Welcome to Alabama

Where else but Alabama can one find civil rights monuments and statues of Confederate soldiers within walking distance of each other? Montgomery, Alabama's capital, is home to the church where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. first preached and to the first White House of the Confederacy. Alabama's rich, turbulent history isn't, however, its main attraction. Many visitors head to the northern part of the state for the state and national parks around the southern tip of the Appalachian Mountains and for the Marshall Space Flight Center. The state's southern portion offers pleasant beach towns and, in February, the country's oldest Mardi Gras celebration.

www.touralabama.org

Mr. Bellingrath once said “The Gardens are like a beautiful woman with a different gown for each week of the year.” Founded by Walter and Bessie Bellingrath, Bellingrath Gardens and Home is one of the top public gardens in the United States. Known for its southern charm and unsurpassed beauty, the gardens have long been a treasure to the Mobile community and a favorite of tourists and garden-lovers worldwide.

Alabama is a birding paradise. Forests, mountains, meadows, swamps, and beaches dot the landscape, creating a plethora of avian habitats. From the majestic bald eagle, symbol of Alabama's heritage, to the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker, to the crowd-pleasing painted bunting, over 400 species of birds grace the blue skies above Alabama.

The Summit in Birmingham, Alabama is ways more that a shopping center. It is exciting, convenient, stylish and - first of all - one of a kind. The popular open-air center offers a mix of upscale merchants, restaurants and entertainment not seen anywhere else in Alabama. It is the way you want to look for just the right outfit, the perfect gift for a friend, or the accessory that will make that special room in your home all the more special.

Near the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge, the Museum and Institute offers America and the world the opportunity to learn the lessons from the past. The struggle that disenfranchised Americans have faced for the right to vote is chronicled at National Voting Rights Museum and Institute, located at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma. Learn about Civil Rights Movement leaders and important historic events.

Small towns and downtowns are perfect spots for finding hidden Alabama treasures. Many old buildings have been restored and turned into boutiques, art galleries and restaurants in downtown Mobile. Directly across the bay, Fairhope offers a unique landscape ideal for exploring art-filled boutiques and shops laden with homemade candies and jellies, antiques and more. In the heart of Cullman, A Touch of German offers a variety of German items including dolls, clocks and steins.

Irondale - Birmingham, AL is the location of one of Alabama’s oldest restaurants, opened in 1891. By that time the first Golden Rule Bar – B – Q was a roadside stop for travelers making the journey to Atlanta and served only their public pork plates and beer. Today, the restaurant itself is a destination, worth a visit. Enjoy their famous BBQ & baked beans or one of their several other BBQ combinations, there are known for!

Something magic happens when you visit the Alabama Gulf Coast. The moment you arrive, the world starts to fade away. Maybe it's the sound of waves gently lapping the shore or the smell of coconut oil. Perhaps it's our white sand beach and sparkling emerald water. Suddenly building sandcastles moves to the top of your "to-do" list. You remember just how much fun your spouse is. You find yourself laughing at your son's "knock-knock" joke, even though you've heard it a zillion times. You linger over a succulent, fresh seafood dinner where nobody rushes to get away from the table.

One bite from a divine dish can make you feel as if you've just died and gone to heaven. In Alabama, hundreds of delicious dishes can put you on cloud nine, from the ribs at Dreamland to the Half-Moon cookies at Full Moon Bar B Que and the “Sweet Potato Fluff” at Pruett’s Bar-B-Q. You may never come down to earth, so extra dishes are presented in Alabama in case you come back for more!

Alabama Flea Markets, such as the Mountain Top Flea Market in Attalla, allow you to bargain for almost anything you can imagine. The Mountain Top started in 1973 with just a few vendors, a hot dog stand, and a couple of loyal folks who are still sticking around the flea market, which opens every Sunday, year-round by rain and sunshine. Visitors come to the Mountain Top Flea Market from all states and from around the world just to experience a "true" southern flea market.