Alabama’s colorful culture and energetic cities combine with its spectacular scenery in the northern third of the state, a region rich with classic Americana.
Many of the images associated with the Deep South find their origins in North Alabama. This picturesque region has strong links to its past and offers insight into the state’s soulful musical history. Come here to discover Alabama’s technologically significant cities and vast swaths of tranquil countryside in the southern tip of the Appalachian Mountains.
Explore the picturesque town of Mooresville to get a sense of North Alabama’s history. It was founded in 1818, the year before Alabama gained statehood, and retains its pioneering atmosphere.
One of North Alabama’s most famous exports is its music industry. Go on a musical pilgrimage to the cities of Florence and Muscle Shoals, where legends such as Aretha Franklin and Wilson Pickett recorded their greatest hits. Learn about the story of Southern Soul in the W.C. Handy Home and Museum, the Alabama Music Hall of Fame and the FAME Recording Studios.
Experience contemporary Alabama in the city of Huntsville. Art enthusiasts and culture vultures can lose hours in the vast and beautiful Huntsville Museum of Art, which has a large collection of 19th- and 20th-century artworks. Take your family to the US Space and Rocket Center, which features an authentic Saturn V moon rocket and thrilling exhibits dedicated to space travel.
The nearby city of Decatur promises even more to explore. Travel through time on a walking tour of civil war sites in the surrounding area. Spend your evening at the Princess Theatre, which hosts touring Broadway musicals and a wide variety of musical performances.
Escape to the stunning landscape of the southwestern Appalachian Mountains. Follow one of the hiking trails in Lake Guntersville State Park and explore the archaeological sites of Russell Cave.
Fly into Huntsville International Airport from cities around the country to reach North Alabama. The region is warm enough to visit at any time of year. Visit the mountains in fall, however, to witness the spectacular transformation of the foliage when the scenery bursts into a dazzling array of colors.
