Traveling in Alabama
A southern state that doesn’t get too much attention in the 21st century, Alabama was actually the center of one of America’s greatest cultural movements. Alabama is known today for its deep southern culture, and for its history in being the starting point to the end of segregation. Alabama is often overlooked as a travel destination, but with a several miles of beach along the Gulf of Mexico, mountainous wilderness in the north, and cities rich with history and welcoming southern hospitality, the state has much to offer.
Montgomery
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The capital of the southern state of Alabama comes with lots of history and southern tradition. During the civil war, Montgomery was the first capital of the confederacy states of America. Today the Confederate White House still stands and is one of several historical buildings from the Confederacy. Other historical places of interest is the church where Martin Luther King preached, and the bus stop where Rosa Parks took a stand in 1955.
Birmingham
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The largest city in the state, Birmingham resides in the north central region of Alabama. Its history can’t compete with Montgomery’s, but there are still several historic sites worth checking out, and with a bigger city there are more options as far as night life and entertainment goes. Some good places to start with are Vulcan park and museum which gives a good run down on the city’s history.
Cathedral Caverns
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Few people would expect Alabama to have some of the most spectacular caves in the United States. Cathedral Caverns is the largest commercially operated cave, with guided tours taking visitors along a lit walkway that goes for over a kilometer into the cave. Surrounding Cathedral Caverns are dozens of other caves, many of them requiring permits to visit, and some requiring serious technical skills. Most of these caves offer some spectacular underground scenery, from gaping holes in the earth to underground waterfalls.
Mobile
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Founded in 1702, the city of Mobile was the original French colonial capital of their territory of Louisiana. In the past few hundred years, the city has changed flags six different times, starting with France to Britain, Spain, the United States, to the confederacy, and finally returning to USA. Today, Mobile is known for its diverse history, and even as the birthplace of the Mardis Gras festival in the USA.
Gulf Shores
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Alabama’s resort city along the Gulf of Mexico, the city of Gulf Shores is where you can find white sandy beaches, strips of hotels, and clear subtropical water to swim in. With most east coast travelers going to the famous beaches in Florida, a visit to the Gulf Shores will put you in smaller crowds which is mostly made up of locals. The areas outside of the gulf shores are filled with wetlands and wildlife and offer some great bird watching opportunities.
