10 cool things to do in Alabama

Alabama is home to significant landmarks from the American Civil Rights Movement including Birmingham's 16th Street Baptist Church, Martin Luther King, Jr.'s church and the Rosa Parks Museum in Montgomery.

Discover a huge variety of experiences in Alabama, from the high-tech Rocket City of Huntsville to the cultural melting pot of Mobile and the white sand beaches of Gulf Shores. Each meal is a celebration, each town has a story to tell, and each stop is unique. Savour the slow-cooked southern delights and fine dining in one of the best U.S. food destinations.

In between there is the inspiring Civil Rights Trail that leads you to Selma, Birmingham and Montgomery, Muscle Shoals, the hit recording Capital of the World and BBQs washed down by bottomless iced tea and Southern hospitality.

Here is our list of the top ten cool things to do in this area:

1. Tour the original recording studio known as Muscle Shoals Sound Studio where hit records in the 1960s and 1970s were produced by famous artists, including Rolling Stones and Aretha Franklin, and are still being made today.

2. Learn about the history from the Civil War to Civil Rights in Montgomery, the state Capital of Alabama. Topping the list of must-see attractions is the historic state Capitol building, where Jefferson Davis took the oath of office as President of the Confederate States of America in 1861, and where, nearly a century later, the Selma-to-Montgomery civil rights march ended with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivering a moving speech from its steps.

3. Visit the historic sites of the Civil Rights Trail in Birmingham and The National Memorial for Peace and Justice situated in downtown Montgomery.

4. Check out the spectacular panoramic views of Birmingham and surrounding areas from an open air observation balcony atop the statue of Vulcan, the world’s largest cast iron statue on Red Mountain.

5. Visit the world’s largest space attraction in Huntsville at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center which features dozens of interactive exhibits surrounding Apollo, Mercury and Space Shuttle spacecraft.

6. Walk along the 32 miles of beautiful beaches of the Gulf Coast or cast your line for deep-sea adventure on a charter fishing trip or take a scuba diving adventure

7. Watch the sights and sounds of live marching bands and brilliant-coloured floats in Mobile where Mardi Gras started in America.

8. Music! Enjoy great blues music in places like Gip’s Place, one of the last remaining juke joints in the country or discover an underground weekend jazz club.

9. Eat your way through Alabama’s best barbecue restaurants and discover the story behind each plate!

10. Enjoy a round of golf along the world famous Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.