Miracles and Music

Check out some of Northern Alabama's best spots for music history!

See where the music that rocked the world got its start on the Miracles & Music tour. Visit three world-famous recording studios where artists like Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones, Cher, Bob Segar, Paul Simon, and many others recorded. See memorabilia from Alabama’s greatest musicians at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, and visit “Father of the Blues” W.C. Handy’s home. You’ll be amazed at the talent and history that’s from the Shoals area!

Tour Timeline: Any Season

(Please note, depending on when flight arrives at Huntsville International Airport, optional afternoon and evening receptions or destination stops may be added.)

Destinations

Alabama Music Hall of Fame

1. Alabama Music Hall of Fame

Honors the outstanding achievements and the music of Alabamians. You’ll hear rocking rhythms and soul touching melodies as you admire the vast memorabilia from the lives and careers of more than 1,000 stars, representing all styles of America’s music.

2. FAME Recording Studios

Established in 1959, was the first successful, professional recording studio in Alabama. Arthur Alexander’s 1961 hit, “You Better Move On,” cut here, launched the famous Muscle Shoals sound. The internationally acclaimed documentary, Muscle Shoals released in 2013, told the story of FAME and its founder, Rick Hall.

Muscle Shoals Sound Studio

3. Muscle Shoals Sound Studio

Established in 1969 by a group of former FAME session musicians, this was the location where the Rolling Stones, Cher, Bob Segar, Rod Stewart, Paul Simon, Art Garfunkle, and many others created some of the most popular hits of the 1970’s. The rhythm section was eventually immortalized as “The Swampers” by Lynyrd Skynyrd in the lyrics to “Sweet Home Alabama.”

4. Cypress Moon Studios

Founded in 1978, was the second location of the legendary Muscle Shoals Sound Studio for over 25 years, where the “Swampers” continued to record hits after moving from their Jackson Highway location. Recording artists including Bob Segar, Bob Dylan, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Dr. Hook, Etta James, Clarence Carter, Julian Lennon, Glenn Frey, and countless others.

Rattle Snake Saloon & Seven Springs Lodge

5. Rattlesnake Saloon

Old-fashioned saloon feel, with swinging doors, a large porch that hosts live music and hitching post. Built into a massive rock outcropping. Sandwiches, wings and more. Open: Th-Sa 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Helen Keller Birthplace

6. Helen Keller Home, Gardens and Museum

Located just a couple miles from Spring Park. The plantation home and birthplace cottage, dating back to the 1820’s are listed on the National Historic Register of Historic Places. Original furnishings of the Keller family decorate the home and museum, highlighted by hundreds of Miss Keller’s personal mementos, books, and gifts from her lifetime of travel and lectures for the betterment of the world’s blind and deaf-blind.

Oakville Indian Mounds Education Center

  • Location: 1219 County Road 187 Danville, AL 35619
  • Phone: (256) 905-2499
7. Oakville Indian Mound & Museum

The Oakville Indian Mounds Education Center is a park and museum site encompassing 122 acres of woodlands, meadows, and a large lake. Couples can choose from several outdoor sites with stunning vistas of the lake and Indian Mounds. With over 20,000 artifacts on display, the Cherokee Council House Museum serves as a unique venue for indoor weddings.

8. WC Handy Home, Museum, & Library

Contains the most complete collection in the world of the personal papers and artifacts of the “Father of the Blues.” The hand-hewn logs in the cabin are original.

9. Cypress Cove

Identified as Site #51, Northwest Loop of the North Alabama Birding Trail, the farm features two wooded birding observation areas as well as three ponds and six miles of nature trails divided into 10 paths. Along with the bird observation sites and bird sanctuary, existing farm structures at Cypress Cove Farm have been modified for use as bird blinds and education facilities. The farm includes a working gristmill, antique tractors and blacksmithing demonstrations for groups.

Red Bay Museum

10. Red Bay Museum

The museum showcases various displays artifacts of Red Bay's past and also a display of items donated by Tammy Wynette and family and friends of Tammy.

RTJ Golf Trail at the Shoals

  • Location: 990 Sunbelt Parkway Muscle Shoals, AL 35661
  • Phone: 256 446-5111, 256-446-4480 cell 334-618-
  • http://www.rtjgolf.com
11. Robert Trent Jones at the Shoals

The Fighting Joe Course at The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at the Shoals is the first Trail course to break 8,000 yards, measuring some 8,072 from the black tees. The second course, The Schoolmaster, opened in 2005.

U.S. Space & Rocket Center

12. US Space & Rocket Center

Huntsville is home to the largest space museum in the world: the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. Not only is America’s space program on exhibit in Huntsville, it was forged in Huntsville. We’re known as the “Rocket City” because Huntsville, Alabama is where rockets were developed that put men on the moon.

EarlyWorks Children's Museum

13. EarlyWorks

The EarlyWorks Family of Museums include the Alabama Constitution Village, the Huntsville Depot and Museum, and EarlyWorks Children's History Museum. These three museums in the heart of historic downtown Huntsville will take you on a journey back in time. Experience history as it comes to life.

Huntsville Botanical Garden

14. Huntsville Botanical Garden

Huntsville Botanical Garden is located in the heart of Madison County, right off I-565, adjacent to the US Space & Rocket Center and offers the optimal blend – wildlife, foliage, florals, trails, specialty gardens, pavilions, a butterfly house, walkways, lakes, and more.

Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Hampton Cove

15. Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Hampton Cove

The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Hampton Cove offers 54-holes of rolling terrain and challenging golf shots. The Highlands course is a traditional Scottish-Links design, while the River course features water on 16 of 18 holes and is the only trail with no bunkers.

1818 Farms

  • 24889 Lauderdale Street
  • (256) 714-3220

Located on three acres in the northwest corner of the historic village of Mooresville, AL (pop.58), 1818 Farms is named…

306 BBQ - Florence

  • 322 North Court Street
  • (256) 766-5665

306 BBQ serves authentic slow cooked, pit smoked barbecue. We serve only the highest quality beef, pork and poultry…