Kayak in beautiful, clear waters situated on a canal-like river just 10 minutes from the Gulf of Mexico. Beach'n'River Canoe and Kayak Rental offers on-site launching onto a white sandy creek leading to the Bon Secour River. Follow the peaceful flow of the water and see birds of all kinds fly past. The waters are so clear you can watch the fish swim below you or you can wait and see them jump up from the water. A great activity for people of any age and any skill level. The staff is extremely friendly and very knowledgeable about the river and the area. Ask anyone, go once and you'll be ba. . .

All visitors are guaranteed to not be disappointed as the tours embark in search of bottlenose dolphins. Even once the tours find dolphins, guides will get the dolphins to play games like surfing alongside the boat jumping and rolling. The tour boats create a large wake which the dolphins enjoy playing in making a great way for visitors to get an outstanding view. A lot of fun for visitors of all ages. Bring a cooler, camera, sunglasses and sunblock. Make it a combo cruise and lunch at Flipper Seafood and Oyster Bar. . . .

A great family adventure waits for you at Sequoyah Caverns and Ellis Homestead. Explore the beauty below the ground in the caverns. Walk on the footpaths past reflection pools and fascinating passageways. The pathway is almost ground level with only a few steps down, so everyone can be a part of the adventure. Learn more about the caves and sign up for a scheduled group tour. Family owned for over 100 years this is also a site of great heritage and a much better history of the cavern and surrounding area. A truly unique vacation stop that is sure to surprise everyone in your group. Enjo. . .

First created by Mr. and Mrs. Walter Bellingrath in 1932, the gardens were opened free of charge for locals to visit. However, after an overwhelming response they decided to keep the gardens open year round beginning in 1934. The 65 acre Garden Estate has bloomed for years with each season being a true celebration in every way. On the self guided walking tour guests can see the 2004 Top Public Rose Garden in the USA, awarded by the All-American Rose Selections. Visit the many regions such as the Asian-American Garden or the Butterfly Garden. While visiting, guests may also tour the Belling. . .

A park with self-guided tours of the USS Alabama, a submarine and a large aircraft pavilion with several historic military airplanes. Guests can walk the decks of a mighty battleship, go below in a World War II submarine, and view cockpits of combat aircrafts. A very interesting site for history enthusiasts but once aboard the ship every guest will feel taken back in time. Plan your visit to last several hours since the ship is so large and only one of the many exciting sites to see. . . .

On an unassuming stretch of land suited for soybean farming located next to a couple of abandoned airport runways, crews constructed the biggest, fastest and most competitive superspeedway in the world - - Talladega Superspeedway. The first race held here was the Bama 400 Grand Touring race on Saturday, September 13, 1969. The track itself is 2.66-miles long, four lanes wide and is banked 33 degrees on each end, with 18-degree banking in the tri-oval. This configuration has produced some of the fastest and most competitive racing in history. The backstretch is nearly 4,000 feet long, and s. . .

A visit to Orange Beach and Gulf Shores offers the perfect balance of non-stop activity and lay-around-doing-nothing time. Putter around a bit on a championship golf courses. Cast your line for deep-sea adventure on one of the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach fishing charters. Travel back in history with a visit to Fort Morgan, the site of the Civil War Battle of Mobile Bay. Commune with Mother Nature as you hike wildlife trails gazing at shorebirds. Whether vacationing with family, escaping with the one you love, attending an annual Alabama convention or corporate retreat, you can choose from . . .

Home to Space Camp, Aviation Challenge and X-Camp; The U.S. Space & Rocket Center is recognized as one of the most comprehensive U.S. manned space flight hardware museums in the world. Facilities include Spacedome Theater, Rocket Park, the Education Training Center, which houses NASA's Educator Resource Center, and more. Visitors to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center will experience Huntsville's role in the making of the moon rocket, the space race, the Apollo missions, learn about the Space Shuttle program, the International Space Station and onto the next beginnings with NASA's Constellation . . .

