europe, and from Native American and Pre-Columbian cultures.

The museum also has amazing Renaissance, Wedgwood, and Baroque art collections, and the Vietnamese ceramics collection is to die for!

Noted artists with works here are Carrie Hill, a landscape artist, and Hannah Elliot, a miniaturist.

Address: 2000 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35203, United States

19. Cathedral Caverns State Park

Diegoandrade , CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Cathedral Caverns State Park can be found in Marshall County, just southeast of Alabama’s Woodville.

The state park is named after a stunning cavern within it that is known as one of the best tourist attractions in the area.

The magnificent Cathedral Caverns were once simply known as the Bat Cave, but it completely naturally looks like a cathedral, earning in its current title.

The Cathedral Caverns are always 60 degrees in temperature, and they greet you with a giant entrance measuring 25 feet in height and 126 feet in width.

11,000 feet have been traversed, but 2,700 feet more of the Caverns are still closed as they have not yet been surveyed.

Gem mining, cave tours, camping, and picnics can all be done here.

The most stunning of the Cathedral Caverns’ sights is Goliath, which might be the largest natural column in the world.

The stalagmite has a 3-inch diameter, a 243-foot circumference, and a height of 45 feet.

It reaches the ceiling, 25 feet above, at an angle that makes room for it.

It’s the centerpiece of the state park and a masterwork of nature!

Address: 637 Cave Rd, Woodville, AL 35776, United States

20. Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum

Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum

The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum is situated on 740 acres of ground in Birmingham.

It is the home of the world’s most comprehensive and fine collections of vintage automobiles and motorcycles.

It was created by George Barber, who has a private collection of vintage motorcycles thanks to his interest in them.

He used his collection to open the museum in 1988.

Barber was more than just a collector, though.

He had 63 first-place wins from racing Porches and was advised by his friend, Dave Hooper, to focus on motorcycles due to the common collections of cars already existing.

Barber listened and began gathering what is now the biggest collection of motorcycles in the world.

The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum now has more than 1,450 motorcycles that span over a century of production from 20 different countries.

Famous bikes onsite include everything from common brands like Honda and Harley-Davidson to rarer ones like Cagiva and DSK.

Aside from motorcycles, the museum is also home to a fun collection of Lotus racecars – the biggest of its kind worldwide!

There’s no denying that the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum is one of the state’s things to see that shouldn’t be missed for motorcycle enthusiasts!

Address: 6030 Barber Motorsports Pkwy, Leeds, AL 35094, United States

21. F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum

F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum ( Heather Cowper / flickr )

The F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum is situated in Montgomery, and as the sole museum exclusive to its subject, is one of the top points of interest for renowned author F. Scott Fitzgerald in the world.

The Fitzgeralds came to live in the house in 1931, at the same time that the writer was working on screenwriting Red-Headed Woman and authoring the novel Tender Is The Night.

Only a year later, a mental breakdown would see his wife, Zelda, admitted to a clinic in Baltimore.

That April, Fitzgerald would vacate the home with his child.

The house was set up to be knocked down in 1986, but two people rallied to save it: Julian and Leslie McPhillips.

They also set up the Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum Association and the house was officially opened as a museum the following year.

It is now the last house ever lived in by either Fitzgerald or his wife that remains standing now in Montgomery.

The house itself is interesting to explore.

Its foyer leads to a number of different directions, with the museum being situated on the first floor and apartments located above.

The apartments are now actually used as the Zelda and Scott Suites, which are an AirBnB location.

If you book a room for the night, museum entry is complimentary, so it could be among the free things to do if you decide to stay here!

A tour of the museum starts with a video that dates back to the 1980s.

It is 30 minutes long and tells the tale of the Fitzgeralds and their home.

The rest of the museum is backed with personal items, photos, letters, and books relating to the author and his family.

Address: 919 Felder Ave # 919, Montgomery, AL 36106, United States

22. Unclaimed Baggage Center

Unclaimed Baggage Center

The Unclaimed Baggage Center is one of the best cool places that you can check out in Alabama.

It is in Scottsboro and is one of the many places that unclaimed baggage may end up in order to find new homes somewhere.

Many airlines provide reimbursements to customers whose luggage or cargo is lost, and then the eventually located luggage may then be sold.

The Unclaimed Baggage Center, which opened in 1970, is one of the businesses that purchase such lost items.

They first opened as a part-time business in 1970 before a full expansion in 1995 that led to it reaching the size of a city block!

Over 7,000 new items are brought in daily, so the selection is wide-ranging and interesting.

At the Unclaimed Baggage Center, you’ll find a large amount of clothing predominantly, but there are many other items as well.

Electronics, books, jewelry, sporting goods, cameras, and actual luggage are also common finds.

There are also rarer and more unique items occasionally; some that have been reported over the years are a parachute, a suit of armor, a fighter jet system, gemstones, and a whole live rattlesnake!

The rarest items can be viewed in the museum on site.

This includes artifacts from Egypt, Hoggle from Labyrinth by Jim Hensen, and even a 1700s violin.

There’s a reason over a million people come to check this place out annually – it’s just cool!

Address: 509 W Willow St, Scottsboro, AL 35768, United States

23. Little River Canyon

Little River Canyon

The Little River Canyon is a national reserve that can be found close to Fort Payne, on Alabama’s Lookout Mountain.

It is the site of America’s longest mountaintop river, and it’s truly one of the most beautiful places to go in the state.

The canyon is often considered the deepest of its kind east of the Mississippi River and was originally called May’s Gulf.

There are a number of fun ways to keep yourself occupied if you visit Little River Canyon.

Backcountry camping is possible in Hartline’s Ford, Billy’s Ford, and Slant Rock.

Fishing and hunting can be performed with a license, too.

If you prefer, you can also just drive along the edge of the Little River Canyon Rim Parkway to get a 23-mile gorgeous view around the rim of the canyon.

Address: 4322 Little River Trail #100, Fort Payne, AL 35967, United States

24. Fairhope

Fairhope is a lovely, picturesque location that has a small-town vibe, which makes it one of many more laid-back vacation ideas in Alabama.

Perfect for exploring the shores and cliffs of Mobile Bay this weekend through the delightful, whimsical locations it has to offer.

Among Fairhope’s most famed places to visit is Fairhope Avenue, which has plenty of unique and interesting shops, eateries, and galleries, as well as storybook-like lights at night.

There is also the Fairhope Pier, the rose garden, tours through horseback and boat, and more.

25. Mobile Carnival Museum

Mobile Carnival Museum

The Mobile Carnival Museum is the best way to get a glimpse into Mardi Gras history in Alabama.

This is because Mobile was the location of the very first Mardi Gras (or Carnival) in the New World of French Louisiana in 1703.

The Mobile Carnival Museum tells its tales through photographs, costumes, floats, gowns, jewels, and posters, all dating as far back as 1886 and as current as the modern day.

As one of the most fun things to do in Alabama, it showcases all the unique and fascinating parts of Mardi Gras and Carnival evolution over the decades.

Address: 355 Government St, Mobile, AL 36602, United States

26. Bryant Denny Stadium

Bryant Denny Stadium

The Bryant Denny Stadium rests on the campus of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

It’s one of the key places of interest for sports fans and was set up in 1929.

At first, it only has 18,000 or so seats, but it has since grown to be capable of accommodating more than 100,000 people!

Over the years, the Bryant Denny Stadium has become one of the country’s main venues for college football.

If you love sports as entertainment, you’ll likely be able to watch a game if you catch tickets on time.

If not, book a tour of the stadium in advance in order to go on one of the daily tours, which caps at 25 people.

If you’re a die-hard sports fan, you’ll also probably want to catch the Iron Bowl, which takes place here in even-numbered years!

It’s a fun mashup between the Auburn Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide, which are the state’s two biggest rivals in the sport of college football.

Address: 920 Paul W Bryant Dr, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401, United States

27. Dismals Canyon

Dismals Canyon

The Dismals Canyon comes alive when night falls.

Dismalites!

Dismalites are a kind of gnat larvae, commonly called “glowworms”, which doesn’t sound very appealing, but they’re a must see if you’re in Alabama thanks to their rarity alone.

Dismalites, officially called the North American Orfelia fultoni, can only survive in specific habitats when they are still larvae, so they can only be found in very few locations.

They need hanging surfaces to build webs on, humidity to keep them moist, darkness so its lights can show, and still air in order to keep web lines steady.

Alongside Cumberland Plateau and the Appalachian Mountains, Dismals Canyon is one of the places to see that has this habitat!

The canyons, covered in moss, are often so full of them that it’s tough to differentiate between them and the sky above!

The Dismals Canyon is also home to one of the world’s biggest Canadian Hemlock trees, known also as Tsuga canadensis.

It towers at 138 feet in height and nearly 9 inches around.

Its crown spreads across 50 feet and it has an impressive age of 360 years.

Address: 901 County Rd 8, Phil Campbell, AL 35581, United States

28. Moundville Archaeological Park

Moundville Archaeological Park

Travel back in time to a pre-Columbian world at the Moundville Archaeological Park near Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

For more than a millennium, these earthworks have gazed over the Black Warrior River on a bluff, boasting 29 mounts built by the Mississippians, a Native American society.

The civilization of Mississippians was made up of chiefdoms that lived in a long rush of land from the coast of the Atlantic to the western Plains.

Chiefdoms were autonomous but connected by conflicts, trades, or other arrangements.

The culture also discovered techniques for sustainable agriculture, unlike many hunter-gatherer societies, which is why permanent settlements were possible for them.

Ruling religious and political figures were the head of their complex civilizations, and these elites were responsible for the supervision of the construction of the mounds you see now.

These mounds were the basis for houses, temples, and buildings of council and required heavy labor.

The ones at the Moundville Archaeological Park were built between 1000 and 1450 CE and had more than one thousand residents.

The larger the mound, the more elite the individual residing within it.

The largest one at the Moundville Archaeological Park measures 60 feet in height.

This place was abandoned around 1500 CE and it wasn’t excavated properly until the 20th century as part of New Deal job creation.

It spans 185 acres and is one of the best Alabama attractions you can find, as well as one of the most unique.

Address: 634 Mound State Parkway, Moundville, AL 35474, United States

29. Talladega Superspeedway

Talladega Superspeedway

If you’re looking for fun tourist attractions, the Talladega Superspeedway is an amazing way to get your taste of races and entertainment in Alabama.

Measuring 2.66 miles, it is the fastest and longest of NASCAR’s tracks.

It originally opened as the Alabama International Motor Speedway in 1969 and it earned a reputation for being cursed due to its location atop burial grounds of ancient communities.

The Talladega Superspeedway is unique because it offers a fascinating way to spend weekends when races are scheduled: with the option for free camping on the grounds.

You can avail of infield RV tent camping, RV camping, and outdoor camping as well.

There is also the new addition of the Party Patio, which lets you take a look at the whole track as you rest and await races.

Address: 3366 Speedway Blvd, Lincoln, AL 35096, United States

30. Tinglewood Carvings

Tinglewood Carvings ( Angie Flowers / flickr )

The Tinglewood Carvings can be found in Orr Park of Montevallo, Alabama.

The park itself is lovely, with eight sports fields, two playgrounds, a walking trail, a creek, and several picnic shelters.

But the best things to see at Orr Park aren’t these facilities, but the carvings made in many of its trees.

When a storm swept the area in 1993, many of the older trees wound up being destroyed.

They were originally meant to be simply chopped down, but one Mr. Tingle decided not to allow that!

He arrived and began carving into them, a mix of whimsical and comedic that add to Orr Park’s beauty.

Living trees are left untouched, but dead ones are game for whatever carvings he wants to add!

Alligators, squirrels, men, silly faces, and a dragon are among the different designs of the Tinglewood Carvings.

They’ve become so famous that the Montevallo City Hall has a book that details all of them!

Address: Park Dr, Montevallo, AL 35115, United States

31. Alabama Wildlife Center

Alabama Wildlife Center ( Ralph Daily / flickr )

The Alabama Wildlife Center is the biggest facility for wildlife rehabilitation.

Created in 1977, it’s also the oldest, beginning as a small volunteer organization.

For the most part, the wildlife center focuses on being a rehabilitation clinic for native wild birds, providing a wildlife helpline, and offering fun educational programs.

More than 50,000 wild animals have been helped by the wildlife center, the facility continues to provide medical and rehabilitative aid to the animals that they can help.

More than 100 species of wild birds are cared for here annually – over 2,000 individual animals!

Address: 100 Terrace Dr, Pelham, AL 35124, United States

32. Alabama Theater

Alabama Theater

In 1927, the Alabama Theater was opened in Birmingham to be a premier movie theater for America’s southeast.

It was among the very first buildings to boast air-conditioning and, in the 1930s, was home to the activities of the Mickey Mouse Club.

In the beginning, the theater could only play silent films with the aid of a Mighty Wurlitzer organ.

It is this organ that eventually saved the theater from its eventual slating for demolition.

Now, the Alabama Theater is a nonprofit that still offers frequent entertainment.

Seating 2,500 people, it has come a long way since it was a mere vessel for vaudeville and performance arts.

As the only district theater in the state still operating, it’s certainly one of the best things to do in Alabama.

Address: 1817 3rd Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203, United States

33. Town of Spectre

Town of Spectre ( Jason Biro / flickr )

The Town of Spectre is a fictional town that you may recognize from Big Fish, a film from 2003.

In the movie, the main character visits Spectre multiple times, going as a child to find it beautiful and bright, and arriving later to find it dilapidated.

The lead then works to fix it and, the final time he visits it, it’s all fixed up and good as new.

It’s whimsical and melancholy – even more so when you consider the current state of the set of Spectre.

Spectre was built along the Alabama River, on a private island.

Its facades were left to stand there when filming was over, along with all the other dressings of the set.

The reason it looks so run-down is because that version of Spectre was the last to be filmed, so it already looked intentionally bad when filming wrapped.

Some of the buildings have begun to collapse over time, and one of them led to a fire when debris collapsed and the owners attempted to save it.

Sparks burned and most of the commercial part of Spectre was destroyed.

A river house was also demolished due to flooding that damaged it.

Spectre is still a fun option for what to do, but much smaller now.

Only six homes, two trees, a church, and columns from an important building remain.

If you loved the film, you can leave your shoes at the long line already existing here, left behind by visitors.

Address: Dirt road near, Cypress Ln, Millbrook, AL 36054, United States

34. Civil Rights Memorial

Civil Rights Memorial

The Civil Rights Memorial of Alabama is located across the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Despite being harrowing in nature, it is one of the best places to visit to feel the symbolic gravity of the movement for civil rights.

It bears the names of 40 individuals who died between the years 1954 and 1968 in their fight for equality.

The years were chosen because the former is when the Supreme Court of the United States ruled against racial segregation in schools and the latter is when Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.

The memorial is always watched by a guard in order to prevent vandalism.

It was designed by Vietnam Veterans Memorial designer Maya Lin and was dedicated in the year 1989.

The design of the memorial is water-themed and is meant to appear healing and relaxing.

It is a nod to King’s own words from his famous speech: “…we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream”.

Address: 400 Washington Ave, Montgomery, AL 36104, United States

35. Orange Beach

Orange Beach

Orange Beach is one of the famous places in Alabama because it’s one of the few beach getaways that offers sand and surf fun.

It rests along the Gulf of Mexico’s coastline and spans 32 miles.

Orange Beach has golf courses, fishing events, nature preserves, and plenty of white sand to enjoy.

You can rent a boat, bask in the sun, go for a cruise, partake in fishing, or even look for dolphins!

36. GulfQuest National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico

GulfQuest National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico

The GulfQuest National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico is one of the best ways to get a true look into the Gulf of Mexico.

As the only maritime museum dedicated to its subject on the planet, it’s paramount of the list of where to go for education about this gulf at the end of Alabama.

Situated on the Mobile River, the GulfQuest National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico is an interactive location, making it one of the only interactive museums of this theme in the United States.

It is built inside the container ship of the SS McLean as a symbol of the 1950s concept of containerization.

Address: 155 S Water St, Mobile, AL 36602, United States

Auburn is a college town, through and through.

You won’t find another place that is more quintessential to the concept of Alabama colleges.

It’s home to the famous football team, the Auburn Tigers, and the school pride is evident virtually in all the places to visit you’ll encounter.

There are plenty of fun spots throughout Auburn worth visiting.

Whether you’re looking for art, good food, nature, shopping, or sports, you’re sure to find something here that will entice you.

Experience a slice of the world of university life and feel young again – or feel like you’re all grown up!

38. Hank Williams’s Gravesite

Hank Williams’s Gravesite

More than 25,000 individuals take a trip to Hank Williams’s Gravesite annually, which makes it a surprising addition to the top list of Alabama attractions.

It is located in Montgomery, Alabama in the Oakwood Cemetery Annex.

Williams’ enjoyed a short career in music, but it was nothing if not memorable.

Superfans of Williams have plucked the grass from around his grave so much that it was eventually replaced completely with Astroturf, which makes the grave – and the grave of Williams’ wife, Audrey, stand out significantly.

The artificial bright green contrasts with the natural hues of every place around it.

Address: 1269-1399 Upper Wetumpka Rd, Montgomery, AL, United States

39. Neversink Pit

Neversink Pit ( Jimmy Emerson, DVM / flickr )

The Neversink Pit is one of Alabama’s more unique tourist attractions.

It is located in the north of the state and is a bit of a cross between a cave and a sinkhole.

It’s a majestic sight to behold, which is probably why it’s not just a hotspot for climbers, but for photographers as well.

The Neversink Pit is a magnificent geological marvel.

It measures 40 feet in width at its peak entrance and drops by a whopping 162 feet to a floor nearly 80 feet in width.

Many people aim to climb it, and they’re greeted by different vistas each season.

In the spring, ribbons of water fall after the rain.

In the summer, rare species of ferns drape over the sides.

In the winter, ice sheets make things extra chilly. It’s equal parts fun, intimidating, and breathtaking.

The Southeastern Cave Conservancy spent years trying to keep the Neversink Pit pristine before purchasing the property entirely with donations in 1995.

The organization now maintains watch over the pit’s ecology and overseas guest activity.

This is especially important because of the endangered plants growing in the Neversink Pit and the vulnerable “community” of bats that calls this cave home.

Address: Unnamed Road, Fackler, AL 35746, United States

40. Sloss Furnaces

Sloss Furnaces

The Sloss Furnaces is an incredibly national historic landmark and one of the most unique things to do in Birmingham, Alabama .

In 1882, the furnaces began their function as a blast furnace for pig-iron.

In 1971, the Sloss Furnaces site was shut down, and it was then preserved as one of the things to see for the public.

The fascinating structures were named after Colonel James Withers Sloss, one of Birmingham’s founders who promoted the development of railroads.

He built this company on land spanning 50 acres, which was donated for the purposes of industrial growth.

Only two furnaces could be built even on that huge amount of space.

Each furnace is 60 feet in height and 18 feet in width, and they are surrounded by the items, machines, and tools used in the pig-iron production process.

Sloss eventually sold his company when he wanted to retire.

The park then expanded, accommodating new boilers, and they soon grew to be one of the world’s biggest industry players.

Cottages were set up for workers to live in and improvements were made repeatedly throughout the years.

They were shut down after the passing of the US Clean Air Act.

The Alabama State Fair Authority then received them as a donation and preservationists made sure the site was saved instead of demolished.

The Sloss Furnaces now function as an industrial museum, providing a globally renowned metal arts program and teaching visitors an interpretive history of the industry.

It is also often used as a venue for concerts and festivals, and there’s no entry fee, so it’s one of the few free things to do in the state.

Address: 20 32nd St N, Birmingham, AL 35222, United States

41. Natural Bridge

Natural Bridge

The Natural Bridge is one of the must see points of interest in Alabama.

It is surrounded by unbelievably lush foliage as well as delightful and awe-inspiring rock formations, but the uniqueness of this bridge, made of iron ore and sandstone, outshines them all.

Over 200 million years ago, this bridge was slowly being formed outside what is now known as the William Bankhead National Forest.

It spans the area of a cave and measures 148 feet in length and 50 feet in height.

Native Americans have lived here for centuries, and it became a national park in 1954.

You cannot walk over the bridge now due to safety, but it’s amazing enough to walk through and take photos.

If you walk a little farther, you’ll find a mysterious Native American head carving believed to depict a former chief.

Address: County RD 314, Natural Bridge, AL 35577, United States

42. Southeastern Raptor Center

Southeastern Raptor Center ( Josh Hallett / flickr )

If you’re looking for fun things to do in Alabama, you can’t go wrong with the Southeastern Raptor Center .

Founded in the mid-1970s, it was created after Dr. Milton received requests to help injured birds that had been taken to the College of Veterinary Medicine and Auburn University.

Eventually, donations and volunteer work allowed for the creation of the raptor barn, followed by a housing area.

The Southeastern Raptor Center has since helped thousands of birds of prey, treating them and releasing them into the wild as one of the top specialists for this field in Alabama.

As such, the center is an amazing option among places to visit in the state, especially for bird enthusiasts.

Address: 1350 Pratt-Carden Dr, Auburn, AL 36849, United States

Start Planning Your Trip To Alabama

Alabama’s places to visit are fun, exciting, and unique.

Whether you’ve got a huge budget or want something free, there are sure to be Alabama vacation spots that fit your idea of the perfect holiday.

Hopefully, this travel guide has helped you determine your own picks for the top things to do in Alabama!

Home » Travel Guides » United States » Alabama (AL) » 30 Amazing Hidden Gems in Alabama

30 Amazing Hidden Gems in Alabama

Dubbed as the Yellowhammer State after the state bird, Alabama is located in the south-eastern part of the United States of America. While Montgomery stands as the state capital, Mobile is the oldest city in Alabama, which as per records was founded in 1702 as the capital of French Louisiana by French colonists.

With approximately 1,500 miles of inland waterways, which is 3.2% of the total state area, Alabama has the second-largest inland waterway system in the country. It is also the 24th most populous state and the 30th largest by area in the United States.

Named after the Native American Alabama Tribe, the state is famous for its picturesque landscapes and brilliant outdoors. Alabama is divided into four sections – the metropolitan centers, the mountains, the inland waterways, and the Gulf Coast.

Neighbored by Tennessee to its north, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to its south, Georgia to its east, and Mississippi to its west, the state is famous for its southern hospitality. Along with hospitality and genial behavior, Alabama is also home to several secret treasures that are longing to be discovered.

Let us discover the many hidden gems in Alabama and indulge into the many wonders of the Cotton State.

1. Spectre Set Ruins, Millbrook

Outside Millbrook, Alabama, Jackson Lake Island on Alabama River stands the dilapidated remnants of Spectre, a fictional town which was built as a set for Tim Burton’s fantasy movie, Big Fish (2003).

Edward Bloom, the lead character in the movie, visits Spectre a few times in his life – once as a kid and the second time when the town is almost in ruins. Bloom visits the town one final time to find it restored.

When the shooting of the film ended, Spectre was left abandoned with the movie set and Styrofoam trees. Unfortunately, after a few years from when the filming wrapped, some of the structures collapsed.

As of present, Spectre has left six homes, a church, two trees from the forest, and the columns from Jenny, the mayor’s daughter’s home. Add your shoes to the collection of several others hanging in line.

2. Alabama’s Natural Bridge, Natural Bridge

Outside the William Bankhead national Forest lays the 148-feet-long and 60-feet-high curved rock formation that stands as one of the most exquisite forms of natural geological formation in the state – the Natural Bridge.

The area was listed as a National Park in 1954, however, history shows that the bridge and the surrounding area has been used by the Native Americans for hundreds of years. A few steps ahead from the Natural Bridge is a strange, inexplicable carving of an Indian Head that looks almost similar to that of a buffalo nickel.

Claims have been made that the carving depicts a chief from the Native American tribes that resided here but no proofs have been found, yet.

Unfortunately, to safeguard the safety of visitors (you can’t really trust a 200-million-year old bridge to withstand hundreds of visitors) and the ancient natural asset, walking on the bridge is prohibited. However, you can stroll around the bridge and the park as much as you want.

3. The Museum of Wonder, Seale

A ten-year-old boy’s obsession with collecting junk and other discarded items turned into a full-fledged hobby when he accidentally sold a painting of a turnip.

Butch Anthony, an Alabama artist and a former taxidermist, realized the potential of revenue generation from his scrap collection that he has been compiling as a young boy.

To materialize on the thought, he transformed his taxidermy store into an exhibition of strange objects – animal bones, jars full of dead critters, weird paintings, lost-and-found objects, and just about any piece of rubbish you could imagine.

In almost no time, Anthony’s 500-square-foot cabin in the rural town of Seale turned into an extraordinary collection and gave rise to the Museum of Wonder.

Among many other items on display are a few signature-style creations of the artist – impressionistic skeletons traced over vintage portraits with added illustrations.

4. The Grave of Miss Baker, Huntsville

Among the many “test subjects” that America tossed into space since first starting experimenting with space travel in 1948 is Miss Baker – the first primate that made it back safely after a sub-orbital space flight.

The space program had some success with fruit flies, but, the higher the primates the tougher it became for the Americans to ensure their safe return. Most fell prey to exploding rockets while others lost their lives in violent impacts or got lost in space along with their capsule.

Miss Baker and Miss Able, the only two squirrel monkeys who had survived the initial screenings were sent to space in a Jupiter Rock. While Miss Able passed away four days after their arrival, Miss Baker lived until the age of 27, married Big George, breathed an illustrious life, and died of kidney failure in 1984.

Her remains are buried at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Alabama, next to her beloved husband, and has a nice headstone.

5. Dismals Canyon, Phil Campbell

This Alabama Canyon located in Phil Campbell comes alive every day at dark as thousands of miniature bio-luminescent creatures taxonomically called the “North American Orfelia Fultoni,” and popularly known as “Dismalities,” come alive with their natural glow.

A type of gnat larva, the Dismalities are extremely rare, so much so that they are only found in the Appalachian Mountains and Cumberland Plateau. The bright bluish-green light that they emit is their way of attracting insects so they can feed on them for survival.

