The Adventure Begins at the End of Your Driveway!

The solution to your getaway is sitting in your garage—pack up the car and hit the road!  In northwest Alabama take scenic, meandering State Highway 43 or Highway 72 in the northeast.  From Birmingham or Chattanooga, you have easy access from I-59.  Or hit the high points off of the I-65 right down the middle of the state.  Whatever you want, you can easily get to some great places you’ll never forget, and there’s no better way to get reacquainted with your family than an unforgettable North Alabama Road Trip.

The Northwestern most part of the state is comprised of six beautiful counties—Lauderdale, Colbert, Franklin, Marion, Lawrence, and Winston—with an abundance of attractions to please any history buff, outdoorsman, or anyone who just wants to get away from it all!

If you’re in the mood to rediscover some of Alabama’s most notable legacies, your first stop should be the museums of Florence: Kennedy-Douglas Center for the Arts, Pope’s Tavern Museum, W.C. Handy Birthplace and Museum, and the only house in Alabama designed by renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright, the Rosenbaum House.  If you’re in the mood for a round of golf, there’s Robert Trent Jones Trail at the Shoals, the first Trail course to break 8,000 yards.

It’s a 15-minute trip south on Hwy. 43 to step into the shoes of one of Alabama’s most heroic people, Helen Keller.  Ivy Green, Her birthplace in Tuscumbia, was built in 1820 and is on the National Register of Historic Places.  Located conveniently near downtown, the home contains many of the furnishings from Helen’s time, including the water pump made famous in The Miracle Worker.

While in Tuscumbia, be sure to check out the Alabama Music Hall of Fame and get the scoop on some of the state’s most famous music stars from Hank Williams and Dinah Washington to Lionel Richie and Nat King Cole.  Since there is a recording studio on site where you can make your own hit single or video, you may be joining these celebrities one day!  You’re also not going to want to miss Spring Park, located downtown, which has rides for the kids and a dazzling lighted water show in the evenings.

From music legends to one of America’s greatest sports heroes, you can take State Routes 157 or 24 from Hwy. 43 to Oakville, the location of Jesse Owens Memorial Park that honors Olympic track legend Jesse Owens, the winner of four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Games.  There are also ball fields, playgrounds, picnic pavilions, a gift shop, and a broad jump pit where you can test your own agility!  On the way, learn about Alabama’s first residents at the Oakville Indian Mounds Park and Museum.

If you’re in the mood for one of the most beautiful forests in the world, take Route 33 south out of Moulton right into the heart of Bankhead National Forest.  Comprised of 180,000 acres, you will find an abundance of bluffs, canyons, springs, lakes, and waterfalls ideal for family fun or intimate picnics.

As Route 33 runs into Route 278, take a right to see the Natural Bridge of Alabama.  Be sure your camera is loaded because you won’t want to miss capturing the beauty of this 148-foot sandstone bridge towering 60 feet above scenic, winding paths.  Although it was created thousands of years ago by erosion, today it is a picturesque spot in an idyllic forest setting.

Keep heading west on 278 to Hamilton where you can see pottery made the “old fashioned” way at Brown’s Pottery on County Road 81.  Jerry Brown, a ninth generation potter, digs his own clay and processes it with a mule-powered mill, then fires it in an authentic “groundhog” kiln.  Handcrafted wares are available for purchase (so don’t miss out on a whimsical “face jug!”).

If you want to see some cool geological features, head north on Hwy. 43 to Phil Campbell.  Just  outside of town you’ll see Dismal’s Canyon, a National Natural Landmark that has romantic cabins, campsites, swimming, canoeing, a country store, and more set among a pristine wilderness.  At twilight, in the hot months of summer, creatures called Dismalites cover the canyon floor.  They can be best described as blue-green “glowworms” and Dismal’s is one of only a few places outside of New Zealand they are known to exist.

Time for some fun on the lake?  Then head north on Hwy. 43 and take 72 east and head to Wheeler Lake in Rogersville.  There are so many things to do here that you’ll find yourself extending your stay!  Park the car and indulge yourself at eh 2,500- acre Joe Wheeler State Park & Resort.  Relax in luxury at the three-story redwood and stone lodge or “rough it” in style at one of the many campsites.  From 18 holes of golf to tennis, boating, swimming, and picnicking, at retreat on the shores of Wheeler Lake is the perfect cap to a trip through Northwest Alabama!

