Alabama welcomes around 28.7 million visitors each year. According to Thrillist, however, it’s still one of America’s least-visited states. There’s something for everyone here, and listed below are 11 reasons why a visit to the Yellowhammer State belongs on your bucket list.
- Alabama serves up delicious Southern-style food.
facebook/Blue Plate Cafe-Governor’s Drive When it comes to food, Alabama’s can’t be beat! Known for serving a variety of cuisine, locals and visitors continuously rave about its Southern-style food, which is served in most of the restaurants (including Blue Plate Cafe, whose pot roast is pictured above.)
- It’s also a state that’s filled with lots of quirkiness.
tripadvisor/Tyme4relaxing While driving through Alabama, you’ll encounter several quirky attractions, one of which is Bamahenge in Elberta. Bamahenge (pictured) is Alabama’s very own Stonehenge.
- Alabama is home to the world’s largest space museum and…
flickr/Bryce Edwards Alabama is famously known for its space history. It’s also home to Huntsville’s U.S. Space & Rocket Center (pictured), which is the world’s largest space museum and the home of Space Camp.
- …America’s oldest baseball field.
google/Grant Hewitt For anyone who loves the game of baseball, a visit to Rickwood Field in Birmingham is a must! Built in 1910, it’s America’s oldest baseball field.
- Alabama is a literary gem.
Monroe County Museum Quite a few authors are from Alabama, including Harper Lee. Harper Lee’s hometown is Monroeville, the “Literary Capital of Alabama.” While in town, you can tour the Old Monroe County Courthouse, which was the inspiration for the courtroom scenes in Lee’s award-winning novel “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
- It’s also the birthplace of several music legends…
flickr/David Brossard Several famous musicians are from Alabama, including W.C. Handy, a.k.a. the “Father of the Blues.” You can visit his birthplace (pictured) in Florence, which is now a museum and library.
- …and the inspiring Helen Keller.
flickr/amanderson2 One of the bravest and most inspiring individuals from Alabama is Helen Keller. She’s known as America’s “First Lady of Courage,” and you can tour her childhood home, Ivy Green (pictured), in Tuscumbia.
- Alabama is filled with gorgeous Antebellum homes and…
flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM The South is well known for its gorgeous antebellum homes, especially here in Alabama. Among the state’s most famous antebellum homes is Shorter Mansion (pictured) in Eufaula. This historic home, which was built in 1906, can be seen in the movie “Sweet Home Alabama,” starring Reese Witherspoon.
- …many historic landmarks.
flickr/Tony Webster Many historic landmarks are located throughout Alabama, including the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma. This historic bridge, which crosses the Alabama River, was built in 1940 and served as the site of “Bloody Sunday” on March 7, 1965 during the Civil Rights Movement.
- Alabama offers a variety of natural wonders.
tripadvisor/Discovering__Duo From waterfalls and caves, to mountains and canyons, you can’t help but love Alabama’s natural wonders. Pictured is Mentone’s DeSoto Falls, which is one of the South’s tallest (104 feet) and most beautiful waterfalls.
- Our Gulf Coast beaches are some of the best beaches in the world.
flickr/Brian Jeffery Beggerly Alabama’s Gulf Coast offers 32 miles of beautiful white-sand beaches. Over the years, they’ve become a popular vacation destination, especially in the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach areas.
Can you think of any other reasons why a visit to Alabama belongs on everyone’s bucket list? If so, please share them with us in the comments below.
facebook/Blue Plate Cafe-Governor’s Drive
When it comes to food, Alabama’s can’t be beat! Known for serving a variety of cuisine, locals and visitors continuously rave about its Southern-style food, which is served in most of the restaurants (including Blue Plate Cafe, whose pot roast is pictured above.)
tripadvisor/Tyme4relaxing
While driving through Alabama, you’ll encounter several quirky attractions, one of which is Bamahenge in Elberta. Bamahenge (pictured) is Alabama’s very own Stonehenge.
flickr/Bryce Edwards
Alabama is famously known for its space history. It’s also home to Huntsville’s U.S. Space & Rocket Center (pictured), which is the world’s largest space museum and the home of Space Camp.
google/Grant Hewitt
For anyone who loves the game of baseball, a visit to Rickwood Field in Birmingham is a must! Built in 1910, it’s America’s oldest baseball field.
Monroe County Museum
Quite a few authors are from Alabama, including Harper Lee. Harper Lee’s hometown is Monroeville, the “Literary Capital of Alabama.” While in town, you can tour the Old Monroe County Courthouse, which was the inspiration for the courtroom scenes in Lee’s award-winning novel “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
flickr/David Brossard
Several famous musicians are from Alabama, including W.C. Handy, a.k.a. the “Father of the Blues.” You can visit his birthplace (pictured) in Florence, which is now a museum and library.
flickr/amanderson2
One of the bravest and most inspiring individuals from Alabama is Helen Keller. She’s known as America’s “First Lady of Courage,” and you can tour her childhood home, Ivy Green (pictured), in Tuscumbia.
flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM
The South is well known for its gorgeous antebellum homes, especially here in Alabama. Among the state’s most famous antebellum homes is Shorter Mansion (pictured) in Eufaula. This historic home, which was built in 1906, can be seen in the movie “Sweet Home Alabama,” starring Reese Witherspoon.
flickr/Tony Webster
Many historic landmarks are located throughout Alabama, including the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma. This historic bridge, which crosses the Alabama River, was built in 1940 and served as the site of “Bloody Sunday” on March 7, 1965 during the Civil Rights Movement.
tripadvisor/Discovering__Duo
From waterfalls and caves, to mountains and canyons, you can’t help but love Alabama’s natural wonders. Pictured is Mentone’s DeSoto Falls, which is one of the South’s tallest (104 feet) and most beautiful waterfalls.
flickr/Brian Jeffery Beggerly
Alabama’s Gulf Coast offers 32 miles of beautiful white-sand beaches. Over the years, they’ve become a popular vacation destination, especially in the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach areas.
For more information about Huntsville’s U.S. Space & Rocket Center, be sure to take a look at the following article: 11 Fascinating Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About The U.S. Space & Rocket Center In Alabama.
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Address: Alabama, USAAddress: Bamahenge, Elberta, AL 36530, USAAddress: U.S. Space & Rocket Center, 1 Tranquility Base, Huntsville, AL 35805, USAAddress: 1137 2nd Ave W, Birmingham, AL 35204, USAAddress: Monroeville, AL 36460, USAAddress: W C Handy Museum, 620 W College St, Florence, AL 35630, USAAddress: Helen Keller Birthplace, 300 N Commons St W, Tuscumbia, AL 35674, USAAddress: The Shorter Mansion, 340 N Eufaula Ave, Eufaula, AL 36027, USAAddress: Selma, AL 36703, USAAddress: DeSoto Falls, Alabama 35984, USAAddress: Gulf Shores, AL, USAAddress: Orange Beach, AL, USA