Dismals Canyon, as they are called after the habitat living in them, provide the specific ambiance that these larvae need to survive in their larval stage – humidity to build web so they can trap insects for food, enough insects, darkness to allow them to glow, and a still atmosphere that would prevent their webs from tangling.

The Canyon is home to two more significant features – one of the surviving twin Canadian Hemlocks, which at 138 feet tall, is considered to be the largest of its kind in the state, and the world’s largest Deumaria vine.

Best way to spot the mesmerizing phenomenon is at night.

6. Neversink Pit, Fackler

A sinkhole? A cave? Though the geological name of the structure isn’t certain, the Neversink Pit in Fackler, Alabama is a dramatic 162-feet deep sinkhole with a 40-feet wide opening. It is among the most photographed sinkholes in the United States of America, if not the world.

The interiors inside the pit, as viewed by abseilers, change dramatically with season – ferns in the summer, ribbony waterfalls in the spring, and ice sheets in the winter.

Belonging to the Southeastern Cave Conservancy since 1995, entry into the pit and rappelling below to the floor is only allowed for expert climbers and requires a permit.

7. F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum, Montgomery

Plenty of museums and other attractions have been erected all over the world to honor F. Scott Fitzgerald, the renowned novelist and author, but, here in Montgomery, Alabama is the only museum in the world that is dedicated to the story writer and his wife, Zelda.

The Fitzgerald’s, along with their daughter Scottie, moved into the then-house-now museum in 1931. Unfortunately, however, Zelda had a mental collapse and was moved to a clinic in Baltimore. The father and daughter duo continued to stay at the house until April that year.

In 1986, Julie and Leslie McPhillips saved the iconic structure from being torn down and transformed it into the F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum instead.

8. Cheaha Mountain, Delta

The highest point in the state of Alabama, Cheaha Mountain rises above Talladega National Forest and is 2,407 feet above sea level. Regarded as one of the most picturesque spots in the state, the Mountain was once almost deforested until President Roosevelt crafted the National Forest in 1936!

Befittingly named after a Creek Indian word which means “high place”, Cheaha was once extremely rugged. The logged and vacated farmland around the tall peak was anything but attractive.

However, the expansive regrowth, thanks to the park system, covered the area with greenery and a gorgeous view.

Bunker Tower, constructed in 1934 by the Civilian Conservation Corps sits on the mountaintop and acts as a visitor center with the most spectacular view of the mountains.

9. Alabama Booksmith, Homewood

Originally a tiny shop in the lanes of Homewood, Alabama, that sold used and rare books, the Alabama Booksmith may be the only of its kind that exist in the world today.

Located behind a vet clinic, the one-of-a-kind bookstore is owned and managed by Jacob Reiss, who only houses books that are signed copies! Yes, you read it right. Every single book in his collection is signed by the author.

While operating his former old books’ store, Reiss realized that the dough lays in selling signed books rather than the usual ones as not only did they sell faster but they also generated a better member loyalty. All the books at the store (except for a few rare ones) are sold at the cover price!

10. Dead Children’s Playground, Huntsville

Burial grounds, death, and any such negativities are kept far away from children. But, that’s not the case at the oldest and the largest cemetery in Alabama. Maple Hill Cemetery in Huntsville has a small playground on the same grounds as that of the century-old burial ground.

Though it sees more ghost chasers and teenagers than children (for obvious reasons), the simple playground has a few swings and a modern-day jungle gym. Named aptly as the Dead Children’s Playground, the small site for children was once almost lost when the city officials decided that there isn’t enough room for graves.

Of course, there is barely a graveyard that is not associated with (alleged) ghost sightings. Rumors of swings swaying by themselves and floating ghost lights have been reported quite a few times.

Care to take your toddler for a day out in the sun here?

11. Goldie 1971 – The Fallen Robot, Tuscaloosa

Sloss Blast Furnaces was one of the leading manufacturers of Pig Iron during Birmingham’s industrial era. When the business closed in 1971, a former graduate of the University of Alabama, Joe McCreary, used the celebrated past of the company as an inspiration to create “Goldie 1971.”

Today, Goldie rests peacefully at the sculpture garden at the University which bought the rusting giant in 2010 and installed it as a permanent collection.

While Sloss Blast Furnaces opened as a museum and was listed as a National Historic Landmark in 1981, Goldie remains at the Woods Quad Sculpture Garden serving as a reminder to the hundreds of students that art can be used to express all their stories.

12. Ave Maria Grotto, Cullman

A hunchbacked, poor man, Brother Joseph Zoettl lived a hard life – due to his living conditions and of course, his physical limitations. At the age of 14, he signed up with St. Bernard Abbey in the hopes of escaping his tough life.

Nothing much changed for Brother Joseph. He spent 17 hours everyday for almost 30 years working at Abbey’s pump house. Consequently, the same routine became boring but he didn’t have a choice so he started his own private amusement project – he began constructing miniature grottoes. Soon, tens became hundreds and hundreds became thousands.

Brother Joseph kept the larger models at the Abbey and sold the miniature ones to others. And, soon, it became the Ave Maria Grotto aka Jerusalem in Miniature – a four-acre mini-town that was filled with almost 125 famous and religious locations.

His last creation, Basilica in Lourdes, was built in 1958 when Brother Joseph was 80.

13. Frank Lloyd Wright-Rosenbaum House, Florence

Frank Lloyd Wright has been mentioned in the American architectural history several times for his flawless designs and striking creations. However, the Rosenbaum House in Florence, Alabama, as architect critic Peter Blake mentioned, is by far considered one of the most stunning constructions to date.

Constructed in 1940 for Stanley and Mildred Rosenbaum, the structure was donated in 1990 to the City of Florence. Often regarded to depict the purest version of Wright’s Usonian style, the home was not just functional but in sync with the natural surroundings.

Plenty of glass windows, cantilevered roofs, and a carport are some of the significant characteristics of Wright’s Usonian masterpiece.

14. Tinglewood Carvings, Montevallo

Orr Park in Montevallo, Alabama is an amazing place for a family picnic. Everything about the park calls for a day out in the sun, amidst nature – six baseball-come-softball fields, a soccer field, a football field, a walking trail, two playgrounds, and a creek apt enough for wading.

However, the most attractive feature on the park grounds is a bunch of dead trees that were destroyed in a storm in 1993. What’s so amazing about dead trees, you ask?

Mr. Tingle, a resident in the area, in an attempt to save the dead but old trees, started carving them.

As a result, today, over 30 carved alligators, squirrels, men, and even an alligator not only coexist peacefully with the visitors at the park but they also add an air of mystique around the area.

15. Africatown, Mobile

The slave trade in America was legally prohibited by 1808, however, Timothy Meaher, a wealthy businessman, challenged the law in his own way and set out to bring a “shipment” of 32 African slaves in the country in 1860.

His attempts were put to an end by the authorities who caught wind of Meaher’s illicit attempts and the group of slaves were given a small piece of his land to live at in the town. This is how the little village of Africatown came about in the history of Alabama.

The African community built houses in the area and appointed a chief and a medicine man, when former slaves were added to the new community.

With time, the first settlers of the town died off and their successors implanted themselves in the American culture, leaving Africatown abandoned.

A small history museum at Mobile’s Count Training School still exists.

16. The Drive-Thru Museum, Seale

The world’s first drive-thru museum is in Seale, Alabama, and it is the creation of the same ten-year-old boy, Butch Anthony, who grew up to be an artist, a taxidermist, a collector and creator (of the weirdest things in the world), and the founder of Museum of Wonder.

Created as a relief to the overflow of tourists at his other museum, the Drive-Thru Museum is constructed out of old shipping containers. Windows have been cut off from the container walls to allow insights into the strange collection of items either collected or crafted by Anthony.

Among other things is a large gallstone attached to poems, the two-headed ducklings, and Anthony’s signature style – skeletons imposed on old portraits.

17. Sloss Furnaces, Birmingham

As Alexander Graham Bell once said, “When one door closes another door opens”, Sloss Furnaces, a pig-iron producing giant that served the country for nine decades and was shut down for business in 1971, was listed a National Historic Landmark in the city of Birmingham, Alabama in 1981 – after a decade of it closing down.

Today, the blast furnace site functions as an interpretive museum and conducts several metal arts courses that are acknowledged universally. Additionally, it is perhaps one of the most unusual locations where festivals and concert venues are hosted.

Coined after one of the founding fathers of Birmingham, Colonel James Withers Sloss, the two furnaces were constructed on 50 acres of land and stand 60 feet tall. Known as one of the largest in the world at the time, the Sloss Furnaces are still being preserved to date.

18. Hank Williams’ Death Car, Montgomery

Hiram “Hank” Williams, more popularly known as Hank Williams, was among the most substantial and effective American songwriter and singers of the 20th century. The musician recorded 35 singles, of which 5 were released after he passed away. What’s most intriguing about his life though is how it ended.

Williams, along with Charles Carr, a college freshman he hired to drive him around in his 1952 Cadillac, was on a tour through Ohio and West Virginia. Soon after the car passed the West Virginia State Line, Carr stopped at a gas station for refilling when he noticed that Williams laid unconscious in the back seat. When he checked up on him, Williams seemed unresponsive and his body was becoming rigid.

As his doctor reported, Williams drank often and had just asked him to give him a Morphine shot to get rid of the back pain. Though a lot has been blamed on his habits, what killed the musical superstar at a tender age of 29 still remains a mystery.

Even though the true cause of Hank Williams’ death remains unknown, the Cadillac, where he apparently breathed the last time, remains the centerpiece at the Hank Williams Museum in Montgomery, Alabama.

19. Bamahenge, Elberta

America certainly has a weird obsession with Stonehenge, but, one person in particular, Mark Cline, of the Enchanted Castle Studios, is the man behind creating two of the existing Stonehenge replicas in the country – the Foamhenge in Virginia (2004) and the Bamahenge in Elberta, Alabama (sometime in the spring of 2013).

Cline, a brilliant architect, is known for his larger-than-life creations, and so, when George Barber, an Alabama millionaire, wanted a few dinosaurs to be built for himself, he hired Cline to do the job. The result – a T-Rex, a triceratops, a brontosaurus, and a stegosaurus stand at the edge of Barber Marina.

Extremely impressed with the installations, Barber commissioned Cline to build him a fiberglass replica of Stonehenge.

Though Bamahenge stands tall and proud at the Marina, Foamhenge may be in danger as the land it stands on is reportedly going to be a part of the Virginia State Park. Maybe, Foamhenge can join his cousins over at the Marine, eh?

20. Moundville Archaeological Site, Moundville

Not so distant from Tuscaloosa, in the town of Moundville, Alabama, are massive earthworks that transport you to another time – to the pre-Columbian culture!

Known as the Moundville Archaeological Site, the area comprises 29 mounds that were created over a thousand years ago by the Mississippian culture, a Native American Society at the time. The culture was divided into several chiefdoms, each of which functioned as per their own religious beliefs.

These chiefdoms were each headed by an appointed figure who was of religious and political significance to the community they represented. Supervised by these ruling members, these mounds were created to serve as foundations of housing properties, temples, and council buildings.

The second largest of its type, the mounds were abandoned by 1500 B.C. and proper excavation began in the early 20th century.

21. Berman Museum of World History, Anniston

What happens when an American GI weds a French Spy? Simple. It gives birth to one of the most thought-provoking museums in the world!

Farley Berman and his wife established the Berman Museum of World History while they were stationed in North Africa. The husband-wife duo traveled all over the world for 40 years and collected as many oddities, antiques, and weapons as one possibly could.

Berman never confirmed how they managed to get hold of some of the more intriguing items in the collection but he joked that they may have accidentally come with their bedroll after World War II; the rest, he unapologetically claimed, appeared out of magic.

Well, magic or not, someone please tell us exactly how did the couple manage to get Hitler’s tea service?

22. Civil Rights Memorial, Montgomery

The American Civil Rights movement from 1954 to 1968 included several social movements and strategies that were being pushed forward to end racial discrimination against African-Americans in the country. However, it wasn’t just strategies and movements. For a “movement” that went on for 15 years, many lost their lives fighting for equal rights along with Martin Luther King, Jr. – one of the most significant personalities of the Civil Rights Movement and a Nobel Peace Prize awardee!

A proud commemoration of the lives lost and wars won, Civil Rights Memorial, standing across the Southern Poverty Law Center, is a dedication to the 40 people who sacrificed their lives so the rest of country could live in harmony.

A hub for hundreds of civil right workers around the globe, the Law Centre sponsored the memorial and Maya Lin designed and created it. A guard stands alert by the architecture to prevent any vandalism.

The memorial is visited by several tourists every day, yet not enough as compared to the history it holds.

23. Holmes Medical Museum, Foley

Holmes Medical Museum may not be the most intriguing medical museum in the world (and, it definitely doesn’t have anything to do with Sherlock Holmes), but, it is a celebration of the sterile, vaguely terrifying past of the obsolete tools that have been used in the history of medical science.

Situated within the walls of Foley’s first hospital, which treated patients from 1936 to 1958, the Medical Museum allows you to walk through the old operating theatre of this tiny, four-bed former hospital. You could also stroll through some of the patient rooms and observe the strange, almost-brutal looking tools kept in the glass cases around the museum.

Apart from the frightening display of tools that looked more torturous than healing, you could also see the birth certificates of some of the children born here along with information on the hospital’s past.

24. African Village in America, Birmingham

Not the same as Africatown (which was actually built by Africans and later abandoned by their descendants), African Village was established by Joe Minter, who draws inspiration from his love for God, and believes that God wouldn’t want anything to be thrown away to waste; instead He would rather that his humans created something out of all that is thrown away or discarded.

As if to reflect his ideas and theme, African Village has been created using all types of junk and scrap material – toys, utensils, lawn decorations, old sporting gears, satellite dishes! Five of these huge dishes adorn the back of his property and spell J-E-S-U-S in big, bold letters. African masks and feathered headdresses can also be found lying around in the village.

Minter has an open-gate policy and you are welcome to come in free and stroll around whenever you want. You could also buy DVDs or other such items at the village.

As Minter still continues to build, he has earned himself the title of “African Warrior” for his thoughtful creation.

25. Anniston Museum, Anniston

Also known as Anniston Museum of Natural History, the museum was founded in 1930 and houses seven permanent displays – the Dynamic Earth, the Alabama Sand to Cedars, the Attack and Defense, the Environments of Africa, the Ancient Egypt, the Nature Discovery Room, and the Bird of the Americas – the last being the base for Anniston Museum’s original collection.

Home to one of the oldest taxidermy collections in the country, the Bird of the Americas was collected and established by William H. Werner in the 19th century, but, the compilation was purchased and brought to Anniston upon Werner’s death by H. Severn Regan. The display contains over 1,000 dioramas of birds, eggs, and bird nests.

Over 400 species of birds can be found at the display including the passenger pigeons, who were once commonly found around North America but are now extinct due to hunting and deforestation. It is believed that these migratory birds gathered in flocks of billions and covered the sky a mile wide and about 300 miles long, resulting in dark skies for days at a time!

26. Tolstoy Park, the Unusual Home of Henry Stuart, Fairhope

In 1923, Henry Stuart, a resident of Idaho, was diagnosed with tuberculosis aka “consumption”. The typical medical advice to the illness was a change of weather. With only a few months to live (as confirmed by the doctors), Stuart bought an unseen ten-acres of land in Alabama and moved 2,500 miles at the age of 65.

To spend his “remaining days” in peace, he built himself a circular, hurricane-resistant little hut which was only 14 feet in diameter. Within a couple of years, Stuart named his little abode “Tolstoy Park” after Leo Tolstoy and went on to live another 22 years.

Though Stuart lived mostly in isolation, visitors started frequenting the unusual house (1,200 as per his visitor’s log).

The “home” is now listed on the National Register for Historic Places and the owner of this strange residence has been immortalized in Sonny Brewer’s “The Poet of Tolstoy Park.”

27. Henry Wells’ Lightning Portrait, Carrollton

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Established in 1820, the Pickens County Courthouse, named after General Andrew Pickens of South Carolina, has been burnt down twice – once in April 1865 by troops of Union General John T. Croxton, and the second time (presumably) by Henry Wells, a former slave who was apprehended and locked inside the courthouse garrett.

As the story goes, Wells was kept there to be protected from citizens who could have hurt him. However, it didn’t stop the residents forming a mob and protesting outside the Courthouse for days.

Apparently, one of those days, a terrified Wells stood by the courthouse window as the mob screamed and chanted when a sudden bolt of lightning struck the same window, and indelibly etched his face on the glass!

Astonishingly, it is the only glass that has never been destroyed in the last century or so that the courthouse has been in existence.

28. The Hodges Meteorite, Tuscaloosa

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The Hodges Meteorite isn’t remarkably big or beautiful or exquisite, but, it is one of the only fragments of a meteorite that has made its way to earth “alive”, and, also one of the very few that has hit a human!

Named after the woman it bruised, the Meteorite made its way to Ann Hodges rental home in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on the afternoon of November 30th, 1954, when Ann laid on her couch, taking a short nap.

The meteorite first crashed into her radio cabinet, and then bounced to her side, bruising her a little in the process. But, it was the least of her concern.

As the rule goes, considered pretty much space gold, the ownership of an object, such as a meteorite, rests on the person who finds it. However, since it was a rental house, the owner felt otherwise since it was his property and filed a legal battle.

Of course, Hodges won it, but, in order to avoid the unwanted limelight, she decided to donate the piece to the Alabama Museum of Natural History.

29. Peanuts on Parade, Dothan

Dothan, with a 100-mile radius of peanut farming, is not only where half of America’s peanuts are grown but it is also regarded as the “Peanut Capital of the World.”

Each Fall, the community comes together to celebrate the National Peanut Festival, dedicated to the town’s history with peanuts, the harvest season, and the farmers. The two-week carnival hosts a Peanut Parade and offers livestock shows, rides, agricultural exhibitions, and of course, a lot of peanut-this and peanut-that to munch on.

Don’t worry even if you missed the festival, for Dothan pretty much celebrates its peanut-rich history throughout the year. Originally a public art project to beautify the town and attract tourists, “Peanut Around Town” has peppered the city streets with various painted peanut statues – fireman peanut, doctor peanut, military peanut, a boiled-peanut selling peanut, a breast cancer awareness peanut, and even a Dalmatian cuddling with his favorite fire hydrant peanut!

Now known as “Peanut on Parade”, the public art project has resulted in over 60 painted peanut statues around Dothan.

Take a brochure from the Visitor Center for the exact locations of all the sites and have a nutty day ahead!

30. Little Nadine Earles Doll House Grave, Lanett

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Nadine Earles, the beloved daughter of Julian and Alma, was not even 4 when she passed away in 1933. It was the month of December and the little girl’s only wish was a dollhouse. Before her father could build the dream dollhouse, she was taken away from them, but, that didn’t stop Julian and Alma to continue working on the project.

The Doll House was completed and kept next to little Nadine’s grave at the Oakwood Cemetery in Lanett, Alabama. A replica of an actual house, Nadine’s dollhouse was equipped with a front porch, a mailbox, striped awnings, flower boxes during the summer, and Christmas Lights and an evergreen wreath in the winter.

The parents further decorated the house with toys, dolls, a high chair, a baby buggy, and a little bed – all kept ready for Nadine’s playtime in her afterlife.

Now, managed by the city of Lanett, the Doll House is still maintained and kept ready-to-play for “Little Nadine.”

30 Amazing Hidden Gems in Alabama:

• Spectre Set Ruins, Millbrook
• Alabama's Natural Bridge, Natural Bridge
• The Museum of Wonder, Seale
• The Grave of Miss Baker, Huntsville
• Dismals Canyon, Phil Campbell
• Neversink Pit, Fackler
• F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum, Montgomery
• Cheaha Mountain, Delta
• Alabama Booksmith, Homewood
• Dead Children's Playground, Huntsville
• Goldie 1971 - The Fallen Robot, Tuscaloosa
• Ave Maria Grotto, Cullman
• Frank Lloyd Wright-Rosenbaum House, Florence
• Tinglewood Carvings, Montevallo
• Africatown, Mobile
• The Drive-Thru Museum, Seale
• Sloss Furnaces, Birmingham
• Hank Williams' Death Car, Montgomery
• Bamahenge, Elberta
• Moundville Archaeological Site, Moundville
• Berman Museum of World History, Anniston
• Civil Rights Memorial, Montgomery
• Holmes Medical Museum, Foley
• African Village in America, Birmingham
• Anniston Museum, Anniston
• Tolstoy Park, the Unusual Home of Henry Stuart, Fairhope
• Henry Wells' Lightning Portrait, Carrollton
• The Hodges Meteorite, Tuscaloosa
• Peanuts on Parade, Dothan
• Little Nadine Earles Doll House Grave, Lanett

Touropia Travel

Discover the World

12 Best Things to do in Alabama

By Jamie Gambetta · Last updated on May 4, 2024

With unique destinations spread throughout, Alabama is a trip through history, southern culture and cuisine, with a beautiful scattering of scenic natural spaces.

Its historical cities from Birmingham to Montgomery were hotbeds of the Civil Rights Movement. Today they share the important story through museums, galleries and historic districts, where just generations ago the United States reached a flash point.

Away from major cities, there are also plenty of things to do in Alabama with wild lands and pristine coasts. Explore state parks, and the Gulf Of Mexico to see the beautiful spaces no one’s talking about.

12. Ivy Green

A historic house in Tuscumbia, Ivy green was the childhood home of the famous Helen Keller. Helen became deaf and blind at an early age, but would go on to be a celebrated author and an inspiration for many.

It’s believed she contracted scarlet fever and was examined by Alexander Graham Bell. Yes, that Mr Bell, the inventor of the telephone, who sent her to Anne Sullivan. Anne was a 20-year-old teacher, who remained with her student for almost 50 years until Helen passed away.

Now, you can explore Helen Keller’s historic childhood home, which was built in 1820. Learn all about her remarkable life, including her novels The Story of My Life and The Miracle Worker.

11. Little River Canyon

Featuring the longest mountaintop river in the USA, Little River Canyon is a place of hiking, fishing, and camping. A national preserve, the river runs over the mountains of Southern Appalachia, providing waterfalls, bluffs and beautiful forested uplands.

The Little River Canyon became a protected preserve in 1992 in order to maintain what is a unique landscape. Over millions of years, Little River has carved into the sandstone, creating spectacular cliffs that are slowly eroding the flat-topped Lookout Mountain.

Around the river is an extreme diversity of plant and animal species not seen elsewhere in Alabama. You can experience all this along the hiking trails and scenic drives that lead to amazing views and refreshing swimming holes.

10. Sloss Furnaces

On the back of rich mineral resources, entrepreneurs and big dreamers created a new city in central Alabama. In 1871, Birmingham was officially established and one member of the original community was Colonel James Sloss, whose furnaces began operating 11 years later in 1882.

After just shy of a century, Sloss Furnaces became a National Historic Landmark and then a museum. The oldest part of the museum is now the blowing engines from 1902 while you’ll also come across two 400-ton blast furnaces.

The Sloss Furnaces museum does a great job of showing off technological advances through the eras which you can learn all about on a guided tour.

9. Dexter Parsonage Museum

From 1954 to 1960, Martin Luther King and his family lived in what is now the Dexter Parsonage Museum. He was joined by the home’s original residents, 12 pastors from the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church.

Throughout the Civil Rights Movement, the home, now on the Register of Historic Places, was bombed multiple times. The fascinating exhibits in the museum explore Martin Luther King’s life as a pastor, and the site where he began his activism.

You can also learn about each of the pastors and the surrounding community before heading to the King-Johns Garden for Reflection. The garden covers six themes that the pastors and MLK would often preach about.

8. Cathedral Caverns State Park

Home to vast caves and one of the largest columns on earth, the Cathedral Caverns State Park first went by the name Bat Cave. Southeast of Woodville, Alabama, the cave spent 37 years as a private attraction before becoming a state park in 1987.

The regal and enormous entrance of the cave led to its current day name as Cathedral Caverns. The cave’s grand entrance is the largest in the state, and measures 126 feet wide and 25 feet tall. Visitors can explore the mesmerizing caves along with Goliath, a stalagmite column 45 feet high.

A cave tour allows you to wander beyond the boundaries, while tent camping and gem mining activities are also available.

7. Unclaimed Baggage Center

As the only national retailer for lost baggage, the Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro can also claim being one of the oddest attractions around. All the more reason to visit! You know what they say, one person’s unclaimed trash is someone else’s treasure.

All baggage arrives at the thrift store after not being picked up by passengers for 90 days. The Unclaimed Baggage Center then purchases these items for our browsing. The store has been in operation since 1970 and has seen some crazy items over the decades.

Such items include an aluminized fire suit, a camera from a NASA space program, and an Egyptian burial mask.

6. Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge

The wildlife refuge is the home of the endangered Alabama beach mouse while being a vital nesting ground for sea turtles. Each year, over 370 species of birds pay a visit on their migratory routes. Popular species include ospreys and hummingbirds.

You can get a taste of the park on the one mile Jeff Friend Trail, before exploring on any of the half-dozen longer trails. From Little Lagoon, you can launch a kayak and fish from the water.

5. National Memorial for Peace & Justice

A somber and significant site, the National Memorial for Peace & Justice is dedicated to the legacy of African Americans who were enslaved, or lost their lives through lynching.

The memorial opened in 2018 and was the first of its kind. It’s an important space that has given the chance for the Equal Justice Initiative to shine a light on the many stories of the American South which had yet to be told. The National Memorial for Peace & Justice, doesn’t just explore the lives lost, but the terror that stayed with the six million that fled to the north as a result of the tragic events.

The space allows visitors to gather and reflect on the past, with a sculpture dedicated to the Montgomery Bus Boycott and a captivating piece by Kwame Akoto-Bamfo.

4. Gulf State Park

In southeast Alabama, Gulf State Park is a beautiful natural space with a wide range of activities. The park is under an hour from Pensacola, Florida and offers its own stretch of golden sand to enjoy.

