This week we will be highlighting the state of Alabama. It is located just south of Tennessee and next to Mississippi and Georgia. Most of the land in Alabama is flat, but there are some beautiful mountain regions in the northern part of the state. Visiting Alabama means true southern hospitality. If you plan to visit this state there are quite a few places that you should see. While it’s impossible to list all the great attractions in Alabama, we’ve included some of the more popular ones.
Cheaha Resort State Park
This is the oldest state park in Alabama. It’s actually situated inside of the Talladega National Forest. There are many paths for visitors to take a trek on including the Pinhoti Trail. It’s a great place to see a lot of the area’s interesting foliage, wildlife and waterfalls. However, the highlight of this park is Mount Cheaha. The highest point is about 2,407 feet above sea level. This state park is situated mostly on the mountain which makes for a great place to hike.
U.S. Space and Rocket Center
If you love space then this is the place to go while in Alabama. It is home to artifacts and rockets as well as a number of educational programs and a space camp. There are many opportunities to learn about the moon, NASA and the Space Shuttle Program at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. It is divided into different areas which include an educational and training center, rocket park and a theatre.
Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park
The Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park is very diverse. Visitors can learn about the environment, Native Americans and their contributions as well as iron production. The parks spans over 3 counties and a miniature railroad actually goes through the park. Onsite there are pioneer cabins where artisans sit on the front porch to chat with the park’s visitors. At the park, visitors can also see demonstrations from a blacksmith, hike down a historic roadway or visit a cotton gin.
Battleship USS Alabama
The Battleship USS Alabama is a massive 680 feet in length. It was built as a memorial of World War II in 1942. While onboard the ship visitors can take a tour of the several different ship levels. They can also view the submarines and other warships. There are also many opportunities to learn about World War II and the battleship.
Cathedral Caverns
These caverns have the world’s widest cave entrance which is 126 feet in width. In addition to touring the caverns and seeing the largest stalagmites in the world, visitors can see Mystery River and Big Rock Canyon. The state park that the caverns are located in, offers tent camping and gem mining.
Alabama State Capitol Building
There’s no better place to learn about Alabama than at the state capital building. Self-guided and arranged tours are available throughout various hours during the week. While there, visitors can take a peek at the offices of the State Treasurer, Governor and Secretary of State. The building has quite an interesting architectural design as it was built between 1850 and1851.
The Birmingham Zoo
There are more than 800 different types of animals at the Birmingham Zoo. It consists of 122 acres and receives about half a million visitors each year. Popular attractions includes Dino Discovery, Kiwanis Animal Encounter, Boma Yard and Trails of Africa.
