Enjoying North Alabama’s cities, towns, and green spaces with a walking impairment

by Jodie St. Clair

Jodie St. Clair is the video editor and content creator behind Learners and Makers, a family and accessible travel blog and YouTube channel. She and her husband, writer and content creator Anthony St. Clair, empower families and people with mobility disabilities to travel confidently, their way. At the age of 13 in 1995, Jodie became an above-knee amputee after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma, or bone cancer. The Learners and Makers have been traveling the world with their two children since 2022.

A person’s accessibility needs take so many forms, especially when we take a trip. I’m an above-knee amputee who uses a trekking pole and a prosthetic leg to aid my walking mobility. I’m also a mom of two, a wife, and a world traveler.

You might find me wandering ancient ruins in Cambodia, hiking in North Alabama, or crossing a busy street in Vietnam. The things I consider when visiting a place come into play not just for amputees, but for people with a range of walking impairments or disabilities, such as older adults, people who have joint problems, or even new parents navigating the world with a stroller or baby carrier.

The accessibility of a place or attraction influences where my family and I travel. My husband and kids want me to enjoy our sightseeing and activities just as much as they do, so we look for destinations that are doing the work of improving access.

When you have a walking impairment like I do, I hope my experience visiting North Alabama with a disability helps you make the right choices for your own mobility and travel.

Making North Alabama more welcoming for people who have difficulty walking

From the urban joys of Huntsville to seeing up close the natural beauty of this region’s hills, lakes, and forests, my visit to North Alabama impressed me time and again with how well I could get around and spend more time enjoying my visit instead of putting all my attention on each step I took.

Our week in North Alabama included Huntsville, Guntersville, Fort Payne, Bridgeport, Scottsboro, and the surrounding areas. Throughout the region, my family and I found not only accessible attractions, but a deep understanding that accessibility doesn’t just make it easier for people with disabilities or impairments to visit. Accessibility makes a place more welcoming and easier to visit for everyone.

Huntsville: Space, gardens & grub

Huntsville is one of Alabama’s largest metro areas. The modern city embraces its history, while also being unafraid to renew, rejuvenate, and change. We especially noticed this spirit of welcome at two must-visit attractions in Huntsville: the U.S. Space and Rocket Center and the Huntsville Botanical Garden.

Accessible space exploration at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville

Huntsville’s U.S. Space and Rocket Center (USSRC) is an homage to the history of space exploration, a snapshot of where space research is today, and the public’s primary way to check out rockets, space shuttles, and other flight technology.

And whether with ramps, broad paths, or free wheelchair rentals, it’s also incredibly accessible. The USSRC is a sprawling indoor and outdoor space exploration wonderland. There’s so much to see, but also a large area to cover. When you have a walking impairment, that can get pretty tiring.

To save my walking energy for when I needed it, I rented a motorized scooter from the admissions desk. After a brief tutorial on how to use the controls, my family walked while I scooted along the interactive exhibits. The scooter is longer than a typical wheelchair, and that could make turns on accessible ramp platforms a little tight, but I took it slow and didn’t have any problems.

When it was time for our planetarium show, we arrived early so a staff member could guide us to the elevator and to the accessible seating at the top of the planetarium.

Get the most out of your energy and mobility by making a plan for your top priorities at the USSRC

Smooth slopes and wide turn areas made it easy for me to follow my family as we explored the outdoor Rocket Park and Shuttle Park, along with the indoor Saturn V Hall, which is home to an Apollo landing module.

If you opt to walk instead of using a scooter or wheelchair, it helps to plan your top priorities for your USSRC visit. For example, the Saturn V Hall is at the far end of the USSRC complex. If it’s your top priority, consider heading there first, then working backward, so you can be more certain that you’ll enjoy the main things you came for.

Enjoy nature on a tram tour at Huntsville Botanical Garden

Ever since a group of volunteers in 1988 decided that Huntsville needed a botanical garden, the space has grown, much like the thousands of varieties of plants that call the garden home. From its original 35 acres, today’s Huntsville Botanical Garden spans 118 acres, mostly varieties native to the North Alabama region, which is thought to have a biodiversity on par with the Amazon rainforest.

Tram tours, mobility scooters, and wheelchairs are available

Natural surface paths criss-cross the garden. A regular schedule of ADA-accessible open-air tram tours makes it easier for visitors with walking impairments to enjoy the gardens too. Each ramp-enabled tram can secure one mobility device inside.