Beginning at the Nature Center, young and old will have the chance to join numerous guided experiences. Rangers and naturalists will take you on a journey down the trails to spot local wildlife and even give a few tips on how to land a catch while you’re out fishing.

There’s plenty in Gulf State Park to keep the entire family entertained, including a large swimming pool, tennis courts, and horseshoe. You can even venture further out on a SUP or kayak. To save yourself the drive home, check in at the campground and sleep among nature.

3. Battleship USS Alabama

Now a US National Historic Landmark, the USS Alabama was a battleship used in the Second World War. The ship conducted over a dozen patrols in the Pacific and played a hand in capturing several islands from the Japanese. The USS Alabama was also responsible for sinking 15 Japanese ships.

But just over 15 years post World War II, the historic battleship was headed for the scrap heap, only to find its forever home in Mobile. The park also includes the USS Drum, a WWII submarine. Today, you can tour the ship from the mess hall to the captain’s bridge to get a glimpse of life on USS Alabama.


Additional attractions at the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park include several aircraft, tanks, and weaponry.

2. Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

One of the central locations of the Civil Rights Movement was right here in Birmingham in the 50s and 60s. In fact, a key turning point in the movement occurred at the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church when members of the Ku Klux Klan bombed the church in 1963.

The four subsequent deaths added necessary urgency that led to President Lyndon Johnson passing the Civil Rights Act the following year. You can learn more about this event and the historic movement at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. Explore many permanent and temporary exhibits that take you behind the scenes and shed light on issues still experienced today.

The institute is a major part of Birmingham’s Civil Rights District, which also includes historic places like the Carver Theater and Kelly Ingram Park.

1. US Space & Rocket Center

In Huntsville, Alabama, the US Space & Rocket Center is packed with hands-on experiences for young and old. Hosting one of the biggest accumulations of spacecraft on earth, the center is a great place to go and learn about the United States’ history in space.

The US Space & Rocket Center is connected to the Smithsonian Institute and provides quality insight into the development of NASA. You’ll also learn about the historic space race and the space stations floating around our earth.

One of the highlights of the experience is visiting Rocket Park, where 27 missiles and spacecraft are on display. From there, kick back in front of the Spacedome IMAX to explore the International Space Station or take turns on the launch simulators to experience four G-force.

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Discover the best that Southern USA has to offer! Hidden gems, vibrant cities and more!

12 Best Cities And Towns In Alabama You Must Visit

September 11, 2022 //  by  Southern Trippers

It’s time to check out some of the best towns in Alabama! When thinking about which towns to visit in Alabama, you will want to consider a few things. Location, price, and vibe. While Alabama is known for a lot of things, one of the most popular places that draws visitors from all around the country is Alabama’s coastline. Whether you choose to visit the beautiful Alabama coast or explore some of the other smaller cities and towns, you can find everything that the state has become known for. From quaint small towns to busy cities, you can experience different vibes, different cuisine, and all of the things that you love about Alabama.

12 Best Towns And Cities In Alabama You Must Visit

Auburn is by far among the best Alabama cities to add to your Alabama bucket list. Close to the Georgia border around Columbus, Auburn is a spectacular locale to experience fall in Alabama . Some of the most popular things to do in Auburn are Chewacla State Park, the Julie Collins Smith Museum, and Kreher Preserve & Nature Center. The best part about Auburn is that you can find both city-focused and nature-focused things to do in the city. This puts it on the list of best towns in Alabama for travelers looking for the best of both worlds. Another experience for the memory books in Auburn is visiting The Hound. This AL restaurant serves elevated American fare with delicious bourbon like you can find on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail . With concrete floors and industrial detail, The Hound has a great vibe for a late night dinner with drinks. (Be sure to check out their incredible whiskey cocktails as well!)

Mooresville

When choosing towns in Alabama to visit, take a look at the chill little town of Mooresville as it is one of the best towns in Alabama. You will find Mooresville in Limestone County in northern AL. A small town outside of Huntsville, Mooresville is a breath of fresh air off of Interstate 565. You can visit the Bicentennial Garden which is a stunning display of a living community and historical preservation. Mooresville is also home to 1818 Farms. They have fields of flowers and little white sheep that have garnered a lot of attention. The farm won the Amazon award for best U.S. Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year in 2019! When you are visiting, you will be nearby to the beautiful Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. You can also stay in some seriously dreamy cabins in Alabama while you are up north! Mooresville is the perfect town to visit for those looking to reconnect and enjoy the natural beauty of Alabama.

Fairhope is one of the amazing small cities in Alabama that are located on the Mobile Bay. In Fairhope, you will find beautiful beaches and piers to enjoy the water and coastal environment from. For those who like enjoying walking in new cities, there’s space for you too! You will find museums, coffee shops, bakeries, and great restaurants all around Fairhope. One of the most popular museums in the city is the Fairhope Museum of History. Inside, you can learn about the past of not only the city, but surrounding areas through memorabilia, artifacts, replicas, and more. While you are in Fairhope, you will likely find yourself craving some of the town’s incredible fresh seafood. Fried seafood is the specialty at Fish River Grill. You will find everything from fried frog leg platter and Mississippi catfish to Gulf shrimp and fried soft crab on their menu. Fairhope is by far one of the best towns in Alabama to visit on the bay!

Dauphin Island

Dauphin Island has some of the greatest beaches in Alabama , so if you have the opportunity, don’t pass up on visiting the small beach town of Dauphin Island. It’s one of the prettiest towns in Alabama located south of Mobile. There are tons of things to do in Dauphin Island. History enthusiasts will love that there are many opportunities to learn about the past and see historical sites while on the island. Fort Gaines and the Fort Morgan State Historic Site are both on Dauphin Island and are open displays of the military efforts that took place there. What’s more, the island is known for its natural beauty. The Audubon Bird Sanctuary, parks, and beaches are also strong contenders for what makes Dauphin Island one of the best towns in Alabama. Like with most places along the AL coast, the seafood is incredible on the island. If you’re looking for a place to eat on the water, look up Capt’n Snappers and Dockside Seafood Restaurant.

If you’re looking for Southern Alabama cities, Mobile is where the fun is! Families especially will enjoy the amount of family-friendly activities that there are in Mobile. One of the most well-known things to do in Mobile is to visit the USS Alabama, the WWII battleship. For families, the Exploreum Science Center offers dozens of exhibits that are hands-on and educational. The most intriguing and exciting place to visit in the city has to be the GulfQuest National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico. It’s located along the river and shows visitors about the maritime history and heritage of the Gulf. Truly, it’s difficult to run out of things to do while you are in this fun AL city. For nature and history lovers, check out the Bellingrath Gardens and Home or the Colonial Fort Conde. While seafood is obviously super popular (and amazing) around Mobile and all of the AL coast, the city also has international cuisine as well which can be a nice way to shake things up if you get tired of all the seafood. Also, if you are interested in alternative accommodation while visiting the coast, you are in luck because the coast has some of the best Airbnbs in Alabama for you to stay at! The variety of things to do and places to stay make Mobile one of the very best towns in Alabama!

The town for nature lovers. Fort Payne is among the best small towns to live in Alabama and one of the best places for nature enthusiasts. Home to DeSoto State Park, Little River Canyon National Preserve, and Lookout Mountain. If you are truly looking to see the natural beauty of Alabama in all its glory, you won’t regret visiting Fort Payne. DeSoto State Park is famous for its waterfalls and mountains. Covering more than 3,500 acres of waterfalls and rivers in the forested mountain terrain, this is a super relaxing place to be near Fort Payne. Nearby, you will find the Little River Canyon National Preserve on top of Lookout Mountain. The preserve covers more than 15,000 acres and is said to be the longest mountaintop river in the country. There are also camping, hiking, and viewpoints to enjoy along the Lookout Mountain Parkway. This is an absolutely stunning drive to take in the fall. The colors on the trees using start around late September or into early October. The 93 miles of the scenic parkway are the best place to experience the color change in the area. The fall beauty in Fort Payne is just one of many factors that makes it one of the best towns in Alabama.

Guntersville

Visiting small towns in Alabama is such a treat, and visiting Guntersville is no different. This is another place for travelers looking for nature-focused attractions. Home to Buck’s Pocket State Park, High Falls Park, and Lake Guntersville State Park, Guntersville is a dream for the nature-focused traveler. Buck’s Pocket State Park is on Sand Mountain in northeastern Alabama. The park covers around 2,000 acres and is in a natural pocket in the Appalachian Mountains. You will find green spaces, waterfalls, trails, and breathtaking views while you are there. For wildlife viewing, Lake Guntersville State Park is the best place to be. They also have ziplining and cabins for rent so that you can take your exploring and relaxation to a higher level. While the natural beauty and attractions make Guntersville one of the best towns in Alabama, it also has a museum and great restaurants as well.

Tuscaloosa is one of the coolest cities in Alabama. Home to the University of Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium, the town is full of museums, historical sites, and antebellum mansions. In Tuscaloosa, you can visit the Alabama Museum of Natural History as it is one of the best things to do in Alabama . Another cool site is the Moundville Archaeological Park. There is a museum and tours of the area that puts a spotlight on all of the archaeological work that has taken place there. For those looking to get outside and enjoy nature, you can go kayaking at Lake Lurleen State Park, swimming and sunbathing on Lake Tuscaloosa, or enjoy the riverside on the Tuscaloosa River Walk. If you are traveling with kids, there are playgrounds and a Children’s Hands-On Museum in Tuscaloosa that will be perfect for little ones. The museum has different exhibits for children to learn and play. There’s an exhibit for nearly everything, including a supermarket area, a bank, and a cow milking area.

The vibes in the best towns in Alabama are truly unmatched. Dothan is one of those places that has an amazing small-town vibe while also providing visitors with enough to see and do without being bored. Whether you are staying in Dothan, or just passing through, the Wiregrass Museum of Art is a good place to start your trip. The museum is housed inside a former power plant. You will find beautiful works of art there and they typically have something for children, like scavenger hunts or other similar activities. Photographers in particular will be drawn to Landmark Park. The grounds are sprawling and are home to a farm and a planetarium amongst the gardens and walkways. The history, boardwalk, and architecture are lovely; the perfect place for a calming walk through Dothan!

If you are looking for quaint towns in Alabama, add Tuscumbia to your bucket list. Home to the birthplace of Helen Keller and other interesting attractions and sites, Tuscumbia is one of the best towns in Alabama. At the Helen Keller Birthplace, you can tour her historic home and learn about her life in general. You will also find the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, Tuscumbia Spring Park, and the Tennessee Valley Museum of Art. With plenty of opportunities to see the natural beauty and popular attractions, you are sure to have a great time in Tuscumbia. One of the best places to eat in town is Too Fat Sisters. With an incredible breakfast menu and a wide array of southern cookin’ options to choose from, you will fall in love with the food! For breakfast, you’ll find Belgian waffles, biscuits and gravy, breakfast sandwiches, and more. Later in the day, try their amazing country-fried steaks with gravy, pork chops, and pecan cobbler!

One of the best Alabama towns is Gadsen. You will find the lovely Gadsen between Birmingham and Fort Payne. Some towns can be seen in just a few hours, while others are jam-packed with exciting and beautiful things to see and do. Gadsen has so much to see and do for every type of traveler. The most popular thing to do in Gadsen is the main factor that got the city onto the list of best towns in Alabama, Noccalulu Falls. This waterfall is a stunning 90-foot tall natural feature. The surrounding areas offer places to camp, train rides, and events at different times of the year. On the topic of natural beauty, Gadsen is also home to Neely Henry Lake which is perfect for fishing and picnics. Fancy a bit of scuba diving? Just fifteen minutes from Gadsen, there is amazing scuba diving and camping at Dive Land Park. For those wanting to stay in the city, there are museums and sites for you there as well. The Gadsen Museum of Art, Mary G. Hardin Center for Cultural Arts, and the Imagination Place for families are all good options!

When it comes to cute towns in Alabama, Foley is one of the best! This cute little Alabama town is just north of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. The Foley Railroad Museum & Model Train Exhibit is a super neat little place to visit if you get the opportunity to explore Foley for yourself. The detail and work that has gone into the models is incredible! Another cool site in Foley is the downtown OWA where you can walk around, shop, eat, and enjoy different forms of entertainment. Some of the best little shops and restaurants in all of the best towns in Alabama can be found at downtown OWA. Even if you only have a short time to spend in Foley, you should be sure to visit a restaurant or two while you are there. The food is incredible and there is a delightful mix of Southern American cuisine and coastal delicacies on the menus. For a nicer dining experience, you can try Fin & Fork which serves Gulf seafood and for a more laid-back experience, you can try Lambert’s Cafe which serves classic Southern food in a folksy dining area.

Now that you have had some time to learn about some of the towns to visit in Alabama, you can see how lovely the best towns in Alabama really are. Are you more focused on natural attractions or city streets? Which of these places do you think you will visit first? Let us know!

17 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Alabama

Written by Lana Law and Lura Seavey Updated Sep 26, 2022 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

Alabama is home to a range of tourist attractions and things to do for all ages and interests. Brush up on your history at several Alabama cities, where you'll find some of the most important Civil Rights monuments , museums, and historic sites. This includes the Civil Rights Institute and Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Montgomery's Civil Rights Monument and National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and Selma's Voting Rights Museum.

Alabama is also a culturally rich region. You can see the birthplace and former creative workspace of musician W.C. Handy, admire architecture and design at the Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House Museum, and view impressive collections at major art museums in both Montgomery and Birmingham .

Alabama is also full of beautiful natural attractions, especially along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico in Mobile Bay , where tourists will find state parks, nature reserves, and gorgeous sandy beaches . In addition to history and nature, the curious can explore science at the family-friendly McWane Science Center, or behold some of the world's most advanced technology at Huntsville's U.S. Space and Rocket Center.

Find the best places to visit in the state with our list of the top tourist attractions in Alabama.

1. Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and the Civil Rights Historic District

2. uss alabama battleship memorial park, 3. gulf state park, 4. civil rights memorials of montgomery, 5. u.s. space and rocket center, 6. montgomery civil rights landmarks, 7. mcwane science center, 8. mobile bay, 9. frank lloyd wright rosenbaum house museum, 10. w.c. handy home and museum, 11. national voting rights museum and institute, 12. barber vintage motorsports museum, 13. birmingham museum of art, 14. montgomery museum of fine art, 15. university of alabama, 16. cheaha state park, 17. alabama gulf coast zoo.

The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute provides an in-depth look at the events of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s in both Birmingham and the United States, as well as continuing issues that African Americans have faced since. The galleries feature permanent and temporary exhibits on a variety of topics from violent conflict to segregation.

The struggle that began here in Birmingham was part of a larger social movement that eventually led to changes, and a defining moment was the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church on September 15, 1963. This bombing, orchestrated by the Klu Klux Klan, killed four girls and was a tragic catalyst for change, adding urgency to pass the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute sits at the corner of Sixteenth Street and Sixth Avenue North, forming the cornerstone of Birmingham's Civil Rights District , which covers a six-block area. Additional landmarks include Kelly Ingram Park , the Fourth Avenue Business District , and Carver Theater .

Address: 520 16th Street North, Birmingham, Alabama

Official site: www.bcri.org

• Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Birmingham

The star attraction of the Memorial Park in Mobile is the 1942 USS Alabama Battleship docked along the waterfront. This BB-60 battleship is nicknamed "the Mighty A," and was decommissioned after the end of WWII. You can tour many parts of the ship, including the captain's cabin, bridge, mess hall, and turrets.

The park is also home to the USS Drum , a submarine used during the second World War, which can be toured as well.

Also on-site are a variety of aircraft, including a B-52 bomber and an A-12 Black Bird spy plane, as well as military equipment from various conflicts, including tanks and weapons. The park is a memorial to all those who served in WWII, as well as more recent operations.

Address: 2703 Battleship Parkway, Mobile, Alabama

Official site: www.ussalabama.com

• Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Mobile

Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores is popular with both campers and day-trippers, offering a wide variety of facilities and more than two miles of white, sandy beaches.

The Nature Center provides free classes and activities, including guided nature walks, animal encounters, fishing lessons, and other fun and educational programs led by naturalists and rangers. Recreational facilities include volleyball, tennis courts, horseshoes, and a swimming pool with a splash pad, as well as bicycle, kayak, and paddle-board rentals and guided Segway tours.

The park also features 25 miles of paved walking trails, also open to bicyclists, and a championship golf course. Tourists making a day trip to Gulf State Park can enjoy all of these amenities for a very low vehicle entrance fee.

The campground, which has nearly 500 full-hookup sites for RVs, is a favorite family vacation spot thanks to its many amenities and things to do.

If you're not interested in camping, more luxurious options are available at The Lodge at Gulf State Park, a Hilton Hotel . The property has recently been completely reconstructed and occupies a premier beachfront location.

Address: 20115 Alabama 135, Gulf Shores, Alabama

Official site: www.alapark.com/gulf-state-park

• Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in the Gulf Shores

The Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery features an exquisite black granite sculpture commemorating those killed during the struggles of the Civil Rights Movement. The memorial stands in a square next to the Civil Rights Memorial Center, where tourists will find educational displays and exhibits, including the Wall of Tolerance.

Another Montgomery landmark is the National Memorial for Peace and Justice , a six-acre space dedicated to African Americans who were victims of lynching and other forms of racial injustice. The memorial includes artwork, sculptures, and monuments, which honor various figures in the Civil Rights movement, as well as a field of 800 monuments each representing a county where lynchings took place.

Address: Civil Rights Memorial, 400 Washington Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama

• Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Montgomery

The U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville is an exciting attraction for all ages, providing exhibits, interactive experiences, presentations, and one of the world's largest collections of spacecraft on display. A Smithsonian affiliate, the center's exhibits provide visitors with information on everything from the history of the space race and NASA's growth since then to the International Space Station and beyond.

Tourists can experience multimedia presentations at the National Geographic Theater or the Spacedome IMAX, and explore a model of the International Space Station. Visitors also have the chance to see Rocket Park, where 27 rockets and missiles are on display, as well as the gigantic launch vehicles that propel the rockets into space.

Perhaps the most popular things to do at the Space Center, however, are taking turns in one of the museum's simulators. There are two launch simulators, one of which allows the astronaut-in-training to experience 4 Gs of force, a few seconds of weightlessness, and then a free-fall. The kids' version of this gives young astronauts a less intense version, then "lands" on the surface of the moon.

The Hyper Ship simulator uses motion and immersive media to provide a variety of rides, and visitors can also get active on the Mars Climbing Wall. There are also interactive areas for younger kids, where they can explore the surface of Mars and crawl through the space station. The center also offers week-long and single-day camps for kids.

Address: One Tranquility Base, Huntsville, Alabama

Official site: www.rocketcenter.com

Montgomery is home to several important Civil Rights landmarks, which commemorate places and events that were instrumental in the movement. The most famous of these is the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church , which was the meeting place of early Civil Rights activists and once the parish of a young Martin Luther King, Jr., who lived with his family in the parsonage from 1954-1960. Today, it has been restored to display a great deal of their original belongings, and is open to the public as the Dexter Parsonage Museum .

The Rosa Parks Library and Museum is located near the site of Parks' arrest in downtown Montgomery. It contains exhibits that tell her story and outline the public transportation boycott that resulted from her brave act of defiance. Artifacts on display include her original fingerprints from her arrest records, court documents, photographs, and a 1955 Montgomery City Bus, as well as one of the station wagons used during the boycott to transport protesters.

Another important historic site is the Freedom Rides Museum , located in the former Montgomery Greyhound station, which was the site of the 1961 attack on the Freedom Riders who were continuing the movement that Parks began.

Birmingham's McWane Science Center is home to a variety of exhibits and interactive experiences, which encourage both kids and adults to learn through hands-on activities. This popular family tourist attraction explores topics from the natural sciences to the latest technology and allows visitors to participate in their own experiments.

One of the most popular areas of the museum is its aquarium, which is home to many species of ocean and freshwater life, especially those native to the region. This section also looks at the importance of water and water-related science like erosion.

Other museum exhibits include an exploration of the ways that art and technology intersect, as well as a variety of rotating and traveling exhibits. The museum also has an IMAX theater, which offers screenings of various films each day.

Address: 200 19th Street North, Birmingham, Alabama

Official site: www.mcwane.org

Set along the Gulf of Mexico, Mobile Bay is a scenic area of Alabama's coastline. The area has beaches and historic areas, which attract both locals and tourists year-round.

Dauphin Island , located in the Bay, is a barrier island with a small town, which is also called Dauphin Island. This island has several things to see and do, including the historic Fort Gaines, which was established in the early 1800s and became an important outpost during the Battle of Mobile Bay. The island is also home to a freshwater lake, which is popular with swimmers, as well as an Audubon bird sanctuary .

The town of Fairhope is another tourist destination along Mobile Bay, located along its eastern shore. Fairhope Pier is popular for fishing, and the town has many outdoor recreational activities, including golf, tennis, and bicycling.

Nearby, the Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve provides amateur naturalists with the opportunity to explore diverse habitats. Elevated boardwalks and trails can be explored with a guide or independently.

Along the southeastern shores of Mobile Bay lie Orange Beach and Gulf Shores. Gulf Shores is a top Alabama resort destination, home to plentiful activities for couples, families, and independent travelers.

Rosenbaum House was built by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1939 for newlyweds Stanley and Mildred Rosenbaum. Located in Florence, the house is the only structure in Alabama designed by Wright. It is constructed of cypress, glass, and brick. The Usonian design features a flat, multi-level roof, and board and batten walls.

The house has its original Wright-designed furniture. The Rosenbaums were the only owners and occupants of Rosenbaum house until 1999, when it was purchased by the City of Florence and restored. It is the only house of Wright's in the southeast that is open to the public.

Address: 601 Riverview Drive, Florence, Alabama

Official site: http://wrightinalabama.com/

Located in Florence, the W.C. Handy Home and Museum is housed in the log cabin where this iconic musician was born and lived. Known as the " father of the blues ," Handy lived here when he wrote several of his most famous songs, including Beale Street Blues and Memphis Blues .

Visitors are able to see original sheet music hand-written by the artist, as well as other personal papers and artifacts. Collections on display also include several musical instruments, including his trumpet and piano, which he used while writing these songs.

Official site: https://www.wchandymuseum.org

Address: 620 West College Street, Florence, Alabama

National Voting Rights Museum and Institute, located in Selma, explores the struggle for voting rights for American citizens, namely women and African-Americans. The museum is located at the site of the tragic 1965 "Bloody Sunday" attack on protesters who were marching from Selma to Montgomery.

Exhibits highlighting the lives and accomplishments of important African-American political and social figures are featured throughout the museum, including Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., Reverend Jesse Jackson, and President Barack Obama. Additional exhibits focus on specific locations where monumental vote-related Civil Rights events occurred, like Albany, GA; Greenwood, MS; and Selma.

There are also displays that take a closer look at more general issues and events, including women's suffrage, non-violent protest, and extremist organizations like the KKK.

Address: 6 US Highway 80 East, Selma, Alabama

Official site: http://nvrmi.com/

The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum is home to a collection of more than 1,400 motorcycles, from some of the earliest and rarest models to modern machines. Around half of the collection is on display in the museum, and it is regularly rotated, so true aficionados will want to consider a repeat visit.

The collection, formed by former race car driver George Barber, gained notoriety shortly after the museum's opening in 1995, when several bikes were loaned to the Guggenheim Museum in New York for their exhibit, "Art of the Motorcycle."

A car lover as well, Barber's collection includes rare and coveted vehicles, including several models of Lotus. In addition to the museum itself, the grounds are home to a 930-acre park, which features a proving ground and 2.38-mile race track open to the public. Here, tourists can watch major auto manufacturers test new vehicles or even film a product reveal video.

Address: 6030 Barber Motorsports Parkway, Birmingham, Alabama

Official site: www.barbermuseum.org

Regarded as the finest art museum in Alabama, The Birmingham Museum of Art features an extensive permanent collection, as well as changing exhibits. Among the permanent collection are examples of ancient and international folk art and fine art, including decorative arts.

The African gallery contains a variety of historic and contemporary work, ranging from traditional figures and ritual headdresses to fine beadwork and batik. The Asian gallery includes some of the museum's oldest artifacts, including bronzes and ancient earthenware.

The largest part of the permanent collection is European art, including fine art by artists like Pissarro and van Rijn and a huge selection of decorative arts, including silverwork, furniture, and porcelain.

The museum also hosts multiple temporary exhibits, which feature various themes, media, or artists and change regularly. The tiered grounds feature the Charles W. Ireland Sculpture Garden and botanical displays.

Address: 2000 Rev Abraham Woods, Jr. Boulevard, Birmingham, Alabama

Official site: www.artsbma.org

The Montgomery Museum of Fine Art is home to a large permanent collection, which focuses on American art. Among its most prized works are examples of etchings, watercolors, drawings, engravings, and woodcuts, which are remarkable for their preservation, a difficult task for paper-based media.

Prominent American artists like John Marin and Winslow Homer are featured, and there is an extensive exhibit dedicated to regional art and folk artists, with examples ranging from crafts to paintings.

Other areas of note include the African art collection, examples of fine porcelain in the decorative arts gallery, and a display of glassworks by leaders in the craft. The museum also hosts educational programs for both adults and children, as well as traveling exhibits from other museums.

Address: One Museum Drive, Montgomery, Alabama

Official site: http://mmfa.org/

The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa began in 1827 and by 1831 had seven buildings on campus. Today, the campus is home to an art gallery; 50-acre arboretum; pre-Civil War classroom; two museums; and the Gorgas House, which now serves as a museum.

The Gorgas House , named for a former university president, General Josiah Gorgas, was built in 1829 as the first structure completed on the campus by renowned architect William Nichols. It is also one of only four structures that survived the burning of the university during the Civil War. Today, the house serves as a museum with collections of antiques and Gorgas family memorabilia.