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS in this “neck of the woods” include:  LaGrange College Site Park in Leighton; Bear Creek Development Authority in Russellville; Doublehead Resort in Town Creek; and much much more!

Dismals Canyon offers a quiet and unspoiled oasis in one of Alabama’s finest hiding places

Interstate 65 is one of the most traveled thoroughfares in our region.  From the southern edge in Blount County to the northern trip in Ardmore, there are plenty of activities for any traveler passing through our beautiful region.  With major cities and towns mixed amongst quaint communities and rural areas, don’t be surprised if you find your new hometown while you’re here!

As you enter the state on I-65 south, passing through the Ardmores (Tennessee and Alabama), your first stop should be Athens, home of the Alabama Veterans Museum, that pays tribute to Alabamians who have served their country well in wars around the world.  Be sure to check out the Bayhill Marina & Condos on Wheeler Lake…you’ll be glad you did!

Heading further south on I-65, Exit 340 will take you in two directions.  Let’s head west first to the bustling city of Decatur whose historic district of lush Victorian homes you will not want to miss!  Also be sure to put Point Mallard Park on your trip.  This 750-acre park has fun activities year round—the country’s very first wave pool, 18-hole golf course, campground, tennis courts, hiking trails, and an indoor ice rink!  Time your trip just right and you can see a performance at the historic Princess Theatre for the Performing Arts, restored to its art deco glory.  Stop off in Hartselle where you will find some unique treasures at one of the many local antique shops!

If you head east at Exit 340, you’ll get on the I-65 extension, I-565, which will take you to the historic one-mile square town of Mooresville.  Established in 1818, this village is older than Alabama itself and features the 1820s Stagecoach Inn & Tavern where future president Andrew Johnson once stayed in 1825.  There’s also an 1839 brick church and the 1840 town post office.

Just a few miles further east on Hwy. 72 is the fast growing city of Madison, home of the Limestone Flea Market that encompasses 100,000 square feet of wares including antiques, glassware, jewelry, and other collectibles.

Further east on 565 is the region’s largest city, the booming and constantly growing Huntsville, home to the world-famous U.S. Space & Rocket Center.  The little ones will love EarlyWorks, the South’s largest hands-on history complex comprised of Alabama Constitution Village, Historic Huntsville Depot, and the Children’s Museum.  For an interactive experience in the world of science, Sci-Quest has over 125 hands-on interactive exhibits.  You can also see stunning artwork at the Huntsville Museum of Art or lose yourself in a maze among lush greenery at the Huntsville Botanical Gardens.  You’ll have to see the “Jewel on the Mountain,” the Burritt on the Mountain Living Museum, Henry William Burritt’s eclectic mansion and a state park that features a variety of concerts, plays, and exhibitions year round. Perfer the outdoors? Hike one of The Land Trust of Huntsville's 33+ miles of free public trails.

There is no way you’ll be able to see all there is to see along the I-65 corridor in northern Alabama.  Aside from the stops mentioned earlier, there’s also the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge in Morgan County; Cook’s Natural Science Museum, and the Carnegie Visual Arts Center in Decatur;  Ol’ Heidelberg, Veterans Memorial Museum, Monte Sano State Park, and the Benton H. Wilcoxon Municipal Ice Complex in Huntsville.

Back on 65 South, Cullman, with its charming antique shops and sumptuous dining, is the perfect diversion.  Biblical history comes alive at the Ave Maria Grotto, a 4-acre park that features 125 miniature replicas of structures from the Bible, all of which were hand-built by a devoted Benedictine monk.  Cullman’s unique past is on display at the Cullman County Museum at the Wallace State Community College.  The collection features over 5,000 pieces from around the world collected over 65 years of international travel by Evelyn and Ottis Burrow.

If you decide to take the scenic route south out of Cullman, get on Hwy. 31 which will take you to Hanceville, home of the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament.  Inspired by the European Franciscan cathedrals and monasteries, the Shrine offers daily mass as well as pilgrimages.

