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Little River Canyon, Alabama - courtesy The_Gut - CC-BY

A great getaway may be closer than you think.

Something magical seems to happens when you visit Alabama.   From the time you arrive, the world starts to fade away.

There is much more to Alabama than palms and beaches in the south and rolling wooded hills in the north.  The state is divided into four distinct regions, the Gulf Coast, the River Heritage Region, Metropolitan Region and the Mountain Region.

All the usual vacation activities are found in abundance, golfing, biking, backpacking, hiking, watching wildlife, hunting, fishing, gardens, watersports, zoos and aquariums and much more.

The Gulf Coast region is filled with golf courses, beaches, marinas and all the amenities of a sub-tropical tourism experience.  And if you like watching nature, there is the Audubon Bird Sanctuary on Dauphin Island,  Booker’s Mill with a waterfall and log cabin, the Minamac Wildflower Bog amd much more.  And don’t forget the Alabama River Heritage Museum  (Monroeville) where you can travel back to 60 million years ago. See fossils from the Claiborne Bluff,  many Native American artifacts, explore steamboat replicas and view other artifacts.

In The River Heritage Region you can tour the state capitol building, visit the Alabama Shakespeare Festival  (Montgomery) – 4th largest Shakespeare Festival in the U.S. producing professional theatre for a wide audience, and the Boll Weevil Monument   (Enterprise) – World’s only monument to a pest.

The Metropolitan Region offers the Alabama Civil Rights Freedom Farm Museum  (Mantua) – You will find shotgun houses depicting black life 1930s–1960s. Named for Civil Rights pioneers, including Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., Ralph Abernathy.  You can also visit the Anniston Museum of Natural History  (Anniston) – where there are dinosaurs, fossils, mammals in open dioramas. 400-species bird collection, Egyptian mummies, walk-through cave replica, children’s discovery room, nature trails, art exhibits and picnicking.  This region also offers the attractions of city sights and nightlife.

The Mountain Region gives you Alabama Constitution Village  (Huntsville) where there are costumed guides to lead a of working village (1805–1819). Cabinetmaker’s shop, print shop, confectionary shop, library, post office. It commemorates the 1819 Constitutional Convention site.  And for music fans, the Alabama Music Hall of Fame  (Tuscumbia) – Honoring all notable music achievers from Alabama, including Tammy Wynette, Lionel Richie, Emmylou Harris, ALABAMA, Nat King Cole, W.C. Handy, Hank Williams, and more.

This article only skims the surface of what Alabama offers day trippers or long term vacationers.

For more information about Alabama travel and tourism