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North Alabama

by ShanaCorbin

North Alabama is full of opportunities for adventure. Some traditional, some unexpected and all set amid a diverse landscape that in itself is often the star attraction. The region is home to majestic natural wonders including picturesque waterfalls, sparkling rivers and lakes known by fishermen near and far. A host of excellent state parks with a full slate of amenities make exploring the outdoors easy.

This is also an internationally acclaimed music mecca, home of the Muscle Shoals sound, where the likes of Cher, the Rolling Stones and Aretha Franklin recorded hits. Recording studios now offer both sought-after recording sessions and fascinating tours which tell the stories of musicians past and present.

The cities and towns of North Alabama bring a combination of southern hospitality and contemporary appeal. From the streets of Huntsville, home of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, to the historic covered bridges of Blount County, the past and present are side-by-side here and offer something for every traveler to enjoy.  

A host of trails make themed itineraries easy. Whether your interest is waterfalls or wine, beer or barbecue, murals or motorcycles, there is a trail showcasing the best of the region. The Hallelujah Trail features 32 churches more than 100 years old and the Agriculture Adventure Trail celebrates the rich culture that continues to sustain much of the region. The newest trail, the North Alabama Patriot Trail is a self-guided tour of 79 patriotic stops honoring all those who have served or are currently serving in the military forces of America.

Stunning natural wonders like Dismals Canyon, Natural Bridge and Cathedral Caverns are joined by unique attractions including Unclaimed Baggage, Ave Maria Grotto and the Coon Dog Cemetery. Heroes and history are remembered at sites like the Helen Keller Birthplace, Jesse Owens Museum and the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. While Interstate 65 dissects the region from north to south, it’s the highways, byways, mountain trails and city streets that tell the stories of North Alabama. From mountains to lakes and city centers to state parks, North Alabama is an unmatched destination, filled with unexpected adventures waiting to be explored. Travel information is available from northalabama.org.

Fast Facts

  • Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association, also called Visit North Alabama, encompasses the 16 counties of North Alabama, marking the southern foothills of the Appalachian Mountain Range with rocky peaks boldly cut by the rushing waters of the Tennessee River.
  • The area includes the major towns and cities of Huntsville and Florence near the northern border of the state to Cullman and Gadsden at its southern edge above Birmingham.
  • Seven State Parks are located within North Alabama.
  • Native Americans named the Tennessee River that rolls through the length of North Alabama as well as The Shoals area, The Singing River.
  • Eleven mapped and detailed “trails” allow visitors to easily explore the region’s waterfalls, wine, craft beer, murals, agricultural adventure, barbecue, bass fishing, historic train depots, patriotic sites, motorcycle-friendly roads and centuries-old churches.
  • Oakville native Jesse Owens, considered one of history’s greatest athletes, stunned the world by winning four gold medals at the Berlin 1936 Olympics. Tour his eponymous museum in Lawrence County.
  • Muscle Shoals is home to three recording studios (FAME, “3614 Jacksonville Highway” Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, Cypress Moon Studios) that nurtured some of America’s most-loved musical artists, including Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and Paul Simon.
  • Composer and musician W. C. Handy was born in Florence in 1873 and is known as the “Father of the Blues.” Tour his humble log house museum in Lauderdale County.
  • Born in 1880 in Tuscumbia, Helen Keller was the first deaf-blind person to graduate from college and become a speaker, author and social activist.
  • Rocket Science: The U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville is where rockets were originally developed to launch the Apollo spacecraft that first took mankind to the moon. Today, it is Earth’s largest space museum, housing actual spacecraft from the NASA space program, exciting space simulation rides and is home to Space Camp where children and adults from all over the world come to experience hands-on, interactive space missions and learn what it takes to be an astronaut.
  • Decatur, Alabama native Mae Jemison was the first Black woman to travel in space in 1992.
  • The first 9-1-1 call was made in Haleyville in 1968, just 31 days after the development of the American first-responder emergency system.
  • In 1933 the federal government formed the Tennessee Valley Authority as an electric utility corporation. This massive public works project provided economic development and employment during the Great Depression.
  • Wilson Dam in Muscle Shoals is the only neoclassical-style dam in the TVA system, integrating themes of ancient Roman and Greek architecture.
  • Jimmy “Jimbo” Wales developed Wikipedia, the first internet-based, knowledge-sharing encyclopedia, in Huntsville.
  • Cherokee Nation leader Sequoia worked for 15 years in Dekalb County to create the first “alphabet” of the tribe’s language.
  • The Nation’s only retailer of lost luggage is in North Alabama. The Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro, a 50,000 sq foot “department store” is the final stop for lost airline luggage across America.

Annual Events

View a complete listing of events by calendar here: www.northalabama.org/things-to-do/calendar/

Or, by county and neighborhood here: https://www.northalabama.org/things-to-do/festivals/?skip=0&sort=qualityScore&subcatids=14&regionids=9

NOTE: Some events have been canceled or postponed due to COVID-19 outbreak precautions. Please check official event and venue websites to confirm the status.

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