A few days ago, Romedy Now was showing the 2002 romantic comedy Sweet Home Alabama, starring Reese Witherspoon, Josh Lucas, and Patrick Dempsey.
I was in the middle of planning my summer vacation, and I had never traveled to the legendary southern parts of the United States.
Alabama is a southern state I have found intriguing for a really long time. Home to several historically relevant landmarks from the American Civil Rights Movement, Alabama is famous for gorgeous Gulf-coast beaches, southern hospitality, and college football. So, within a single day, I ended up planning my solo trip to the southern state of Alabama.
Keep reading to find out more about the coolest things to do in Alabama…
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10 Cool And Unusual Things To Do In Alabama In 2024:
I usually don’t share my travel plans with anyone. However, Alabama really got me excited, and now I can’t help myself! So, without wasting any further time, scroll down and find out all the unusual things you can do in Alabama this year!
But before that, don’t forget to groove a little to,
“Oh! Susanna, Oh, don’t you cry for me,
For I come from Alabama with my banjo on my knee.”
1. Drive-Through Arts And Antiques Gallery
Yes, museums are certainly cool, but drive-through museums? Way cooler! Located in the small town of Seale in the state of Alabama, this attraction by the road does not even require you to step out of your car. Moreover, it is none other than the first-ever drive-thru antiques and art gallery.
Created in 2014 by Butch Anthony, the collector, and artist Museum Of Wonder was built to control all the crowd that would gather in the museum before.
Made from shipping containers stacked creatively, this is a must-visit if you are looking for things to do in Mobile, Alabama.
2. Claim Some ‘Unclaimed’ Bagged
Secondly, one of the most unusual things to do in Alabama is perhaps visiting Scottsboro in Alabama to claim some good, old, unclaimed baggage.
This is perhaps the most quirky tourist activity to do in this southern state. Besides, of course, a predetermined time period is provided for people to claim their luggage.
But after that time period ends, you can buy off unclaimed luggage and all the contents inside.
First started in 1970, the Unclaimed Luggage Center has gradually expanded into a full-fledged store where you can claim many unusual items, from ordinary items to weird things like a rattlesnake, the options are many.
3. Visit The Natural Bridge Of Alabama
Thirdly, Alabama is home to several historically significant landmarks, one of which is the natural bridge that is at least 200 million years old.
Formed from iron ore and sprawling sandstone, the bridge is located near the William Bankhead National Forest. Spanning a small cave area, it is 60 ft. high and 148 ft. long.
Identified as a national park only in 1954, the area has been home to Native Americans for several hundred years.
A few meters away from the bridge’s curved formation, an Indian head is carved. Furthermore, it is assumed to be the head of an important Indian chieftain, but to date, it is not known who created it or the purpose behind the act.
4. Head Over To Neversink
A striking geological wonder that inspires climbers and photographers from across the world, Neversink is a remarkable pit located in northern Alabama.
It is a type of sinkhole and cave blended together. While the opening is 40 ft. wide, the floor at the bottom happens to be twice the size of the opening. But that’s not the most dramatic bit.
The 162 ft. drop is perhaps the most intriguing part of this natural attraction. And that’s not all. While the Summer witnesses lush fern vegetation, the Winter witnesses ice sheets, and the Spring season experiences ribbony waterfalls inside the sinkhole.
The Southeastern Cave Conservancy, which purchased the property outright in 1995, is in charge of maintaining this attraction.
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5. Check Out The Alabama Booksmith
Do you love books? Are you a book nerd? Then, you cannot absolutely miss out on this unique bookshop known as the Alabama Booksmith.
The specialty? The writer signs every single book in this shop. Located in a hardly known suburb in Birmingham, the shop is truly one of a kind.
Furthermore, although it was originally a shop for rare books, the owner, Jacob Reiss, made a great business decision and changed the theme to signed books. We all know how fast signed books actually sell!
The best price? You get to buy these signed babies for the normal price of the book! So, if you are wondering about things to do in Birmingham, Alabama, then this bookshop is totally worth visiting!
6. Play With The Dead
Strange things often happen in the world, like a children’s playground deep inside Alabama’s largest and oldest cemetery.
The historic cemetery ran out of space in 2007, and the old silly playground was suddenly raised to… umm…accommodate the dead.
Well, the locals didn’t quite like it, so they did what they do best: protest until they got what they wanted. A new playground in memory of the old, too, umm… bring back the lost location from the dead?
Surely, one of the strangest things to do in Alabama is visiting dead strangers and visiting the historic park.
7. Check Out The Museum Dedicated To The Fitzgeralds
As a huge fan of F. Scott Fitzgerald and, to an extent, even his tumultuous relationship with Zelda makes the literary nerd inside me sit up straight for a change.
So, visiting their home and the only museum dedicated to them in the whole world is definitely on my bucket list. If you want to do the same, don’t forget to visit Montgomery on your trip to Alabama.
Fun fact! Tender is the Night, Fitzgerald’s last great work was written here, and not just that, the story is based on his relationship with Zelda.
