Alabama Travel Guide
As its nickname the ‘Heart of Dixie’ suggests, the state of Alabama is located in the deep south of the United States. It is bordered to the north by Tennessee, to the east by Georgia, to the south by Florida and the Gulf of Mexico and to the west by Mississippi. The state capital is Montgomery, and the biggest city is Birmingham.
Unofficially dubbed the ‘Yellowhammer State’, Alabama also means ‘tribal town’ in the language of the Creek Indians. It features everything that the south is renowned for – hospitality, down-home cooking and a varying landscape featuring mountains, caverns, lakes, forests and beaches. Alabama is also the birthplace of the civil rights movement. The landmark Montgomery bus boycott took place here as well as the Freedom March where Dr Martin Luther King gave his famous ‘I have a dream’ speech.
Summers in Alabama are among the hottest in the country, with soaring temperatures reaching in excess of 90°F. The state is also prone to tropical storms and the occasional hurricane. In 2005, Alabama was badly hit by Hurricane Katrina, but much of the attractions and infrastructure have been fixed and are open to visitors again.
Alabama is a destination that provides visitors with both laidback escapes and non-stop activities thanks to its diverse scenery and character. The crystal clear waters and sugar-white sand of the Gulf Coast beckons at the state’s southern end with beaches that are free from large-scale commercialization and amusement parks, unlike those of neighboring Florida. Instead, you will find the stately antebellum homes and gardens of Mobile, a major seaport, as well as the tranquil towns and rolling farmlands of the southeast.
Further to the north, the pace of life picks up in charming Birmingham, where the Appalachian Mountains frame the city’s tall buildings. The close-by Talladega Superspeedway is one of the world’s most competitive motor sports facilities and hosts breathtaking NASCAR racing events.
Since it has maintained a true southern distinctiveness, Birmingham has been dubbed America’s last major southern city. Its surroundings overflow with spectacular vistas, lakes, caverns and waterfalls. Particularly in autumn, this is a heaven for nature enthusiasts who come here for hiking, mountain biking and camping.