Top Things to do in Alabama
Top Hotels in Alabama
- 1. Best Western Premier The Tides
- 2. The Lodge at Gulf State Park, a Hilton Hotel
- 3. Perdido Beach Resort
- 4. Drury Inn & Suites Huntsville at the Space & Rocket Center
- 5. Best Western On The Beach
- 6. Drury Inn & Suites Birmingham Grandview
- 7. Hotel Capstone
- 8. Hyatt Regency Birmingham - The Wynfrey Hotel
- 9. Hampton Inn & Suites Birmingham-Downtown-Tutwiler
- 10. Drury Inn Mobile
Countries
The 10 Best Historic Sites in Alabama, United States
If you head for the hills in the state you’ll end up in the northern sector where the inspiring mountains and attractions like the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, the Blue & Gray Museum in Decatur and the Ave Maria Grotto in Cullman represent the diversity of experiences available in the area. In the middle of the state you’ll find Birmingham, an urban center with great attractions and museums, and Tuscaloosa, the quintessential college town and home to the University of Alabama. For beach lovers, sandy destinations like Dauphin Island near Mobile, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach offer beautiful beaches, superb golf, fantastic seafood restaurants and heaping helpings of Southern hospitality.
For those who love to chase the white dimpled ball, Alabama offers one of the best golf values anywhere. The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, a collection of 468 holes at 11 different sites across the state, features top-notch, championship style courses at affordable rates.
Restaurants in Alabama
1. Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 471 reviews
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., used the pulpit of this unassuming red brick church to lead the 1955-56 Montgomery bus boycott, which ignited the civil rights movement. Steeped in history, this church, where Dr. King served as pastor from 1954 to 1960, was also the site of many civil rights meetings during that era.
Reviewed By IdaIllinois
In early March we visited this historical site in the shadow of the State Capitol in Montgomery where Martin Luther King, Jr. was pastor from 1954 to 1960 and organized the Montgomery Bus Boycott from his basement office. There is a tour of the church and parsonage on Tuesday through Saturday at specific times; the fee is very reasonable. Since we arrived halfway through a tour, we were privileged to be a part of two tours with a group of two college student classes. Our docent was Wanda Howard Battle who was a very personal guide to each person and had us all feeling like part of a larger and better group. She made the sanctuary, the basement, MLK’s lectern, and his office come alive with her words of history, culture, spiritualism, art, music, and humanism. It was a very uplifting hour tour, and one which you need to experience when you are in Montgomery.
2. Dexter Parsonage Museum - Dr. Martin Luther King home
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 534 reviews
Martin Luther King's residence from September 1954 to February 1960.
Reviewed By Bearwife - Shoreline, United States
Arrive on the hour or arrange in advance for a group tour of this important civil rights site. This is where Dr. King lived from 1954 to 1956 as the pastor of the Dexter Street church, and was the President of the Montgomery Improvement Association, which led the bus boycott after Rosa Parks’ arrest. The parsonage was bombed and subjected to 40 plus telephone death threats during that time too. Down the street is the very important Harris house and behind the interpretive center is a thought provoking garden.
3. Richards DAR House Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 146 reviews
A beautiful 1860s Italianate townhouse located in the De Tonti Square Historical District in the heart of downtown Mobile, Alabama. This 10,000 square foot dream home, filled with a large family, was built by Captain Charles Richards and his wife Carolyn. Surrounded by formal gardens and old brick courtyard, the House Museum is furnished with period antiques, original chandeliers, interior and exterior architectural appointments including carved Carrera Marble fireplaces with cathedral arches, cantilever staircase, and the four seasons lace ironwork lining the front gallery and sidewalk. Operated and furnished by the Mobile chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution since 1973, they invite you to join them for a tour of this beautiful home and take complimentary tea and cookies afterward.
Reviewed By stephenwV4775SM
Southern hospitality at it finest ! Beautiful home, charming tour guide, Sheila was full of interesting stories and a great deal of knowledge of the history of the Richards family and the Mobile area. Very entertaining and enjoyable. Tea and cookies with her and her sister was a delight !
4. Swift- Coles Historic Home
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 50 reviews
Swift-Coles Historic Home welcomes visitors to enjoy a bit of Baldwin County history. Self-guided historic tours are available very Friday from 1pm to 5 pm. Adults $10 Children (3-12) $5 Children under 3 Free The grounds and home also serve as a wedding and private event venue. Please be sure to contact us for more information.
