tourist spots near alabama

The Dauphin Island Sea Lab has educational programs and a popular aquarium that specializes in estuarine organisms.

Other notable sites include the Scott & Zelda Fitzgerald Museum, the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, and the W.A. With so many landscapes to explore, its no wonder that many guests choose to camp overnight. The town of Fairhope is another tourist destination along Mobile Bay, located along its eastern shore. Located on Mobile Bay in east Alabama, Mobile is a coastal community that prides itself on being a melting pot of cultures and traditions. Golf and camping opportunities are also nearby. If youre touring Alabama and trying to please a bunch of different travel personalities, consider heading to Birmingham. Explore Mobiles relationship with the Gulf at the GulfQuest National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico. Then there is Auburns sister city Opelika, with its fine historical district of fine homes also built in the 19th century. It may not be the first state you think of when you hear beaches, mountains, or even vacation, but that just means you can enjoy all of its wonders without the hassle of big crowds. The collections highlight other sports played by university athletes as well. Evidence of Mobiles time as part of French Louisiana is present via the citys numerous Cajun and Creole restaurants, as well as sites like the Mobile Carnival Museum, which documents the countrys first Mardi Gras celebration. Cheaha State park, Alabama's oldest park, is a wonderful place to experience the hill country of Alabama. Visitors are able to see original sheet music hand-written by the artist, as well as other personal papers and artifacts. 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. Island life in Alabama is just a car ride away. More low-key options include kayaking, hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Official site: https://www.alapark.com/parks/cheaha-state-park. 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. This immersive facility has more than 90 exhibits that cover topics like ship navigation, marine life, archaeology, weather, and much more. More cant-miss sites include the Rosa Parks Museum, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and the Legacy Museum. The origin of the caverns current name becomes apparent as soon as visitors step into the entrance, which measures 126 feet wide and 25 feet high. In fact, Gulf Shores is a resort city, and tourism is vital to its economy. The Paul W. Bryant Museum traces the history of the University of Alabama football tradition back to its beginning in 1892. The park makes a great weekend getaway from Birmingham or Atlanta. Other attractions in the park include a designated dog park and two museums the Walter Farr Native American Museum and the Civilian Conservation Corps Museum. You may not think of Alabama as a beach vacation destination, but cities like Gulf Shores are working to prove you wrong. It is the only house of Wright's in the southeast that is open to the public. Alabama is also a culturally rich region. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The Asian gallery includes some of the museum's oldest artifacts, including bronzes and ancient earthenware. Address: 620 West College Street, Florence, Alabama, National Voting Rights Museum and Institute | Tony Webster / photo modified. 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. All Rights Reserved. The beach is open year-round, but collects a small entrance fee in the spring and summer to help fund environmental upkeep. If you're not interested in camping, more luxurious options are available at The Lodge at Gulf State Park, a Hilton Hotel. 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. The Civil Rights Memorial Center offers educational activities, exhibits, the Wall of Tolerance, and a sobering granite memorial with the names of those who died during the fight for civil rights between 1954 and 1968. North of the river, Florence is the birthplace of W.C. Swimming and boating are some other popular activities on the lake, and both motorized and nonmotorized boats are available for rent. Tourists can experience multimedia presentations at the National Geographic Theater or the Spacedome IMAX, and explore a model of the International Space Station. 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. There are many reasons why Montgomery is a must-see in Alabama. The Black Warrior River runs through the middle of the city, and the Tuscaloosa Riverwalk is a local treasure. The Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail system has seven trails scattered among six different ecosystems. Handy Home and Museum is housed in the log cabin where this iconic musician was born and lived. 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. More than a century of turbulent history saw the territory switch ownership from Louisiana to West Florida to Mississippi before Alabama finally received its statehood in 1819. The tiered grounds feature the Charles W. Ireland Sculpture Garden and botanical displays. The Martin Dam continues to generate hydroelectric power to this day. Unsurprisingly, Dauphin Island Public Beach is one of the most-visited places on the island. 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. 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. 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 park is also home to the USS Drum, a submarine used during the second World War, which can be toured as well. RV campsites and horse camps are also available. Alabama is home to a range of tourist attractions and things to do for all ages and interests. Dauphin Island, located in the Bay, is a barrier island with a small town, which is also called Dauphin Island. For more waterfront views, head north to Lake Tuscaloosa, which is popular with anglers, swimmers, and boaters. Located in Tallapoosa, Elmore, and Coosa counties in east-central Alabama, Lake Martin is one of the largest artificial reservoirs in the United States. Perseverance rewards hikers with stunning views of waterfalls and sweeping forests. The must-do activity in this park is the guided cave tour, which is around 1.5 miles round trip. Located in northeast Alabama, Cathedral Caverns State Park started out as a tourist attraction called Bat Cave in the 1950s. Whether youre a low-key traveler who wants to soak in the sights and sounds of nature or a seasoned park visitor looking to take home a hunting trophy, Bankhead National Forest has an activity for you. The park is adjacent to the 392,567-acre Talladega National Forest, and several major trails traverse both areas. Muscle Shoals is home to the legendary Fame Recording Studios, which are still operating today (and open for tours). Visitors can also view the Hodges meteorite, the only meteorite known to have struck a human. 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. To the west of Gulf Shores is Orange Beach, another gulf town and the easternmost community on the states coastal border. It is also one of only four structures that survived the burning of the university during the Civil War. Goat Island is aptly named for its resident goat family, and a favorite with children. About five miles northeast of downtown is Monte Sano State Park, which boasts hiking and biking trails, a planetarium, and a Japanese garden. 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. Find the best places to visit in the state with our list of the top tourist attractions in Alabama. History buffs seeking Alabama attractions definitely need to make a stop in Mobile. Disclaimer, 25 Most Amazing Ancient Ruins of the World, 14 Best Things to Do on the Big Island, Hawaii. Today, the house serves as a museum with collections of antiques and Gorgas family memorabilia. Children especially enjoy the gem-mining activity, which involves sifting, washing, and identifying fossils or rough-cut gems from purchased bags of mining dirt. Collections on display also include several musical instruments, including his trumpet and piano, which he used while writing these songs. Among the top tourist attractions in Atlanta, Georgia are the King Center, the Martin Luther King, Jr. In spite of its name, there is nothing little about the Little River Canyon National Preserve. Your email address will not be published. Conveniently connected to the mainland by a bridge, Dauphin Island is a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico and one of the best places for a beach vacation in Alabama. For a breath of fresh air, consider visiting Birminghams Railroad Park, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, or even the Birmingham Zoo. 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. Address: 6 US Highway 80 East, Selma, Alabama, Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in Birmingham | Chuck Schultz / photo modified. Read on to discover some of the best places to visit in Alabama. Gulf Shores is the southernmost community in the state, and its long, hot summers and mild winters welcome travelers year-round. This popular family tourist attraction explores topics from the natural sciences to the latest technology and allows visitors to participate in their own experiments. History buffs might consider a visit to Fort Gaines, well-known for its involvement in the American Civil War Battle of Mobile Bay. The Rosenbaums were the only owners and occupants of Rosenbaum house until 1999, when it was purchased by the City of Florence and restored. Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox. With some 800,000 visitors a year, the Little River Canyon National Preserve is one of the more popular outdoor tourist attractions in Alabama. 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. Surrounded by the lush Talladega National Forest in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, this 2,799-acre park is beloved by locals and tourists alike. Follow the Civil Rights Trail for some insight into the conflicts that arose here due to segregation and other racist policies. Fish commonly caught along the 1,540-foot-long pier include redfish, Spanish and king mackerel, speckled trout, catfish, sheepshead, croaker, and whiting.

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