Alabama tourism - what shouldn't we miss?

[BehindBlueI's]

I'll be taking the family to Alamaba for 10-ish days soon and, as usual, we plan to do a loop through the state we visit and see/do as much as we can while there. Other than 4 days at Gulf Shores, nothing is totally locked down yet. We intend to hit the "barbecue trail" and do some hiking in the northern part of the state, hit the Hank Williams museum, but other than that we're pretty open to suggestions. Restaurant suggestions are always welcome. :D

[TQP]

I enjoyed the heck out of the space museum in Huntsville.

https://www.rocketcenter.com/

[BehindBlueI's]

I enjoyed the heck out of the space museum

https://www.rocketcenter.com/

Oh, yeah, we'll definitely hit NASA. Whenever we go somewhere that has an option to tour a NASA facility we're going.

[RoyGBiv]

Another vote for the rocket center.

And this was a great place to spend a few hours. https://www.ussalabama.com/

[LittleLebowski]

I think you are gonna miss Dorian :(

[mmc45414]

I want to watch this, I like the proximity of Gulf Shores (if I can get to a beach without driving on I-75...) but didn't love it the one time we went. Are you renting a house or hotel?

[JTQ]

Gulf Shores puts you a short drive to NAS Pensacola and the National Naval Aviation Museum. https://www.navalaviationmuseum.org

Waterville USA https://watervilleusa.com

The Warf at Orange Beach https://alwharf.com

OWA is a new thing in Foley. We've been by, not into the park. https://visitowa.com/?utm_source=Yext

Tanger Outlet Mall for shopping, also in Foley. Deals aren't great, but something to do. The fella's are usually found hanging at St. Nick's knife shop while the women are hitting all the other stores. https://www.tangeroutlet.com/foley

The Hangout is a pretty good place for beach type dining. https://www.thehangout.com

[Hambo]

I would at least pass through Monroeville, but I'm a closet literary nerd.

[BehindBlueI's]

I want to watch this, I like the proximity of Gulf Shores (if I can get to a beach without driving on I-75...) but didn't love it the one time we went. Are you renting a house or hotel?

Condo via AirBnB. That's what we normally do when we travel and stay anywhere beyond a day or two.

We went to Perdido Key on the Florida side of the state line in 2013. We've been to the Naval Aviation Museum there.

[UniSol]

NASA is a fun visit...while you're in Huntsville the Downtown area has some pretty, older architecture and some decent bars/restaurants. You mentioned hiking-Green Mountain and Monte Sano in Hunstville also have quite a few trails, very pretty. DeSoto national forest on the Georgia/Tennessee/AL border is also very nice, a little more mountainous (yeah I know, it's not mountainous the way the Rockies are).

[farscott]

Some local color

1) Coon Dog Cemetery http://www.coondogcemetery.com/

2) Rattlesnake Saloon http://www.coondogcemetery.com/

3) Cathedral Caverns State Park https://www.alapark.com/parks/cathedral-caverns-state-park

4) Dismals Canyon https://www.dismalscanyon.com/thecanyon

[Dog Guy]

Another vote for the rocket center.

And this was a great place to spend a few hours. https://www.ussalabama.com/

+1 for the battleship tour. We hit it first thing in the morning on a weekday and had very little company on board. There's an air museum and a submarine affiliated with it too.

[Tensaw]

And either before or after the Battleship, make it a point to eat a meal on the Causeway where the battleship sits. Try the Yo' Momma's platter at Ed's Seafood Shed. But every place on the causeway is going to be pretty good.

You might also check out the duck boat tours in Mobile. http://gulfcoastducks.com/

Lastly, downtown Fairhope has a lot of froo froo arts and crafts and places to eat.

[Coyotesfan97]

If you’re an MHI fan there’s Desoto Caverns in Childersburg. I don’t know how big your kids are but there’s also an amusement park there.

https://www.desotocavernspark.com/

[BehindBlueI's]

I don’t know how big your kids are but there’s also an amusement park there.

https://www.desotocavernspark.com/

High school. We definitely like outdoorsy stuff and amusement parks.

[JTQ]

High school. We definitely like outdoorsy stuff and amusement parks.
In addition to Waterville USA and the OWA park, I believe there is some park next to Waterville and there is also ziplining in Gulf Shores/Orange Beach.

https://www.gulfshores.com/things-to-do/outdoor-activities/ziplining/

[HCountyGuy]

Another recommendation for seeing the battleship. Got dragged to it in my youth on the way to Biloxi and New Orleans, I thoroughly enjoyed it though!