Like the USSRC, I found it easier for my mobility to make use of the tram tour. As an amputee, some days my prosthetic leg and I don’t get along very well, and today was one of those days.

However, I don’t want to miss out on the things my family and I have planned. Nor did I want us to have to change plans. On another day, I would’ve loved to have walked around more of the garden myself. Knowing that I could ride the tram, then get off here and there to walk around, made it much easier to enjoy the garden even when I was having a hard time with my walking.

If visitors prefer to get around on their own, staff in the main visitor center can advise on paths or specific garden areas to prioritize. The Damson Aquatic Garden is one of the most scenic spots for family photos, and our daughter especially enjoyed romping through Tweetsville and the Wicks Family Garden.

Guests can also borrow a mobility scooter or manual wheelchair on a first-come, first-served basis.

Wander the special Mama Zelda’s Hair exhibit

New for 2025, Danish artist Thomas Dambo designed the special exhibit Mama Zelda’s Hair in the Mother Earth Troll Garden. This semi-permanent interactive art is designed to last for 10-15 years—and the wood for the face of Mama Zelda herself came from Jack Daniels barrels.

The natural paths and winding walls of branches and sticks have occasional narrow spots. However, the space’s design accommodates kids, toddlers, and people with limited walking mobility finding their way to Mama Zelda in the center. 

Great places to eat in Huntsville

Huntsville is home to a diverse local restaurant scene. Here are two spots we’d suggest:

Stovehouse

If we lived in the Huntsville area, we’d hang out at Stovehouse all the time, all year. The former site of a stove manufacturer is now a delightful indoor/outdoor dining and gathering space.

A range of small restaurants can cater to all palates. Our family alone enjoyed Japanese-style tonkatsu ramen, a banana Nutella crepe, and plant-focused Mediterranean bowls.

Ramps and broad paths make it easier to access and enjoy the inside and outdoor spaces, which include picnic tables, porch swings, and open areas for romping and gathering.

Yellowhammer Brewing

Wood-fired pizza and craft beer? Yes, please. Along with a step-free entry, accessible restrooms, and a range of indoor and outdoor seating, Yellowhammer Brewing designed this space to welcome people of all mobilities.

Guntersville: Gateway to nature, history & culture

From its peninsular location at the southern end of Lake Guntersville on the Tennessee River, Guntersville surprised us and delighted us. The heartfelt, vibrant downtown was safe, easy to park in, and offered a range of restaurants and shops. We could feel the history here, yet if recent developments such as the lakeside restaurants and lodging around Guntersville City Harbor are any sign, this is a community that embraces change, renewal, and a big, broad welcome.

Experience vibrant history at the Guntersville Museum & Cultural Center

Built by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in 1936 as part of a Depression-era recovery project, the building housing this local museum previously served as a National Guard armory, high school, and a storage space for event floats prior to a 2007 renovation.

Today’s Guntersville Museum & Cultural Center is an accessible space where breathing room, living history, and a deep sense of immersion come with each exhibit. Out-of-town visitors like us could still feel the threads of time and generations that have come together in the now.

Our kids delighted in the boat hanging from the ceiling, and a detail-rich model of an old general store. An oral history booth featured videos from local people through the ages, as did a traditional history gallery, a gallery devoted to Native American history, the stories of area veterans, and even a special exhibition on the Moonshiners of Marshall County exhibition.

Go from the hilltops to the lake shore at Lake Guntersville State Park

If our travels from coast to coast in the USA have taught us anything, it’s that state parks are often the absolute gems of a state’s outdoor recreation areas. Pride of place and a love of the land shine through in state parks, and that was all the brighter to us as we stood at a hilltop outside overlook at The Lake Guntersville State Park Lodge.

Inside the lodge, I could easily navigate stairs, hallways, and the overlook itself. From here, we followed the circling trails of hovering vultures, spied for eagles, and wondered what other life awaited along the shores of the Lake Guntersville State Park Campground (which has 3 accessible campsites).

On a small peninsula jutting out into the 69,000-acre Lake Guntersville, the Lakeside Pavilion requires crossing about a hundred yards of grassy ground. Once there, though, I could relax at a picnic table under the pavilion, or wander along the lake shore, where my son gathered driftwood and my daughter watched a great blue heron glide just above the water.

Knowing that I could enjoy a space like this, as a person with limited mobility, is the joy of public lands. With forests, hills, the lake, the river, the lodge, the campground, and a range of land and water recreation options, Lake Guntersville State Park offers exactly the every-person grandiosity of natural beauty that is North Alabama.