The Alabama Museum of Natural History is located on campus in Smith Hall. Exhibits include displays from the Age of Dinosaurs, the Coal Age, and Ice Age. Visitors can also view the Hodges meteorite, the only meteorite known to have struck a human.

The Paul W. Bryant Museum traces the history of the University of Alabama football tradition back to its beginning in 1892. The collections highlight other sports played by university athletes as well.

Official site: www.ua.edu

Most people think of the Gulf of Mexico and beaches when they think of recreational opportunities in Alabama, but the inland areas and their unique ecosystems are well worth a look. Cheaha State park, Alabama's oldest park, is a wonderful place to visit to experience the hill country of Alabama.

Home to the state's highest peak, Cheaha Mountain (2,407 feet), this nearly 2,800-acre area is full of recreational opportunities. Camping, RVing, hiking, biking, and ATVing all top the list of things to do in the park.

Cheaha State Park is also chock-full of waterfalls just waiting to be explored on a steamy summer afternoon. The park is adjacent to the 392,567-acre Talladega National Forest, and several major trails traverse both areas.

The park makes a great weekend getaway from Birmingham or Atlanta. Accommodation for those not interested in camping can be found in historic lodges, A-frame chalets, and cabins.

Official site: https://www.alapark.com/parks/cheaha-state-park

This small zoo is home to over a hundred species, and is emerging as a respected safe-haven for endangered and threatened species. The residents here represent a surprisingly diverse population of mammals, birds, and reptiles, many of which were once abandoned animals who needed a second chance.

The primate exhibit is a top attraction, featuring more than 50 animals including spider, squirrel, and Capuchin monkeys, as well as Hamadryas baboons and marmosets. There are also several big cats including two Bengal tigers, a black leopard, and an African lion among others. Other mammals include an American black bear, an American alligator, a Eurasian lynx, and camels.

The zoo is also home to a selection of birds, from species like the umbrella cockatoo and Australian kookaburra, to flamboyant peacocks. Reptiles include tortoises, snakes, lizards, and iguanas.

Among the zoo's most popular programs are its Animal Adventure experiences, which give visitors the opportunity to get up close to some of the zoo's most popular residents. Ages three and older are welcome to sign up to meet kangaroos, lemurs, and two-toed sloths. Guests opting for the lemur adventure can even cuddle with the friendly critters – that is, if they aren't using you as a jungle gym!

There is also a petting zoo, where even the youngest visitors can meet and feed the gentlest of the animals, including sheep, deer, and goats.

Official site: http://www.alabamagulfcoastzoo.com/

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Civil Rights in the South: Tourists can also find several historic sites in the neighboring states of Georgia and Mississippi , which each have many landmarks found on the Civil Rights Trail. Among the top tourist attractions in Atlanta, Georgia are the King Center, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Birth Home, and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. Jackson, Mississippi is also home to several major attractions , like the Medgar Evers Home Museum, the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, and important sites along the Mississippi Freedom Trail.

The Gulf Coast: You may not immediately think of white-sand beaches when you think of Alabama, but the southern coast is home to some of the best resorts in the state. Many of these can be found in the vacation paradise of the Gulf Shores, where families and couples alike can find a wide range of things to see and do, including boat tours in the Gulf of Mexico. Beach lovers can also explore the sandy shores and attractions in Pensacola, Florida, where tourists flock for both day trips and ocean-side vacations.

More on Alabama

10 Places In Alabama You Must See Before You Die

Jennifer Young

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In Alabama, there are so many interesting places to visit. From beautiful gardens to majestic mountains, and scenic canyons to historic landmarks, Alabama has you covered! Let’s take a look at 10 of the most unique or beautiful places in Alabama that you simply MUST see before you die.

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If you can think of any other places, feel free to share them in the comments below!

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50 things to do in Alabama USA

Alabama is one of those states of the USA that feels a little overlooked by the UK traveller. We happily head to nearby Florida, New Orleans or Nashville, seemingly unaware of what’s on offer in Alabama.

But on my ten day road trip I discovered a huge variety of things to do in Alabama. I explored from the high-tech Rocket City of Huntsville to the cultural melting pot of Mobile . Plus, I visited the white sand beaches of Gulf Shores.

In between there was the inspiring Civil Rights trail that lead me to Selma, Birmingham and Montgomery. There’s the art museums and gracious Greek revival mansions. Endless shrimp and BBQ washed down by bottomless iced tea and Southern hospitality.

This article is a long one covering (at least) 50 things to do in Alabama. I hope it will leave you with the inspiration to plan your own road trip through this fascinating state in America’s Deep South.

This article may contain affiliate links that provide commission on purchases you make at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Table of Contents

Things to do in Huntsville Alabama

Huntsville in Northern Alabama made a great start to my road trip. This easy going city has a downtown that’s just about manageable on foot or bike. However, you’ll be able to see more if you have a car.

Due to the caves that lie beneath the city, most buildings are only a few stories high, giving Huntsville a small town feel. I was struck how quiet the roads were and how easy it was to get around.

It’s known as The Rocket City due to its connections with the US Space Programme and the Marshall Space Flight Center. Huntsville has an affluent feel with plenty of employment from technology companies who have moved there.

If you enjoy art, culture and food, you’ll find plenty to keep you busy in Huntsville. It would be easy to spend a few days or a long weekend here although I only had 2 days to see as much as possible.

You may also enjoy: Discover the Civil Rights Trail in Alabama USA – in the footsteps of Martin Luther King

1. The US Space & Rocket Center at Huntsville – for wouldbe astronauts

Set on a huge campus on the edge of Huntsville, the US Space & Rocket Center has to be the number one place to visit for the city. It’s a big attraction, so set aside half a day to look around at a leisurely pace. Also check out the amazing Space Camp programme with residential courses for children and adults. Hopefully this inspires the astronauts of the future!

Highlights for me were the mockup of the Space Station – find out how astronauts eat, sleep and go to the loo! Also, the Saturn V hall with enormous rockets and Apollo 12 lunar module. Can it really be 50 years since a man stood on the moon?

You may also enjoy this article about 11 cool things to do in Mobile Alabama , which we visited on the same road trip.

2. Twickenham historic district – take a Historic Huntsville tour

I love looking at beautiful old houses. Huntsville was the first place on my road trip where I came across the Antebellum mansions of the Southern USA. The name refers to the old houses and mansions built before the civil war of the 1860s.

Ante = before, Bellum = war, just as we might refer to a ‘Georgian’ or ‘Victorian’ style of architecture in the UK.

The Twickenham historic district is the most rewarding of the neighbourhoods. This is where you’ll find the oldest houses concentrated in just a few blocks. It’s easy to walk or drive around to see them.

There are leaflets available at the Huntsville Convention & Visitor Bureau that tell you the history of notable houses. You can also access free audio tours at Huntsvillehistorytours.org . The visitor bureau runs free walking tours around the historic districts in the spring and autumn.

You may also enjoy: Taste the food of Alabama USA – 20 dishes you’ll want to try!

3. Huntsville Museum of Art – a great visit for art lovers

I love visiting art museums and the Huntsville Museum of Art is in a beautiful setting overlooking the grassy lawns and lakes of Big Spring Park. The museum has a variety of galleries with small but well curated collections, so it’s a great one if you don’t have a lot of time.

Highlights for me were the moving black and white photos in the exhibition Vietnam: The real war . I enjoyed the beautiful landscapes from the Ponchin legacy , French father and son artists. Also interesting is the craftsmanship of the Buccellati silver menagerie with figures of animals using semi-precious stones and silver.

You may also enjoy: 20 fun things to do in Huntsville Alabama

4. Big Spring Park – lakes and lawns to relax

In the heart of downtown Huntsville is the Big Spring Park public space. It’s named after the spring bubbling up out of the ground where the first settler John Hunt built his cabin.

The larger area of the park where the Huntsville Art Museum is located is landscaped with shallow lakes and a Japanese bridge. It is often used for festivals and community events. The smaller section of the park across the road has a water feature that’s fed from the original spring. Both are fun places to wander or have a picnic.

Read more about the US Civil Right Trail and the Civil Rights locations that I visited on this Alabama Road Trip:

5. Alabama Constitutional Hall Park – step back in time

In the oldest part of downtown Huntsville, you can step back in time to the summer of 1819 when delegates gathered in the large cabinetmaker’s workshop to agree the Alabama state constitution.

The old wooden buildings at Alabama Constitution Hall Park have been reconstructed around the open courtyard on their original sites. You’ll see a cross-section of life at that time, with the houses of the postmaster, cabinet maker, printer and blacksmith.

You can wander freely around the courtyard to see the houses from the outside and visit the shop and cafe. There’s also a guided tour to see the furnishings showing life inside the houses.

As part of the same family of museums, you may also like to visit the Earlyworks Children’s Museum and the Huntsville Depot and Museum .

Need help to design your dream holiday? We’ve partnered with UK travel advisor Luxeco Holidays to create your personalised itinerary

6. Harrison Bros. Hardware – shop for great Rocket City gifts

This family run store on Courthouse Square retains the appearance of the hardware store it once was. It’s complete with the old counters, shelves and cash registers of yesteryear.

These days Harrison Bros Hardware less of a place to buy nails and tacks and more of a shopping destination. You’ll likely discover the perfect locally made souvenir to take home with you.

They pride themselves on selling ‘American made’. There’s plenty of mementos of your visit to Rocket City, from local crafts to homeware and toys.

Read about the places I visited on this road trip – 20 fun things to do in Huntsville Alabama

7. Huntsville Botanical Garden – for nature lovers

It’s hard to believe that the beautiful Huntsville Botanic Garden is only 30 years old and is run mainly by volunteers. The 112 acres encompasses a number of gardens within a garden and is so large that we had a guided tour by golf buggy.

You’ll want to allocate half a day to do the gardens justice. One of my favourite spots was the the Damson aquatic garden. It features a Japanese style pavilion reflected in the water-lily filled pools. I also loved the Daylily garden which was in full flower when we visited, a sunset of yellow, orange and pink.

The children’s garden was amazing, with wading pools, dinosaur bones, and fairytale creatures to spark the imagination. Don’t miss the butterfly house where the colourful creatures dart around you, dipping in pools and resting momentarily on the flowers and leaves.

8. Burritt On The Mountain – historic house and park

This beautiful historic mansion, is set on the Monte Sano mountain (although it’s actually more of a hill) that overlooks the city of Huntsville. William Henry Burritt was a homeopathic doctor and built this house as a retirement home to take advantage of the cooler air and woodland setting on the mountain.

The house of Burritt on the Mountain is furnished as it would have looked in the 1930s. There is also a historic park where log cabins and old wooden houses have been relocated. They now show what life would have been like in the 19th and 20th century.

Meet the goats on the farm, attend folk school to learn handicrafts and chat to history interpreters dressed in period costume.

You may also enjoy: Visit Muscle Shoals Alabama – for music history and more!

9. Lowe Mill – artists studios in an old warehouse

This old textile mill on the edge of Huntsville has been converted into an arts centre. It houses over 200 working artists, with studios, shops and cafes.

Lowe Mill offers workshops, classes and concerts on the dock where the musicians play on the raised walkway. Hang out with a picnic or buy food in the area around the water tower.

Lowe Mill was closed when I visited but I enjoyed a quick stop at Piper and Leaf . I checked out their selection of artizan tea blends and a took look at some of the colourful murals outside.

10. Street art in Huntsville

I love street art and was thrilled to find a couple of murals close to Big Spring Park. The huge Koi mural fishes threaten to gulp you up! It’s is on the side of a building at the intersection of Spring St SW and Spragins St SW.

The mural was created by local creative firm Red Brick Strategies. On reading about it later I discovered that there’s a point marked RB on the street corner where you can get a 3D effect.

Just around the corner facing the watercourse of Big Spring Park is the “Welcome to Huntsville” rocket mural which makes a fun picture. There are a few other spots to find murals and artwork around town, such as the Clinton Row Color Walk and the Downtown Huntsville Secret Art Trail .

You may also enjoy: 11 cool things to do in Mobile, Alabama – on my Deep South road trip USA

More information for Visiting Huntsville

Lots more information is available when you visit the Huntsville Visitor Centre (500 Church Street NW, Suite One, Huntsville Al) and at the Huntsville Tourism website .

Plan your visit to Huntsville on the Alabama Tourism website . Book your trip with America as you like it who offer bespoke self guided tours of Alabama and the USA. For more information contact 020 8742 8299, [email protected] or visit www.americaasyoulikeit.com .

Getting around Huntsville: Most visitors will find it most convenient to have a car to visit all the places mentioned. There is also a Blue Bikes bikeshare allowing you to rent bikes in the Downtown area.

Staying in Huntsville: I stayed at the Huntsville Marriott by the Space Center. Check prices and book for a range of hotels in Huntsville here .

Getting to Huntsville AL: It’s easy to fly into Huntsville Airport from numerous US destinations. If coming from the UK you can connect via Charlotte (as I did), Atlanta or other US airport hubs.

Driving times: From Atlanta Airport to Huntsville – 190 miles / 3 hrs 40 mins. From Huntsville to Florence – 73 miles / 1 hr 25 mins.

Huntsville Social Media: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Hotels in Huntsville

Huntsville marriott at space and rocket center.

I stayed at the modern Huntsville Marriott hotel. With windows towards the adjoining Rocket Center, I woke up with a view of the Saturn 1 and Saturn V.

My spacious room was one of those that had recently been updated in contemporary style. It featured a large walk in bathroom and a picture of some far off galaxy above the bed.

The hotel is located a little outside the downtown area, a short walk to the Rocket Center. It’s a great base to use for visiting Huntsville.

Huntsville Marriott at Space and Rocket Center | 5 Tranquility Base, Huntsville, Alabama | Check prices for other hotels in Huntsville

Restaurants in Huntsville

Huntsville has a great food scene and here are some of the restaurants I tried in Huntsville and can personally recommend;

The Blue Plate Cafe – This traditional diner is THE place to go in Huntsville if you want the full Southern Breakfast experience. Bacon, eggs, cheesy grits, biscuit and gravy washed down by bottomless coffee.

All the food your mother or grandmother might have cooked if you grew up in Alabama. It attracts all the locals who relish their childhood favourites of fried chicken, collard greens and a slice of pie. I tried the Blue Plate Breakfast.

Pane e Vino – An Italian inspired restaurant with outdoor terrace at the Huntsville Museum of art in Big Spring Park. The restaurant is owned by leading local chef Jame Boyce and offers relaxed dining with pizza, salads and pasta dishes. I enjoyed my butternut squash ravioli for lunch after visiting the art museum.

Connors Steak & Seafood – In the Bridge Street Town Centre neighbourhood, serving steak and seafood with bags of Southern flair. I enjoyed the Cajun Red Grouper mesquite grilled with couscous and collard greens and Voodoo Shrimp in spicy remoulade sauce.

Read more about the Alabama food I tried, with 20 delicious dishes to make your mouth water!

Things to do in Muscle Shoals and Florence Alabama

Just over an hour’s drive from Huntsville, so easily doable as a day trip, is Muscle Shoals . Many people visit here on a musical tour of the Southern States.

In fact there are four cities in “The Shoals”; Muscle Shoals, Florence, Tuscumbia and Sheffield. They merge into one area straddling the Tennessee River, so that you are never quite sure which of the four you are in.

Many music lovers are drawn there after watching The Muscle Shoals 2013 documentary. It celebrates the Fame and Muscle Shoals Recording Studios, and the legendary artists who recorded there.

The area is still famous for the talented musicians who live in the area to be close to the music studios at Memphis and Nashville. You may find them playing in the local music bars, but there are some other interesting to see in the area.

11. Muscle Shoals Sound Studio – hear about the music legends

Behind the doors of this inconspicuous building on a busy highway, you can discover the music history that was made at the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio. It was set up in 1969 by four talented session musicians who decided to leave the nearby Fame recording studio.

Quickly building a reputation, it attracted artists like Cher, Rod Stewart, Paul Simon and the Rolling Stones to record there. It was said in the Muscle Shoals Documentary that “Each time a person went to Muscle Shoals, they came out of there with a hit.”

The studio is still in use by musicians, but it now mainly offers tours of the small recording studio. You can hear some of the stories of what these music legends got up to.

Take a photo on the same porch where the Rolling Stones stood after they recorded 3 songs at the studios while on a tour of the US. Perhaps their productivity was down to the fact that Alabama was a dry state at the time? Or stand at the front where Cher was photographed for the cover of her first solo album, 3614 Jackson Highway .

Muscle Shoals Sound Studio Website | Open daily 10am – 4pm | Tour tickets $20 | Best to ring ahead to book on a tour as schedules may change depending on whether the studio is in use.

12. Frank Lloyd Wright – the Rosenbaum House

The Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House in a suburb of Florence was built by renowned American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. It is now open to the public as a museum to visit on a guided tour.

The house was built in 1939 for newlyweds Stanley and Mildred Rosenbaum. It’s an example of Wright’s Usonian design, which was intended as an inexpensive family home that was affordable for every American family.

Everything in the house was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The house itself is relatively small, despite being extended as the Rosenbaum’s family grew. Wright’s philosophy was that as much time as possible should be spent outside enjoying nature.

Read about the places I visited on this road trip – Visit Muscle Shoals Alabama, for music history and more!

13. Ivy Green – the Helen Keller Birthplace

If you have time you can also visit the birthplace of Helen Keller at Ivy Green which is near Muscle Shoals. Sadly I didn’t have enough time to fit this in. As a baby, disease had left Helen Keller deaf and blind, but with the help of her teacher Anne Sullivan she learned to communicate.

She went on to school and college, working throughout her life to help others who were blind and deaf. The house and grounds have been kept as they were at the time Helen Keller’s family lived there. It includes information about her life and inspirational work.

Hotels in Florence and Muscle Shoals

Stay at gunrunner boutique hotel.

I loved staying at the GunRunner Boutique Hotel, with 10 quirky and individually designed suites that are themed on local places and personalities. The GunRunner is unassuming on the outside – the square brick building was once a car showroom with a central lift to take cars up to the first floor.

Climb the stairs past the old Harley motorbike and you’ll reach the huge central bar area. Check out the wood beams, brick walls and comfy vintage furniture.

Each of the suites leads directly off this common area. You feel a bit as if you are in some rockstar’s home with guitars and memorabilia scattered around.

I stayed in the Sam Phillips suite, named for the legendary record producer. Phillips was born in Florence and managed stars like Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis under his Sun Records label.

My room was enormous with a retro sitting area, guitar ready for me to strum, and a bar to mix a drink for any visiting music stars. The en suite bathroom featured a claw foot bath and separate shower.

Other suites were themed on the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, Frank Lloyd Wright House and local fashion designer Billy Reid. Each one was thoughtfully designed to evoke the local heroes.

Entrance to the hotel and rooms is via key code so you come and go as if it was your home. There’s a roof terrace which is a fun place to relax with a drink in the evening.

GunRunner Boutique Hotel | 310 E Tennessee Street, Florence, Alabama | Check prices for other hotels in Florence

Lunch at Champy’s Fried Chicken, Muscle Shoals

For lunch in Muscle Shoals I can recommend Champy’s Fried Chicken . This roadside diner is part of a small group of restaurants around the Southern USA. You can really get into the Southern style of cuisine with a basket of succulent fried chicken cooked to order, and sides of slaw, baked beans or French fries.

There’s a certain 50s style in the melamine tabletops and checked PVC tablecloths. Check out the jukebox and neon signs, car and college memorabilia around the walls.

Dinner at Odette in Florence

For dinner I was at Odette which is less of the home cooking and more of the refined American fare. It’s all seasonal and sustainable with a nod to Southern flavours. Currently it’s the go-to restaurant for foodies in downtown Florence.

Odette is open through the day for lunch and brunch and at dinner I tried a couple of the smaller plates. A strawberry salad with pesto and an amazing charcuterie board of local cheeses, pickles and cured meats. The server was impressively able to recite the names of each of the dozen or more items.

More information for Visiting Florence and Muscle Shoals

Lots more information is available when you visit the Florence Visitor Centre (200 Jim Spain Drive, Florence, Al). Vist the Visit Florence Al website or the Colbert County Tourism website for Sheffield and Tuscumbia.

Plan your visit to Florence and Muscle Shoals on the Alabama Tourism website . Book your trip with America as you like it who offer bespoke self guided tours of Alabama and the USA. For more information contact 020 87428299, [email protected] or visit www.americaasyoulikeit.com

Getting around Florence: Most visitors will find it most convenient to have a car to visit all the places mentioned.

Staying in Florence and Muscle Shoals: I stayed at the Gunrunner Boutique Hotel and you can check prices and book for a range of hotels in Florence .

Getting to Florence and Muscle Shoals AL: It’s easy to fly into Huntsville Airport from numerous US destinations. If coming from the UK you can connect via Charlotte (as I did), Atlanta or other US airport hubs. You can then drive the 1 hr 25 mins from Huntsville to Florence and Muscle Shoals.

Driving times: From Huntsville to Florence – 73 miles / 1 hr 25 mins. From Florence to Birmingham – 120 miles / 2 hrs.

Muscle Shoals Social Media: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Things to do in Birmingham Alabama

Birmingham Alabama is a city the sprung up from nowhere in the 1870s. Its growth on the back of the iron and steel industry being so rapid that it was known as The Magic City .

Of the places I visited in Alabama, Birmingham was the one that had the most “Big City” feel. Its high rise office buildings and walkable streets are laid out on a grid system.

There was a slightly more edgy feel here. On the one hand a vibrant food scene with lively bars and restaurants, on the other I saw people in the park who were clearly homeless or unemployed.

Birmingham is also one of the important stops on the Civil Rights Trail. Learn about the protest movement of the 1960s led by Martin Luther King and other church leaders.

14. The Pizitz Food Hall – food stalls from around the world

After driving from Muscle Shoals, it was lunchtime as I arrived in Birmingham, perfect for my first stop at the Pizitz Food Hall. Birmingham locals told me of the days when the Pizitz was the leading department store in town and quite a treat to visit.

The building has been converted into apartments on the upper floors with the food hall in the ground floor. I love food halls like this where you can eat around the world. It’s easy to order different dishes from any of the food stands, and buy a drink at the central bar.

I was looking for something healthy to offset some of the rib-sticking Southern fare I’d been eating. So, I ordered a rainbow selection of salads from Eli’s Jerusalem grill and took it to the outside patio – baking hot even under the sun umbrellas.

I liked the look of the Ethiopian buffet at Ghion Cultural Hall. Keeping it multicultural, there was also Vietnamese at PhoPho, Nepalese at Mo Mo and Hawaiian at Poke. Also more local cuisine with Alabama Biscuit and Piper & Leaf artisan teas.

The Pizitz Food Hall website | 1821 Second Avenue North, Birmingham | Parking Deck free for first 2 hours

15. 16th Street Baptist Church – learn about the Civil Rights movement

Birmingham Alabama is one of the most important places to visit on the Civil Rights Trail . It links important locations that were part of the fight for equal rights for African American citizens in the USA.

The 16th Street Baptist church is one of a cluster of places to learn about the Civil Rights movement in Birmingham. This was the site of an infamous bombing in 1963, killing 4 young girls who were attending Sunday School.

The atrocity by white supremacists in Birmingham brought the attention of the world onto the movement and sparked further protests in the city. I visited the church and joined a tour group to hear more about those events and the striking stained glass window above the entrance, that was donated by an artist from Wales.

16th Street Baptist Church website | 1530 6th Avenue North Birmingham, AL 35203 | Entry $5 for students 19 and under and $10 for adults | Group tours for 10 or more by prior arrangement | Closed for tours Sunday and Monday but visitors are welcome to join the Sunday service at 11am (Praise and worship from 10.45am).

16. Kelly Ingram Park – sculptures from the Civil Rights movement

Just across the road from 16th street Baptist church is the Kelly Ingram Park which is often used for community gatherings and events. There’s a charming sculpture of four little girls playing. It’s chilling when you realise that these innocent children are depicted just before the bomb exploded that killed them in the church.

Walking through the park are more sculptures that show snapshots from the civil rights protects of the early 1960s. Here are the children cowering as the water cannons are trained on them, the ferocious police dogs snarling on the leash and the children who were imprisoned en masse after the protests.

Kelly Ingram Park | 16th Street Birmingham (opposite 16th street church) | Always open and free

Read about the places I visited on this road trip – 20 things to do in Birmingham Alabama

17. Birmingham Civil Rights institute – learn about the civil rights struggle in Birmingham

Cross the road again from Kelly Ingram Park and visit the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute , a museum that’s dedicated to the Civil Rights struggle in Birmingham. My visit started with a short video explaining the Civil Rights movement. At the end the screen rose to reveal the first gallery of the museum showing the realities of segregation.

White classrooms with the latest furniture and teaching aids contrast with the outdated and crowded black classroom. A black teenager looks on enviously as white children of the same age have fun, knowing that the two groups are forbidden to meet or form friendships.

You’ll see a replica of the freedom riders bus, where white and black activists travelled together on the interstate buses to challenge illegal segregation. Learn about Rosa Parks who refused to give up her bus seat to a white woman.

This is an excellent museum that’s a must-visit in Birmingham for all ages to illuminate the realities of life for Black and White in the 1960s in Alabama.

18. Historic Bethel Baptist Church – HQ of the Birmingham Civil Rights struggle

Across town I also visited an important church that was a centre of the Civil Rights movement, the Historic Bethel Baptist Church. The original Bethel Baptist church has been preserved as a historic monument and is open for tours or by appointment.

This was the church where Rev. Fred L. Shuttlesworth was pastor 1953 – 1961 and became a leader in the planning of Civil Rights protests in Alabama. He was set upon by a mob of Ku Klux Klan members when he tried to enroll his children at an all white school and barely escaped with his life.

Despite many other attacks he always advocated non-violent protest. The church became the headquarters of the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights. This organization took action against segregation and was the planning centre for the Freedom Rides action on the buses.

Outside the church are information boards and you can see the ‘ghost house’ shape of the pastor’s house next to the church, which was destroyed in a bomb. Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth was inside but was miraculously unharmed.

