Explore Southern Alabama like never before. A virtual road trip right at your fingertips.
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SOUTHERN ALABAMA
Montgomery - A lip-smacking 1st day in the City of Mongomery! 1st must stop is JaWandas for their sweet potato pie and key lime pie doughnuts. All homemade, of course. 2nd must stop is Chris' Hotdogs for their chili dogs which they have been serving since 1917. They are so good that folks such as Elvis Presley, President Truman and Bush, Clark Gable and Martin Luther King, Jr frequented several times!
Montgomery/Lanett - A rooftop casket keeps an eternal eye on the city. A dollhouse tombstone remembers a four-year-old girl. A burial site uses artificial turf as fans would steal clumps of live grass.
Montgomery - A most inspiring and moving day visiting the life of Rosa Parks in Montgomery, Alabama. One action creates one of the largest mass movements in our nation.
Montgomery - Amazing 150 years of History takes place at this National Historic Landmark - the State Capital building in Montgomery, Alabama. Stories to come in the following days!
Montgomery - One hundred sixty years ago, our nation's history completely changes at the State Capital of Alabama. Alabama makes the decision to join five other states leaving the Union inside this Capital building. Jefferson Davis is sworn in President of the Confederate States on these Captial stairs. He and his family move to the home across the street which today showcases a museum remembering this part of our nation's history. A must visit when in Alabama!
Montgomery - He was a minister in a local Baptist Church in Montgomery. He grants permission for organizers to meet in the basement. He heads the bus boycott. He leads thousands on a march to the State Capital stairs - Murals, monuments, plaques throughout this city remembers the impact this one man had on its community, our nation and the world itself - Martin Luther King, Jr.
Auburn/Valley - Hitting the Roads of Alabama in search of cool, modern art. Check out the findings today - The Flying House and The Bathers on the Campus of Auburn. Lastly hanging out with Rusty and the Iron Family at the old train depot in town of Valley.
Montgomery - Let's Eat One First - A lunch stop (hours 7:00 am to 2:30 pm only) at a lunch-counter diner frying on the same grill since 1970. Don't ask for fries - they don't have them. With a belly full of one of the greatest hamburgers, let's go to ever-so-small MOOseum to learn about Alabama's cattle industry - pasture to plate experience. What a Cowterrific day today in Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery - Learning history like never before visiting the Truth and Justice Memorial. Incredible bronze statues and over 4,400 engraved names of men, women and children lynched in our history. They are all honored here.
Selma - 54 miles from the State Capital 1000's are gathering in unity of "Bloody Sunday". People of all ages and color join our Vice President today remembering the brutal attack on innocent blacks marching to bring attention to blacks not having the right to vote.
Clanton - Peaches are the World Here - A peachy stop at Peach Park. Anything peach can be bought in their store. Oh, and the ice cream is all homemade. The walls are covered with Peach Beauty Queens.
Greenville - When is the last time you visited a fully dedicated turkey restaurant? The locals rave about it! Everything is made from scratch. The turkeys are raised on their farm. The stuffing...well it is sweet and nothing like it anywhere. An amazing old-fashioned meal since 1969. Bates Turkey Farm and Restaurant. The prices are so reasonable you could easily add a piece of homemade pie to top off the entire gobbling experience.
Montgomery/Marbury - Alabama remembering their Veterans - A commemorative statue recognizing the 122,000 confederate veterans stands at 88ft outside the State Capital. This Memorial Park offered housing and care for many of confederate veterans and their families who were disabled and indigent, until 1939. Located 30 minutes from Montgomery.
Elberta - Dinos in the Woods, Strange art in the middle of nowhere, Gothic statues hidden in the bushes and a gravesite of Indiana Jones? All in a day's travel
Dothan - A "NUTTY" day - Throughout the Peanut Capital, I find myself searching for over 40 peanut fun-shelled people. During this scavenger hunt, I discover several most unique murals displaying the history of the area. Afterwards I "shell" out some cash for an Alabamian platter - Meat and 3. My most favorite, tasty meal in Alabama!
