The highlights below are not a comprehensive listing of things to see and do in Alabama. For more information, check under each city (bottom) or visit Tour Alabama, the offical tourism site for the state.
Brierfield Ironworks Park South of Montevallo lies the Brierfield Ironworks State Historical Park. See the remains of a historically rich iron works. The park also has many outdoor activities and lodging.
Farley Nuclear Visitors Center Tiny Ashford, Alabama boasts something big: The Farley nuclear power plant. The plant has a Visitors Center where energy and fun come together. A nice educational site.
Fort Gaines The historic Fort Gaines was built in 1821 to provide protection for Mobile Bay. It became well known during the battle of Mobile Bay in the Civil War. Boasts a museum and monthly special events. Located on Dauphin Island. A ferry provides a link to Fort Morgan.
Hank Williams Country legend Hank Williams was born and raised in Alabama. You can see his Boyhood Home and Museum in Georgiana and his Memorial and Museum in Montgomery. I-65 through Montgomery is now official the Hank Williams Lost Highway, by the way.
Cheaha Mountain At 2,407 feet, Cheaha is the tallest mountain in the state. In addition to hiking and biking trails, the state park around the mountain offers a nature center and lodging.
DeSoto Caverns DeSoto Caverns is not just a humongous cave. It's a humongous cave with history. And a laser light show. The Creek Nation of Indians call this cave home and there are plenty of artifacts from Indian habitats and burial grounds to prove it. Did I mention a laser light show?
Fort Morgan Fort Morgan is on the opposite side of Mobile Bay from Fort Gaines. Located about 20 miles west of Gulf Shores, this fort helped defend the area during the War of 1812 and the Civil War. The Army closed the fort in 1946 after World War II. A museum is nearby. A ferry provides a link to Fort Gaines.
Gulf Beaches The beaches of Alabama's Gulf Coast are second to none. Unlike the Pacific beaches these are sugar-white; unlike Florida, these are clean and uncrowded. Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are the two main resort towns. The beach is a great relaxing family vacation destination!
Guntersville Lake Guntersville Lake and Dam is the ideal boating and freshwater fishing spot in Alabama. Located near the town of Guntersville, this lake boasts hundreds of miles of coastline and some of the best bass fishing around.
Horse Pens 40 Horse Pens 40 got its name because Indians who used to inhabit the area used the natural rock formation to keep their horses penned up. Now the area is a park, featuring year round events. Located north of Steele.
Horseshoe Bend National Military Park Fans of historical warware will enjoy this park, located where Andrew Jackson defeated Chief Menawa in one of the bloodiest battles of the Creek War. The Horseshoe Bend Park features a visitor's center, hiking trails and even a driving trail.
Internation Motorsports Hall of Fame & the Talladega Superspeedway The Talladega Superspeedway is not only home to some pretty important Nascar races, it is also the home of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, which has over 150 cars and counting! The Texaco Walk of Fame is located nearby in the town of Talladega, and is a growing tribute to the influential members of stock car racing.
Kymulga Grist Mill Southeast of Childersburg and not too far from DeSoto Caverns lie the Kymulga Grist Mill. The area is home to the grist mill, a covered bridge, miles of trails and the largest conglomeration of white oaks east of the Mississippi river. There are barbeque areas as well as facilities for gathers, weddings, etc.
Looney's Tavern It's not just a Tavern, but also an amphitheatre and park! Looney's Tavern was the place where the people of Winston County decided to cede from the state of Alabama when it entered the Civil War. A gift shop and miniature golf course are located here. Re-enactments are held periodically. See the official web site for more information.
Natchez Trace Parkway Natchez Trace Parkway skirts the northeasternmost part of Alabama during it's journey from Nashville to Natchez, Mississippi. There are many historical sites along the way as well as numerous opportunities for outdoor activities.
Noccalula Falls According to legend, an Indian girl lept into this ravine rather than marry against her will. That's how Noccalula Falls got its name. The area boasts a beautiful botantical garden, scenic and historic sites and a campground with swimming pool. The falls themselves are the main attraction, some 90 feet from top to bottom.
