In honor of the Heart of Dixie, we’re serving up six reasons you should put Alabama on your travel radar.
Southern barbecue. Places like St. Louis and Kansas City get all the glory when it comes to barbecue, but Alabama more than holds its own when it comes to good ol’ fashioned outdoor grilling. Throughout the state, you’ll find everything from tangy vinegar-based sauces to tomato-based sauces with a fiery kick. Slow-cooked pork, beef, chicken and ribs are all on the menu.
Hidden vineyards. You don’t have to head to Northern California to spend a weekend wandering through lush vineyards with a wine glass in hand – instead, make your way toward Central Alabama. Muscadine grapes are de rigueur throughout Alabama, as are sweet wines, but you’ll find dry reds, too.
Rich civil rights history. There’s no question that Alabama was one of the most important sites when it came to the Civil Rights Movement in the 20th century. Today, you can explore this side of Alabama’s heritage at sites like the Rosa Parks Museum, Kelly Ingram Park (free audio tours are available) and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.
Great golf. Gorgeous rolling green hills beg you to grab your nine-iron and head out onto the courses of Alabama. With designs by the likes of Arnold Palmer, you know you’ll be up for a challenging game, and with backdrops of waterfalls, lakes and forests, you just can’t complain – even if you wind up in a bunker.
The world’s largest space flight museum. Take your own exploration into deep space at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville. At this NASA Visitor Center you can see one of the world’s largest collections of space memorabilia , feel like you’re shooting off into space with a 4G trip up the Space Shot or walk through the center’s Rocket Park.
Outdoor playground. Outdoorsy types will find plenty to enjoy under the Alabama sun. Fishing is something of a statewide pastime, as is hunting for white-tailed deer, turkey and quail. If you’re not much of a hunter, you can still enjoy the scenery on Alabama’s beaches (where sea turtles are common sights) or on trails like the Alabama Scenic River Trail.
(Main image: finchlake2000)
