If you’re planning an itinerary of the southern states you should also consider the Heart of Dixie, as Alabama‘s motto states. The beating heart of Dixie with its traditions, its troubled history and its contradictions. Visiting Alabama means taking a real trip to an America that is different from the classic road trips on the East and West Coasts, but no less beautiful and fascinating.
Making a top 10 list always requires a selection and, reluctantly, many attractions that would certainly be worth a visit have been left out. Notwithstanding the personal preferences included in this selection, I have tried to point out what I think are the main places to visit and the best things to do in Alabama.
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Montgomery
Welcome to the capital of Alabama, which has inextricably linked its name to the story of Rosa Parks and the battle for the civil rights of African Americans. It was here that in 1955, Rosa refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man, thus starting a boycott and then a greater awareness of the problem of integration that soon spread to the southern states and later throughout the United States.
It is therefore not surprising that there are many museums and attractions dedicated to these events. In particular we point out the Rosa Parks Museum which is located in front of the bus stop on which she was sitting, and the Civil Rights Memorial Center with its moving tribute to the 40 martyrs of the movement. Tied instead more closely to the life of Martin Luther King is the Dexter Avenue church where the pastor was a minister of worship during his youth.
Changing the subject, country music lovers should consider a visit to the Hank Williams Museum which houses photos, instruments and memorabilia of the great American singer. If it’s a nice day, don’t miss a visit along the lovely Riverwalk that runs along the Alabama River and where you can take a tour on a characteristic nineteenth century boat: the Harriott II.
Still in the field of American history, Montgomery is also home to the First White House of the Confederacy, the residence of President Jefferson Davis of the Southern states during the Civil War before the capital was moved permanently to Richmond, Virginia.
Gulf Shores and Orange Beach
When we talk about southern states, most of the time we tend to forget that many of them also have a coastline and offer many more beach vacation attractions than you might think. Such is the case with Gulf Shores which is located at the gateway to Mobile Bay.
White sandy beaches and crystal clear water are also the lowest common denominators of the neighboring Orange Beach where you will find some of the most beautiful and popular beaches in the state. You will find numerous well-equipped areas, a considerable amount of accommodations, restaurants and pubs to meet all your holiday needs.
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Dauphin Island – Fort Gaines
Here we are on the opposite side of the bay from Gulf Shores. This island is best known for hosting Fort Gaines, the outpost that gained notoriety especially during the events of the Battle of Mobile Bay during the American Civil War. Today, you can visit its interior, which houses a museum and war relics such as the original cannons that were installed in the fort. Tours of the military outpost are conducted by guides in historical uniforms to best recreate the wartime atmosphere.
Mobile
Having mentioned the two extremes that lie at the mouth of Mobile Bay, it’s time to mention the town that gives the bay its name. Taking a walk around the pleasant Historic Districts, where the houses were built with a mix of architecture ranging from Victorian to Italianate style, passing through the “free renaissance”, will make you take a pleasant leap back in time.
In addition to the coast, the main attraction is the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, where you can visit the giant warship USS Alabama, used during World War II in the Pacific and Atlantic theater of war. Other military vehicles in the park include the USS Drum submarine, a Sherman tank, as well as some bomber and fighter planes. The complex also features two memorials dedicated to the Korean and Vietnam Wars. The entrance fee is $15-18.
US Space & Rocket Center
If the history of space exploration has always fascinated you, this is the place for you. An exhibition of dozens and dozens of vehicles, including space probes, rockets and shuttles, through which man has been able to explore the universe, are on display in this very special museum.
In addition to the permanent exhibitions, where you can find more information about the history of NASA, in particular the conquest of the moon and the missions of the international space station, the flagship of the museum are definitely the Rocket Park and the Shuttle Park. Here you can admire some of the most important vehicles and instruments that have made the history of astronomy in all their grandeur.
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Cheaha State Park
The park includes Cheaha Mountain which is the highest point in the state (more than 2395 feet above sea level). If you have the opportunity to take a walking tour, it is definitely worthwhile heading to Bald Rock Outlook, the main attraction of the park from where you can dominate the whole area below.
Inside the park there is also a lake with beaches where you can comfortably rest, sunbathe, swim and rent a boat.
Huntsville Botanical Garden
Although at first glance it may seem strange to include botanical gardens in a top 10 list, in this case it was necessary to do so given the size and beauty of the Huntsville Botanical Garden. These gardens attract more than 300,000 visitors each year from all parts of the state, fascinated by the beautiful colors and numerous species, including rare ones, that can be observed throughout the year.
Particularly spectacular is the Damson Aquatic Garden a garden that is developed above a circular pool of considerable size, where you can admire the impressive size of the water lilies. The place is also perfect if you are traveling with children in tow because there are numerous attractions included that can interest and keep even the youngest busy.
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Ave Maria Grotto
Also known as the“Jerusalem in miniature,” it consists of as many as 125 miniature reproductions of the world’s most important religious structures, including St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the Abbey of Monte Cassino destroyed during World War II, and the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes.
The work was begun by Brother Joseph Zoettl during the first half of the 1900s and kept him busy throughout his life. Pilgrims and onlookers from all parts of the United States come to pay homage to the friar’s work and to visit St. Bernard’s Basilica.
Birmingham
Alabama’s largest and most populous city. Here, too, the city’s history is closely tied to that of civil rights as you can understand by visiting the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, where the city’s troubled history is chronicled through well-curated exhibits.
If you feel like taking a walk somewhere green, head to Vulcan Park where it is impossible not to notice a giant statue dedicated to the god Vulcan placed on top of a panoramic tower, from where you can access and enjoy a beautiful 360° view of the entire city. To climb the tower you need to pay an entrance fee of $6.
Jazz music lovers mustn’t miss the chance to visit the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame with a museum that traces the history of this musical genre. One of the most visited attractions in the city is Birmingham Zoo, which houses almost a thousand animals of about three hundred different species, the entrance fee is $18,95.
Lovers of culture and art should not miss a visit to the Birmingham Museum of Arts which houses works from Europe by artists such as Dali and Botero.
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Noccalula Falls Park
This is a park where the main attraction is a very scenic waterfall. The name comes from the name of a young Cherokee woman who, according to some local legends, committed suicide after her father forced her to marry a husband she did not love. In memory of this event there is also a bronze statue depicting the young Indian woman. The amount of water that pours into Black Creek Gorge depends on the amount of rainfall that has occurred, so the view you find will vary quite a bit depending on the time of year you visit the park.
Among the many paths that you can take, the one that I think is the most scenic is the Gorge Trail, which will allow you to pass under the characteristic waterfalls, observing them from a very unusual and special position. An original way to visit the park is to use a train that, along a scenic route inside the park, will allow you to enjoy the view while sitting comfortably aboard this unique means of transport.
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Bonus: Muscle Shoals Sound Studio
Like all self-respecting top 10s, I couldn’t fail to mention a… bonus track! And never before has the name been more appropriate, precisely because we are talking about an attraction inextricably linked to the world of music. In this small recording studio, in fact, some of the greatest artists and musical groups in history have recorded their hits.Just to name the most famous ones, trying not to do anyone an injustice, let us remember the Rolling Stones, Paul Simon, Bob Seger, Bob Dylan, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Rod Stewart. In reference to the Rolling Stones, we remember the legend according to which Keith Richards composed the entire song Wild Horses inside the bathroom of the studio. If you visit the bathroom during the tour, you will know why.
