Top Things to do in Alabama
Top Hotels in Alabama
- 1. Best Western Premier The Tides
- 2. The Lodge at Gulf State Park, a Hilton Hotel
- 3. Perdido Beach Resort
- 4. Drury Inn & Suites Huntsville at the Space & Rocket Center
- 5. Best Western On The Beach
- 6. Drury Inn & Suites Birmingham Grandview
- 7. Hotel Capstone
- 8. Hyatt Regency Birmingham - The Wynfrey Hotel
- 9. Hampton Inn & Suites Birmingham-Downtown-Tutwiler
- 10. Drury Inn Mobile
Things to do in Alabama, United States: The Best Historic Walking Areas
If you head for the hills in the state you’ll end up in the northern sector where the inspiring mountains and attractions like the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, the Blue & Gray Museum in Decatur and the Ave Maria Grotto in Cullman represent the diversity of experiences available in the area. In the middle of the state you’ll find Birmingham, an urban center with great attractions and museums, and Tuscaloosa, the quintessential college town and home to the University of Alabama. For beach lovers, sandy destinations like Dauphin Island near Mobile, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach offer beautiful beaches, superb golf, fantastic seafood restaurants and heaping helpings of Southern hospitality.
For those who love to chase the white dimpled ball, Alabama offers one of the best golf values anywhere. The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, a collection of 468 holes at 11 different sites across the state, features top-notch, championship style courses at affordable rates.
Restaurants in Alabama
1. Robert Fowler Park aka: The Junction
2. Court Square
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 26 reviews
Historic area of the Civil Rights Movement.
Reviewed By sumaksito - Houston, United States
Historical site that contains both the Court Square Fountain (site where the slave market in Montgomery used to be) and the location where Rosa Parks boarded the bus, refused to give up her seat, and was later arrested where the current Rosa Parks museum is located. The Court Square Fountain is beautiful and clean, and it’s the intersection of point of several streets. From the fountain you can see in the distance the Alabama State Capitol, for a nice picture opportunity. Also, in the northern part of the square is the Rosa Parks but stop, where a plaque clearly marks the spot. In late 2019, a life-size statue of Rosa Parks was installed nearby, for another perfect photo op. It’s surreal and very symbolic to see Rosa Parks there perpetually standing waiting for the bus with the Alabama State Capitol in the background.
3. Selma to Montgomery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 127 reviews
It was on this stretch of U.S. 80 that protestors led by Martin Luther King marched from Selma to Montgomery in 1965.
Reviewed By Zephyr_Travel - Fredericksburg, United States
Enjoyed driving the route from Selma interpretative center, walking the Edmund Pettus Bridge, and visiting the camp sites, the Lowndes County Interpretive Center, and to Montgomery. Don't miss some of the campsite stops in-between the two cities to keep the full story and experience.
4. Church Street Historic District
5. Kelly Ingram Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 281 reviews
Home to vivid sculptures of the Children's Crusade.
Reviewed By wombat1223 - Charlottesville, United States
This park is exceptionally moving. It's easy to navigate the monuments and to pay tribute to the many people and groups who made the Freedom Movement possible in Birmingham. Anywhere you enter you can pick up the thread of the difficult path that was taken by the various actors in the movement. Especially affecting is the memorial to the four girls killed in the 16th St. Baptist Church: Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson, Carol McNair, and Addie Collins, the youngest at just 11. The statue is Susan Collins' last memory of that day before the bomb blinded her. Addie holds between her up stretched hands 6 doves: 1 for each girl and two for the boys also killed that day, Virgil Ware and Johnny Robinson. In addition to their memorial are installations remembering the Children's Crusade including water cannon replicas and a scene of two children against a wall. It's difficult to imagine but that water pressure was so high it could throw a 160 lb man in the air. The youngest of the child protesters was 6 years old. There is also a narrow dog lunging pathway to go through that simulates what it might have felt like to have dogs lunging at you. Another monument is dedicated to three local pastors (one if MLK's brother Andrew) who were instrumental in organizing various other aspects of the movement and voter registration campaigns. It was Porter (one of the three) who saved the life of a White Episcopalian minister who was being threatened by the Klan. He had him come to a funeral home and they smuggled him out in a coffin after having a full funeral. Memorials to Martin Luther King (statue) and his wife Coretta Scott King (roses) are also there. There is, in addition a small stage on which people still protest today. Kelly Ingram Park hasn't stopped being a place of protest for change. Its legacy continues.
