Centrally located in the South, Alabama is close to many of the region’s iconic cities. Begin your travels in Nashville, Tennessee, then immerse yourself in Alabama and wind up in New Orleans, Louisiana. A quick two-hour drive south will land you in Huntsville, Alabama, the rocket city, home of the world’s largest space museum. Just a few miles down the road is Muscle Shoals, the “Hit Recording Capital of the World.” Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones called the area “Rock n Roll Heaven.” History is at the heart of Alabama.
In both Birmingham and Montgomery, visit famous civil rights sites where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preached and marched. Beyond their rich history, those cities also offer the world’s largest motorcycle collection (at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum) and the last of the true backyard juke joints (Gip’s Place). On Alabama’s Gulf Coast, relax on the soft white-sand beaches and swim in the warm Gulf of Mexico waters in the resort towns of Gulf Shores/Orange Beach. Nearby is the historic port city of Mobile, the birthplace of Mardi Gras and a great place to find fresh seafood. From there, you’re just a 2.5-hour drive to New Orleans, Louisiana.
