Alabama is known as the Heart of Dixie, and this Southern state is rich in American tradition dating back to the Civil War. Modern Alabama is advanced in industry, education, agriculture, health care, aerospace, and more. Alabama can be divided into four separate regional areas: The Mountains Region, Metropolitan Region, River Heritage Region, and Gulf Coast Region. From beachfront communities to the Appalachian Mountains and the culturally diverse cities in between, Alabama has much to offer. Where you go all depends on what you want to see.
The northern part of Alabama is known as the Mountains Region. This lower part of the Appalachian Mountains contains four Alabama State Parks: Joe Wheeler, Desoto, Bucks Pocket, and Monte Sano State Park. This region is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts, because it offers a wealth of opportunities in its landscape of forests and lakes. Hunting and fishing on the Tennessee River, horseback riding, golfing, and camping in the mountains are just some of the things to enjoy. This area is also the leading technology center of Alabama and has a number of arts and culture attractions and historic places.
Athens is located in the center of Northern Alabama in Limestone County. Athens is one of the oldest cities in Alabama and has a rich agricultural history. It is home to the Athens State University, and has several golf courses and an outdoor sports complex.
Florence is situated on the northern Alabama border in a metropolitan area known as The Shoals. Florence is known for its rich musical traditions and is thought to be the birthplace of blues music. The University of Northern Alabama is located in Florence and it is also the home of Helen Keller. Some notable Florence landmarks are the Rosenbaum House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, and the Indian Mound and Museum. Florence is also renowned for its exciting festivals, like the Alabama Music Faire, W.C. Handy Music Festival, and the Trail of Tears Commemorative Motorcycle Ride.
Decatur is a busy port city and lies along the banks of the Tennessee River and Wheeler Lake. The local economy is driven by the twenty Fortune 500 companies located in the city as well as tourism. The Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge provides thirty-five thousand acres of land housing protected animal and plant species. Decatur also hosts some of the most famous annual festivals in the South, including the Alabama Jubilee, Spirit of America Festival, and Riverfest.
Huntsville with nearly two hundred thousand residents, is the largest city in the Mountains Region. Huntsville is known as the Space Capital of America and contains the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, the Apollo Saturn V Center, and the Redstone Arsenal, and is the location of the US Army Aviation and Missile Command. Exciting family attractions include the Harmony Park Safari, Sci-Quest Center, and the Old MacDonald Petting Zoo. Huntsville has three historic districts and numerous museums such as the Huntsville Museum of Art and the Burritt Museum and Park on Monte Sano. NASCAR races take place at the Huntsville Speedway. As an arts and culture center, the city is home to the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra, Flying Monkey Arts Center, and the Theatre Huntsville, among others. Local parks like the Big Spring Park, Huntsville Botanical Garden, and Monte Sano State Park provide the rugged scenery the Mountains Region is famous for.
Madison is a residential community in the Huntsville-Decatur area. The Rainbow Mountain Hiking Trail is a nice way to see the area, and the Madison Historic District Guided Walking Tour chronicles the history of the city.
Jasper was founded in 1815 by Sergeant William Jasper. The area was once a world leader in coal production. Today, Jasper is popular for fishing in Blackwater Creek and Walker County Lake.
Cullman is halfway between the cities of Huntsville and Birmingham. It is a small German-influenced town located on top of the Brindley Mountain Plateau. German history of the area is chronicled at the Cullman County Museum. Heritage Park is a seventy-acre sports complex complete with gardens, fitness trails, and a water park. Other interesting locations to visit are the Ave Maria Grotto, the Echota Cherokee Interpretive Center, and the Historic Warehouse District, now a shopping and entertainment area.
The city of Scottsboro is only twenty miles from the Tennessee-Alabama border. The most remarkable and famous attraction in Scottsboro is the Unclaimed Baggage Center, where undelivered items including clothing and electronics are up for sale. There are also some historic sites like the Memphis and Charleston Railroad and Payne's Soda Shop, which has been in business since the late 1800s.
Hamilton is an artist's community that hosts several festivals including the annual Jerry Brown Arts Festival, one of the most popular fine art events in the South.
The central portion of Alabama is referred to as the Metropolitan Region and contains several large cities, namely Birmingham. This area has everything from farms and factories to enticing big-city attractions, parks, and regional festivals. The Metropolitan Region is truly a blend of the Old South and New South.
Lincoln is a small city in Talladega County. Lincoln operates the Honda Manufacturing of Alabama automobile plant.
