Alabama Holidays

From the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains to the 32 miles of powder white beaches, you won’t be short of things to do on your trip to Alabama. From the great outdoors, to learning about the history and musical heritage throughout the cities, each place will leave lasting memories.

Head over to Birmingham – Alabama’s largest city – to learn the history of the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement inspired by Martin Luther King Jr. at one of the many museums. Elsewhere, the state capital of Montgomery was where the Montgomery Bus Boycott took place, which you can learn about at the Rosa Parks Museum.

Or you can explore the state’s music heritage by taking a tour of the original recording studio ‘Muscle Shoals Sound Studio’, where famous records were produced by Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding and The Rolling Stones in the Sixties and Seventies. 

Alternatively, head over to Huntsville and become an astronaut for the day. Immerse yourself in outer space at the U.S. Space and Rocket Centre, which is full of interactive hands-on exhibitions to give you the full experience.

Most people don’t expect to find beaches in Alabama, but the Gulf Coast is definitely one of the Deep South’s hidden gems. The city of Gulf Shores is a sun-seeker’s paradise, boasting eight public beaches made up of powdery white sands and crystal-clear waters. It’s the perfect place to relax after a busy few days exploring Alabama’s vibrant cities.

Wildlife-lovers should grab a pair of goggles and swim among the resident rays, turtles and octopi. Or head to Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge to see dozens of migratory birds. Alternatively, if golf’s more your thing, why not tee off on Gulf Shores Golf Club? In the evenings, you can listen to the waves lap the shore with a cocktail in hand, or dance the night away to live music at Flora-Bama.

Fancy some watersports during your Alabama holiday? Spend a day at the neighbouring city of Orange Beach. You can go kayaking, snorkelling and paddle-boarding, or – to get your adrenaline pumping – you could try jet-skiing or parasailing.

Alabama isn’t short of fantastic places to eat, with award-winning restaurants serving up culinary delights from across the world. From slow-cooked meat dishes and local fried green tomatoes, to sophisticated seafood delicacies, the food scene here will not disappoint. One thing’s for sure, traditional barbecue food is not to be missed during your Alabama holiday.

Head to one of the state’s famous restaurants for mouth-watering meats – and don’t forget to have lashings of Alabama’s white barbecue sauce, for the full Southern experience. Alabamians take barbecue to the next level, and there are even several festivals where chefs come to compete in cook-offs.

Craft beer is also a firm favourite in Alabama, with several breweries across the state. Why not head to Birmingham or Huntsville to visit some of the most popular breweries? You can enjoy a tour and taste your way through some of the local favourites.

Temperatures vary across Alabama, much like the rest of the Deep South. During the summer, it’s often very humid with temperatures reaching 32°C, and there are occasional thunderstorms. But spring is the best time for your Alabama holiday. Between mid-March and late-May, this place is bursting with bright colours, and the temperatures are pleasant for sightseeing – you won’t need more than a light jacket to keep warm. Autumn sees similar weather, too, if you’d prefer to see Alabama’s trees turn red and orange.

If you’re visiting Alabama during the winter months, many cities host Christmas events and parades to get you in the holiday spirit. At their lowest, temperatures hover around 12°C – so brutally cold weather is not a problem.