Historic Bethel Baptist Church | 3233 29th Ave. N., Birmingham | Tours available daily and can be booked through the website.

19. Birmingham Negro Southern League Museum

One area where the black community were allowed to excel was in sport. The Birmingham Negro Southern League Museum is an interesting small museum about the baseball league that nurtured this talent. It brings together the artefacts, baseballs, player’s uniforms and trophies from the league.

More than this it tells the story of Negro league baseball – it was more than just a game! I enjoyed the hologram of legendary pitcher Satchel Paige showing just how fast he could pitch that baseball as you stand with it heading towards you. Entry to the museum is free.

20. Birmingham Museum of Arts

Although the Civil Rights attractions are an important part of any visit to Birmingham, there’s much more to see. I enjoyed visiting the Birmingham Museum of Arts which was just across the park from my hotel. When I was there a 60s style mural was being painted in the foyer, and giant glass flowers climbed around the staircase.

I enjoyed the Sculpture Court at the back of the glass fronted facade with shallow pools and a curvy reclining nude, with the American art gallery leading off from this. There is a collection of Wedgwood pottery, which was rather incongruous to find something so English so far from home. Entry to the museum is free.

21. Vulcan Park and Museum – Birmingham’s iron and steel heritage

I found it interesting to learn that Birmingham was a new city that sprung up from nothing in the 1870s, after deposits of iron ore were found conveniently close to the railroad. It was the iron and steel industry that provided jobs that brought people flocking here, including many freed slaves and immigrants.

To learn more about this part of the city’s industrial heritage, you can visit the Vulcan Park and Museum . Take the lift (or climb if you are energetic) to the top of the Vulcan statue.

The gigantic iron statue of the bare bottomed god Vulcan was created for the St Louis World Fair in 1904 to represent the city. Afterwards it was placed on a column overlooking the city, with a viewing platform that allows you to survey the whole of Birmingham.

22. Railroad Park – 19 acres of green space

I chanced upon Railroad Park as I walked around at the end of a long hot day, deciding on a whim to explore what I’d noticed on the map as one of the few large green spaces in Birmingham.

Unlike many cities, Birmingham is not built on the banks of a river. So, the 19 acre park which was created in 2010 provides a welcome open space for leisure and recreation.

As the name suggests, the park runs alongside the railroad. There are boardwalks and pathways beside the lakes and water features, with plenty of places to stop and relax.

As it was still hot even in the evening, I bought a welcome sno-cone from the Shymeer Ice van near the Cafe pavilion and wandered around for a while. I enjoying the landscaped wetlands as the sun went down. Park entry is free.

23. Magic City sign and the Rotary Trail

Close to Railroad Park I also noticed the famous Magic City sign which is a replica of an older sign and now marks the start of the Rotary Trail . The original sign stood in front of the Birmingham terminal station.

“Magic City” was a reference to the speed with which Birmingham had sprung up from the 1870s to become a thriving and prosperous industrial hub by the 1920s.

The sign was re-created to mark the Rotary Trail. This green corridor runs for half a mile for walkers and cyclists to use and links to other trails in the city.

Hotels in Birmingham Alabama

Stay in birmingham at hampton inn and suites tutwiler hotel.

For the two nights I spent in Birmingham, I was in the grand and historic Hampton Inn and Suites Tutwiler Hotel , which is very centrally located in the Downtown area. The Tutwiler Hotel opened in 1915 and was known as the Grande Dame of Southern Hotels. It has hosted the great and the good of Birmingham in a hotel that reflected the city’s prosperity at that time.

It was replaced by in the 1970s by a high rise building for the Alabama Bank. The nearby luxury apartment building, also created by Major Tutwiler, was transformed into the current 148 bedroom hotel run by Hampton Inn and Suites.

The style here is classic, and I had a very elegant suite on one of the upper floors with classic wooden furniture and windows opening to the balcony.

Hampton Inn and Suites – Tutwiler Hotel | Address: 2021 Park Place , Birmingham | Check prices for other hotels in Birmingham Alabama

Restaurants in Birmingham Alabama

Birmingham has gained a strong foodie reputation in the last few years and likes to call itself “The Dining Table of the South.” Threre’s some justification judging by the huge range of restaurants on offer.

Chef Frank Stitt has put the city firmly on the gourmet map with his Highlands Restaurant. It’s been judged as the best restaurant in the USA in the prestigious James Beard Awards.

While I didn’t get a chance to eat at Highlands (the wait for table is months long!) I did try a few other excellent places that I can personally recommend;

Pizitz Food Hall – I’ve already mentioned the Pizitz Food Hall which is a great stop, especially at lunchtime. Take your pick of cuisines from over 12 different food stalls, with a bar that’s a popular stop for cocktails and evening drinks.

Alabama Peanut Company – I was intrigued by the idea of boiled peanuts, so stopped at the Alabama Peanut company on the pretty cobbled Morris Avenue to try them out. I learned that boiled peanuts are a popular snack when you are going to the beach.

You can sit and eat a few at the tables inside or browse some of their merchandise of t-shirts and baseball caps with the “Southern and Salty” slogan.

Southern soul food

Saws Soul Kitchen – Avondale is a fun neighbourhood to visit for relaxed dining, especially in the evening when there’s a lively bar and restaurant scene. One of the best is the small and unassuming Saws Soul Kitchen. There are just a few tables but the queues can get quite long, just for those coming for takeaways.

It’s a great place to try the famous BBQ meats and other Southern dishes. Their signature Pork & Greens, with pulled pork on a base of grits and sweet-sour collard greens, is topped with onion rings. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

Even though they are boiled and served in their shells there’s a clever way that the flavour of Cajan spice or Dill Pickle permeate through to the peanuts inside. The Alabama Peanut Company is in a large, airy shop where they also roast and boil the peanuts.

The Essential – Right next door to Alabama Peanut Company is a fun little neighbourhood restaurant The Essential, which was recommended to me so I thought I’d give it a try. I arrived early and was seated at the bar, but by the time I left it was packed with locals both inside and on their outside patio.

The menu is full of well priced light dishes with a Southern take on world cuisine. I tried the Nicoise-ish salad with barely seared tuna on greens with egg, potato and olives. For dessert the butter croissant ice cream was incredibly rich and delicious. If I lived locally this is a restaurant that I’d be happy to return to time and again.

Elegant dining

Bottega – For a rather special atmosphere and dining experience, try Bottega, set in a beautiful Beaux-Arts building in the Highlands neighbourhood of Birmingham. This is one of the restaurants run by Chef Frank Stitt.

I loved the warm red walls and buzzing atmosphere of the Cafe with the more formal restaurant next door. The Bottega Cafe is inspired by the relaxed wine bars and trattorias of Italy, with plenty of Italian inspired dishes.

I enjoyed my Dolphin fish from the specials menu and a slice of the signature coconut pecan cake which was extremely moist and moreish. This was accompanied a drink of fresh lemonade with a hint of vanilla.

More information for Visiting Birmingham Alabama

Lots more information is available when you visit the Birmingham tourism website

Plan your visit to Birmingham on the Alabama Tourism website . Book your trip with America as you like it who offer bespoke self guided tours of Alabama and the USA. For more information contact 020 8742 8299, [email protected] or visit www.americaasyoulikeit.com

Getting around Brmingham Alabama: Most visitors will find it most convenient to have a car to visit all the places mentioned. However, much of the downtown area is easily walkable and taxis can also be used to get around.

Staying in Birmingham Alabama: I stayed at Tutwiler Hotel and you can check prices and book for a range of hotels in Birmingham Alabama here .

Getting to Birmingham AL: It’s easy to fly into Birmingham Shuttlesworth Airport from numerous US destinations. If coming from the UK you can connect via other US airport hubs. If visiting Birmingham as part of a road trip as I did, it is convenient to start in Atlanta or Huntsville and drive south through Alabama. Or, start in New Orleans or Pensacola and drive north.

Driving times : From Florence to Birmingham – 120 miles / 2 hrs. From Birmingham to Selma – 90 miles / 1 hrs 40 mins. From Birmingham to Montgomery – 90 miles / 1 hrs 20 mins.

Birmingham Social Media: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Just south of Birmingham Alabama

24. clanton peaches – the peach water tower and peach park.

I’d heard that Clanton is the Peach Capital of Alabama. So, as I was heading south on the Route 65 Interstate, I decided to make a stop on my drive between Birmingham and Selma.

I spotted the Peach Water Tower (yes it looks like a giant peach) and turned off at Exit 212 to have a closer look. At the Headley’s Big Peach Farm shop there were plenty of juicy peaches on sale. I also treated myself to one of their peachy ice lollies from the freezer counter which came in a few different flavours.

Needing to press on to Selma I sadly didn’t have time to head on to the better known Peach Park just off Exit 205. The farm shop and restaurant complex sells everything peachy. It has grown from the original roadside stall and now offers a whole range of food and gifts.

You’ll find peach ice cream, peach cobbler and lots of other peach products. Close by is another similar operation Durbin Farms Market where you can stock up on peach chutneys and preserves.

Things to do in Selma Alabama

Selma is around 1 hour from Montgomery and makes a great day trip, or half day stop on a road trip if you are touring Alabama. The town developed on the banks of the Alabama river as a centre to transport cotton and other goods down to the Gulf Coast.

During the early 19th century Selma grew wealthy at the heart of Alabama’s Black Belt of rich agricultural land. You can see the old buildings along Water Street, although now looking a little run down.

Many people visit Selma to find out more about the Voting Rights movements and the Selma Marches that started here. Interest has been generated by the film “Selma” that dramatises the events of 1965 and the marches led by Dr Martin Luther King.

25. The Selma Interpretive Centre

The best place to start any visit to Selma is at the Interpretive Centre at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Here you can pick up visitor information about all the things to do in Selma and find volunteers ready to help you.

The Selma Interpretive Centre forms the start of the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail . There’s lots of information and audio-visual displays, so it’s worth spending some time to take a look.

You’ll learn about the Selma to Montgomery marches led by Martin Luther King and other church leaders, which was featured in the film “Selma” co-produced by Oprah Winfrey.

The three marches brought publicity to the discrimination on voting rights in the state of Alabama. It forced the US government of President Lyndon B. Johnson to pass legislation to outlaw discrimination in voting rights on the basis of race or colour. Address: 2 Broad Street, Selma.

26. Walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge

The Edmund Pettus Bridge across the River Alabama is a landmark for the civil rights movement of the 1960s, since it was the starting point for the Selma marches of 1965. As protesters for black voting rights marched across the bridge on 7 March 1965, they were driven back by teargas and police wielding batons. This incident became known as “Bloody Sunday”.

A second march two days later was led by Dr Martin Luther King Jr. and other church leaders. On crossing the bridge, they knelt to pray before turning back to avoid the risk of further confrontation and injuries, which became known as “Turnback Tuesday”.

The final march started at the Edmund Pettus bridge on 17 March after the US courts granted permission for the march. It ended with 25,000 people gathering on the steps of the State Capitol Building in Montgomery, where Dr. King addressed the crowd.

27. Brown Chapel AME Church – the planning centre of the Selma marches

The Brown Chapel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) church was the headquarters for the planning for the protest march of 1965 that became known as Bloody Sunday. You can visit for a tour of the church to learn more by appointment.

This was where the marchers assembled, and after having been driven back by tear gas and police batons, was where the injured were brought and taken to the local hospital.

The church is still in use and was designated a National Historic landmark in 1997. There’s a monument to Dr Martin Luther King Jr. at the front of the church and an audio-guide that you can access from your phone.

Brown Chapel AME Church | Address: 410 Martin Luther King Street, Selma | Tours by appointment but you can visit to see the church exterior and Martin Luther King monument.

28. Sturdivant Hall – a beautiful Antebellum mansion

Before you leave Selma, be sure to take a drive around the Old Town historic district. You will find many beautiful Antebellum homes built around the 1830s before the American Civil War.

Sturdivant Hall is one of the finest Greek Revival style mansions in the Southeast. It was built in 1952 as the townhouse for Colonel Edward Watts, who owned a plantation some distance from Selma.

With its striking columns and porticos, antique furniture of the period and fine furnishings, Sturdivant Hall offers a glimpse into the wealth that was generated by Alabama’s Black Belt. This area’s fertile agricultural land grew the cotton that was transported down the Alabama river.

There’s a shop full of beautiful gifts in the old kitchen beside the house and a lovely garden to look around.

Sturdivant Hall Museum | Address: 713 Mabry Street, Selma | Visit for a tour or self-guided look around | Open Tue – Sat 10am – 4pm

More information for visiting Selma Alabama

Lots more information is available when you visit the Selma and Dallas County Chamber tourism website

Plan your visit to Selma on the Alabama Tourism website . Book your trip with America as you like it who offer bespoke self guided tours of Alabama and the USA. For more information contact 020 8742 8299, [email protected] or visit www.americaasyoulikeit.com

Getting around Selma Alabama: Most visitors will find it most convenient to have a car to visit all the places mentioned.

Staying in Selma Alabama: I did not stay in Selma but there are a number of smaller hotels and also apartments for rental through Airbnb like the Woolworth Lofts . The historic St James Hotel is set by the river and is newly renovated as a boutique property.

Getting to Selma AL: Selma is easy to reach by road from either Birmingham or Montgomery, Alabama. The most convenient airport for Selma is either Birmingham Shuttlesworth Airport or Montgomery Regional Airport , with flights from numerous US destinations. If coming from the UK you can connect via other US airport hubs as I did.

Driving times: From Selma to Birmingham – 90 miles / 1 hr 40 mins. From Selma to Montgomery – 50 miles / 55 mins.

Selma Social Media: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Things to do in Montgomery Alabama

29. the scott and zelda fitzgerald museum.

If you’ve seen any of the Great Gatsby movies or read the books of F Scott Fitzgerald you’ll be in love with the glamour of the Jazz Age. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald seemed to epitomise the era of the Roaring 20s.

This glamorous couple travelled constantly and lived a restless and creative lifestyle. Zelda grew up in Montgomery and The Fitzgerald Museum is set in the house they rented for a year in the 1930s. It is dedicated to their lives together.

I enjoyed looking around the downstairs rooms of the museum, with artefacts and memorabilia from their lives, including their letters to each other.

Although the novels of F Scott Fitzgerald are better known, Zelda was also a talented painter and writer. She authored the novel Save me the Waltz, with her beautiful paintings on show in the museum. I also stayed in one of the two apartments above the museum which are available to rent through Airbnb.

The Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum | Address: 919 Felder Avenue, Montgomery | Open Thu-Sun 10am – 3pm | $5 Adult ticket 

30. Walk around downtown & riverfront of Montgomery

After arriving in Montgomery from Selma and looking around the museum, I headed into the Downtown area in the late afternoon for a look around. At the Riverfront Park I could see how the town of Montgomery must have thrived on the river traffic.

Montgomery is located on the high ground above a strategic bend of the Alabama River. From this wharf cotton bales would be loaded onto boats to be taken down river and the railroad. Its arrival in 1840 made the city an important transportation hub.

As dusk fell my walk took me along Commerce Street, the main shopping and commercial street in the past which ends at the Court Square Fountain. It looked very pretty with flood lights lit up.

I later learned that this was built on the site of the Artesian well that supplied the town with water and was also the site of the slave market in Montgomery. A story I heard at the museum was that Zelda Fitzgerald as a girl liked to jump into the fountain to cool off. She wore a nude bathing costume so that passers by were scandalised thinking she was naked!

There are lots of historic markers around town that give you more information about the different things to see as you walk around Montgomery.

31. National Memorial for Peace and Justice – a memorial to the victims of lynching

Of all the places that I visited in Alabama, The National Memorial for Peace and Justice, also known as the Lynching memorial, is the one that stuck in my heart. This incredibly moving memorial was opened in 2018.

It commemorates the victims of racial terror and lynching through hanging, shooting and burning that terrorised black communities in the Southern USA. Although the subject is horrific, the memorial itself is calm and dignified.

It utilises space and shape rather than graphic images to convey its meaning. 800 corroded steel columns represent all the counties of each state where lynchings took place, with the names of the victims engraved on each one.

As you walk through the memorial the floor slopes down, until the columns hang above your head with inescapable symbolism. This is an extremely powerful memorial and one that you must visit and also take children to see, if you are in Alabama.

National Memorial for Peace and Justice | Address: 417 Caroline Street, Montgomery | Open daily except Mondays and Tuesdays 9am – 5pm | Adult ticket $5

32. The Legacy Museum – from slavery to mass incarceration

The partner to The National memorial is the Legacy Museum, located in downtown Montgomery. It’s situated in an old brick warehouse that formerly held slaves waiting to be sold.

The Legacy Museum packs just as powerful punch. This time it’s through imagery, photography, video and audio-visual displays that follow the legacy of slavery and segregation to the present day.

The witnesses are the faces and voices that speak to you; the slaves who describe the agony of being separated from their children and loved ones; the first hand video accounts of racial violence and the prisoners speaking from inside the Alabama prisons.

The message is clear, that the inequality of black and white that originated in slavery continues to the present day, embedded in economic inequality and unequal treatment of the judicial system.

The Legacy Museum | Address: 115 Coosa Street, Montgomery | Open daily except Mondays and Tuesdays 9am – 5pm | Adult ticket $5 | No photography is allowed in the museum

33. The Alabama State Capitol building

From the Court Square fountain, Dexter Avenue leads up the hill to the imposing white columns and dome of the Greek Revival style Alabama State Capitol building. It was built in 1851 on top of a hill that was originally known as Goat Hill due to its use as a grazing ground

The building briefly served as the capital of the Confederate states and has since been the seat of the Alabama state legislature. It was at the steps of this building that the third Selma march for voter rights ended in March 1965 and Dr Martin Luther King addressed a crowd of 25,000 people.

As it was a Sunday when I visited, I didn’t get a chance to look inside the building which is open on other days for public visits. You can see the House of representatives, Senate Chamber, Old Supreme Court Chamber and Rotunda.

However, you can walk all around the building which has some pleasant gardens with trees and shrubs There’s a replica of the Liberty Bell and the Avenue of Flags from all of the 50 states of the USA.

Alabama State Capitol Building | Open for self-guided visits Mon – Sat 8am – 4pm | Free entry

34. Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church – a historic landmark for the Civil Rights movement

The Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church sits on the street corner within sight of the Alabama Capitol Building. Ironic since this was the church where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr was pastor between 1954 and 1960.

How many time must he have gazed at that seat of state government that enforced the policy of segregation and denied African Americans their rights to vote?

Because I was visiting Montgomery on a Sunday I didn’t see inside the church, although visitors are welcome to join Sunday worship. On Tuesday to Saturday you can make a tour of the church, which was the centre for planning the Montgomery bus boycott.

You’ll see the pulpit where Dr. King preached and the mural documenting the key events of the Civil Rights movement. A few blocks away is the Dexter Parsonage Museum where Dr King and other pastors lived during their church ministry. This is now an interpretive centre and has been restored to look as it was when Dr King lived there with his family.

Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church | Address: 454 Dexter Avenue, Montgomery | Tours of the parsonage museum are available Fri and Sat each hour 10am – 4pm | Tours of the church by appointment only

35. Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts

As I headed out of Montgomery, my final stop was the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. It is situated on a grassy campus just outside the downtown area, so you ideally need a car to get there. It outgrew its previous buildings in the city, and moved to the current building on the Blount Cultural Park in the 1980s.

The museum is a nice mix of contemporary and old masters. I especially enjoyed the colourful art glass, the collection of American painting and sculptures and the outdoor sculpture garden. There’s also a colourful children’s gallery and activity area, making this an ideal stop for families.

Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts Website | Open Tue-Sun 10am – 5pm | Free entry and parking

More information for Visiting Montgomery Alabama

Lots more information is available when you visit the Montgomery tourism website

Plan your visit to Montgomery on the Alabama Tourism website . Book your trip with America as you like it who offer bespoke self guided tours of Alabama and the USA. For more information contact 020 8742 8299, [email protected] or visit www.americaasyoulikeit.com

Getting around Montgomery Alabama: I found that the Downtown area of Montgomery is very walkable. Most visitors will find it most convenient to have a car to visit all the places mentioned, as some are further afield.

Staying in Montgomery Alabama: I stayed at the Fitzgerald Museum apartments in the Zelda apartment – you can check prices and book for a range of hotels in Montgomery Alabama here .

Getting to Montgomery AL: It’s easy to fly to Montgomery Regional Airport , with flights from a number of US destinations. If coming from the UK you can connect via other US airport hubs as I did or drive from a larger airport such as Atlanta. If visiting Alabama as part of a road trip as I did, it is convenient to start in Huntsville to the north or Gulf Shore in the south.

Driving times: From Montgomery to Birmingham – 90 miles / 1 hr 25 mins. From Montgomery to Mobile – 170 miles / 2 hrs 20 mins.

Montgomery Social Media: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Accommodation in Montgomery – the Fitzgerald Museum Apartments

It was fun to visit the Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum in Montgomery and even more fun to stay in one of the two apartments upstairs. Although you don’t get out of hours access to the museum, the apartments are themselves a homage to the life and work of Scott and Zelda.

I stayed in the Zelda Suite, with a portrait of Zelda hanging over the mantelpiece and enjoyed looking at the reproductions of her beautiful paintings and her framed letters to Scott.

The apartment is spacious and comfortable, and is decorated in the style of the 1930s when the couple lived there. There are two bedrooms, a living room, bathroom and kitchen. It all has a delightfully retro feel, as if you are visiting the home of your rather stylish grandmother.

The Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum | Book the Zelda Fitzgerald Suite | Address: 919 Felder Avenue, Montgomery

Where to eat in Montgomery

I tried a few different restaurants in Montgomery and can personally recommend the following;

Cawhaba House – The small frontage gives way to an airy diner, which is the perfect place to try Southern specialties for breakfast, brunch or lunch. You can build your own breakfast here with any combo you like.

I tried the Southern biscuit with pimento cheese biscuit, fried green tomato and crispy bacon as well as some cinnamon beignets dusted with icing sugar. On your way out, treat yourself to a jar of the local preserves and jellies. 31 South Court Street Montgomery

Dreamland BBQ – Dreamland was packed when I visited on a Sunday lunchtime, with families queueing to get their fix of Southern BBQ, but luckily I squeezed in at the bar. Dreamland has 10 locations across the south.

As you can imagine it’s all about the BBQ, with their smoked pork ribs being a specialty. Not sure I could handle the full-on meaty experience I opted for a lighter version of Smokehouse Cobb salad. This still came with a generous portion of shredded BBQ pork on top. 12 West Jefferson Street, Montgomery

Central for dinner – Central is one of the leading restaurants in Montgomery for casual but upscale dining, using local ingredients and Southern flavours. It’s located in a large, airy space within the old brick warehouse in the Alley.

At this complex there are a number of different restaurants all leading off the Alley. I tried a couple of smaller dishes of smoked and fried pork belly with a tangy peach chutney and the wedge of Iceberg salad topped with bacon, candied pecans and a blue cheese dressing. 129 Coosa Street, Montgomery

36. Priesters Pecans – everything made with Pecans!

Just south of Montgomery I stopped at Priesters Pecans in Fort Deposit. This restaurant and farm shop is dedicated to everything made with Pecan nuts. It was clearly a popular stop, with the car park full and crowds in the shop.

Everyone was stocking up on the big bags of pecan nuts, pecan candies and pecan pies. I queued for some pecan ice-cream, one of the many flavours on offer. The server had difficulty understanding me when I asked for the Pee-can flavour, until she realised I meant Pe-caaan!

Take your ice cream or pie out onto the porch where you can sit in a rocking chair to enjoy it. This was a relaxing stop before heading off on the Route 65 interstate again.

Priesters Pecans | 80 Bishop Bottom Rd, Fort Deposit | Turn off Route 65 at exit 142

Recommended reading for your Alabama road trip: Read Deep South: Four Seasons on Back Roads by Paul Theroux to soak up the atmosphere of the Deep South

Things to do in Mobile Alabama

It was fascinating to arrive in Mobile and find a city with a completely different feel to Birmingham and Montgomery. This port city on Alabama’s Gulf Coast has a much more relaxed and cosmopolitan feel.

Mobile has been a cultural melting pot over the centuries, since being colonised by the French, British and Spanish in the 18th century. Areas of the downtown have the same wrought iron balconies that are familiar from New Orleans. Tthe city is proud of being the original home of Mardi Gras. Carnival is a big deal here.

37. A wander down Dauphin Street

Dauphin Street is where you’ll want to start your visit to Mobile. It runs through the heart of the Downtown area, with pretty boutiques selling curiosities, antiques, arty gifts and crafty souvenirs.

Many of the buildings have the shady wrought iron balconies that tell you you’re on the southern coast. There’s a similar look as New Orleans, reminding you that this is the original home of Mardi Gras.

The name is a reminder that Mobile was capital of the French colony of Louisiana in the 18th century and the street is named after the crown prince or Dauphin. As you walk along there are a couple of pretty squares where you can stop at Bienville Square and Cathedral Square.

You may also enjoy: 20 top things to do in Birmingham Alabama USA

38. The Oyster trail in Mobile

As I wandered along Dauphin Street I spotted some colourful painted Oyster Shell sculptures which are part of the Oyster Trail. The sculpture trail is a project by the Mobile Bay Oyster Gardening Program with 12 stops around the downtown area and more around Mobile Bay.

You can download a map of the painted Oyster sculptures around the Downtown area, which were painted by different artists in 2013. The Oyster gardening programme involves volunteers who farm oysters from their piers around the bay. I learned the sculptures are intended raise awareness of the importance of oysters in the bay’s eco-system.

More info: The Oyster Trail

39. Streetart around Mobile

Being from Bristol I love to see street-art murals and look out for them wherever I travel. Along Dauphin street there were quite a few fun murals including this Heart of Mobile mural which is definitely the spot for a selfie opportunity.

Mobile clearly has a strong artistic community so look out for more of the street art in Mobile as you wander around. The area of restaurants and bars where Wintzell’s Oysters is situated is especially good.