[Caballoflaco]

If you like motor sports the Barber’s Motorsports Park near Birmingham has the worlds largest collection of motorcycles.
https://barberracingevents.com/ Oak Mt. State Park https://www.alapark.com/parks/oak-mountain-state-park just south of Birmingham has nice trails and reasonably priced hotels nearby if you’re looking for a place to stay in the middle of the state. Nearby is one of the best mexican restaurants in the state, that is hidden inside an Ashley Furniture store.

I’ll third or fourth the USS Alabama trip it’s cool. Also, the ride on old (scenic)98 by the bay up to Fairhope is a nice change from baking yourself on the beach in the middle of the day, there’s a few restaurants and shops downtown your wife might like, it probably would have bored me as a teenager.

Mobile can get sketchy fast, I’m sure there’s some things worth seeing there, but I haven’t taken the time to find them.

Beach wise I like Perdido Key better than our Alabama Beaches, but the Gulf Shores state Park beach is worth a trip, Note: Alcohol is prohibited on the beaches at the park. https://www.alapark.com/parks/gulf-state-park

I’ll hit up a couple of coworkers who know the gulf for restaurant recommendations.

[JTQ]

Jimmy Buffett favorite hang outs on the Gulf from "Garden & Gun". There is one in Spanish Fort and one on Orange Beach.

https://gardenandgun.com/articles/jimmy-buffett-favorite-beach-bars-gulf/

[lwt16]

Berman museum in Anniston has a nice collection of firearms.

I like the covered bridges. There’s one or two that are still operational.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horton_Mill_Covered_Bridge

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There’s 3 that are real close to each other.

Monte Sano state park has decent hiking. Lake Guntersville is nice for bass.

[Tensaw]

Blakely State Park is right up the road from the Battleship. It might be a nice quiet break if you guys are hustling around. Too, the river cruise of the delta out of Blakely is probably better than the duck boat tour I mentioned earlier. https://www.blakeleypark.com/

In Gulf Shores, both Sea N' Suds and The Shrimp Basket are good places for a quick lunch. Also, I an fairly sure that it is Papa Rocco's right off 59 that has *the best* baked oysters on the half shell. Dude... Check it out.

Last thing - If you get a chance to have cheese grits, you gotta try those out. Ed's Shed near the battleship has them. Le-git!

[fatdog]

Berman museum in Anniston has a nice collection of firearms. .

and lots of other eclectic stuff....https://exploreamag.org/berman-home-page/

the USS Alabama and the Space museum are the top two most interesting attractions in my book.

If the whole racing thing interests you this. (http://www.motorsportshalloffame.com/?homepage=true) Otherwise skip it.

And if you want to dump some rounds while you are here, there is always our own disneyland for shooters (http://thecmp.org/competitions/talladega-marksmanship-park/)

Or heck walk in and pick out your own M1 Garrand... (http://thecmp.org/cmp_sales/cmp-stores/south-store/)

[msstate56]

I lived in Mobile years ago. Definitely do the USS Alabama, then go eat at Felix’s Fish Camp. It’s about a half mile east of Battleship park. It’s my favorite place there and I still eat there every time I pass through. While in Gulf Shores I’d eat at Doc’s Seafood Shack or the Gulf Shores Steamer. If you’ve got small kids, the Hangout can keep them entertained for a while.

[BehindBlueI's]

I lived in Mobile years ago. Definitely do the USS Alabama, then go eat at Felix’s Fish Camp.

We've stopped at eaten at "Skipper's Fish Camp" twice as we were passing through the GA/FL area. Why do they call them Fish Camps? Sound like a way to trick the fish into coming there. Sign your tasty tasty children up for Fish Camp yet?

[msstate56]

It’s about as far from a “fish camp” as you can get. It’s actually a really nice restaurant. Just spent a bunch of money to make the outside “rustic.” Lots of restaurants come and go on the Causeway, but Felix’s has been a mainstay for a couple decades.

Oh- I went to Space Camp at the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville as a kid. Really cool place. Also puts things in perspective when you can stand next to a Saturn V rocket 😁

[BehindBlueI's]

If you’re an MHI fan there’s Desoto Caverns in Childersburg.

What's MHI?

[Stephanie B]

What's MHI?
Monster Hunters International (https://www.amazon.com/Monster-Hunter-International-Hunters-Book-ebook/dp/B00APAH7PQ).