6. Bellingrath Gardens and Home
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 800 reviews
Enjoy 65 acres of year-round floral pageantry in a Southern estate garden with blooms and beauties every day of the year. It is our passion at Bellingrath Gardens and Home to preserve and enhance the 65-acre garden and grand estate home of Walter and Bessie Bellingrath.
Reviewed By TAskewTraveler - Arlington, United States
I spent several formative years in Mobile, so Bellingrath's was not new to me. I hadn't been there in over a decade, so I'm pleased to report that it's still a delight, particularly when you have perfect springtime weather and a lazy Sunday afternoon. When you purchase your ticket, you'll get a map of the gardens as well as an insert that lists what's currently in bloom. It's worth it to add the home tour to your ticket if you love antiques and/or ceramics, silver, and china (although many ceramics are also available for viewing in what used to be the carriage house, which does not require a separate admission price from that of the gardens). If you're traveling in the area around the winter holidays, consider going for the Magic Christmas in Lights--the last time I went (granted, over a decade ago), it was truly magical.
7. Civil Rights District
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 142 reviews
The neighborhood that was the center of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement is now a historic district with the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute at its center.
Reviewed By latishan2018
an amazing history location we as adults loved the place we walked in the path of Dr martin Luther king jr saw amazing photos and visited the 16tth street Baptist church
8. 3rd Street Promenade
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
The Shops at 3rd Street Promenade is truly a one-of-a-kind shopping experience located in Cullman, AL. Here to enrich the culture of our city and beyond, many artisans from all over the South are featured here along with a variety of home decor items. We have something for everyone in any price range. We have original art that is of the highest form and quality along with southern folk art that defines small town living. You can walk around our store on the hand-painted cobblestone path that takes you to a mural of a downtown street. Around the corner you will find our indoor old-time theater where the latest artwork is being displayed complete with a marquee that bears the name of our featured artist. If you are visiting Cullman, 3rd Street Promenade is definitely worth seeing.Come see us! We are located off Highway 278 in downtown Cullman, AL. Take Exit 308 off I-65 (drive a total of 2 miles.) After you cross over Highway 31, drive through 3 traffic lights. We are located on the right directly across the street from Office Equipment. We share the block with Southern Accents and Fairview Florist.
9. Foley Art Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 19 reviews
Located in the historic Claude Peteet Real Estate building, The Foley Art Center was established in 1966. This non profit Arts and Crafts gallery represents over 150 artist and craftsmen from through out the southeast. Their handcrafted work is sold on consignment. You may find original artwork, prints, photography, sculpture, pottery, wood carvings, jewelry, textiles, stain glass, porcelain, fused glass, home made candles and many gift ideas. The Foley Art Center has sponsored two annual Events for more than forty years. Art in the Park,a fine Arts and Crafts Show, which is always Mother's Day weekend in the John B Foley Park with approximately 100 fine artists and craftsmen. Also, Trim-a-Tree a six week holiday arts and crafts event held at Tanger Outlets in Foley, featuring over 150 local artists and craftsmen. Open Jan 12-Oct 15 downtown. Our six week Holiday Arts & Crafts Show “Trim-a-Tree” at Tanger Outlets Opens the second Friday in Nov - Dec 23. Check out our Facebook page.
10. Oakleigh Historic District
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 20 reviews
Reviewed By Padderic - Vero Beach, United States
We drove up and down all of the streets in the area to view the beautiful old historic homes. The properties are well-maintained and quite interesting.