You can head further south on Hwy. 31 or I-65 to Blount County, Alabama’s Covered Bridge Capital, to see striking covered bridges close to Easley, Horton Mill, and Swann.  What could be more relaxing than taking a leisurely drive, any time of the year, to see these iconic structures?

The beautiful sights in Alabama’s northeastern corner will simply take your breath away, from stunning lakes to the winding beauty along the Lookout Mountain Parkway that passes through Etowah, Cherokee, and Dekalb Counties.  And you won’t want to miss the stunning beauty of Marshall and Jackson Counties.  Aside form the natural splendor, those who like to “shop till they drop” will not be disappointed!

If you’re heading northeast on I-59, don’t pass up Gadsden.  Not only should you exit and visit the Little Faces Doll Shop—one stop shopping for doll enthusiasts—or the Mary G. Hardin Center for Cultural Arts with its art galleries and Imagination Place Children’s Museum or Noccalula Falls State Park, but it’s also the spot where you can literally take the scenic route on the Lookout Mountain Parkway (Routes 89/176).

It’s a quick detour off the Parkway or I-59 onto Highways 68 or 35 heading south to Weiss Lake, better known as the “Crappie Fishing Capital of the World”.  But don’t be surprised if you catch an abundance of bass!  Be sure to check out Chestnut Bay Resort in Leesburg which features a variety of beautiful lakeside or poolside villas and cabins. Also while in Centre be sure to take a stroll through time at the Cherokee County Historical Museum

The Parkway  will also take you through Little River Canyon National Preserve as well as DeSoto State Park which is flush with wildflowers, modern and primitive campgrounds, hiking and biking trails, waterfalls, boating, fishing, and an Olympic size swimming pool.  You won’t forget the views from this park that sits high atop Lookout Mountain!

Since you’re in the neighborhood, you might as well stop in Fort Payne and experience life from centuries ago at the Fort Payne Depot Museum. You won’t want to miss out on the history of some local boys who have their own museum—country super group ALABAMA—who’s fan club/museum is located right in their hometown.

Continue north on I-59 or the Parkway until you get to Mentone where you can check in at the Cloudmont Ski and Golf Resort or the Shady Grove Dude Ranch.  Both of these resorts rest atop Lookout Mountain amidst 1,000 acres of natural woodland beauty.  Take a look at eh Mentone Wedding Chapel, a version of the little churches our grandparents and their grandparents got married in and then book a night or two at the one of the many cabins or B&B’s in the area.

If you take Rout 431 North out of Gadsden, make sure you have plenty of space in the trunk for all of the bargains you’ll find in Boaz.  This “Shopper’s Paradise” is one of the largest retail spots in the Southeast.  From your favorite name brand retailers at the outlets to antiques and other specialty shops, you’ll find what you’re looking for in Boaz!

Further north on 431 you’ll reach Lake Guntersville State Park & Lodge in Guntersville.  This 6,000-acre state park is located along the shore of Lake Guntersville and offers swimming, boating, tennis, golf, hiking, and more.  The lodge, chalets, hotel, and convention center are on a bluff with breathtaking views of the magnificent lake.  A recent multi-million dollar facelift has truly made this resort a North Alabama treasure!

From 431 take a shortcut on Route 5 north and stop in at Grant to see the world’s largest stalagmite forest and the largest frozen waterfall at Cathedral Caverns State Park.  Human life in these limestone caves can be traces back 8,000 years!

If you get back on Route 5 north, you’ll it Hwy. 72 where you can head east to Scottsboro and see why a road trip is so much better than flying.  At Unclaimed Baggage Center, this unique clearing house has ten of thousands of items rescued from luggage and cargo that was never claimed from all the major airlines!  From Barbie dolls to backpacks, from CDs to skis, you’ll be surprised at the bargains that other people forgot about!

Further north on Hwy. 72 will take you to Stevenson home of the Stevenson Railroad Depot Museum which was once an important railroad junction during the Civil War.  Now it is home to military, agricultural, railroad, and Indian artifacts and, best of all, admission is free.

Other Highlights you won’t want to miss:  Vintage Vows Wedding Chapel, Goose Pond Colony, and the Scottsboro-Jackson Heritage Center in Scottsboro; Mountain Top Flea Market, Tigers for Tomorrow, and Wills Creek Winery in Atalla; Weiss Mart Marina in Cedar Bluff.