40. Mobile Carnival Museum – get into the spirit of Mardi Gras

You won’t go far in Mobile before discovering that the city is the home of the original Mardi Gras and that Carnival is a big deal here. Mardi Gras takes place in February each year with carnival floats, parades and balls.

You can learn more about it and enjoy the costumes all year round at the Mobile Carnival Museum. The exhibition space on three floors takes you through the origins of Mardi Gras which started in 1703.

See the colourful floats and incredibly elaborate jewelled costumes worn by the carnival kings and queens. There are 14 different galleries, with an introductory video and you can take a self guided audio tour through your phone.

Mobile Carnival Museum | Open Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat 9am – 4pm | Adult ticket $8 | Audio tour website

41. Views from Dauphin’s restaurant

Dauphin’s restaurant on the 34th floor of the RSA Trustmark Building in downtown Mobile is a great place for lunch with views over the city. From our window table we could see across the city to the port area and the Mobile Bay beyond.

The restaurant also offers a bar area serving small plates and the emphasis is on local produce and Creole influences. You’ll find plenty of seafood, such as crab, shrimp and fresh fish from the Gulf.

Dauphin’s Restaurant website | Trustmark Building, 107 St Francis St, Mobile

42. Moon pies – to eat or throw as a Carnival favour

As I left the Trustmark Building after lunch at Dauphin’s I spotted the Moon Pie store. It sells gifts and souvenirs, as well as the sweet Moon Pie confections that are a favourite of Mobile.

This biscuit sandwiched with marshmallow and coated in chocolate, comes in lots of different flavours and originated at the Chattanooga Bakery in Tennessee. The Mobile connection comes because Moon Pies are a popular favour to be thrown from the carnival floats to an eager crowd. They’re the ones that everyone hopes to catch!

Moon Pie website | Shop at 107 St Francis St, Mobile

43. The Condé-Charlotte Museum – a historic Antebellum House

While there are many beautiful historic districts in Mobile, the Condé-Charlotte Museum is an Antebellum house. It’s very centrally located in the downtown area, so easy to visit if you only have limited time.

Although it was closed the day I visited, I stopped by for a photo of the pretty porch and balcony with Greek Revival style columns. You can take a tour of the house which was originally a courthouse and jail before becoming a family home. It is full of elegant antiques and furnishings.

Condé-Charlotte Museum website | Address: 104 Theatre Street | Open Thu – Sat 11.30am – 3pm | Adult ticket $10

44. History Museum of Mobile

I popped into the History Museum of Mobile as I often find that these city museums are useful to get an insight into the history of the places you visit. There are some interesting exhibitions with miniature houses and fine table settings from Mardi Gras balls.

I especially enjoyed the temporary exhibition about the Sensational 60s, following the fashions of the decade, with novelties like the bikini and the trouser suit.

History Museum of Mobile | Address: 111 S Royal Street, Mobile | Open daily | Adult ticket $14

45. Historic Oakleigh House Museum – a beautiful Antebellum mansion

Oakleigh House sits in the historic Oakleigh Garden neighbourhood, with oaks that drip with moss. The pretty Washington Square seems to epitomise gracious Southern living.

Oakleigh House is a fine example of a Southern Antebellum mansion, built by cotton broker James Roper in the 1830s. I visited the house and luckily was able to join one of the tours which run every hour.

We took a walk through the history of the house which survived the civil war unscathed and was home to a number of Mobile’s leading families. There are a number of different historic districts around Mobile. You can pick up a map at the visitor bureau or find various driving trails on the Mobile Historic Development Commission website .

Historic Oakleigh House Museum Website | Address: 350 Oakleigh Place | Open Tue-Sat 10am – 4pm | Tours start on the hour | Adult ticket $10

46. USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park

My final place to visit in Mobile was the USS Alabama which is on the road heading out of town towards Gulf Shores. The warship was built for the US Navy in the 1940s and served through the Second World War.

She was decommissioned in 1962 and returned to her home state to become a museum. There’s a lot to see here, and after exploring inside the ship and over the different deck levels in the exhausting heat, I had every respect for the crew who had to serve in what seemed like a baking oven of grey metal.

On the shore beside the ship there are lots of tanks and military vehicles on display. More aircraft are on display in the Medal of Honor Aircraft Pavilion. Also on display is the submarine USS Drum and you can walk through her cramped working quarters. However, I found it just a bit too claustrophobic and decided to stay above deck.

USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park | Spanish Fort, Alabama | Open Daily Adult ticket $15

More information for Visiting Mobile Alabama

Lots more information is available when you visit the Mobile tourism website .

Plan your visit to Alabama on the Alabama Tourism website . Book your trip with America as you like it who offer bespoke self guided tours of Alabama and the USA. For more information contact 020 8742 8299, [email protected] or visit www.americaasyoulikeit.com

Getting around Mobile Alabama: I found that the Downtown area of Mobile is very walkable. Most visitors will find it most convenient to have a car to visit all the places mentioned, as some are further afield.

Staying in Mobile Alabama: I stayed at the Hampton Inn Mobile Downtown – you can check prices and book for a range of hotels in Mobile Alabama here .

Getting to Mobile AL: It’s easy to fly to Pensacola Airport with flights from a number of US destinations. If coming from the UK you can connect via other US airport hubs as I did. Or, drive from a larger airport with direct UK flights such as New Orleans. If visiting Alabama as part of a road trip as I did, it is convenient to start in Gulf Shore in the south.

Driving times: From Mobile to Montgomery – 170 miles / 2 hrs 30 mins. From Mobile to Gulf Shores – 50 miles / 1 hr.

Mobile Social Media: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Hotels in Mobile – Hampton Inn Mobile Downtown

While in Mobile I stayed in the Hampton Inn in the heart of the Downtown area. It’s just around the corner from Dauphin Street where there’s lots going on.

The busy hotel was full of guests on holiday, families coming and going and enjoying the small outdoor pool area behind the hotel. I enjoyed my stay in the extremely spacious suite with classic decor, two double beds and a large living area.

There’s a car park for the use of guests behind the hotel, which is useful considering that the hotel is in the heart of the city.

Hampton Inn Mobile Downtown | Address: 62 S Royal Street, Mobile

Restaurants in Mobile Alabama

Dauphin’s – I enjoyed lunch with views over Mobile at Dauphin’s on the 34th floor of the Trustmark building, close to Dauphin Street. The menu has plenty of Gulf seafood and Cajun flavours.

I tried the signature dish of Gumbo Z’ herb, a broth of greens, local Conecuh sausage and smoked meats. All were delicious together with a Power Greens Salad, washed down with fresh lemonade flavoured with thyme.

Winszell’s Oyster House – This is a bit of a Mobile institution. Although there are a number of Wintzell’s locations in Alabama, the one where I ate in Mobile on Dauphin Street is the original restaurant.

It’s all about the seafood here, with a menu full of crab, shrimp and above all the oysters. I hate to think how many oysters they get through, which are served by the dozen and half dozen “fried, stewed or nude”.

I tried the Oysters Rockefeller, cooked with spinach and butter sauce as well as a plate of West Indies Salad, a local dish of crab meat dressed with oil and vinegar.

Things to do in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are two towns on Alabama’s Gulf coast that merge into one, so are generally treated together as one area. This is a popular holiday destination for visitors from the USA.

Most come for the beautiful white sand beaches backed with dunes and the Gulf State Park with lakes and trails. It’s all about beach and nature here but there are plenty of fun activities to try. Explore the natural park and coastline and connect with its flora and fauna.

47. Cycling in Gulf State Park

The 6000 acres of Gulf State Park includes two miles of unspoiled white sand beaches. Also, the lake and wetland area that sits inland, on the other side of the beach road.

The three lakes are surrounded by trails and boardwalks, making it easy to explore on foot or better still by bike. There are a number of locations to hire a bike and I picked up one at the Lake Shelby picnic area where kayaks, paddleboards and canoes could also be hired.

I cycled along the trail, over the bridges and stopped at the Nature Centre by Middle Lake. Here there was lots of information about the wildlife in the park, with picnic spots and warnings not to feed the alligators!

Gulf State Park | Bike hire at Lake Shelby $25 per day | Also check out the other Alabama State Parks

48. Go the beach – Gulf Shores and Orange Beach

Of course this area is mainly a holiday destination, especially for visitors from the USA. Many drive from other parts of Alabama and out of state to stay in the condos (holiday apartments) that line the beach.

The quieter section of the beach is within the state park. The only accommodation permitted here is the recently built hotel The Lodge, where there’s an area of public sunbeds for hire.

The beach is also a nesting site for sea turtles, with education programmes to “Leave only footprints.” I saw a bigger emphasis here on being eco-friendly than elsewhere in Alabama.

There are car parks for many sections of the beach and cycling is easy here, with a long pier that’s popular for fishing. More info: Alabama Beaches

49. Take a Dolphin cruise from Gulf Shores

One of the favourite parts of my visit to Gulf Shores was the Dolphin cruise I took with Cetacean Cruises from the landing stage near The Wharf Marina. We set off in the mid afternoon and I must admit it was blisteringly hot to start with.

Once we headed out into the lagoons the breeze picked up and we spotted quite a few dolphins playing around the boat at a safe distance. They were difficult to photograph, briefly coming up for air and then diving down again.

Soon we saw a shrimp boat where the Dolphins loved to hang out, getting a free meal from the discarded catch. It was a fun trip out on the water with the sail up, keeping a sharp look out for dolphins. The crew provided some excellent informatio and also served drinks on board and helped out with photos.

Cetacean Cruises website | Dolphin and Sailing cruise from $30 | 4673 Wharf Parkway West, Orange Beach

50. Visit Fort Morgan and take a trip to Dauphin Island

An easy day trip from Gulf Shores is Fort Morgan. It’s just a 30 minute drive along the coast and sits at the mouth of Mobile Bay. The strategic position controlling the mouth of the bay and access to the port of Mobile made it a key site during the American Civil War and subsequent conflicts.

Fort Morgan is an easy 30 minute drive along the coast from Gulf Shores. It’s strategically positioned controlling the mouth of the bay. Access to the port of Mobile made it a key site during the American Civil War and subsequent conflicts.

From Fort Morgan you can easily take the Mobile Bay Ferry to Dauphin Island. It’s a scenic cruise across the bay for a visit to the corresponding Fort Gaines on the other side. Although I didn’t have time to take this trip, I thought it would be an interesting thing to do if you want a change from the beach.

Fort Morgan Website | Open Daily | Adult ticket $8

More information for Visiting Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Alabama

Lots more information is available when you visit the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach tourism website .

Plan your visit to Gulf Shores, Alabama on the Alabama Tourism website . Book your trip with America as you like it who offer bespoke self guided tours of Alabama and the USA. For more information contact 020 8742 8299, [email protected] or visit www.americaasyoulikeit.com

Getting around Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Alabama: Most visitors will find it most convenient to have a car to visit all the places mentioned. You can also easily rent bikes to use in the Gulf State Park and beach area.

Staying in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Alabama: I stayed at the Hotel Indigo Orange Beach – you can check prices and book for a range of hotels in Gulf Shores Alabama here .

Getting to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach AL: It’s easy to fly to Pensacola Airport with flights from a number of US destinations. If coming from the UK you can connect via other US airport hubs as I did. Or, drive from a larger airport with direct UK flights such as New Orleans.

Driving times: From Gulf Shores to Mobile – 50 miles / 1 hr. From Gulf Shores to Pensacola Airport – 40 miles / 1 hr.

Gulf Shores Social Media: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Hotels in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama

Stay – hotel indigo orange beach.

For the couple of nights I was in Gulf Shores I stayed at the delightful Hotel Indigo. It’s set just across the road from the beach, with a hotel shuttle to drop you off at the beach pavilion.

This is a stylish boutique hotel with mostly larger suite style rooms, with relaxed contemporary decor that echoes the colours of the ocean. The minimum check-in age of 25 means that there’s a calm feel here.

A large lobby is complete with swings, a restaurant and bar area and a large pool with sunbeds. I loved having the extra space of a large sitting area and fridge, with the feel of being in my own apartment but with all the amenities of a hotel.

Next door is the Southern Grind Cafe where you can eat brunch and lunch or shop for fun gifts and homeware. The hotel is dog friendly and many guests rent bikes to cycle from here along the Backcountry trail that starts just behind the hotel.

Hotel Indigo Orange Beach Website | 22843 Perdido Beach Boulevard, Orange Beach

Stay – The Lodge at Gulf State Park

Although I didn’t stay there, I also had a chance to visit the Lodge at Gulf State Park. This beautiful new resort hotel was recently opened. The hotel is run by Hilton Hotels, but owned by the State of Alabama, which means that revenues generated go to support other state parks in Alabama.

Rooms here are pale and understated and the wood clad hotel has a unique position overlooking the sand dunes and protected beach. No other development is permitted in the State Park. There’s a strong emphasis within the hotel on conservation and I enjoyed a beach view lunch at their relaxed Foodcraft restaurant.

The Lodge at Gulf State Park | 21196 E Beach Boulevard, Gulf Shores

Where to eat in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach

Woodside Restaurant – A relaxed cafe that’s on the edge of the Gulf State Park near Lake Shelby. The ideal place to stop for breakfast or brunch if you are cycling around the lake. I tried the South Island Parfait with fresh fruit and banana bread served with Greek yoghurt and honey.

Foodcraft – This is the more casual of the two restaurants in The Lodge with an air conditioned inside area and a deck overlooking the beach. Breakfast is also served here for the hotel.

The lunchtime menu includes lots of light dishes like soup, sandwiches and salads. I tried the fried oysters on flatbread with arugula salad, bacon and mozzarella – delicious!

The Gulf – I loved the buzzing beach club feel of The Gulf, the reclaimed metal shipping containers reminding me of Bristol. It’s a huge area overlooking the water.

You order at one of the two kitchens and then your dinner is brought to you at the outside dining tables. Although it was packed with families and friends on holiday, somehow it all worked and I loved my shrimp tacos washed down with fresh lemonade.

Cobalt – for dinner. For something a bit more upscale try Cobalt, which is hugely popular – I just squeezed in at the bar! It has a large outdoor patio overlooking the water at Perdido Bay.

I enjoyed the tuna salad with barely seared fish on a salad with pecans, goats cheese and pickled vegetables as well as BBQ Gulf Shrimp sauteed in butter sauce.

Wow! congratulations if you made it to the end of this article! I know it’s a long one but I wanted to showcase the tremendous variety in the state of Alabama that makes it the perfect road trip destination. No longer can you say “What’s there to see in Alabama?” – I hope I’ve given you the answer!

Discover the food of Alabama – mouthwatering soul food from the Deep South, USA

More articles from my Alabama trip 11 Cool things to do in Mobile Alabama 20 things to do in Birmingham Alabama 20 fun things to do in Huntsville Alabama Discover the Civil Rights Trail in Alabama USA Visit Muscle Shoals Alabama – for music history and more!

Map of Alabama

You can use this map of our Alabama road trip that I’ve made to easily find all the places mentioned in my article

More information for Visiting Alabama

Plan your visit to Alabama on the Alabama Tourism website . Book your trip with America as you like it who offer bespoke self guided tours of Alabama and the USA.

For more information contact 020 8742 8299, [email protected] or visit www.americaasyoulikeit.com

Hotels in Alabama: You can check prices and book for range of hotels in Alabama here .

Getting to Alabama: It’s easy to fly direct from the UK to the USA via nearby airports such as Atlanta or New Orleans. Or, you can connect via numerous US airport hubs and then flying on to regional airports such as Huntsville, Birmingham, Montgomery or Pensacola.

Alabama Social Media: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

This article was sponsored* by Alabama Travel and America as you like it who provided the experiences mentioned while I was in Alabama.

* More info on my policies page

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com

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Wednesday 4th of December 2019

The US Space and Rocket Center & Birmingham Museum of Art sound like amazing places to visit! Thanks for sharing.

Anne Kepner

Sunday 25th of August 2019

I’m planning a trip for coming September in Alabama and the space center is part of it. Great site, with practical information, exactly what I needed! Great job, many thx.

Heather Cowper

Wednesday 28th of August 2019

@Anne Hope you have a great time!

Chitra Pandey

Wednesday 21st of August 2019

Wow, very cool list of places with some great photos!

le passage bureau

Friday 9th of August 2019

such a piece of nice information for me nice place Alabama delicious food have fun

Thursday 8th of August 2019

Hi Heather ! This is great list of places to visit in Albama. I definitely want to take a walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, looks marvellous. The Lodge at Gulf Shores Alabama looks serene.

Monday 12th of August 2019

@Cordelia So pleased you enjoyed the article

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15+ Amazing Stops To Make For An Awesome Alabama Road Trip

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Ready to road trip Alabama? Alabama is a fantastically diverse state with mountain, beaches, cities and a fascinating history. Did I mention the great food and friendly people? You should consider these 15 amazing stops  for your road trip in Alabama whether you are just passing through Alabama on a longer visit to the  Southern USA or are spending the entire time on an Alabama road trip. In Northern Alabama, you must visit Rocket City Huntsville as well as some of the other small cities. As you go through Central Alabama, you will visit Birmingham Alabama and Montgomery Alabama. Finally there is coastal Alabama with its international flair and beautiful white sand beaches. There’s no doubt that the beautiful state of Alabama has something for everyone.

Alabama Road Trip

There’s no two ways about it – getting around Alabama is easiest by car. Hence, you can create your own standalone Alabama road trip or include it as part of a larger southern USA road trip. The conditions are great for road trips in Alabama – the roads are in great condition and there are plenty of roadside service stops if you need fuel or food.

Along with my suggestions for an Alabama road trip, I have included some fellow travel writers ideas and suggestions for what to do in Alabama, too. 

Alabama Road Trip Ideas

Are you thinking about an Alabama road trip as part of a larger Southern USA road trip ? Plenty of people I know have created a southern USA road trip that included the state of Alabama so I have broken this Alabama road trip guide into sections for Northern Alabama, Central Alabama and Coastal Alabama. You can work the section of Alabama that you will be near into your own personalised road trip adventure.

Here are some examples of nearby big cities and their distance from places in Alabama:

• New Orleans to Mobile is a 3 hour drive.
• Both Chattanooga and Nashville in Tennessee is a 2 hour drive to Huntsville.
• Both Memphis Tennessee and Atlanta Georgia are a 3 1/2 hour drive to Huntsville.
• Atlanta Georgia is also a 2 or 3 hour drive to Birmingham or Montgomery, respectively.

Continuing an Alabama Road Trip to New Orleans

In Mobile I met visitors from Lithuania who were combining a visit to the   theme parks in Orlando Florida with a Louisiana Mississippi Alabama road trip.

After Mobile, they were heading to the casinos in Biloxi Mississippi and then party central, New Orleans. How is that for a fun road trip for adults? 

One of the most memorable places to visit on a road trip in the US south is Coastal Mississippi. Calling itself  the “ Secret Coast, ” Coastal Mississippi is located between New Orleans and Mobile Alabama and below the I-10 interstate highway along the luscious US Gulf Coast, and is well worth discovering its secrets —whether for an detour scenic drive off I-10 or a one week vacation getaway. Some strongly suggested things to do in Coastal Mississippi include seeking sun and sport on USA’s largest man made beach, sampling scrumptious seafood and coastal cuisine, and savoring scintillating sunsets (and sunrises).   The Coastal Mississippi beach between Henderson Point and Biloxi is 26 miles long and 200 feet wide and most of it is undeveloped with unobstructed water views and free parking right along the sand. Take advantage of it!   Anywhere along the water in Coastal Mississippi is the perfect place to witness phenomenal sunsets. Coastal Mississippi restaurants with James Beard honored chefs include Vestige in Ocean Springs , White Pillars in Biloxi , and Doe’s Eat Place at Margaritaville Resort Biloxi. Countless other coastal Mississippi adventures await you. Make sure to spend time in the sweet small beach towns of Ocean Springs and Bay St Louis , visit amazing attractions like the brand new Mississippi Aquarium and fantastic museums—including Ohr O’Keefe Museum of Art , INFINITY Science Center , Walter Anderson Museum of Art , and Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum —and paddle and explore an abundance of nature areas—including Gulf Islands National Seashore barrier islands , several bayous, and Biloxi Bay.   – by Charles McCool at McCool Travel

Blue sky and sea, and white sand in coastal Mississippi very similar to coastal Alabama (Image credit: Charles McCool)

Road Trip Alabama

I decided to road trip Alabama in its entirely from the Northern Alabama to Coastal Alabama. Although I had people question whether there would be enough interesting sites to road trip Alabama for two weeks, I found  myself wishing I had even more time! 

When you road trip Alabama you realize how much there is to see in the state sandwiched between the mountains of Northern Alabama and the white sand beaches of Coastal Alabama.

Road trips in Alabama take you through quirky small towns, big cities and farmland.  You will sample plenty of delicious food, meet friendly people and learn some fascinating history. 

A sign showing where the Civil War prison in Montgomery Alabama was located.

Why did I decide to road trip Alabama? After all, the news was full off the religious right’s assault on women’s rights in Alabama (to the horror of more liberal Alabamians ) . Yes, there are liberals in Alabama!

On the other hand, an Alabama road trip promised history, great food and quirky attractions – definitely my interests. So I dropped my son off in Rocket City Huntsville for his two weeks at the camps run at the NASA Space Center before I ventured off on my Alabama road trips.

I spent 8 days driving from Huntsville to Mobile in coastal Alabama and then looped back up to Northern Alabama. It took me 2 days to visit Birmingham Alabama, 3 days to visit Montgomery Alabama and 3 days in coastal Alabama.

I would suggest a minimum of 3 days in Huntsville and Northern Alabama too.  Although this itinerary covers the four biggest cities in the state of Alabama, I would encourage you to branch out and visit some of the smaller cities and towns nearby.

Alabama Road Signs

And, of particular note are the amusing Alabama road signs. You really get a flavor for the state by the unique Alabama road signs. Sorry for the picture quality – my trusty navigator/assistant photographer/son is still honing his craft.

Various Alabama road signs you come across as your road trip Alabama

Just a small selection of the Alabama road signs that caught my attention. Technically the giant cross is not a road sign but I have never seen such a huge church on the side of an interstate. 

Apparently, the “Go To Church or the Devil Will Get You” sign is famous in Alabama. The owner took it down, but there was an outcry, and he replaced it. As one person said to me, you see that sign and you know you are in Central Alabama.

The signs for personal injury lawyer Alexander Shunnarah signs are everywhere in Alabama and it’s become a meme in its own right. 

The ubiquitous Shunnarah Alabama road signs have elevated him to meme-status.

Yeah, there really was a drug dealer feeding a squirrel meth in Alabama to make it more vicious. The police released it into the wild when the drug dealer got arrested. So there is some poor Meth Squirrel out there in Alabama detoxing in the wild. 

What To Do in Northern Alabama

I have to say Northern Alabama surprised me. I had no idea it was so mountainous! Coming in from Atlanta into Huntsville, we had a brief period where my SatNav refused to work because we had no WiFi. My son learned how to read a paper map which I assured him was a useful life skill. 

Momentary panic when the SatNav refuses to work in the mountains of Northern Alabama.

Rocket City Huntsville

Our first destination in Alabama was Huntsville – nicknamed Rocket City because of the NASA headquarters.

Two of the biggest attraction in Alabama are in the Rocket City Huntsville. Huntsville is a quirky cool city in Northern Alabama with all of the attractions of a major American city but with a better quality of life.

At the number one spot there is the U.S. Space and Rocket Center . Not only is it a museum, but the NASA space center runs weekly programs for school children during the summer.

My son signed up for Space Camp and Aviation Challenge and loved his two weeks there. So  much so that he is now going to his third Space Camp.

The NASA US space center has a great museum as well as well-run summer camps for kids.

Even if you are not a science person, there’s plenty to do in Rocket City Huntsville. The Number 3 most visited attraction in Alabama is the Huntsville Botanical Center .

The Huntsville Botanical Center is a great place to visit with kids.

There are also plenty of other museum, historical sites and shopping areas to keep you occupied. The city also has a burgeoning craft brewery scene as well as many great restaurants. After all, those well-paid scientists need somewhere to spend their money!

What Else is There in Northern Alabama?

Northern Alabama has several small towns to visit as well as a lot of outdoors activities.. As you know, I’m a city girl. Besides, I was being bitten alive by mosquitos everywhere in Alabama.

I skipped a lot of the nature stuff because I feared venturing further into a mosquito lair. I know the rest of my family would have loved  activities like hiking along the Natchez Trace , checking out the bioluminescent glowworms at Dismals Canyon and a cave tour of the gigantic   Cathedral Caverns .

The small towns I visited were all easy day trips from Huntsville and make great road trips in Alabama.

In Florence Alabama , I went to see where musical legends like Cher and the Rolling Stones created history at Muscle Shoals Recording Studio , the birthplace of Helen Keller at Ivy Green  and the Rosenbaum House , the only Frank Lloyd house in Alabama. 

The charming town of Florence Alabama is host to many interesting tourist sites.

My son loved Decatur Alabama  for the fantastic Cook Museum of Natural Science and the Point Mallard Park . Decatur has a long history from the very beginning of Alabama history through the Civil War. 

Scottsboro is home to a shopper’s paradise at the Unclaimed Baggage Center which has warehouses full of stuff that unlucky airline passengers have lost.

Scottsboro also has a sad historical connection as the place where the so-called Scottsboro Boys (9 African American teenagers) were falsely accused of raping two white women. This story and that of the subsequent trials is told a the Scottsboro Boys Museum and Cultural Center .

Nearby Lake Guntersville is the largest lake in Alabama and great for all types of water sports. If you want to experience more of Lake Guntersville, head to Guntersville and Lake Guntersville State Park .

The Unclaimed Baggage Centre is one of the road trips in Alabama you can take.

Practicalities for Northern Alabama  

With so many visitors to the NASA space center, Huntsville has both an airport as well as a wide choice of hotels. I stayed at several hotels in Huntsville Alabama during the 8 days I spent in the city because I wanted to see what the different options were.