Great places to eat in and near Guntersville

Our family stayed at the Home2Suites by Hilton Guntersville, so much of our dining out was in the Guntersville area. Here are a few places we enjoyed, and that I found easy to access.

Top O' The River

Top O' The River had us at fried pickles, but the included pan of fresh cornbread and pail of cole slaw made us swoon. The fried catfish was a delight, too, along with a big scoop of warm-welcome North Alabama hospitality.

Kilwins Ice Cream, Chocolate & Fudge

There’s no better way to arrive in a new place than knowing delectable sweet treats are a short walk away. We started our visit to North Alabama with dark chocolate buckeyes from Kilwins. Next time, we wouldn’t mind snagging a few Dubai-style versions, complete with pistachio and phyllo dough.

Pizza Ed

Just a couple of blocks from our lakeside hotel, Pizza Ed made it easy to have a night in for relaxing and recharging. From their excellent menu, we feasted on Greek salad, fried ravioli, chicken fettuccine, pita chips and spinach artichoke dip, and a pepperoni and sausage pizza.

La Esquina Cocina

La Esquina Cocina not only offered tangy margarita, thick tortilla chips, and a hearty yet elegant menu. It was just a short walk from our hotel, and that made it all the easier to justify the tres leches cake for dessert.

Rock House Eatery

The laid-back elegance of this stone-walled restaurant near downtown Guntersville sets the tone for an intimate evening of good food at Rock House Eatery.

Local Joe’s Albertville

Just a short drive from Guntersville, Local Joe’s was just right for a hearty night of hospitality and barbecue in nearby Albertville. Whether fries or nachos, brisket or pork, sandwiches or flatbreads, Local Joe’s was the place for a meal that leaves you joyfully full.

Fort Payne: Accessible waterfall and engaging history

A revitalizing downtown and accessible outdoor recreation made the small town of Fort Payne a delight. Access to nature while being close to town makes it easier for me to get more out of my day, especially since my walking pace is slower.

Accessible hiking: Talmadge Butler Boardwalk Trail at DeSoto State Park

At the parking lot in front of a 360-yard Talmadge Butler Boardwalk Trail, where a long wooden boardwalk stretched across fallen leaves into the woods, I wondered what I was about to face.

In principle, boardwalks make so much sense for accessible hiking. Boardwalks can run long, straight, and even, with a more level, flat surface. Sometimes, though, I’ve encountered boardwalks where the wood becomes really slick when it’s wet. Other times, the board spacing has been so wide that I had to take extra care not to get my trekking pole stuck in the gap, or not catch my toe and trip.

However, Alabama’s pride in its public lands shows at DeSoto State Park, on the northeastern edge of Fort Payne. Improving accessibility has been a priority for years, with park staff taking on visitor feedback to make quick fixes and plan for larger improvements or redesigns.

The moment I set foot on this boardwalk, I knew all was going to be fine. The tight-set boards are so close together that I never had to worry about my toe or my trekking pole. Instead, I could chat with my family and gaze at the autumnal trees and the massive, lichen-covered boulders strewn about the little hollow where the boardwalk runs deep into the hills.

The boardwalk ends at a 20-foot octagon deck that spans a creek. From the open end, leaves crunched under heavy footfalls as my kids explored the woods, boulders, and hillside.

Fort Payne Depot Museum

Just minutes from DeSoto State Park, downtown Fort Payne thrives with local small businesses and joy in its history. Whether the Fort Payne Dekalb Theatre, statues of Alabama band members, or the Fort Payne Walk of Fame that features Pete the Cat children’s book author and artist James Dean, the town takes a deep pride in its history.

That pride keeps going, past City Park, the Fort Payne Opera House, and the Fort Payne Hosiery Museum, to the rising gable of the 1891 sandstone Fort Payne Depot Museum. Passenger rail ran here until 1976, and freight rail traffic ended in 1983. Today, that history of travel and trade is kept alive in the depot, which now serves as a museum and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Ground-level entry made it easy for me to head inside the museum from the adjoining parking lot. Exhibits weave throughout the former waiting areas, bringing to life what it was like to travel on and work on the railroad. The path can feel a little narrow at times, but the even floors and good lighting make it easy to get around.

Outside, a caboose is open to visitors, but going up the steps can be tricky. Inside, though, my kids and I delighted at the mural walls, adding whimsy to the history.