Oxford is another small city in Talladega County, within driving distance of the Talladega Speedway. Oxford is full of picturesque nature sites: Mount Cheaha, the highest point in Alabama, offers stunning views of the area; the Talladega National Forest surrounds the city; and there are lakes and rivers including Oxford Lake and Choccolocco Creek.
Birmingham is an expansive city with over one million people in its metropolitan area, making it the largest city in Alabama. The University of Alabama at Birmingham is a large school involved in bio-technology and medical research, and there are many other universities in the city. As the culture and entertainment capital of Alabama, Birmingham contains art galleries and museums, performing arts venues, and an excellent nightlife and music scene. Some interesting museums are the Birmingham Museum of Art, McWane Science Center, and the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. The Birmingham Zoo is popular with families, and Alabama Adventure Theme Park features a water park, thrill rides, and roller coasters. Birmingham also contains its share of parks such as Vulcan Park, Kelly Ingrams Park, and the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Also visit the nearby Talladega Speedway, the largest and fastest speedway in the world.
Bessemer is a suburb of Birmingham. This small city contains many historic places to visit, such as the Bessemer Hall of History and the Downtown National Historic District. The Bright Star, a cafe in downtown Bessemer, is the oldest restaurant in Alabama.
Homewood is located just over Red Mountain, on the other side of Birmingham. A suburb of Birmingham, Homewood has one of the highest population densities in all of Alabama. Homewood has several elementary schools and high schools, two colleges, and five city parks.
Pelham is a suburb of Birmingham. Oak Mountain State Park, the largest in Alabama, is located in Pelham. Horseback riding, camping, fishing, mountain biking, native wildlife viewing and more take place in Oak Mountain State Park.
Tuscaloosa is located on the Black Warrior River at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. This bustling university town is home to the University of Alabama, a large school founded in 1831. Culture is largely centered around the university, with a vibrant nightlife and college sports being very popular. Fall football games of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide are a hit with locals, alumni, and visitors. There are many museums in and around the campus like the Alabama Museum of Natural History, Paul Bryant Museum, and the Westervelt-Warner Museum of American Art. Other interesting areas to explore include the Moundville Archaeological Park and the Children's Hands-On Museum of Tuscaloosa.
Livingston is one hour south of Tuscaloosa. Livingston is home to the University of West Alabama, founded in 1835. Lake Lu and the Jaycee Neighborhood Park are two scenic spots to visit for fishing, swimming, picnic areas, tennis courts, and baseball fields.
York is a city in Sumter County, south of Tuscaloosa. Its most notable attraction is the Coleman Center for Arts and Culture.
The southeast section of Alabama is the River Heritage Region. River Heritage is a diverse economic, social, and geographic area. This expanse of rivers and forests is known for its strong appreciation of the arts and its historical background.
Auburn is a quaint Southern college town that is home to the largest school in the state, Auburn University. Sports, college and otherwise, are part of Auburn culture, and local athletes are honored on the Tiger Trail of Auburn and the Jonathan Bell Lovelace Athletic Museum. The Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art and several theatres, an Orchestra, and Dance Company make up the arts and culture segment of the city. Auburn has a diverse geology due to its location on the fall line at the convergence of the piedmont plateau and coastal plain. Auburn contains more than fifteen parks, the largest being the Chewacla State Park and Kiesel Park; also included are the Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve, and the Davis Arboretum.
Opelika is the sister city of Auburn. Opelika is known as one of the best cities for golfing; it is home to Robert Trent Jones Grand National golf course, one of the most beautiful and highly-ranked in the world. The Loachapoka Historic District contains many historic homes and the Lee County Historical Society Museum.
The city of Dothan lies in the southeastern corner of the state of Alabama. This charming city is known for its Christian, Southern Baptist, and other religious communities. Dothan is also renowned for its peanut growing, and holds the annual National Peanut Festival and other themed events. Interesting family-oriented attractions include the Westgate Park and Water World, Landmark Park Agricultural Museum and Starlab Planetarium, and the Adventureland Theme Park. Maria's Vineyard, Eastgate Park, and Dothan Area Botanical Gardens are a few of the beautiful Southern-style parks in Dothan.
Taylor is a town of less than two thousand residents only five miles from Dothan.
Enterprise is located in the Enterprise-Ozark Metropolitan Area of southeastern Alabama. It contains the famous Boll Weevil Monument, dedicated to the agricultural pest that destroyed the area cotton crop in the early 1900s. The Pea River Historical Society Depot Museum is an old railroad station with many historical artifacts from the area. Other historical tributes are Fort Rucker, the Rawls Historic Hotel, and the Army Aviation Museum.
