Near Selma
Cahaba isn't as big as the largest abandoned cities in the world, but it's still just as interesting. Alabama's first state capital was empty by the early 1900s, but visitors to the area can still tour some of the historic buildings, like St. Luke's Episcopal Church, that have been preserved after the town's addition to the National Register of Historic Places.
(image via Altairisfar, CC)
Florence
Visitors to the state can't skip out on the only Frank Lloyd Wright building in Alabama. The childhood home of noted film critic Jonathan Rosenbaum, this house perfectly showcases Wright's Usonian style with its long horizontal lines, natural building materials, and the low cantilevered roof.
Birmingham
One of the most Instagramed locations in Birmingham is a walkway under the 18th Street viaduct. San Antonio artist Bill Fitzgibbons installed colored lights in the formerly derelict area and, in the process, has transformed an otherwise drab underpass into an incredible piece of interactive public artwork. Grab some dinner, and head out for a unique nightly stroll.
(image via findingfoshee)
Near Fort Payne
Little River Canyon National Preserve is one of the last untouched gems in Alabama. The National Park Service operates very few facilities inside the preserve, and the water of the Little River is one of the cleanest and untouched bodies of water in the South. Travelers can camp, hike, fish, hunt, and otherwise escape from the bustle of city life.
(image via brent_nashville, CC)
Selma
In what is an all too common irony, this Civil Rights landmark is actually named for a Confederate general. The Edmund Pettus Bridge was the site of the infamous Bloody Sunday, a day when peaceful civil rights protesters tried to march to the state capital but were brutally beaten and attacked by police as they tried to cross the Alabama River.
Clanton
Nothing says Alabama summer like a fresh juicy peach, and the best peaches around come from Chilton County (sorry, Georgia!). Located halfway between Birmingham, the state's largest city, and Montgomery, the capital, Durban Farms Market is your best bet for a wide selection of offerings.
(image via durbinfarms)
Theodore
Now a museum, this former private residence was built by Walter Bellingrath, one of the first Coca-Cola bottlers. As you can see from his home, he found great business success, and with his wealth, he carved out 900 acres for he and his wife, 65 of which are covered in flowers. After the owners' deaths, the property was added to both the Alabama Register of Landmarks and the National Register of Historic Places.
Even if you don't think you know Muscle Shoals, Alabama, you've heard the name before. Lynard Skynyrd name drops the city in its hit ballad "Sweet Home Alabama." This small town of only 13,600 people has left an oversized mark on the music industry as the home of FAME and Muscle Shoals Sound recording studios. Tour the locations where artists like Aretha Franklin, Eric Clapton, Carrie Underwood, and Rod Stewart have all recorded hit songs.
Birmingham
The Civil Rights Institute is the anchor of the Birmingham Civil Rights District, a six-block area that also includes the 16th Street Baptist Church, Kelly Ingram Park, and the Carver Theatre. Not only does the institute have many self-guided permanent exhibitions, but it also contains the largest archive of civil rights documents and artifacts in the nation.
Woodville
Northern Alabama's Cathedral Caverns State Park is notable for many reasons, particularly its world-record entrance opening at the mouth of the cave system. Besides tours, visitors can hike and backpack throughout the area, mine for gemstones, or camp overnight at one of the many campsites. You could also channel your inner Jonathan Taylor Thomas, as the cave was a filming location for Disney's Tom and Huck.