The history of RJT begins with Dr. David Bronner, CEO of the Retirement Systems of Alabama. Bronner's idea was to use golf to boost tourism, attract retirees, and spur economic growth within the state. Dr. Bronner wasn't looking to build just an 18 hole public golf course, he wanted to build 378 holes at eight sites throughout the entire state. Legendary architect Robert Trent Jones, Sr., arguably the premier golf course architect in the world, jumped at the chance and emerged from semi-retirement to tackle the project. In his unparalleled career Jones had designed more than 500 golf cours. . .

Once a homeland of the Cherokee Native American Tribe, Desoto State Park, is an outdoor escape that will leave you wanting more. From its beautiful landscapes to its rich natural history there is much to see and do. The west fork of the Little River which flows through the park is one of the only rivers in the world that flows almost entirely on a mountain top. This river has carved out a remarkable canyon through the park that is well worth seeing. Desoto State Park offers miles of hiking and biking trails with beautiful bluffs and rock formation, a number of small waterfalls. Desoto Falls. . .

Tuscaloosa, Alabama since 1993 is home to the first and only Mercedes-Benz production facility in the United States. M-Class vehicles began rolling off the production lines in 1997, followed by R-Class and GL. The three-million-square-foot plant rests within a 1,000-acre enclave 20 minutes from downtown. And once again, the plant's production lineup is expanding, adding C-Class models by 2014. The factory contains a Visitor's Center which houses a gift shop and mini museum. Exhibits outline the history and vision of the German company founded by Karl Benz. Visitors get to see some classic e. . .

Bryant-Denny Stadium is the on-campus home of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team, winners of 12 national championships. The stadium is named for legendary UA football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant and former UA president George Denny. Football season runs from September-December. See website for complete schedule details. •Total seating capacity: 92,138 •All-time attendance record: 92,138 •Number of skyboxes: 123 •Consecutive sellouts: All Tuscaloosa home games (since 1988) •Special features: Three Video scoreboards(Two in north endzone, one in south endzone) . . .

History lives at Old Alabama Town, where six blocks of authentically restored 19th and early 20th century structures beckon you to step back in time to the days of one-room schoolhouses, grist mills and cotton gins—all without leaving the heart of downtown Montgomery, Alabama. From lavish antebellum mansions to humble log cabins and slave quarters, at Old Alabama Town you will learn how early Americans of all backgrounds lived and worked in Central Alabama. Old Alabama Town is an outdoor history museum managed by the non-profit Landmarks Foundation for the City of Montgomery. The 19th centu. . .

In this dynamic young garden you will find inviting woodland paths, stunning floral collections and exhibits to delight visitors of all ages. Paths meander through the shady woodlands of the Dogwood Trail and the lush fern glade, while native wildflowers quietly populate the Nature Trail. Daylily and herb gardens rival or surpass those of older, more mature botanical gardens. The demonstration vegetable garden showcases varieties of produce and inspires home gardeners. The 5-acre Central Corridor Gardens, featuring aquatic, perennial, and annual displays are ablaze with color from earl. . .

Originally known as Black Creek Falls, Noccalula Falls is most noted for its 90 foot waterfall with gorge trail winding through its basin. The park also contains caves, aboriginal forts, an abandoned dam, pioneer homestead and Civil War carvings. The falls are marked with a bronze statue of Cherokee princess who, according to legend, plunged to her death after being ordered by her father to marry a man she didn't love. The bronze statue is made of pennies collected from local school children in the mid 1960's. The falls can be viewed from above or you can pay admission and walk the 1.5 mil. . .

Drawing more than 500,000 visitors annually, The Birmingham Zoo is one of Alabama's most popular attractions. Approximately 750 animals of 250 species call the 122-acre Birmingham Zoo home, including sea lions, kangaroos and endangered species from six continents. In 1999, the Birmingham Zoo became an independent not-for-profit organization. In the short time following this privatization, the Birmingham Zoo has hosted traveling exhibits of bats, Koalas and Black-Footed Penguins, added permanent exhibits of a Komodo Dragon and interactive lorikeet aviary and regained accreditation with the A. . .