8. Hit The Hub For Water Sports
One of the best hubs for water sports in America, you must check out Orange Beach while looking for things to do in Alabama.
Additonally, if you are wondering about things to do in Orange Beach, Alabama, then don’t worry because there’s so much you can do!
Furthermore, you can explore the beautiful picnic areas and fishing piers and hit any of the award-winning eateries for a local brunch.
Additionally, don’t forget to check out the Orange Beach Indian & Sea Museum to revisit Native American history.
9. Watch Out For The Wetumpka Impact Crater
The central Alabama landscape is characterized by an entire ridge of 300-foot-tall hills. But those hills are not really hills.
Instead, they are craters, almost five miles wide, the byproduct of a cosmic collision that happened thousands of years ago.
The place is known as the Wetumpka Impact Crater, and you most definitely should check it out.
The most interesting part? When this cosmic hit this particular surface, the impact was more than that of the bombs dropped in 1945 on Hiroshima. In fact, the effect was calculated to be 175,000 more.
10. Sip On Famous Drinks At Melanin Cafe
Lastly, you might wonder what is so famous about the drinks at the Melanin Cafe, and that’s fine because we are here to tell you more about them.
However, the most exciting part about the beverages served at the Melanin Cafe is that each drink has been named after African-American luminaries, sayings, and even relevant events.
Furthermore, the cafe is dedicated to coffee and culture, and it is a must-visit if you want to celebrate African culture. One of the most exciting things to do in Alabama, you must not forget to check out this cultural cafe located in Opelika.
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Things to do in Alabama as an Immigrant!
Okay, so you are not going to be in Alabama as a tourist. Rather, you are planning to stay there as an immigrant?
Got you covered! Here are some of the things that you must do when you are in Alabama as an immigrant:
1. Explore Housing Advocacy Centers
Firstly, exploring housing advocacy centers in Alabama, like Alabama Arise, is crucial for immigrants because they offer support and resources to navigate the housing system.
These bodies help immigrants find decent housing and understand their rights as tenants. Furthemore, they are also committed to eliminating barriers to affordable housing, such as discrimination and the lack of choices.
Through interacting with these centers, immigrants can achieve safe housing that constitutes a basic element of their general well-being and their integration into the community is ensured.
2. Attend Community Workshops
Secondly, immigrants must attend community seminars in Alabama because they offer information on cheap housing, tenant rights, and housing legislation.
These programs help immigrants navigate the challenges of renting or purchasing a home. The Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice and Inspiritus provide examples of these workshops.
Besides, they also provide a forum for learning about the resources and legal safeguards that guarantee equitable treatment in housing-related situations.
Furthermore, attending these seminars equips newcomers with the information they need to make wise choices and find safe, secure, and reasonably priced housing in their new neighborhood.
3. Visit Model Housing Projects
Thirdly, visiting model housing projects in Alabama, like those in Newbern, is important for immigrants as it showcases innovative, affordable housing solutions.
Furthermore, these projects, developed by initiatives like Rural Studio, demonstrate how good design can create cost-effective homes. They serve as a blueprint for sustainable living and community development.
Understanding these models can inspire and inform immigrants’ housing choices. Moreover, it would help them find homes that are not only affordable but also well-designed and community-oriented. Additionally, it’s a way to see practical, creative housing solutions in action.
4. Participate in Cultural Festivals
Participating in cultural festivals in Alabama is key for immigrants to feel connected to the community. It helps understand local traditions and build friendships.
Festivals like the Birmingham Heritage Festival or Montgomery’s Juneteenth Celebration offer a chance to mingle with locals, learn about the area, and get tips on settling in.
It’s a fun way to join the Alabama spirit and feel a sense of belonging in a new place.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Now that you are almost at the end of this blog, you might want to take a look at some of the most popular questions that people often ask.
Alabama is the perfect place to visit if you are looking for a place to do cool things. From visiting the first-ever drive-thru antiques and art gallery to checking out the only museum dedicated to the Fitzgerald in the world, Alabama is home to several unusual historical landmarks.
The top five strange things you will come across on your trip to Alabama are as follows,
(a) Scrap Metal Pig Sculpture.
(b) Joe Minter’s African Village.
(c) Playhouse Grave of Little Nadine Earles.
(d) Giant Red Dog Statue at Kentuck Art Center.
(e) Bamahenge.
Snow is pretty much a rare development in the state of Alabama. However, every winter occasionally, it snows a little in the northern parts of the state, like in the areas surrounding Montogomery.
And It’s A Travel Adieu:
The number of things to do in Gulf Shores, Alabama, is just too many, and a short vacation to the place won’t make a difference.
So the best thing you can do is pack your bags and disappear into the beauty of this unusual country. Besides, if you are worried about things to do in Alabama, you can always come back to the list of the top ten unusual activities.
What’s the point of traveling if you are not going to embark upon adventures that you will remember for an entire lifetime? Don’t forget to let us know your thoughts on this in the comments below.
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