Alabama at last!

 If you love the beach, the one place I would go to in Alabama is the Gulf Shores area. There are a number of beach towns that are located on barrier islands south of Mobile.  You can drive from one town to another easily and there are tourist shops, condos, rental properties and “things to do” all along this strip of beach. For military enthusiasts, there is Fort Morgan at the end of the Gulf Shores barrier island. 

It is well preserved and tourist friendly.  Hurricanes have taken their toll in this area from time to time, but the beach properties keep coming back.  We have spent several holidays there and found it to be a great place with things of interest for families, young adults or those just needing a break from work.  We rented a condo which gave us a great location near the center of activity for restaurants and entertainment in addition to beach access. 

Living space near kitchen

Another time we rented a separate beach house away from the tourist area.  It was especially nice to have our own section of beach and allowed us to enjoy a relaxed time.  This was a number of years ago so the one we rented may no longer be available.  It was unique, cosy and well furnished including jigsaw puzzles for the occasional rainy day.  Most of these rental properties provide everything you will need for your stay including linens, dishes, cookware, coffee pot, toaster, etc.   It is nice to just pack your swimsuit, a few clothes, and be on your way to a home away from home.   



One little place that impressed me is a place that we discovered by accident.  We were driving through Alabama on our way north to Michigan.  We had been driving for a while and needed a break so my husband pulled off the highway at the next little town which happened to be Cullman, Alabama.  I saw signs pointing to Ave Maria Grotto.  It sounded intriguing so we decided to stop. 

 Although not a very large area in size, Brother Joseph Zoetti, a Benedictine Brother made miniatures of about 125 famous places over a period of  years using twigs, broken glass, rocks and whatever he could find to shape these buildings.    The photos attached are ones I took during our visit and you can see his replicas are fascinating.  There is a path to stroll along in order to view these marvelous replicas. 

Birmingham is the city where the Bessemer steel process was developed.  The plants there provided much of the structural steel that built the original skyscrapers and bridges in the United States.   It remains one of the largest cities in Alabama.  During the 1996 Olympics, one of the venues for the (soccer) football matches was in Birmingham.  My husband, our granddaughter and I were able to go to one of the matches and it was very exciting for all of us.  As you can see, the weather was nasty so the match was delayed until the lightning threat was gone.  The fans who stayed endured downpours but it did not dampen the spirits even though this was just a preliminary match.



Alabama is in the heart of the southeast portion of the United States and varies from mountainous areas through crop lands to the beaches on the Gulf of Mexico.  Tuscaloosa is the home of the University of Alabama and during football season you will see the many loyal fans driving cars with little home team flags on their way to a game.  Their team is known all over Alabama as "The Crimson Tide".

Mobile, Huntsville and Montgomery are the other three largest cities in Alabama with their own unique ambiance.  Montgomery is the Capitol city of Alabama and boasts the Rosa Parks Museum.    Mobile has a history going back prior to the Louisiana Purchase, has a Mardi Gras Museum and celebrates the oldest Mardi Gras in the USA.  The US Space and Rocket Center is in Huntsville.  I hope you find the history, outdoor activities, architecture, nature, museums, or whatever you like best in Alabama.  It's a great place to visit!