Top Destinations in Alabama
A land of history, culture, music, and adventure, Alabama is truly a one of a kind state. It is home to many historical districts, great biodiversity, and metropolitans on the rise. Forests, caverns, falls, beaches, historical districts — you name it, Alabama has it.
With its temperate climate all year round, Alabama is a wonderful destination for all ages any time of the year. Take note of these destinations to get the best out of your trip down south.
Bankhead National Forest
A wonderland for outdoor adventurers, Bankhead National Forest is just a 90-minute drive from Birmingham, Alabama. It is 180,000 acres of woodland and is known to be the Land of a Thousand Waterfalls. This national forest has, quite literally, a thousand falls coursing through its entirety.
Of course, while all waterfalls are beautiful their own way, it is impossible not to have favorites. A few of our must-see falls in Bankhead are the Kinlock Falls, Caney Creek Falls, and Feather Hawk Falls.
Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve
Located in the Little Mountain region of Colbert County, Cane Creek is a beautiful protected wildlife sanctuary up north of Alabama. The area has about 15 miles of well-maintained hiking trails. While you can definitely get by with a day trek, you would find that there is nothing quite like camping here. It is the perfect place to set up a tree tent.
While it is privately maintained, the area is open to the public all year round at no charge. We’re not sure for how long though so it is best to visit as soon as you can.
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Cherokee Rock Village
Located in Cherokee County, this rock park sits on top of a large outcropping on the southern tip of Lookout Mountain, perfectly overlooking Weiss Lake. Also fondly known as the Little Rock City, these large boulder stones are up to 200 feet high and are said to date back to 300 million years ago.
Rock climbers would naturally have a blast in this space from sport climbing, bouldering, to traditional climbing. It has slopes perfect for both beginners and hardcore boulders so nobody in the family will miss out.
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Gulf Shores and Orange Beach
All over the South, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are known to be a relatively affordable, family-friendly destination for those looking for a good vacation. The rest of the country misses out on the impossibly blue waters and white sand of this area.
The area is just all-around gorgeous. You may find yourself going back to Alabama just to get back to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.
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Cathedral Caverns State Park
True to its name, the Cathedral Caverns is a cave that looks like this gorgeous gothic cathedral architecture inside. The rock formations and the stalagmites are millions of years in the making, featuring nature’s beauty at its best.
The park, in fact, houses one of the largest stalagmites in the world — The Goliath. It measures 45 feet tall and 243 feet in circumference. What makes this place ever greater is that the park is wheelchair friendly. This makes Cathedral Caverns the perfect family destination.