Reviewed By cyberbubba - Gulf Shores, United States
Swift-Coles Historic Home, in Bon Secour, AL, initial construction was in1882, is a 6000 sq ft stunning old home with 3500 sq ft of porches with swings and fans, love it. It's filled with beautiful period antiques, some which are familiar to me from my granny's home, that immediately transported me back my childhood. The grounds are beautiful with large Magnolia trees and 120 yr old Live Oak trees with Spanish moss everywhere and there's Azaleas, Hydrangeas and a variety of other plants and shrubs. The grounds all around are meticulously maintained giving the property vibrant look and appeal. Originally it was the home of Charles and Susan Swift and their 11 children, it was purchased in 1976 by Nik Coles. Before his death in 2007, he bequeathed the home to the Baldwin County Historic Development Commission. In 2009 the home was opened to the public and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A debt of gratitude is owed to Mr. Nik Coles for his contributions in saving one of the most colorful and outstanding examples of the turn of the century Gulf Coast architecture in our community. The Swift-Coles Historic Home is now open to the public for summer tours. The guided tours leads visitors through the 16 room historic tidewater mansion and grounds to experience how life along the Bon Secour River would have been nearly 100 years ago. There's lots of legends and lore about this place being haunted, many about the deceased displeasure with the renovations. I have been here several times and the last was recently with #1 son and my neighbor Claudine for a late-night paranormal investigation with Panhandle Paranormal Group. It indeed was very cool! For more information about tours and current events call (251) 949-5550 or visit their Facebook page at: Look up Swift-Coles Historic Home on Facebook for more details. Bottom line: A lovely piece of history, it's not Mount Vernon but it's lovely.
5. Historic Mooresville
6. Huntsville Madison County Veterans Memorial
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 41 reviews
The Huntsville Veterans Memorial, dedicated on Veterans Day, 11.11.11, honors and pays tribute to all veterans for their "Courage", "Sacrifice", and "Duty". The Memorial has become a hallowed place that inspires visitors to reflect, remember and honor veterans. It provides an educational venue to teach visitors about our military past, the cost of war, and sacrifices made to ensure our freedom.
Reviewed By PhilipA1043 - Huntsville, United States
This is a very peaceful, serene, and clean memorial dedicated to all branches of the US Armed Services. The main memorial consists of individual monuments to the great wars from WW1 through the Gulf Wars, with historic timelines throughout, while the pathways behind consist of bricks and benches dedicated to individual soldiers, platoons, and groups who served. The American flag can be seen for miles as you enter Huntsville, and the accompanying flags are always stately flown alongside just a tad lower. What a great place to spend a lunch hour, or a great stop along the way to downtown Huntsville's other tourist attractions!
7. National Memorial for Peace and Justice
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 488 reviews
Reviewed By narbiter
This and the Legacy Museum are long overdue and have been desperately needed for decades.Travel to see it, bring your children, friends, family and co-workers. Talk about it when you go home. Tell the people who teach your children. Lobby to get our text books change. Vote against mass incarceration.... and remember this is where prejudice travels to ....As someone once said sooner or later we sit down to the banquet of consequences... We are in the middle of that banquet in the United States... time to wake up to it, and be active -- it is a memorial... and it is also a call to action-- to remember and stand on the shoulders of what we have learned..... and not repeat.... Thank you Equal Justice Initiative Team.
8. First White House of the Confederacy
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 567 reviews
Built in 1835, this was the home of the Confederacy President, Jefferson Davis.
Reviewed By Abodenheimer
It is in remarkable condition, and is FREE to get in. The docents are incredibly helpful and nice. When my daughter told them that she is a history major, they even gave her a free book from the book store. The furnishings and other period pieces, such as clothing and jewelry, were beautiful and well preserved.
9. The F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 268 reviews
This historic house honors novelist F. Scott, best known for "The Great Gatsby," and his wife, Zelda, artist and author. The museum operates out of the last surviving home they lived in during their lives together. The structure was saved from demolition in 1986. It is the location where Scott worked on "Tender is the Night", and Zelda on "Save Me the Waltz". You can now stay in the house in either Scott or Zelda Suite. Please see the museum website for Airbnb details and availability.
Reviewed By 171judim - Philadelphia, United States
If you are in Montgomery and want a break from all of the Civil Rights venues, this museum is a good break and place to take your mind off of the horrors of slavery. The small museum is located in a home whee the couple briefly lived. It is filled with artifacts from Zeda, Scott and others. Most interesting to me were the actual letter they wrote to each other. I ws also amazed by the quality of elda's paintings. The museum is a work in progress. It is obvious they need money to restore and update the building. But if you follow F. Scott and love his books, this is a place to visit. And even if you aren't a Fitrzgerald expert it is a great example of what life was like in the early 20th century. Put it on your to do list in Montgomery
10. Rosa Parks Arrest Site
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 54 reviews
Where Rosa Parks was arrested on December 1, 1955.
Reviewed By purpleinopp - Opp, United States
I am so glad there is a sign commemorating the spot where Ms. Parks was arrested. Stopping to read it gives one an opportunity to remember and honor her memory and the courage she mustered the day she was arrested. Are you willing to get arrested to seek and/or exercise your rights? This is a perfect spot to ask yourself this question.
