The Best of Alabama's Food, Music & Experiences

Alabama is home to world-class restaurants and culinary masterpieces across the whole state, from luxury dining experiences to one-of-a-kind hidden gems there is something to cater to whatever you fancy. There’s barbeques like you have never seen, with country fried steak so tender it falls apart in your mouth and delicious locational delicacies such as banana pudding. Below are some of the best restaurants to visit in Alabama and what they offer!

-Highlands Bar and Grill, Birmingham – Open since 1982, the atmosphere is upscale and sophisticated, with the favourite dish being stone-ground baked grits and the lamb porterhouse chops.

-Rattlesnake Saloon, Tuscumbia – Rattlesnake Saloon is located off the beaten path inside a cave, which makes it one of Alabama’s most unique restaurants. It’s been featured in magazines, music videos and on numerous television shows.

-The Gulf, Orange Beach - The Gulf is a unique restaurant that offers a variety of fresh seafood. What makes it so unique is its one-of-a-kind construction. This beachfront restaurant is constructed from a collection of used shipping containers.

- Rodney Scott’s BBQ, Birmingham – Renowned as one of the best steak sandwiches around — a ribeye brined in Rodney’s Sauce, smoked slow and low on the pit, and then sliced thin and topped with white American cheese, onions, lettuce and tomato.

-Fishers, Orange Beach Marina - The Dockside menu offers several sandwich, taco, and salad options. Guests enjoy stunning views of the Orange Beach Marina, and unparalleled fresh seafood. (Pictured Above)

There are a variety of options when discovering Alabama’s craft beer and winery scene, whether you want to explore how it all comes together with a tour, or, just fancy a nice pint or glass of wine, here are some of the best places you can visit

-Avondale Brewing Co., Birmingham – Not only a brewery, Avondale offers live music events and concerts whilst being served their array of craft beers including their Belgian style farmhouse ale, passion fruit sour ale, amber beer and many more! (Pictured Above: BrewCruiser)

-Back Forty Beer Company, Gadsden – A great spot to enjoy a pint! Offering a great variety of American and European craft beer styles, all brewed on-site and served fresh to enjoy in the expansive beer garden and outdoor porch with rocking chairs. With more than 50 different beers introduced annually and as many as 25 different options on tap at any given time. They also offer a creative menu of gourmet pub foods, including the Back 40 Cheeseburger, one of our Neopolitan-inspired pizzas and our kale salad.

-Whippoorwill Vineyards, Notasulga – “An authentic experience”, Visit and witness how every operation is done by hand. From harvesting, to bottling, corking and sealing, to putting the bottle in the box, everybody pitches in to help. Experience the rich flavors of the native Alabama wines. Embrace the natural beauty and charm of the countryside surrounding Whippoorwill Vineyards while enjoying traditional Southern hospitality.

Alabama is where some of the biggest names in the music industry were born such as Nat King Cole, Lionel Richie and Hank Williams, it is also the location where international superstars including Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding and The Rolling Stones all came to produce music in the famous Muscle Shoals, the ‘Hit Recording Capital of the World’ to record songs in the 60s and 70s. These working studios still used by international artists welcome visitors for tours. Live music can be found in almost every town and city in sophisticated bars and clubs, Saturday night juke joints and gospel choir church services. Below are some areas that love their music and what they can offer when you visit!

-Huntsville - Located in the heart of Alabama’s Mountain Region, Huntsville hosts numerous music events throughout the year including one of the state’s largest - the Big Spring Jam every September. The city’s downtown area has a mini entertainment district with venues like Crossroads Cafe and Humphrey’s showcasing Blues, Jazz, Folk and Rock music.

-Birmingham - As well as hosting the famous Preserve Jazz Festival every June, Birmingham claims to be the Capital of American Idol due to its reputation for producing a string of talented vocalists. Jazz echoes from downtown nightclubs in places like Ona's Music Room and the Blue Monkey. Jazz enthusiasts would do well to visit the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame which pays tribute to great artists with ties to Alabama like Nat King Cole, Duke Ellington and Lionel Hampton.

-Muscle Shoals - Tuscumbia, Florence, Sheffield and Muscle Shoals line the banks of the Tennessee River. Begin your stay by visiting the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in Tuscumbia which showcases some of the state's famous music icons including WC Handy, Jimmie Rodgers, Sam Phillips, Hank Williams, Nat King Cold, The Temptations, Alabama and the Commodores.

The Shoals region also boasts some of the most influential recording centres in America. Renowned for their huge contribution to rock, country and R&B music throughout the 60's and 70's, the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio and FAME Recording Studio were used frequently by superstars like Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones, Paul Simon and Otis Redding who all made classic recording here. Both studios are active recording studios but are open for public tours (check ahead for visiting times).

Boasting 22 state parks, covering 48,000 acres of land and water, Alabama provides an array of endless experiences. From hiking the Appalachian Mountains witnessing breath-taking waterfalls to jet skiing along the beautiful Gulf of Mexico. Below are a variety of amazing experiences to be had in Alabama!

- US Space and Rocket Center & Space Camp (pictured above) -the world’s largest space attraction and Space Camp; Called Rocket City, Huntsville has more rocket scientist for its population that any other American city. Space Camp offers simulated astronaut training for children as well as adults and family camps. The U.S. Space & Rocket Center is the official center for NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and Alabama’s number one ticketed attraction Space Camp offers simulated astronaut training for children as well as adults and family camps.

-Montgomery – For more of an educative experience, Alabama was at the forefront of the nation’s civil rights movement in the late 1950s and ’60s. In Montgomery tour the Rosa Parks Museum, named after the woman who refused to move to the back of a city bus. With the help of Dr. King and other civil rights activists, a yearlong boycott started the Civil Rights Struggle in America. Visit the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church – the 1883 church is a World Heritage Site nominee because of its status as the birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement. It is the only church where Martin Luther King Jr., served as senior pastor. Enter through the ground-level doors to the basement where Rev. Ralph David Abernathy, NAACP activist E.D. Nixon, King and others vowed a bus boycott following the arrest of Mrs. Parks, just to name a few of these historical locations to visit.

-Mobile - This historic port city is known as the first capital of the French Louisiana Territory and home of the first American Mardi Gras. During your visit, go on a peaceful stroll through historic neighbourhoods filled with centuries-old mansions. After that, you can explore one of Mobile’s most memorable museums – the Mobile Carnival Museum, a showcase of glittering, handmade coronation costumes, fur-lined trains, and crowns that date back to the 1860s. Or, drive to Bellingrath Gardens and Home, which houses 65 acres of floral pageantry all year long.