Like many cities in the USA, Huntsville is pretty spread out. You have hotels in the historic downtown area, near the NASA Space Center as well as newer areas of the city.

I did regret that I did not stay at the super cool GunRunner Hotel in Florence Alabama . It’s a car warehouse conversion which would be totally in keeping with any stylish hotel in any major international city like London or New York. 

Huntsville to Birmingham

How far is Huntsville from Birmingham? A little over 100 miles. 

Getting from Huntsville AL to Birmingham AL is a super easy drive of a little over 2 hours. Once you get to Decatur Alabama, you can go straight along Interstate 65-S to Birmingham for most of the 100 miles.

Pitstop:  Ave Maria Grotto, Cullman Alabama

If you are into quirky roadside attractions on your way from Huntsville to Birmingham, check out the Ave Maria Grotto in Cullman Alabama. About an hour from Huntsville, take exit 308 from I-65S for a short distance to reach the Ave Maria Grotto.

At the Ave Maria Grotto in Cullman, a German Benedictine monk has created stone miniature replicas of world-famous Catholic religious places of worship on a 4 acre park.

We are talking everything from Jerusalem to the Shrine at Lourdes . This grotto is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites.

For good measure, he threw in some secular places like the leaning Tower of Pisa. By the way, the monk only visit about 6 of the 125+ places he created in stone so it’s not necessarily that accurate. On the other hand, the dedication needed to achieve something like the Ave Maria Grotto in Cullman is pretty extraordinary.

The Ave Maria Grotto is an easy stop to take a break and stretch your legs on your way from Huntsville AL to Birmingham AL. The address for the Ave Maria Grotto is 1600 St Bernard Drive SE, Cullman AL 25055. It is open daily except for Christmas and New Year’s days.

What To Do in Central Alabama

Central Alabama covers a wide swathe of the state. The city of Birmingham is considered north central in the state and the city of Montgomery is south central. You find Tuscaloosa, home of the University of Alabama, in west central Alabama.

Visit Birmingham Alabama

Birmingham Alabama is the largest city in Alabama. If you visit Birmingham Alabama with kids, the Birmingham Zoo is the second most visited attraction in Alabama.

Visit the historical highlights of Birmingham and also the district that was a key player in the Civil Rights Movement . I took a civil rights tour of Birmingham which included the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute , the 16th Street Baptist Church and Kelly Ingram Park .

When you visit Birmingham Alabama, you must visit the Civil Rights Institute.

I stayed at a fabulous boutique hotel in downtown, Elyton Hotel, which has got a great location near many restaurants and the Alabama Theatre, an iconic showplace since 1927. Birmingham even has a craft beer scene that you can tour .

If you are looking to visit Birmingham Alabama directly, the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth Airport is only a few miles from the city.

Here’s another perspective on Birmingham, Alabama:

The Deep South is unlike any other part of the U.S. – and that’s exactly why we loved our Deep South road trip through it. One of our favorite stops along the way was Birmingham, Alabama, a surprisingly hip and hipster town that was the site of many important (and tragic) events in America’s past. There’s so much to learn about in Birmingham, and the Vulcan Museum and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) a re both absolute must-sees. The Vulcan Museum is home to the world’s largest cast-iron statue, and the exhibits next door illustrate the city’s founding and its rise as a major geopolitical center of the South. The BCRI is the most comprehensive museum on the Civil Rights Movement, covering everything from desegregation to the Civil Rights Act, as well as present-day immigration and human rights issues around the world. Birmingham is also underrated as a foodie destination, and every meal we had there was delicious. Head to Crestline Bagels in the suburb of Mountain Brook for the perfect bagel, downtown’s Brick and Tin for gourmet sandwiches, and Delta Blues Hot Tamales in Five Points South for a local twist on Mexican cuisine (with great vegetarian options).

– by Jen Ambrose and Ryan Victor of Passions and Places

Street art in Birmingham Alabama seen on a Southern USA road trip (photo credit: Jen Ambrose and Ryan Victor)

Detour: Birmingham to Tuscaloosa

Birmingham to Tuscaloosa is an easy 1 hour drive over a 58 mile route on interstate driving. Dominated by the University of Alabama campus and its football sporting prowess, Tuscaloosa is a pilgrimage stop for college football fans.

Best known for its college football team, the University of Alabama’s (UA) Crimson Tide, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, offers a lot to do on an open weekend or off-season. From exploring downtown to checking out the museums and more, it’s easy to experience all T-town offers. Go on a self-guided walking tour of the UA campus to learn more about its history. While there, check out the Alabama Museum of Natural History and view the Hodges Meteorite , the only one to hit a person, among other exhibits. Don’t overlook The Sarah Moody Gallery of Art that’s focused on contemporary art. Relax and recharge at Hotel Capstone , located nearby. The Riverwalk is a serene journey along the southern bank of the Black Warrior River. The 4.5-mile paved path is well lit and both pet- and family-friendly, providing plenty of places for rest, play and picnicking. Also along The Riverwalk is the Tuscaloosa River Market that hosts a farmers’ market every Saturday. Hotel Indigo is also on the Riverwalk. Not only is downtown filled with eateries and shops and Embassy Suites but also sites along Tuscaloosa Civil Rights Trail that highlights 1964 “Bloody Tuesday.” On the edge of downtown is Capitol Park , a reminder when Tuscaloosa served as the state capitol from 1826 to 1846. Some remains of the structure still stand after a fire in the 1920s. Tuscaloosa’s next-door neighbor, Northport, is home to Kentuck Art Center and the annual Kentuck Arts Festival . The center is open year-round and has exhibits, working artists’ studios, classes and more. It’s worth the drive to Moundville Archaeological Park , about 13 miles south of Tuscaloosa. On the 326-acre site, it preserves 29 earthen mounds created over 800 years ago by Mississippian people. – by Apryl Chapman Thomas of Southern Hospitality Magazine

The ruins of the old Alabama capitol can be found in Capitol Park Tuscaloosa (Image credit: April Chapman Thomas)

Birmingham to Montgomery

How far is Birmingham from Montgomery? A relatively short 92 miles.

Getting from Birmingham to Montgomery is likewise very easy on the interstate. The drive from Birmingham AL to Montgomery will take close to two hours.

Pitstop: Peach Park, Clanton Alabama

On the drive from Birmingham AL to Montgomery AL, you simply have to stop in Clanton Alabama on Interstate 65-S (exit 212). You know Clanton from a distance because of the water tower shaped like a peach. 

The peach water tower at Clanton in central Alabama.

Stop by Peach Park which has a barbecue restaurant, bakery and ice cream store. This is definitely the place to try peach cobbler and peach ice cream.

Once again you are about an hour on the road from Birmingham to Alabama, so Clanton makes a great pit stop.

Visit Montgomery Alabama

When you visit Montgomery Alabama, you realise that the city has been witness to so much that is uniquely American – Westward expansion, slavery, the Civil War, the Jim Crow Era, Civil Rights Movement, country music and literary greatness.

Check out Old Alabama Town , a living history  museum, if you want to see how hard and scrappy life in the Mississippi Territory was. 

Among the civil rights venues to visit are the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church where Martin Luther King Jr was a pastor and the Rosa Parks Museum dedicated to the woman whose refusal to give up her bus seat made history.

Alabama was one of the first states to secede from the Union. Jefferson Davis was sworn in as president of the Confederacy in front of the Alabama State House . The First White House of the Confederacy was also located in Montgomery Alabama.

When you visit Montgomery Alabama, the Alabama state house is an imposing structure in downtown.

The aftermath of the Civil War and the Jim Crow Era are graphically illustrated at The Legacy Museum which looks at the mistreatment of African Americans in the USA from lynching to chain gangs to mass incarceration.

The National Memorial for Peace and Justice is dedicated to the 4000+ African Americans who were lynched between 1877 and 1950.

A moving sculpture at the National Memorial for Peace and Justice.

In terms of the arts, you have the Hank Williams Museum , a pioneer of country music. In addition, the former home of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald is now the Fitzgerald Museum.

Although the couple were only in residence for one year, F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote one of his greatest works, Tender is the Night, at this location.

Montgomery isn’t all government and historical attractions though. There’s a great food scene and nascent craft beer scene. 

In Montgomery I stayed at a couple of different places. I could not pass up staying at the Fitzgerald Museum which has rooms through AirBnB but I also chose to stay in a Marriott for the simple convenience of being downtown.

If you are looking to visit Montgomery Alabama directly, the Montgomery Regional Airport is 10 miles from the city.

More insight on what to do in Montgomery Alabama from a fellow travel blogger:

Montgomery, Alabama is an important stop in the South for anyone looking to connect to the history of the Civil Rights Movement. This is the city where Rosa Parks, the African American woman, refused to give up her seat to a white passenger, sparking the subsequent Montogomery Bus Boycott . Important sites in Montgomery to see include the Dexter Parsonage Museum , the house where the Reverend Martine Luther King Jr. lived during his time in Montgomery. You will also want to stop by the Civil Rights Memorial, the Freedom Rides Museum , and the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church . Lovers of American literature should make sure to plan a visit to the Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum , while American country and folk music lovers should head to the Hank Williams Museum and the Hank Williams Memorial and Gravesite. While in Montgomery, make sure to go to Cahawba House , where you can load up on an authentic Southern breakfast, including some of the best biscuits and gravy in all of the South! For dinner, head to Central , where you can enjoy a modern twist on Southern food. Don’t skip the roasted Brussel sprouts with bacon while you’re here! Both restaurants are locally owned, and you’ll never forget your time at either. If you plan on staying overnight, check into the comfy-yet-elegant Rennaisance Montgomery Hotel & Spa. When you’re done with Montgomery, there are tons of things to do nearby. You can head to Selma, Tuskeegee, or Birmingham to see more of what Alabama has to offer! – by Stephanie Craig at History Fan Girl

Alabama Road Trips From Montgomery Alabama

If you would like to learn more about Civil Rights issues in the USA, you need to check out these two shorter Alabama road trip ides from Montgomery.

Alabama Road Trip Ideas:  Selma Alabama

Selma is only 50 miles (about an hour drive) from Montgomery but is an important part of American civil rights history.

The Selma to Montgomery march by Martin Luther King Jr and other civili rights leader helped with the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. They chose Selma because the town had 57% African Americans of which only 3% had voting rights. 

At Selma, you can see the Edmund Pettus Bridge where Alabama state troopers stopped the marchers on their first attempt. The vicious beating of African Americans by the state troopers on the Edmund Pettus Bridge (named after a Confederate Army General and KKK Grand Dragon) brought the Civil Rights issues to the forefront of the national consciousness. Near the bridge is the National Voting Rights Museum . 

An exhibit of Klu Klux Klan items that terrorised African American communities after the Civil War.

Alabama Road Trip Ideas: Tuskegee Alabama

I did not have time to visit Tuskegee Alabama which is only a 45 minute drive from Montgomery Alabama (in the opposite direction to Selma).

I met a nice couple at Dexter Avenue Church who were doing the Civil Rights trail in Montgomery and then going to Tuskegee and finally Selma in one day. I was super impressed with their hustle because all of the museums close at 5pm so they would be packing a lot into that day.

Tuskegee is home to several interesting museums.

• There is the  George Washington Carver Museum  dedicated to George Washington Carver who was an African American scientist who encouraged the planting of alternative crops like peanuts and legumes to avoid the soil depletion caused by the growing cotton.
• There is also the home of Booker T. Washington, the Oaks which is operated by the National Park Service. Washington was an African-American educator who advocated education as a response to the Jim Crow Laws of his time.  Sort of like the Michele Obama ‘When they go low, we go high” response of his time.
• Another great museum is the Tuskegee History Center,  a history museum which tells the story of all the local peoples including Native Americans, African Americans and European Americans.

Montgomery to Mobile

Driving the 170 miles from Montgomery to Mobile takes about 3 hours. Once again most of the time and miles from Montgomery AL to Mobile AL  are spent on Interstate 65-S.

Detour: Monroeville, Alabama

If you feel like doing a short detour on the way from Montgomery to Mobile, get of I-65S at Exit 93 for the half-hour drive to Monroeville . Famous as the hometown of Harper Lee who wrote To Kill A Mockingbird, Monroeville has a small museum dedicated to the book/movie at its Courthouse. 

What to do in Coastal Alabama

I had a tour guide describe Mobile Alabama as the ‘red-headed stepchild of Alabama’ – a description that made me laugh. I can see why the rest of Alabama thinks Mobile is a little different but to be fair, so is Huntsville.

Huntsville and Mobile were also my two favorite places in Alabama but I have always been a fan of quirky. I found Central Alabama way too religious and finding decent coffee was a challenge. 

Settled by the French and the first capitol of French Louisiana, Mobile reminds me of New Orleans with its architecture and laid-back style.

Mobile Alabama would also like you to know that they were the first city to celebrate Mardi Gras in the USA . There’s a Mardi Gras Museum  to tour and  Mardi Gras is still celebrated in family -friendly style in the city. 

Mobile has lots of historic neighborhoods and a vibrant restaurant and bar scene. Take a food tour of Mobile if you are a foodie – you won’t be disappointed.

Kids will love visiting the USS Alabama , a former Navy battleship at Battleship park. 

When you visit Mobile Alabama, you discover there are lots of parks like this one, Battlefield Park.

Near Mobile, there is Bayou Le Batre made famous as the place Forrest Gump had his shrimp boat. There is also Dauphin Island , a barrier island with glorious beaches and an Audubon Bird Sanctuary . How can you not love a place that bills itself as the sunset capitol of Alabama?

Bayou Le Batre is famous for building ships and its fishing trade.

Take the Mobile Bay Ferry from Dauphin Island back onto the mainland at Fort Morgan, Alabama for one of the best Alabama scenic drives you will come across. I looped back up to Mobile on scenic route 98 but you can go further along for more coastal Alabama.

Detour:  Gulf Shores and Orange Beach

Keep going along Coastal Alabama and you get Gulf Shores and Orange Beach which will fill anyone’s idea of fun in the sun and sand.

You simply have to get out onto the water in the Gulf of Mexico For example, you can take a Bay cruise , a dolphin and eco-tour , or a sunset sailing cruise .

Here’s insight specifically into Orange Beach from a colleague:

With white powder sands and clear, calm waters, Orange Beach holds obvious appeal. But the Gulf of Mexico is just the beginning: this community is one of the south’s most well-rounded beach destinations. In-between swimming and sunbathing, you’ll also find expansive parks, hands-on art workshops and restaurants fit for foodies. When you can tear yourself away from the beach, Gulf State Park should be one of your first stops. The park holds miles of boardwalks and other trails for walking and biking, plus a lake perfect for fishing or paddling. Head just outside the park, and you’ll find several spots perfect for dolphin-watching. Join a guided cruise or day trip to Fort Morgan and look for dolphins just off-shore. When you’ve had enough nature and worked up an appetite, head to one of the area’s many restaurants. As you’d expect, fresh seafood is prominent on menus (and absolutely delicious) but you’ll also find classic southern favorites like biscuits, gumbo and bread pudding. The best part about this area is that it’s perfect no matter who you’re traveling with. It’s popular with families but can also make a romantic getaway or plan a fabulous girls trip to Orange Beach . This is one spot you won’t want to miss if you’re planning a southern roadtrip! – by Becky Pokora of SightDOING Gulf State Park at Orange Beach, coastal Alabama (Image credit: Becky Pokora)

In Mobile I stayed at the historic Battle House Renaissance Hotel and Spa. It’s got a great location walkable to most of Mobile’s sites. In addition to the spa, there is also a rooftop pool and tennis courts.

If you are looking to visit coastal Alabama directly, the Mobile Regional Airport is located on the Gulf Coast and 13 miles from Mobile, itself.

Updated: March 2021

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Ready to road trip Alabama? Alabama is a fantastically diverse state with mountain, beaches, cities and a fascinating history. Did I mention the great food and friendly people? You should consider these 15 amazing stops for your road trip in Alabama. #alabama #roadtrip #southernusa

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We were helped by Huntsville CVB on our visit to Northern Alabama in the form of 3 nights stay at the Drury Inn & Suites Huntsville as well as free admission to several of the area’s sites. We did not otherwise receive compensation of any form, monetary or otherwise, from any of the products, services, hotels   etc mentioned in this article.

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These quirky road trips will make you fall in love with North Alabama

There may not be a quirkier place to visit than North Alabama.

Yes, I know everyone says that, but in this case, it’s true. The region is full of businesses, attractions and restaurants that celebrate the uniqueness of the Yellowhammer State.

Where else can you explore a store filled with lost airline luggage? Or visit a memorial site devoted to coon dogs? Or eat lunch in a jail cell? (No, I’m not kidding with that last one.)

Truth is, you can plan a long vacation and just explore the region’s unique places and still not be able to visit every spot on your list. But you can visit a lot of them. And that’s where we come in.

We’ve devised a list of some of the North Alabama’s quirkiest places, and divided them into two regions: West of Interstate 65, and east of it. This way, you can plan your getaway for the maximum amount of attractions (and fun).

But before you read on, you may want to go ahead and email your bosses and tell them you need a few days off. Or maybe a week, to be on the safe side.

You won’t want to cut this vacation short.

West of Interstate 65

Visit a serene place where people pay respects to coonhounds.

Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard 4945 Coondog Cemetery Road, Cherokee

In 1937, Key Underwood wanted a special place to bury his coonhound, Troop. He ended up burying the pup on a campground near Cherokee in Colbert County, and later on, Key’s brother ended up burying his coonhound there as well. Then, Key Underwood Memorial Graveyard was born. Now, more than 150 people across the country have buried their coondogs there, and it remains the only coon dog cemetery in the country — and a beautiful testament to our love for our pets.

Eat — and maybe listen to some music — in a cave.

Rattlesnake Saloon 1292 Mt. Mills Road, Tuscumbia

Ever wanted to eat in a cave? You can at Tuscumbia’s Rattlesnake Saloon, where every second is an adventure. When you arrive in the parking lot, a shuttle will take you down some pretty steep hills to get to the cave, which is decorated like a Western saloon. Choose from menu items including snake eyes and tails (aka fried sliced jalapeno peppers and fried green beans) and deep-fried cheesecake. Just don’t forget your dancing shoes!

See some unique pottery — and maybe a mule.

Brown’s Pottery and Sons 166 Boyett Drive, Hamilton

You can find the work of Hamilton native and folk artist Jerry Brown – who passed away in 2016 –all over the world, including the Smithsonian Institute. And his family, including his sons, grandchildren and wife, are continuing his tradition. Travel to Hamilton and you’ll find them hard at work at the only operating mule-powered mill in the U.S., and snag a face jug while you’re there.

Explore the longest natural bridge east of the Rockies.

County Road 314, Natural Bridge

Alabama’s picturesque natural bridge is one of the state’s hidden gems. Not only is it perfect for outdoors lovers (there’s a scenic hike on the property that’s super serene), but it’s also a great place for a day trip — there are picnic tables, a gift shop and more. If kids are in tow, they’ll love this, too.

Enjoy a breathtaking view for dinner.

360 Grille 10 Hightower Place, Florence

360 Grille is much more than just a great place for date night. Sure, the fine dining restaurant has delicious steaks, salads and more, and a romantic ambience that will impress your significant other. But the rotating (yep, rotating ) restaurant also has a breathtaking panoramic view of the Tennessee River that will make you fall in love with North Alabama even more.

See one-of-a-kind ‘glow worms.’

Dismals Canyon 901 County Road 8, Phil Campbell

Dismals Canyon’s beauty is hard to put into words. It’s one of the last places in Alabama that’s truly hidden, and during the day, you’ll find gorgeous waterfalls and hiking trails and a temperature that’s cooler than the rest of Alabama. But at night, it gets even better: That’s when Dismalites, a type of glow worms, come out, lighting up the landscape. It’s the only place in the country where you can see the Dismalites, and one of three places in the world.

Celebrate your favorite songs in a cool way.

North Montgomery Avenue, Sheffield

The Shoals area is known worldwide for its rich musical heritage, with everyone from the Rolling Stones to Aretha Franklin have come to the area to record over the years. So it makes sense to commemorate this heritage with a giant rock star — an 18-foot-tall rock star, to be exact. Artist Audwin McGee created the statue, and it’s been hovering over downtown Sheffield since 2012.

East of Interstate 65

Shop somewhere where you’ll never know what you will find.

Unclaimed Baggage 509 W. Willow St., Scottsboro

Unclaimed Baggage is a shopper’s paradise. The store purchases all the luggage (and its contents) that airline passengers don’t claim within 90 days, and you never know what you will find in there. Some of the most unique items that Unclaimed Baggage has found over the years, including Hoggle from Jim Henson’s “Labyrinth” and a huge Tibetan horn, is displayed in its front lobby, greeting the million+ shoppers that make their way to the store each year.

Hang out with some animals — even if you’re allergic.

Rock Zoo 3215 County Road 32, Fackler

You don’t have to worry about your kids around the animals at the Rock Zoo, because, well, the animals are made of limestone. The creatures are the creation of Leonard Dawson, who made the first pet, a rooster, in the 1970s. Since Leonard passed away more than a decade ago, his son, Larry, has become “zookeeper,” overseeing dozens of animals including a bull, elephant and alligator.

Eat comfort food in a jail cell.

Main Street Café 101 Main St., Madison

In downtown Madison, jail food is tasty. Main Street Cafe — which is located in Madison’s former jailhouse — serves some seriously legit comfort food. From fried green tomatoes to spaghetti, there’s something you’ll love on the menu. But best of all: There are still two jail cells in the restaurant that are used as private dining rooms.

See the world’s most important landmarks — without leaving Alabama.

Ave Maria Grotto 1600 St. Bernard Drive, Cullman

Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t explore the world in Cullman, Alabama. At Ave Maria Grotto at St. Bernard’s Abbey, you’ll find 125 miniature reproductions of some of the world’s most famous structures, all made by one man: Brother Joseph Zoettl, a Benedictine monk. Brother Joseph worked on the replicas for more than 40 years, and the hard work shows: Each structure has lots of detail, all made from items shipped in from around the world.

Explore restored covered bridges.

Blount County

Blount County is pretty lucky: It’s the Covered Bridge Capital of Alabama and is home to not one, but three beautifully restored covered bridges. The Swann Covered Bridge ( 1590 Swann Bridge Rd, Cleveland ) , Old Easley Covered Bridge ( Easley Bridge Road, Oneonta ) and Horton Mill Bridge ( Covered Bridge Cir, Oneonta ) are all nostalgic blasts from the past that you’ll absolutely love.

Eat tacos in a school bus.

Taqueria el Cazador 3414 Governors Drive S.W., Huntsville

We all probably grew up with the “no food on the school bus” rule, but at Taqueria el Cazador in Huntsville, you don’t have to worry about that at all — because the Mexican restaurant is located in a school bus. Yep, walk into the school bus, place your order (we suggest any of the tacos), and wait for the food. You can grab a chair inside the bus, or eat under an awning outside.

Pick up a really unique gift.

Orbix Hot Glass 3869 County Road 275, Fort Payne

It’s not easy getting to Orbix Hot Glass. The shop is off the beaten path, bordering Little River Canyon National Preserve, but it’s worth it. Because inside the store, you’ll find expertly-made glasswork made by co-owner Cal Breed and his apprentices. If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind gift, Orbix has you covered.

Check out a truly unique statue.

Noccalula Falls 1500 Noccalula Road, Gadsden

We gotta admit it — it looks a little strange when you first see the Noccalula statue at Noccalula Falls Park in Gadsden. Why in the world is there a bronze statue of a woman jumping in water, after all? Well, it’s actually kind of a bummer of a story: Local legend has it that Noccalula’s dad told her she had to marry someone she did not love, so she jumped to her death. Regardless of the story, it’s still an amazing statue (it stands at 9 feet tall) and is a pretty quirky reminder that fathers aren’t always right.

Munch on Italian food in a gun shop.

Mama Misitano Cafe 626 Bloodworth Road, Boaz

Yes, that’s right — you can eat dinner in a gun shop (or more precisely, San Mountain Shooter’s Club). Mama Misitano serves up authentic Italian recipes such as paninis and pizzas. And on Sunday, the restaurant serves three different kinds of pasta to choose from.  Just remember one thing: You may want to wear loose clothing, because you’re definitely not going to leave hungry.

This story is sponsored by  Visit North Alabama .

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• 2024's 8 Most Adorable Small Towns in Alabama

Author Rick Bragg once described his native Alabama as "a place where grandmothers hold babies on their laps under the stars and whisper that the lights in the sky are holes in the floor of heaven." This beautiful description is a testament to the heart of Dixie territory. Most people are familiar with Huntsville , Montgomery , and Birmingham . However, to truly appreciate the culture of this region, you need to explore the outskirts. Those small hamlets, where granddads convene at the corner barbershop to discuss the Crimson Tide and where kind courtesies are the rule and not the exception. Let's roll on to learn more about these communities, showcasing Alabama’s adorable charm.

Fifty miles north of Birmingham sits Cullman. Initially part of the Cherokee nation, German immigrants settled in this town in the late 1800s. To this end, historic wooden bridges and European street names reflect the Bavarian influence. Those interested should visit Ave Maria Grotto, one of the most visited sites in the entire town. Fascinatingly adorable in all its perfectly scaled detail, this four-acre park has over 125 miniature reproductions of historic buildings and shrines on display. Designed by a Benedictine monk from St. Bernard Abbey in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it is a must-see. Nearby, the Abbey itself is impressive and worth taking a tour.

Continue the historic endeavor at the 1904 Clarkson Covered Bridge, a landmark on the National Register of Historic Places. It is the only one of its kind in Cullman and stretches over 270 feet in length. For the vintage shopping enthusiast, you will be overwhelmed by what Highway Pickers Antique Mall has to offer. With three floors and 57,000 square feet of unique finds, it is an adventure all on its own. One can find everything from Civil War-inspired memorabilia to classic vinyl records, perfect for a souvenir. Before leaving, outdoor enthusiasts should spend some time at the local Smith Lake Park, which offers various activities, including hiking, biking, and kayaking.