Ozark is a residential and retirement community near the city of Enterprise. Ozark is home to the Aviation Training Technical College and Fort Rucker, the Home of Army Aviation.
The city of Eufaula is situated along the Alabama-Georgia border, on a bluff overlooking Lake Eufaula. Lake Eufaula provides many recreational opportunities on its six hundred miles of shoreline; it is most famous for Bass fishing and boating. Lakepoint Resort State Park, located on the lake, offers tennis, golf, and camping facilities along with lodging, restaurants, and accommodations.
Montgomery is the capital of Alabama and its second-largest city. Montgomery is steeped in rich history from the Civil War in the 1860s to the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s. There are many landmarks like the Alabama State Capitol Building, where Jefferson Davis took his presidential oath of office and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered one of his moving speeches. The Maxwell Air Force Base is established where Orville and Wilbur Wright once held the Wright Flying School. There are four institutions of higher learning, including Alabama State University. The Alabama Shakespeare Festival offers year-round performances. The Montgomery Zoo contains five hundred animals in barrier-free habitats. The Wynton M. Blount Cultural park is another site to visit; it is home to the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. Montgomery is also known for its musical history representing the genres jazz, country, and blues.
Prattville, part of the Montgomery Metropolitan Area, was founded in 1839 by architect Daniel Pratt. Prattville is part of a rapidly-expanding residential area that also includes Elmore County. The city is picturesque and known for its pleasant, mild climate throughout the year.
Camden is located south of Montgomery in Wilcox County. Camden is a quiet Southern town with many hotels and lodges that are within a short drive of the big cities.
Greenville is a historic Southern town located south of Montgomery. Many interesting architectural styles can be observed in the structures of Greenville, such as the Greek Revival and Spanish Colonial Style. The Cambrian Ridge Golf Course of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail is located in Greenville.
Troy is a small city that is home to Troy University. The university offers sites like the Troy University Arboretum and the Troy Recreation Center. Other Troy attractions include the Bicentennial Park, Pike County Lake, and the Pioneer Shopping Village.
The city of Selma is located along the banks of the Alabama River and has about twenty thousand residents. Selma has a lengthy Southern history dating back to the Civil War, and is famous for the Selma to Montgomery civil rights marches. Selma also has the largest historic district in Alabama, with over a thousand historical sites where walking tours are available. Two parks in Selma are the Paul M. Grist State Park and the OldCahawba Archaeological Park.
The Gulf Coast Region of Alabama is famous for the white sandy beaches and warm water along the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf Coast Region has an important history, from its first French and Spanish settlers to the American Civil War. Today the Gulf Coast is a thriving vacation, fishing, and shipping destination.
Gulf Shores is a vacation town renowned for its beautiful beaches and numerous attractions and events. Beachfront hotels and vacation homes as well as waterfront shopping and dining areas abound in the city. Family-oriented places like the Waterville USA Water and Amusement Park and Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo are popular. Day cruise tours and fishing charter boats are a great way to see the Gulf Coast area.
Mobile is a busy seaport city on the central Gulf Coast. Mobile is the cultural center of the Gulf Coast Region, and is known for its unique Spanish, French, African, and Creole, as well as Southern, influences. Mobile hosts the famous annual Carnival celebration, with grand parades and masquerade balls. Mobile has a number of art museums and galleries, a theatre company, Symphony, Ballet, and Opera.
Thomasville is located between Mobile and Selma. The town historically grew up around the railroad running through it, and today the Thomasville Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Thomasville is situated along the Tombigbee and Alabama rivers with pine forests surrounding the city.
Foley is a small, residential city in Baldwin County of the Mobile Metropolitan Area. Foley is located in the heart of the American Riviera, where outdoor activities like fishing, sailing, and swimming are all around. Foley is full of small shopping malls and antiques centers like the Old Armory Antique Mall, golf courses, and interesting museums such as the Holmes Medical Museum.
Monroeville is an inland city in the Gulf Coast Region. The claim to fame of this city is the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, which is based in Monroeville.
Orange Beach is a seaside resort town along the Gulf of Mexico. Camping, accommodations, nature trails, fishing, and golf are available in Gulf State Park. Adventure Island is popular with families and contains rides and games. Deep sea fishing is a common pastime of the area and many boating charters are available.
With its beautiful landscape and numerous cultural and historic attractions, a vacation to Alabama can be both tranquil and fascinating. Antique towns and modern cities give this Southern state a unique charm, and make for one of the most interesting trips that you can imagine.
Hotels
Car Hire