Yes, still in the state of Alabama - although this might not be the Statue of Liberty you're thinking of. Still, we think that this replica of the original Statue of Liberty, at one-fifth of its size, is mentionable in the top 10 attractions of Alabama. The bronze recreation was commissioned by the founder of Liberty National Life Insurance in 1959 and stands tall and proud to this day. . . .

Any guest traveling through Alabama will be keen to schedule at least a half day for the exploration of Tannehill Historic State Park - although that amount of time will likely not be enough for a thorough investigation of the park's many draws and attractions. At the height of production, this area contains more than 50 restored historic buildings, including the Tannehill Iron Works, which dates back to the early 19th century.. . .

Experience one of the most fantastic destinations for any lover of jazz. The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame commemorates some of the greatest artists of their times - jazz greats which span the century as earmarks to the cultural evolution of popular music. The art-deco museum honors jazz artists with ties to Alabama as well. Exhibits feature famed jazz icons like Nat King Cole, Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton, and Erskine Hawkins. Tour the history and transformation of jazz music overtime. Memorabilia such as paintings, quilts, instruments, and personal effects complete the experience. A great e. . .

Built in 1851, and then, in 1861, serving as the site of the first capitol of the Confederacy, the capitol reflects 140 years of shifting tastes in architecture and furnishings. Historic Senate Chamber, House of Representatives, old Supreme Court Chamber, and original governor's office have been restored to Civil War-era appearance. The steps of the capitol served as the culminating point of the Selma to Montgomery March. Here, March 25, 1965, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., addressed a crowd of near 30,000. A 20-member committee, appointed by King, then presented a list of grievances to Gover. . .

Birmingham Botanical Gardens is Alabama's largest living museum with more than 10,000 different plants in its living collections. The Gardens' 67.5 acres contains 25+ unique gardens, 30+ works of original outdoor sculpture and miles of serene paths. The Gardens features the largest public horticulture library in the U.S., conservatories, a wildflower garden, two rose gardens, the Southern Living garden, and Japanese Gardens with a traditionally crafted tea house. Education programs run year round and over 10,000 school children enjoy free science-curriculum based field trips annually. At. . .

Founded in 1951, the Birmingham Museum of Art has one of the finest collections in the Southeast supported by a strong educational program designed to make the arts come alive for children and adults throughout the region. More than 24,000 objects represent a rich panorama of cultures, including Asian, European, American, African, Pre-Columbian, and Native American. Highlights include the Museum's collection of Asian art, considered the finest and most comprehensive in the Southeast, and its collection of Vietnamese ceramics, one of the finest in the world; a remarkable Kress collection of Ren. . .

Sturdivant Hall, located in Selma, Alabama, is one of the state's most outstanding tourist attractions. From the moment you enter the museum, you are taken back to a time of elegance and Southern hospitality. This magnificent structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and in the 1934 American Building Survey. Its construction was begun in 1852 by Colonel Edward T. Watts, a local resident. The architect was Thomas Helm Lee, a cousin of Roberty E. Lee. The house was originally built as a town home for entertaining. It is considered one of the finest Greek Revival neoclas. . .

As summarized in its Mission Statement, the Institute sets out to "focus on what happened in the past, to portray it realistically and interestingly, and to understand it in relationship to the present and future developments of human relations in Birmingham, the United States and perhaps the world." From its inception the Institute founders recognized the universality of human conflict. After all, Dr. Martin L. King had been deeply influenced by the religious and ethnic conflicts in India, parts of Africa and Eastern Europe earlier in the twentieth century. In time these and other nations . . .

Fun and learning never end at McWane Science Center, a nonprofit, hands-on museum and IMAX® Dome Theater. Four floors of interactive exhibits celebrate science and wonder — from an amazing collection of dinosaurs to innovative environmental showcases, imaginative early childhood playgrounds, and an awe-inspiring aquarium. The energy and excitement of discovery spring to life through an extensive lineup of science demonstrations performed daily by talented educators. The adventure intensifies in the IMAX® Dome Theater, where wide-eyed visitors experience the sights and sounds of breathtaking fi. . .