Alabama Shoals
Alabama has an enormous amount to offer. Many people make faces and nasty comments when I say that I live in Alabama. Rightfully, there is some dark history in Alabama, but there is so much more it offers. From the mountains to the beaches, the rocket center to shoals to the lakes and rivers, there are some facts many don’t know or understand about this beautiful state. I traveled with a group of individuals by bus from Tuscaloosa and it was about a 2 and 1/2-hour drive via state and county highways.
From the invention of the windshield wiper in 1903 to the creation of the Van de Graaff generator in 1930 to the development of the Saturn V rocket at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville (Rocket City) to the construction of the modern pacemaker. Let’s not leave out the super soaker. Additionally, vinyl records, portable hearing aids, the Ah-ooh-gah of the Klaxon horn, air bags and hydrocopters are all creations of Alabamians. It’s also been named the home of the US Space Force.
The music industry in the Shoals area (Muscle Shoals, Tuscumbia, Sheffield and Florence) has a few artists that you should recognize: Percy Sledge - When a Man Loves a Woman, Aretha Franklin - I Never Loved a Man, Rolling Stones - Brown Sugar, Staple Singers - I’ll Take You There, and Sam Phillips, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis. It is considered the home of Rock’N’Roll, soul music and several other genre. There are several recording studios still operating in the area. The Alabama Music Hall of Fame includes many inductees who were born and/or lived in Alabama and memorabilia from stars such as Lionel Richie and the Commodores and Alabama to name a few.
The landscapes around the Shoals include the Tennessee River which Native Americans referred to as the Singing River. The Natchez Trace Parkway follows the Old Natchez Trace, a historic forest trail that extends 440 miles from Nashville, TN to Natchez, MS. This parkway is closed to commercial traffic and has numerous walking trails that branch off from it. One of the attractions is Te-lah-nay’s Wall, the Whichahpi Commemorative Stone Wall, in Florence, AL. His great great grandmother was removed from the area in the 1830 during the Trail of Tears movement. The US Government and President Andrew Jackson forcibly removed the Native Americans, claiming they were little more than uneducated savages, and claimed their land to acquire the gold in those mountains. Tom’s grandmother eventually walked back, taking 5 years, and returned to her homeland. Tom built this wall over the last 30 years. This is a great place for photographers.
One of the unique attractions is the Rattlesnake Saloon in Tuscumbia, AL. Off the beaten path (print your map), you’ll find the Seven Springs Lodge and a saloon built into a cave. Given the acoustics, the music is remarkable. The food wasn’t too bad either, but the beer was great. They also offer horseback riding and a shop full of carvings.
Another attraction we visited was Ivy Green. This is the birthplace and home of Helen Keller. Due to a brain infection in early childhood, Helen was blind and deaf. She was raised on the property by a teacher who taught her how to talk, sign, and adapt to a somewhat normal life. Helen went onto become a famous author, disability rights advocate, political activist and lecturer. Her home is now a museum that is open to the public.
We visited Spring Park and walked the area to see the lake, the waterfalls and other attractions nearby.
Other attractions in the area were the art museum, the haunted Colbert County Courthouse, and Cherokee, AL.
We stayed at the Microtel Inn, ate at Too Fat Sisters the Palace, and Rattlesnake Saloon. All are worthy locations. The drive is through tree-lined highways and would be a wonderful weekend trip in a convertible during the Spring and Fall. All of these towns are easy walking.