Burnt Corn - If you like small town USA, well this one is a gold mine! Burnt Corn, Alabama. Never incorporated as a town. Locals call it a community. Only one recorded census of 33 dating 1880. No one knows how it got its' unique, strange name. Some say the Indians use to burn the Settlers' crops. At the singular crossroads we find Lowrey's Store (1891). A post office was located in the back corner of the store. The community lost its' zip code losing its' post office in 2002. Also, a 1930's vintage Coca-Cola ad painted on a beautifully old building. The fire department is located on the outskirts, and all are volunteer.
Enterprise - Boll Weevil Invasion saves the City of Enterprise! It's true! A huge goddess statue indefinitely holds the monstrous insect over her head in the town center square. Businesses all over town celebrate the invasion. In the Archives building window one can see the original goddess with her arms violently broken off from vandals stealing the hideous insect.
Montgomery - Returning to the Capital City of Montgomery, specifically for this ONE story - Millions have passed by, since April 11, 1861, not realizing it all STARTED HERE on the second floor of the Winter Building -The newly appointed Confederate Secretary of War, Leroy Pope Walker, marched upstairs to send a telegram which will change our history forever. His message was giving the orders to fire the first shot at the US Army stationed at Fort Sumter, located in South Carolina. The initial beginning of the Civil War! Located @ 2 Dexter Ave and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Monroeville/Spectre - Today's cool road trip is going behind-the-scenes of two hugely popular stories. The birthplace of the author, "To Kill a Mockingbird" and an abandoned fictional town movie set of Tim Burton's film, "Big Fish".
Mobile - Checking out the last metro city before entering Maryland - the LIVELY city of Mobile. The history, the legends and the modern all blended together in one city. The next couple of days exposing it all! Fun Fact - The Mardi Gras began in Mobile in 1702 (sorry New Orleans).
Mobile - Two super FUN ways to explore Mobile, Alabama. Let's begin in Mardi Gras Park getting the fever of Mardi Gras. The lifelike and entertaining statues are littered throughout the one block. You might notice a few hand-painted oversized oyster shells in the shadows. Roam the city streets in a half-shell scavenger hunt. Here is the link for all shell locations - https://www.mobile.org/blog/post/mobile-on-the-half-shell-2 If you find them all, the city gives you a gift! Closing out this day be sure to visit the Mobile Carnival Museum. Learn it all! It all began here - the Mardi Gras, that is!
Africatown - A story not shared in the history books which needs to be told. Inspiring young men today creating dreams for the youth to rise up out of the poverty-stricken area. An amazing day in Africatown, Alabama. If you are interested in learning more, check out the book - 'The Last Slave Ship by Ben Raines.
Summerdale/Daphne - The Day of Adventure in Southern Alabama - The Greatest Spear Hunter in Modern History offers the only Spear Museum in the world. Admission is free. Rooms and rooms filled with taxidermy mounts and every type of spear imaginable. Thirty minutes east is Gator Boardwalk. Yep, there are gators lurking in the waters!
Fairhope - The most unique housing in Alabama - Historic Homes. Sheldon Castle was hand built right after WWII by Craig Sheldon. Today it is rated as one of the top BNB's in the United States. Enter at your own risk as Hendrix the Dragon quietly rests atop. In 1923, a 65-year-old man, Henry Stuart built this odd, circular dome home with 239 bricks he made himself. He lived the life of a hermit growing most of his food. Today its door is open for guests to visit. It rests in a real estate parking lot.
Daphne - The only kind in the WORLD - United States Sports Academy. Preparing coaches to care for their athletes. The campus also offers amazing sports artifacts and art inside and outside. Over 1,000 pieces of sport art on display. If you are a sport fan, this experience is for you. The artwork honors every sport and the athletes beautifully.
The last meal in Alabama. Delicious description coming soon!
That's it folks! Whew!