UPDATE: This post is written by Calhoun County Insight. Learn more at: http://calhouncountyinsight.com/
It’s not often that a three-day weekend comes along without a whole lot of fibbing about illness and funerals, and we aim to help make sure that this Labor Day weekend you’re able to make the most of the official time off with your friends, family and yourself. What better way to spend those precious 72 hours than touring your very own state?
Alabama has a lot to offer for vacationers, and most spots worth visiting are close enough to make it there in only a few hours, meaning more time at the beach, in the mountains or enjoying the city. Take a look at our top five Alabama destinations and get out there!
Mt. Cheaha State Park – http://www.alapark.com/cheaha-state-park
With gorgeous views, fine dining and several ways to stay on the mountain, Mt. Cheaha State Park is a versatile, beautiful option. Visitors can stay in the Cheaha Resort Hotel, rough it on the campgrounds or, our personal favorite, lodge in one of the park’s mountainside cabins. It’s a very romantic destination for couples or for when you just want to get away from it all for a while.
Gulf Shores – http://www.gulfshores.com
If you’re looking for fun and sun, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are the spot for activities and taking a dip in the ocean. Visitors can swim, fish, take a boat out for a spin, zip-line and even get in a game of golf, all without leaving Alabama. There’s more than just partying and playing, though; check out the Alabama Civil War Trail for history about battles for the bay and visit Fort Morgan, where the Confederacy stood guard by the sea.
Montgomery – http://www.visitingmontgomery.com
Montgomery has some of everything, whether you’re looking for sports, history, family activities or cultural touchstones like art and theatre. Take the kids to the Montgomery Zoo to feed giraffes by hand, ride paddleboats and meet lions up close, and then visit Tuskegee to learn about the famous airmen at the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site or head to the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts to see Southern art and international works that span centuries.
Fort Payne – www.fortpayne.org
Country music has a home base in Fort Payne, where the country supergroup Alabama got their start taking over the radio for more than three decades. Visit the Alabama Fan Club and Museum to see authentic artifacts from the band, and then check out Fort Payne’s train depot museum to learn more about life on the rails in historic ‘Bama. Top it off with a stroll through nature at the Little River Canyon Center’s trails.
Birmingham – www.birminghamal.org
Birmingham has it all: parks, zoos, kids’ museums, and walking tours of city history. The McWane Science center lets kids see dinosaurs up close and find out how to do a weather newscast, or lay on a bed of nails (don’t worry, it’s safe!), while Splash Adventure Waterpark will keep the whole family cool. Stop by the Birmingham Museum of Art for incredible artwork from throughout history (including beautiful Renaissance works) or visit the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute to learn about the role Birmingham played in the civil rights movement. Not least of all, check out the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame to get your groove back.
Be sure to be safe out there, and let us know how your trip goes this Labor Day!
Categories: Local Scenes Stuff