Old Cawhaba Once Alabama's state capital, Old Cawhaba is now a ghost town and archeological site. Self-guided tours encourage you to wander amongst the ruins of what's left of the town, which was more or less flooded out of existence. A gift shop and welcome center is on the premisis. Located on the Cahaba River near Orrville.
Point Mallard Decatur is home to Point Mallard Park, which offers many outdoor activites. Features a water park, tennis courts, baseball fields, picnic areas, gymnasium, hiking trails and the south's only open air ice skating rink!
Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail 324 holes over 18 excellent courses over seven locations in the state. A vacation set around travelling to each of the magnicent courses will be heaven to any avid golfer!
Russell Cave National Monument Inhabited for over 9,000 years, Russell Cave features many ancient artifacts in the museum.
Tannehill Ironworks Historical Park Part of the Confederate war industry, Tannehill was destroyed in 1865. Visitors can learn about 19th century iron making from the many stone furnaces still standing. There's also a cotton gin, pioneer farm and grist mill. Hiking and camping are also featured. Tannehill Trails offers horseback riding nearby. Official Site.
Tuskegee Institute Tuskegee Institute is home to The Oaks, Booker T. Washington's house, and The Carver Museum. The museum showcases Carver's achievements with peanuts, his plant and animal collections, and his labratory equipment.
Unusual Attractions Alabama has some unusual attractions:
The Boll Weevil Monument - Enterprise. Farmers erected a statue to the Weevil because it forced them to diversify their crops. It destroyed their cotton crops in 1915. The Carrollton Courthouse - Carrollton. According to legend the face of Henry Wells, a slave, is forever etched on the window in the garret of the courthouse. And yes, the face is really there! Coon Dog Cemetary - Florence. An entire cemetary dedicated to dedicated hunting dogs. Freaky. Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House - Florence. Completed in 1940, this house exemplifies Lloyd's style of architecture. Moundville Archeological Park - Moundville. Indian burial ground that's both education and creepy. Renaissance Tower - Florence. A restaurant and observation deck are perched 300 feet above the town. Vulcan - Birmingham. The statue has been dismantled and is no long at the park. It is being repaired. The park is also closed for renovations. The World's Largest Office Chair - Anniston. Located on Noble Street, the world's largest office chair is some 33 feet tall. The Unclaimed Baggage Center - Everything you've ever left on an airplane or at an airport is here. From Israeli pop CDs to Japanese VCRs to all kinds of clothing, this place is like the world's thrift shop!
W.C. Handy Birthplace The W.C. Handy Birthplace, Library and Museum, located in Florence, houses many of the "father of the blues"' memorabilia and personal belongings.
Theme Parks! Alabama has a few theme parks: Visionland - Bessemer. Features a wooden rollercoaster, a water park, dinosaur exhibit and more. Water World - Dothan. Water theme park. Styx River Water World - Exit 53 off I-10 in Baldwin County. No information available.
Alabama Fan Club and Museum The country supergroup Alabama hails from Fort Payne, so it should come as no surprise that the fan club and museum are located there, too. The Alabama Fan Club and Museum chronicles the history of the group.
Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame Many famous and influential jazz personalities come from Alabama. The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, in Birmingham, is an excellent tribute to them.
Alabama Shakespeare Festival The Shakespeare Festival is unique for the southeast, offering performances year round of the Bard's tales and other classic works. Located in Montgomery.
Alabama Sports Hall of Fame From Paul "Bear" Bryant to Joe Namath, Alabama's had a rich history of sports figures. The Alabama Sports Hall of Fame chronicles the sports and sports figures famous in Alabama.
Ave Maria Grotto The Ave Maria Grotto is located in the state's only Benedictine abbey, in Cullman. Over 120 miniatures depict various structures around the world.
Boaz Outlet Centers They call the city of Boaz a shopper's paradise for good reason. Hundreds of factory outlet stores call the city home. There's always a bargain to be found in Boaz.
Boll Weevil Monument Alabama can be an odd place. Case in point, Enterprise, home to the Boll Weevil Monument. The Weevil destroyed the local cotton crop in 1915 and forced the farmers to diversify. They became so prosperous they erected a monument to the critter.
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