Little River Canyon Center and Little River Falls

Throughout our visit to North Alabama, we delighted in the drives along the rivers, and our hotel room and state park overlook views of Lake Guntersville. But to know that North Alabama is home to three scenic waterfalls, we had to visit at least one.

Even though it was the lower-flow time of year, Little River Falls, at the start of Little River Canyon near Gaylesville, impressed us not only with the 45-foot cascade to the largest plunge pool we’ve ever seen. The curving sandstone between the falls and the overlook platform told us how much wider the falls can get during times of year with heavier water flow.

From the hundred-space parking lot, I could choose either a wide, even staircase down to the main observation platform, or follow the turns of an ADA-accessible wheelchair ramp. I chose the stairs this time, and soon, along with my family, was gazing out at the waterfall.

The four of us went back and forth between the main observation deck and a smaller platform that lines up with the plunge edge of the river. We spied for birds, pondered how different the falls could look in spring after winter rains, and daydreamed about romping in the plunge pool in summer.

Blocking in some time at the Little River Canyon Center is also essential. While Jacksonville State University owns and manages the center, the overall area is part of the Little River Canyon Preserve, or LIRI. We picked up a Junior Ranger booklet for the area, learned about the area’s flora and fauna, and even got to spend some time in the education room, checking out snakes, scorpions, and biofluorescence.

A great place to eat near Fort Payne: The Hatter Cafe

Nearby arts community Mentone is home to the whimsy, delight, and deliciousness of The Hatter Cafe. The main building combines a public restaurant and rentable B&B-style rooms with an eclectic Alice in Wonderland theme and delicious Alabama-inspired comfort food on the menu.

Out front in the gravel parking lot, an ADA-accessible ramp out front leads to floor space in the restaurant’s front that can accommodate mobility devices.

Spousal team Roger and Pamela originally were seeking a space where Pamela could open a tearoom. A fan since childhood of the Alice stories, Pamela had spent years collecting teapots, china, hankies, gloves, and other Wonderland-evoking memorabilia. When they found this house with its closed-in patio, then sat in the living room, they knew they had found their own Wonderland.

Pamela quips she married Roger for his collard greens. While he’s in the kitchen, she might be in the cafe’s shop, in a separate building near the main road. There, visitors can pick up souvenirs, crafts, and home-baked brownies, cookies, cupcakes, and more.

Bridgeport: Wander through history and over the river

The small town of Bridgeport keeps its connections to nature and history alive, and offers two excellent spaces for visitors who have mobility disabilities.

Bridgeport Depot Museum

Like Fort Payne, the former rail depot in Bridgeport now brings to life the area’s rail, industrial, agricultural, and social history—not to mention the occasional disaster. The current depot building is the town’s fourth, built in 1917 after the Confederate Army destroyed its predecessor in 1863.

I appreciated how easy it was to park close to the building, and easily get inside the Bridgeport Depot Museum, where my family and I could move through the well-lit exhibit rooms. An elevator connects the first and second floors, but the staff noted it can be finicky.

The jokingly named “torture chamber” showcases old tools. Photos commemorate hotels and other buildings—some of which were destroyed in a 1999 gas explosion. A Civil War room features the area’s ties to the 1860s conflict, including a bridge that changed hands multiple times between the Confederate and Union armies.

Highlights for us? A massive safe that weighs over 6000 pounds, and a music room that houses an old pump organ and a piano that’s over a century old.

The depot itself ceased operations in 1967, but a 1999 arson prompted the renovation of the old depot into a museum. Be sure to check out the poster seeking information on the arsonist, with a promise of a $5,000 reward. To this day, the reward has yet to be claimed.

Bridgeport Walking Bridge

From the parking lot at the culture center, visitors can admire the train cars on the tracks. They can also pick up a half-mile, mostly flat, natural path that leads to the nearby Bridgeport Walking Bridge. To preserve my walking energy, we instead made a two-minute drive to a parking lot near public restrooms at the edge of a grassy field where the walking path connects.

This site was also part of the Trail of Tears, and today a dual bridge crosses the Tennessee River. Freight trains still run along the tracks here, but now, so does a parallel, separate pedestrian bridge.

The flat, broad path made it easy for me to walk out right over the middle of the river, where Anthony and I could enjoy views of the water, forest, and hills around us. It was the sort of place I feel so lucky to be in: Over the water, in a serene space (unless a train is passing, of course), where I could catch my breath and reflect on the day and our travels in this scenic region.