Incorporated in 1889, this town was named after U.S. Army Captain John Payne, who fought in the Trial of Tears. Its landscapes are a biodiverse combination of rocky terrain and mighty falls. To this end, nature enthusiasts adore Little River Canyon National Preserve, a local favorite for swimming, cascading waterfalls, and hiking. Or, retrace the steps of the Cherokee Nation at DeSoto State Park. With over 3,500 acres, it is the ideal hunting ground for arrowheads. Within the park, DeSoto Falls is a beautiful destination, boasting 104 feet of cascading freshwater on the West Fork of Little River. There is no better backdrop for your kayak or canoe adventures.

When back in town, railfans will want to stop at the Fort Payne Depot Museum. Built in 1891, it remained operational until 1970. Today, it houses an impressive collection of railway artifacts and memorabilia.

Nestled along the banks of the Coosa River, this small town has a history of being a significant economic player in Alabama. Once home to Goodyear Tires and Republic Steel, Gadsden was the second-largest commerce producer in the state. Today, one can witness the past in the Gadsden Downtown Historic District, showcasing some of the state's best landmarks. Some top spots are the 1894 First Methodist Church, 1910 Post Office and Courthouse, and 1927 St. James Catholic Church.

Outdoor adventurers will enjoy the endless hiking trails and water activities at Noccalula Falls and Cherokee Rock Village. Or, try your skills at fly fishing in Black Creek. Filled with rainbow trout, it's a local favorite. As the day ends, one can relish a picnic and enjoy the views at the Riverwalk Park at Coosa Landing. Afterward, walk the boardwalk for stunning 360-degree views of Greater Gadsden during sunset.

Home to the Chickasaw Tribe and Helen Keller, Tuscumbia showcases various periods of Southern history. With multiple sites on the National Historic Register, history enthusiasts have a blast in town. Ivy Green is one of the most visited spots in the city as the birthplace of Helen Keller . This Virginia cottage structure has become a monument to the pioneer's storied life. Daily tours and workshops are available, and admission costs benefit local organizations that champion causes dear to the Keller Society.

Nearby, Tuscumbia Railways Museum is just as the name describes. With endless anecdotes and artifacts, it is the ideal spot for trainspotters to spend an afternoon. To gain more knowledge, one can tour the grounds of Belle Mont Mansion. On the historical register since 1982, it is one of the few remaining examples of Jeffersonian architecture in the South. Meanwhile, visitors love to end the day at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, which pays homage to some of the South's most legendary artists. With exhibits of all genres, it's an audiophile's dream.

Monroeville

"People generally see what they look for and hear what they listen for."—if you are looking for the culture that created one of America's most endearing literary works, look no further than this quaint town. Home to famed writers such as Truman Capote and Harper Lee, this small-town inspired novels such as “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Those interested in Monroeville’s literary past can retrace their journey along the Literary Capital Sculpture Trail / Walking Tour of Monroeville. Here, bronze sculptures pay tribute to Harper Lee, Capote, and other legendary Alabamians, including country icon Hank Williams.

Offering a different take on local history, the Old Courthouse Museum fully immerses visitors in rooms where Atticus Finch came to life. Similarly, the historic downtown is also the place to be during the holidays, with the annual Fruitcake Festival in November and Truman Capotes and Christmas Stories productions.

Guntersville

Initially named Gunters Landing, this quaint village was founded by John Gunter (great-grandfather to Will Rogers) and incorporated in 1848. Following this, the town’s primary industry during the 20th century was cotton processing, which is palpable today at the famed Saratoga Victory Mill. This historic mill was built in 1928 and is a wonderful destination for history lovers. Similarly, Guntersville Museum & Cultural Center, located in the Rock Armory, showcases a thousand years of history. Exhibits featuring Native American artifacts and prehistoric relics are complemented by modern cultural tributes to various music genres.

For those whose mission is to try the best fairways in the South, look no further than Gunters Landing Golf Club. Golfers can purchase a day pass to enjoy the lush amenities at this 18-hole course, which overlooks Lake Guntersville and has been consistently ranked in the top 25 in the South for the last two decades. Continue the outdoor scenery at Lake Guntersville, which spreads over 69,000 acres and is ideal for swimming, kayaking, and camping. Afterward, one can relish a bit of detoxification at the Soak House & Soapery Day Spa. This adorable spot offers luxurious bath experiences and treatments using locally sourced products, and you won't want to leave.

Muscle Shoals

Situated along the banks of the Tennessee River , this historic town was originally Native American territory. Legend has it that its etymology stems from its bountiful supplies of "mussels" from the nearby river. Speaking of the river, outdoor adventure awaits in nearby McFarland Park, which features a driving range, soccer field, fishing pier, boat ramp, and more. Thus, tourists can hike, fish, swim, boat, dine, and camp in this natural wonderland.

Music lovers will have entered their idea of a utopian dream with Fame Studios in the heart of Muscle Shoals. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this studio has seen legendary artists from Aretha Franklin, Solomon Burke, and Otis Redding to Clarence Carter record popular hits. After working up a healthy appetite, grab a table at Rick's Barbecue, known for its rustic ambiance and delicious baked potatoes.

Dauphin island

Dauphin Island has been a popular holiday destination bordering the Gulf Coast since the 19th century. This family-friendly seaside town, about a dozen miles long, boasts sandy white beaches that attract some of the best seaglass hunting in the South. Nature lovers will appreciate the Audubon Bird Sanctuary, one of the largest in the South. Navigate its landscape of marsh and dunes to spy over 100 different types of birds. Similarly, the Alabama Aquarium offers entertaining and informative excursions, such as the Salt Marsh Excursion, which showcases habitats for shrimp, small fish, and crabs. The Beach, Dune, and Maritime Excursion takes visitors through forests to sandy beaches for shell hunting.

Military enthusiasts won't want to miss Fort Gaines. Visitors can walk the grounds where the Battle of Mobile during the Civil War played out and view the anchor from USS Hartford's legendary setting of the mantra "Damn the torpedoes - full speed ahead." For an interactive and fun way to take in the fort’s charm, visit during October for the Fort Gaines Fall Festival Fundraiser. Nearby, Fort Morgan, another Civil War battle site, provides regular reenactment experiences. For more history, prehistoric relic hunting abounds at Indian Shell Mound Park. Search for arrowheads while listening to the chorus of downy woodpeckers that have made these forests their home for centuries.

Wrapping Up

The South has long been praised for its rich heritage and authentic hospitality. Alabama continues this legacy in its vibrant but adorable communities. There is no such thing as a stranger in this territory; they see you as a guest and proudly showcase everything they have to offer. From artisanal wares to magnificent landscapes, Alabama has it all. Look no further than its small towns for a genuine Southern experience and warm, welcoming charm.

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• Anniston/Gadsden

6 Alabama places with ties to films you can visit

• Published: Aug. 09, 2024, 6:10 a.m.

Pine Flat Church in Deatsville, Ala., was seen in two films: "Big Fish" and Netflix's "The Devil All the Time." Kelly Kazek

• Amber Sutton

There are a lot of movies with scenes set in Alabama that weren’t actually filmed here -- we’re looking at you, “Forrest Gump”. That said, we still have our fair share of places that were either featured in films or served as the inspiration for ‘em.

So with that in mind, we thought we’d highlight a few Alabama places that all movie lovers should check out at least once. After all, walking through a fictional town once featured in “Big Fish” and sitting down to a plate of the signature dish at the place that inspired “Fried Green Tomatoes” are bucket list-worthy in our books.

These fake trees, created by director Tim Burton, are the only ones to remain on Jackson Lake Island, Alabama. They were built along with the set of a small town for the 2003 film "Big Fish." Kelly Kazek

Jackson Lake Island

In addition to trees covered in sweeping Spanish moss, gorgeous water views and free-range goats, Jackson Lake Island in Millbrook is also home to the town of Spectre -- an Alabama town so popular it’s hard to believe it doesn’t actually exist.

What is often referred to as the town of Spectre is actually what remains of a set built for Tim Burton’s 2003 film “Big Fish” on Jackson Lake Island. Consisting of cement trees, a handful of prop structures and a dozen or more pairs of shoes hanging from a line, a visit for to the island would make a family-friendly day trip for movie lovers (and animal lovers too, thanks to those previously mentioned goats).

Read more: 10 ‘Big Fish’ filming locales you can visit in Alabama

The Monroe County Courthouse in Monroeville was copied for the set of the "To Kill a Mockingbird" film.

The Old Courthouse Museum

If you’ve seen the film adaption of Harper Lee’s beloved novel “To Kill a Mockingbird,” you can likely picture the iconic courtroom where many of its pivotal scenes took place. With one step inside the Old Courthouse Museum in Monroeville though, you won’t need to.

The museum houses the courtroom that served as the inspiration and was carefully recreated on a soundstage in Hollywood. So while the movie wasn’t actually filmed in Lee’s hometown of Monroeville, walking into that courtroom, whether its to take a seat behind the judge’s bench or see the view from the balcony, still feels like you’re walking right into the 1962 film.

Read more: Monroeville’s Old Courthouse Museum houses spirits of authors Harper Lee, Truman Capote

Patrons at the Irondale Cafe in Irondale, Alabama, on May 9, 2012. The historic restaurant was made famous by Fannie Flagg's 1987 novel, "Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe." The Irondale Cafe, once owned by Flagg's aunt, Bess Fortenberry, was the inspiration for the Whistle Stop. (AL.com file photo/Beverly Taylor)

Irondale Cafe

While the film “Fried Green Tomatoes” was filmed in Georgia, the places that served as inspiration for “Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café” by author Fannie Flagg are in her home state of Alabama, including a beloved cafe with a now iconic signature dish.

In business for 90 years, the Irondale Cafe , known as the “original Whistle Stop Cafe,” is where Flagg’s aunt, Elizabeth “Bess” Fortenberry, worked for 40 years before retiring in 1972. Already beloved by locals, the cafe became even more well known for its fried green tomatoes following the release of the 1991 film. So next time you’ve got a hankering for some fried green tomatoes, let out a “Towanda!” and head to the place that made them a nationally-recognized Southern staple.

Read more: There’s a reason the Irondale Café has been serving fried green tomatoes for more than 90 years

Fans enjoy the game during the Magic City Classic college football game between Alabama A&M and Alabama State in Birmingham, Ala., Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. (Vasha Hunt | [email protected]) (Vasha Hunt | [email protected])

Legion Field

Birmingham filmmakers Jon and Andrew Erwin wanted their 2015 movie “Woodlawn” to be filmed where the story actually took place, including the record-shattering Banks vs. Woodlawn High School football game of 1974.

Luckily for the Erwin brothers, Legion Field was available, and you can now see it as the setting for the major scene in the film. The movie, which covers the story of former University of Alabama and NFL star Tony Nathan, also filmed at several other places in the area, including Hueytown and Bush Middle School.

Pine Flat Church

If you’re a fan of Netflix’s thriller “The Devil All the Time,” there’s a quaint church in the middle of the Alabama countryside that might look awfully familiar to you as it served as Reverend Preston’s church in the 2020 film.

While the film was set mostly in Ohio, it filmed largely in Alabama, including several places in Anniston, Montevallo and Birmingham as well as the grounds of the idyllic Pine Flat Presbyterian Church in Deatsville. Despite its rural location, this is not the church’s first brush with Hollywood -- it was also featured in Tim Burton’s “Big Fish.”

Read more: What I learned as an extra on the set of “The Devil All The Time”

Court Square fountain and the Kress building Friday, April 20, 2018, in downtown Montgomery, Ala. (Julie Bennett/[email protected]) Julie Bennett Julie Bennett

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Downtown Montgomery

Historic Dexter Avenue in Montgomery is well-known for a lot of reasons. One of those reasons is it served as a setting and filming location in “Just Mercy,” a biographical legal drama starring Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx and Brie Larson.

The 2019 film, which is based on the New York Times bestselling memoir by Montgomery attorney Bryan Stevenson, brought Hollywood to the capitol city by shooting several scenes in locations throughout downtown Montgomery, but the most recognizable is, of course, iconic Dexter Avenue.

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The Best State Parks In Alabama, According To A Local

Explore the natural wonders of the Yellowhammer State.

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Alabama has some of the best state parks in the South. They’re fun to explore in any season, and each has its own particular draws, from hiking trails and caves to waterfalls and rock formations. Whether you'd like to fish, boulder, or just take in some picturesque scenery, you can do it here. If camping is the name of the game, you can make reservations using an online tool at alapark.com . Also, you can find resort-park amenities at Cheaha State Park, DeSoto State Park, Gulf State Park, Joe Wheeler State Park, Lake Guntersville State Park, and Lakepoint State Park.

Cathedral Caverns State Park

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Cathedral Caverns opened as a state park in 2000. Its name comes from the fact that the caves resemble cathedrals; there are many wonders to be found inside them, and you can book a cave tour to see them. According to Alabama State Parks, “Inside the cavern are some of the most beautiful formations Mother Nature has ever created, including “Goliath,” one of the largest stalagmites in the world measuring 45 feet tall and 243 feet in circumference.”

Cheaha State Park

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Located in Delta, Alabama, Cheaha State Park is home to the highest point in Alabama. It’s located in the southern reaches of the Appalachian mountains, and Alabama State Parks describes it this way: “Imagine 2,799 acres of granite boulders and wind-warped ancient trees at 2,407 feet above sea level, often above the clouds, and surrounded by 392,567 acres of the Talladega National Forest including 7,245 acres of Cheaha Wilderness.” 

Chewacla State Park

Just a stone’s throw from Auburn and Opelika, Chewacla State Park comprises a 26-acre lake, campground, cabins, and places to picnic, hike, mountain bike, and fish (bream, bass, crappie and catfish swim in Lake Chewacla, according to Alabama State Parks). 

DeSoto State Park

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You’ll find DeSoto State Park just outside of Fort Payne, Alabama. It’s a mountainous hub papered in forests that open to waterfalls and wildflowers, but in addition to hiking and picnicking, you can also embark on kayaking, fishing, and bouldering excursions. DeSoto Falls, which are part of the park, can be found nearer Mentone, Alabama, their rushing waters certainly worth a visit.

Gulf State Park

Gulf Shores

Situated on the Gulf of Mexico (where else?), Gulf State Park comprises beautiful stretches of beach, a campground, and spots to splash and sun on the sands. Not only that, you can launch out into Lake Shelby or hike and bike among the area’s distinctive coastal habitats. 

Joe Wheeler State Park

Rogersville

This state park in Rogersville, Alabama, offers access to the Tennessee River and is part of the Great Loop, “the continuous waterway that circumnavigates the eastern portion of North America, along the Atlantic Seaboard, across the Great Lakes, through inland rivers and around the Gulf of Mexico,” according to Alabama State Parks. Here, you’ll find a 2,550-acre resort park with a waterfront lodge as well as plenty of boating and fishing on Wheeler Lake.  

Lake Guntersville State Park

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Guntersville

Located in northeast Alabama, Lake Guntersville is a hub for vacationers as well as a growing population of bald eagles. It’s situated along the Tennessee River and has 6,000 acres of woods to explore, hiking and biking trails, a golf course, a zipline system, and a beach. That’s in addition to the lake itself, which is Alabama’s largest and is a popular place for fishing. There are also guided hikes available in the park each week. 

Lake Lurleen State Park

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Those looking to get away to nature from busy Tuscaloosa or Birmingham may find themselves at Lake Lurleen State Park, in Coker, Alabama, where 23 miles of multi-use trails for hiking and biking, campsites, a lake teeming with fish, and a beach for splashing and swimming beckon adventurers.

Meaher State Park

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Spanish Fort

You can find Meaher State Park north of Mobile Bay. It’s located in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta at the confluence of the Alabama and Tombigbee Rivers, and when you visit, there are lots of water-centric activities to enjoy, like boating, fishing for freshwater and saltwater fish, meandering the boardwalk, and picnicking on the scenic shores. In the way of accommodations, there are RV campsites and a few cabins available. 

Monte Sano State Park

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Located near Huntsville, this state park in northeast Alabama is a destination for mountain adventures. There are campgrounds onsite, as well as fourteen rustic cabins, some of which were built by the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC). Here, you’ll see mountain vistas and mineral springs along the park’s hiking and biking trails. 

Oak Mountain State Park

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At over 11,000 acres, Oak Mountain State Park is Alabama’s largest state park. It’s located in Pelham, near Birmingham, and has a big variety of outdoor activities to do across its broad square footage, including hiking, mountain biking, golfing, swimming, fishing, boating, and horseback riding. Don’t miss the Treetop Nature Trail to see The Alabama Wildlife Center’s avian rehabilitation facilities. 

Rickwood Caverns State Park

According to Alabama State Parks, “What makes Rickwood Caverns State Park unique is the massive cave that contains 260-million-year-old formations that were created by water and reveal evidence that the cave was carved from an ocean bed.” In this state park, you’ll find camping, hiking on Fossil Mountain Hiking Trail, swimming in a pool fed by water from the cave, and sightseeing around the incredible formations found inside the enormous cavern. You can also take a guided tour of the cave, the centerpiece of the park, which traverses one mile and takes an hour to complete.

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What’s Rattling Trump: The Size of Harris’s Crowds

The numbers game is everything to Donald J. Trump. Vice President Kamala Harris’s first big rally appears to have gotten under his skin.

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By Shawn McCreesh

Reporting from Atlanta

When former President Donald J. Trump walked onto the stage at his rally in Atlanta on Saturday, fog machines shot white plumes of smoke into the air, heralding his arrival.

If you looked closely, you could almost imagine steam pouring out of his ears, too. All week long, something had been giving him the vapors.

“Crazy Kamala,” he fumed a minute into his speech. “She was here a week ago — lots of empty seats — but the crowd she got was because she had entertainers.”

Four days earlier, Vice President Kamala Harris had packed about the same number of people (10,000) into the arena, the Georgia State University Convocation Center. It was the first major rally of her newborn campaign, and she had two rappers (Quavo and Megan Thee Stallion) on hand to hype up her crowd.

Mr. Trump, who has been shunned by much of the entertainment industry, spun this as somehow cheating in the all-important competition over crowd size.

“I don't need entertainers,” he said on Saturday. “I fill the stadium because I’m making America great again.”

The numbers game has long been of paramount importance for Mr. Trump. As a reality television star, he was obsessed with ratings (“What is it about me that gets Larry King his highest ratings?” he wrote in one of his books). This only intensified once he entered politics. He spent his first full day in office as president trying to convince the news media that his inauguration crowd was larger than the Women’s March. ( It was not .)

The crowds he has drawn to his rallies this campaign season have been as big as ever. Whether in blistering heat or deep freeze, his supporters line up for hours beforehand to see him. Mr. Trump’s previous two rivals, Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden, could never compete with him on this front. What will it mean if his new challenger can?

Ms. Harris’s rally in Philadelphia on Tuesday, when she is expected to unveil her running mate, is likely to be a blowout. After that, she’s going on tour, holding rallies in western Wisconsin; Detroit; Raleigh, N.C.; Savannah, Ga.; Phoenix; and Las Vegas. It’s all starting to screw with Mr. Trump’s psyche.

In Atlanta, his surrogates reassured everyone that he was still the hottest ticket in town. “I can feel the energy, whew,” said Representative Mike Collins, Republican of Georgia. “The freakin’ lines are longer this time. The crowds are larger this time.”

“There’s still people piling in right now,” Burt Jones, Georgia’s lieutenant governor, said. “It’s unbelievable.”

Still, Mr. Trump couldn’t help but focus on those who weren’t piling in. He claimed that Georgia State University officials in charge of the arena prevented him from letting in more people. “We have beautiful cameras set up for the overflow crowds,” he said. A massive screen flashed to a live video feed of his red-capped supporters milling around outside in the 90-degree heat.

In Mr. Trump’s telling, this wasn’t a safety protocol but a conspiracy to humiliate him, perpetrated by the university and other nefarious forces. It all connects, in his estimation, to the biggest numbers game he has ever lost. “If they’re going to stand in the way of admitting people to our rally, just imagine what they’re going to do on Election Day,” he said.

This goes to the core of Mr. Trump’s crowd-size fixation. He seems to believe that a full arena is a predictor of his ultimate victory — as if the voters in that arena were representative of the country at large. In his first presidential campaign, Mr. Trump’s sizable rallies were evidence of a swell of support the political establishment didn’t understand. “Look at the love and adulation — this is like a poll,” he said in one revealing moment in Atlanta. “We have thousands of people. That’s better than going out and paying a half a million dollars to have some pollster go out and poll 212 people.”

Thirty minutes into his speech, he became distracted again by the seating: “There’s some seats right up there — they could let them come in.”

He complained about the venue to Representative Marjorie Taylor-Greene, Republican of Georgia, who was sitting in the front row: “It’s obviously, Marjorie, a very liberal school, I guess, right? I’m not happy with the school.” He claimed that “they don’t want to show that we’re successful.”

And then he was back, once again, on Ms. Harris and her crowd size. “She has to go get entertainers,” he repeated. “They start leaving as soon as she opens her mouth.”

This seemed like pure projection. If Mr. Trump had looked up from his teleprompter at any point during the second half of his 90-minute speech, he would have seen his own supporters slipping out of their bright blue seats, headed for the exits. Slowly but surely, across every stand and in every section, they streamed out. Stage left, a man in a star-spangled cowboy hat sidled down his row at the halfway mark. Two men holding signs bearing Mr. Trump’s mugshot tiptoed up their aisle a minute later. A young woman led her family away just as Mr. Trump started to falsely tell them that “Kamala Harris let in the savage monster who murdered Laken Riley.”

This happens at every rally, to a degree. And it is more a factor of the time commitment involved than any sort of discontent with his message. Supporters show up, get their photos for Facebook of the man in the arena and, at some point during his discursive stemwinders, decide that they’ve heard enough and that it’s time to go eat.

Still, an hour into his speech, the Atlanta crowd had emptied out more than usual. (Like Madonna, he often keeps his crowds waiting for an hour or more past the scheduled start time, which doesn’t help the situation.) Large splotches of blue had blossomed across the upper stands, and people on the floor had started to sneak away, too.

Mr. Trump’s most faithful followers were also feeling defensive about the dueling rally discourse on Saturday.

“I think there was just a little bit of hype for her as she first comes out, but I think that’s going to die out,” said Mark Adent, 57, the executive vice president of a printing company in Atlanta.

But there was something about Ms. Harris’s star turn at the same arena that had unsettled Mr. Trump. He seemed to be pining for the glory days of his first campaign, back when his rollicking rallies were but a harbinger of a stunning victory to come. He said that seeing two rappers open for Ms. Harris reminded him of how Mrs. Clinton used musicians to help summon the kinds of crowds he could command with ease.

“She got the idea from Hillary,” he told his supporters. “Hillary got Bruce Springsteen, I’ll never forget, and the place was pretty full.”

“Not full like our places are full,” he quickly added. “I don’t have a guitar. But our places are bigger — we get more people than anybody. I don’t care how many guitars they have.”

Keep Up With the 2024 Election

The presidential election is 91 days away . Here’s our guide to the run-up to Election Day.

Tracking the Polls . The state of the race, according to the latest polling data.

Election Calendar. Take a look at key dates and voting deadlines.

Candidates’ Careers. How Trump, Vance, Harris and Walz got here.

Who Is Tim Walz? Meet the Minnesota governor, who Harris picked as her V.P.

Harris on the Issues. Here’s where Harris stands on abortion, immigration and more.

Trump’s 2025 Plans. Trump is preparing to radically reshape the government.

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Defense chief defends decision to throw out plea deal for 9/11 defendants.

Ellen Knickmeyer

Associated Press

WASHINGTON – Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke for the first time Tuesday on his decision to throw out a plea deal for the men accused in al-Qaida's 2001 attacks , saying that the depth of American losses and sacrifice on 9/11 demand that the military commission trial goes ahead.

“This wasn't a decision that I took lightly," Austin told reporters at an event with Australian officials in Annapolis, Maryland.

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“But I have long believed that the families of the victims, our service members, and the American public deserve the opportunity to see military commissions, commission trials carried out" in the 9/11 case, he said.

At the U.S. military commission in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, meanwhile, lawyers and the judge in the case of accused 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two other defendants who had also taken plea deals were still coming to terms with Austin's surprise order and its effect on efforts to resolve the more than 20-year-old case.

Mohammed and a total of four other defendants at Guantanamo are accused in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, using hijacked passenger jets, that killed nearly 3,000 people in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. A fourth defendant did not agree to the plea agreement, and a fifth defendant last year was ruled mentally unfit to continue facing trial.

Legal complications, including profound questions over how much the men's torture while in CIA custody in the first years after their capture has tainted the evidence and the case itself, have helped drag out proceedings. The case remains in pre-trial hearings after more than a decade.

After about two years of plea negotiations, the Pentagon-appointed retired general overseeing the military commission last week approved a plea bargain struck by prosecutors and defense attorneys that would have spared Mohammed and the two others the risk of the death penalty, in return for their guilty pleas.

Families of 9/11 victims offered differing opinions, with some welcoming the resolution and others saying they wanted to see capital trials. Senior Republicans in Congress publicly lambasted the Biden administration for the plea bargain.

An order from Austin made public late Friday, in which he said he was revoking approval of the plea bargain and personally assuming that decision-making authority in the 9/11 case, upended the deal.

“There's not a day that goes by when I don't think of 9/11 and the Americans that were murdered that day. Also those who died trying to save lives, and the troops and their families who gave so much for this country,” said Austin, who commanded troops in Afghanistan in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, and was awarded a Silver Star for his service as a commander during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Some of the lawyers and civil-rights organizations involved in the Guantanamo Bay cases accuse Austin of bowing to political pressure in overturning the plea deal, and are challenging the legality of Austin's action.

Open hearings are scheduled to resume Wednesday for the first time since Austin's order, and may reveal the defense's response to the overriding of the plea bargain.

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