It's probably too early to see the Hurricane Dorian Didn't Hit Here historical marker.....

[Coyotesfan97]

Stephanie provided the link. The first chapter where Owen fights his werewolf boss is great! DeSoto Caverns was the setting for the final confrontation in the first book of the series.

[BehindBlueI's]

Monster Hunters International (https://www.amazon.com/Monster-Hunter-International-Hunters-Book-ebook/dp/B00APAH7PQ).

It's probably too early to see the Hurricane Dorian Didn't Hit Here historical marker.....


Stephanie provided the link. The first chapter where Owen fights his werewolf boss is great! DeSoto Caverns was the setting for the final confrontation in the first book of the series.

Thanks, was only vaguely aware of the existence of the books. I've got my little AL map printed out and marking things of interest for our loop. I should probably avoid Aniston given the current cost of CMP rifles...

[lwt16]

If you do go through Anniston, stop in Gadsden at Noccalula falls.

The waterfall was weak today but it’s cheap to get in and there’s a mile or two of trails.


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Eat at Pruett BBQ. Get the sampler platter. 15.00 of artery clogging perfection.

[Mjolnir]

Bryant-Denny Stadium

Welcome to the Dirty South!

Geaux, Tigers! [emoji234] [emoji234]

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[LOKNLOD]

When in Alabama, don't miss Issippi.

[fatdog]

Not sure of your timing, but the big "Gunney Memorial" GSSF match is at the CMP Park near Talladega on 9/21-22 and that is indeed the biggest and best facility where they ever have one of those things...

http://gssfonline.com/match-info.cfm

Saturday is massively crowded, but Sunday my posse and I arrive around 11:00 a.m. and we historically experience near zero wait time for every stage....I have arrived, shot the match, and been gone in about an hour before...if it coincided with your plans (or anybody else within range) we would be happy for you to join us!

[BehindBlueI's]

... stop in Gadsden at Noccalula falls.

Eat at Pruett BBQ. Get the sampler platter. 15.00 of artery clogging perfection.

So roughly a year later:

We passed through the area again this year and we did both. Noccalula Falls was very nice. We hit 4 waterfalls in the general region of Fort Payne and Gadsden, then stayed the night before continuing on the the "Little Grand Canyon" in Georgia. One seasonal one was dry, but the others were all picturesque. Beautiful country.

Pruett was a bit more of a mixed bag. I did get the sampler platter, my wife got beef, my son got pork. The fried chicken was phenomenal and the fried catfish was good, but I thought the barbecue itself was pretty middle-of-the-road. The pork was fine, but not much smoke taste. The beef was dry and basically a pot roast with sweet barbecue sauce. They don't call it brisket, so I don't know what cut it actually was, but also not much in the way of smoke taste. The sauce was also a bit on the sweet side for me, but that's highly subjective. If I went back, I'd stick to the fried chicken with a side of mustard greens and potato salad.

[lwt16]

For chicken and catfish, hit Mud Creek BBQ in Hollywood, AL off 72e and visit Russell cave.

https://m.facebook.com/pages/Mud-Creek-BBQ/110057352387097

https://www.nps.gov/ruca/index.htm

No charge for Russell Cave and there’s a short but steep hiking trail.

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Can’t remember if I mentioned Cheaha state park. Highest point in Ala.

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[pangloss]

For chicken and catfish, hit Mud Creek BBQ in Hollywood, AL off 72e and visit Russell cave.

https://m.facebook.com/pages/Mud-Creek-BBQ/110057352387097

https://www.nps.gov/ruca/index.htm

No charge for Russell Cave and there’s a short but steep hiking trail.

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Unless you're tired of BBQ, in which case you should eat at Dave's Pizza in Homewood. I think it is the best pizza in the world, but others disagree. I lived in Birmingham for 6.5 years and sadly, this is the only suggestion I have to contribute to this old thread, which I leave here now for the next person looking for info on Alabama tourism.

When I was a kid, a close family friend was a park ranger at Russell Cave. He was the guy that taught my dad to shoot and who gave me the M1 Garand that's in my safe right now. I haven't been there in decades. Every time I've been close, I thought that I'd squeeze in a stop but never have.

[ranger]

I would at least pass through Monroeville, but I'm a closet literary nerd.

We have a paper mill there and I spent 6 months in Monroeville area - could not imagine going there if not paid to do so.