Also while in the Scottsboro area

Lakeside lunch at KC's BAR-B-Q

Jackson County Park is home to a campground, boat launch, beautiful water, and something we wish more public parks offered: a lakeside barbecue joint.

KC's BAR-B-Q offers true Alabama portions, with delectable pulled pork, crunchy-soft hushpuppies, and fried okra that has that just-right texture of give and firmness. Paired with a laid-back interior and the water lapping at the outside docks, it’s a great stop for lunch.

Thrifty finds and intriguing exhibits at Unclaimed Baggage Center

If you’ve heard of anything in North Alabama, odds are you’ve heard of the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, and you’ve heard of the Unclaimed Baggage Center.

What began as a simple contract to offload unclaimed items left with airlines has evolved into a massive operation that now includes bus lines, trains, and more. From apparel to electronics (including a massive offering of headphones), housewares to, funnily enough, a small selection of luggage, Unclaimed Baggage is a fun spot to visit and pick up a few bargain finds.

Don’t just snag family photos at the iconic sign at the front of the parking lot. Look for the outside photo display outside near the entrance. Inside, look for the luggage display where you can pose like your head is sticking out of a suitcase.

Start with a visit to the small museum area, which includes intriguing finds such as a violin and a Tibetan aerophone. When my kids saw the full set of armor, they asked, “Can you legally pack this?”

Woodville: Tour a truly accessible cave at Cathedral Caverns

Caves are an amazing way to experience a side of nature that we rarely even think about. Underground caverns, rock formations created over a time beyond our imaginations, and reminders of past geologic ages inspire wonder in any visitor of any age.

However, caves can be really hard to visit, much less appreciate, when you have a walking impairment or disability.

Not so at Cathedral Caverns State Park.

I’ve visited many caves, but this was the first time I toured one by electric cart. It was also the first time that I found I could enjoy the space, its formations, and details just as much as Anthony and the kids.

Formerly in the private hands of Jacob Gurley and his wife, they brought tours into the cave from the 1950s until the State of Alabama purchased the cave and surrounding land in 1987. After extensive renovations, Cathedral Caverns became an official state park in 2000.

And it’s the most accessible cave I’ve ever toured.

From the large natural entrance, I climbed aboard an electric cart driven by our tour guide. Anthony and the kids walked, and at some stops I’d get out to look at formations or peer along an overlook. 

People walking the cave have an easier time too. The public route is a little over a mile there and back altogether. Other than a few slopes, the paved, wide track is pretty flat and level, making it easy even for our kids to enjoy the cave without feeling tired out.

Having the discretion to ride and conserve my energy, then walk when I wanted to check something out, made this such an enjoyable experience for me. I noticed so much more in Cathedral Caverns than I have in other caves, simply because I could focus on the experience of cave viewing, instead of navigating what can often be uneven, slippery, and damp terrain.

Instead, I could follow our guide’s stories about the cave’s history, from a 9,000-year-old spear point, perhaps from Cree or Cherokee peoples, to tales of previous owner Jacob Gurley revving up his Jeep to navigate a tricky span of rock. Formations resemble everything from corn cobs or pipe organs to the profiles of American presidents. Fossilized shark teeth stick out of the ceiling, reminding us that once this area was sea floor.

Where to stay in North Alabama

Visitors with mobility impairments have a range of accessible options throughout North Alabama. For example, our ADA-accessible room at the Home2Suites by Hilton Guntersville had a spacious floor plan that made room navigation easy.

Other parts of the region, whether Cullman, Huntsville, and beyond, also have hotels that offer accessibility features verified by Wheel the World. You can contact each hotel to check that a property has what you need for a safe and enjoyable stay.

Search accessible hotels in North Alabama

Visitors with walking impairments can enjoy cities, towns, and green spaces in North Alabama

As an amputee who travels the world, I know some places are easier than others for access. Curb height, consistent steps, and a broad path can make all the difference in how enjoyable I might find a space and navigate it with my prosthetic leg and trekking pole.

Fortunately, in North Alabama, visitors can tailor a trip that truly meets their interests and needs.

Whether urban attractions in Huntsville, vibrant small towns, or the green spaces of state parks and beyond, North Alabama is doing the ongoing work of being more welcoming to visitors who have walking mobility, but also have impairments and accessibility needs. Southern hospitality comes to life through an understanding that being more accessible to people with disabilities is simply another way of welcoming all.