About Alabama
Friendly Southern hospitality, sprawling forests and large modern cities fill Alabama with a wide variety of activities, attractions and communities to explore. From the serenity of the lakes and wildernesses of the state's northern regions to the more populated expanses of the southern areas, Alabama's wonderful character holds plenty to appeal to everyone.
Though there are many cities and towns worth touring or staying in, some of Alabama's most frequently visited cities are:
For recreation, the Gulf Shores are a longstanding favorite destination. The warm waters and sandy beaches that line the Gulf of Mexico make for excellent summer vacationing, and the rich waters also produce wonderful fresh seafood. Mobile is particularly well known for its oyster bars and shrimp. Alabama's state parks offer another kind of outdoor fun, with everything from waterfalls and rivers to mountains and old military battlefields.
With much of the action and protest having taken place in Alabama, the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s is certainly one of the most important events in the state's history. Visit the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute or the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site to learn about the stories and histories of some of the nation's most prominent and heroic African Americans.
By far the favorite sport in Alabama, football is best represented by the University of Alabama Crimson Tide and Auburn University Tigers teams. High school football games are nearly as popular as college games, especially in smaller towns.
Agriculture was once the mainstay of Alabama's economy, and even today there are large tracts where this vital, traditional practice is at the heart of everyday life. In recent decades, large growth in fields like telecommunications, aerospace and military technology have helped Alabama revitalize its economy and dramatically expand its influence.
Bordered on the north by Tennessee, the east by Georgia, the west by Mississippi and the south by Florida, this gorgeous Southern state has plenty to explore and many more nearby destinations for those looking for even more fun.
Fun Facts About Alabama
- Magnolia Springs, AL gets all of its mail delivered via boat: a unique occurrence in the United States.
- Vulcan Park in Birmingham holds the largest cast-iron statue in the world, which stands some 56 feet tall.
- The football rivalry between Auburn University and the University of Alabama began with its first game played on 2/22/1893.
- Nicknamed "The Rocket City, " Huntsville was home to the Saturn V rocket that first took men to the moon.
- Alabama's state bird, the yellowhammer was chosen to remember the Confederate soldiers from the state who were given the nickname for their distinctive uniform accoutrements.
