Alabama tourism: tourist attractions: things to see and do, AL ALA

 

Alabama is divided into 4 regions:

The largest population concentrations outside of the capital are in the cities  of  Montgomery, Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile and Tuscaloosa

Choose a region for detailed tourist information

The capital of Alabama is Montgomery

Alabama is in the Deep South of the US. The state is located on the Gulf of Mexico, south of Tennessee and between Georgia and Mississippi.

By The Heart Of The Dixie

 

 With one million acres of lakes, over 1,600 miles of rivers and 53 miles of coastline, Alabama provides a multitude of opportunities to engage in sports and leisure activities that range from sailing, canoeing, fishing or just sunning yourself on the beach. A state that was once populated by Native American Indians who were later pushed out to accommodate the plantation owners and the settlers, Alabama’s major rivers include the Tennessee, Tombigbee, Alabama and Choctawhatchee. Its Gulf Coast beaches and Lake Martin, Wilson Lake, and West Point Lake among others, make Alabama a popular tourist destination for family vacations as well as the lone, intrepid traveler searching for some marine adventure.

 

 The rivers are best explored by cruising through them with any one of the multiple sailing companies. In fact, the Tennessee River can be explored in Chattanooga ducks that are renovated WWII amphibious landing vehicles. Reassembling a bus, these vehicles can take you through the lanes of the Scenic city before driving straight into the river and taking you downstream.

 

 If you would like to spend your vacation exploring Alabama’s watercourses on your own, one of the best ways to do that is to sign up with the any one of the popular sailing clubs. Dixie Sailing Club at Lake Martin is very popular with a racing schedule from March to November that includes an annual Punchbowl Regatta in spring and the Scotalina Regatta in the fall. And if you prefer to cruise, they have cruising events scheduled for the fourth Saturday of each month, which is open to non-members as well. Nearby you also have The Lanier Sailing Academy that boasts of excellent sailing and cruising facilities, while also focusing on teaching sailing with beginners and advanced coaching by trained experts.

 

 To explore Wilson Lake on the Tennessee River, one can register with the Muscle Shoals Sailing Club, which is the only club in the area that covers over twenty acres of picturesque wooded lake front land. Their facilities include sailing, fishing and camping. West Point Lake, on the other hand, has been created by a dam built on the Chattahoochee river and was designed as a recreation demonstration project. Highly suitable for fishing, abounds with bass, catfish and there are plenty of good spots for the eager angler.

 

 If you prefer the pristine beauty of Alabama’s Gulf Coast, then a visit to the Orange Beach and Gulf Shores is something you will really enjoy. Deep-sea adventure sports like snorkeling and diving as well as swimming and water skiing are other activities to engage in if you are looking out for something vigorous. Or you could also take a charter boat ride out into the ocean for some fishing. A number of the neighboring resorts have golf courses and visiting the historical Fort Morgan would be nice way to spend a lazy afternoon. The best points at which you can look out into the Gulf of Mexico are Florida Point and Cotton Bayou. And if you want to take a walk down a beach pine trail you can visit the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge Beach which is about a two-mile long meandering trail that takes you past Gator Lake and Little Lagoon.

 

 Alabama has much to offer for the traveler looking for a relaxing holiday that is different from the mainstream tourist destinations. The combination of its rivers, lakes and its fantastic coastline make it the perfect destination for those who just can’t help loving looking out into the blue.

 

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