Visit Alabama
There are few places in the American south that can match Alabama for fun on and in the water. Pictures of Alabama beaches don’t do them justice; Alabama beaches are some of the best on the east coast, from the sparkling quartz sands of Orange Beach, with its 225-foot long boardwalk, to the fishing spots on Dauphin Island Pier, where the waters team with sheephead, mackerel and flounder. Anglers know that Alabama lakes are nothing to sneeze at either, especially those who’ve reeled in a 30-pound striped bass from Lake Lewis Smith, and Alabama maps of the Shoals are chock-full of lakes, creeks and rivers enjoyed by thousands of visitors every year.
For tortured souls tired of city lights, Alabama is the place to reclaim your sang-froid. From the fresh, crisp air of the mountains and lakes of north-central Alabama to the glistening sun-soaked beaches of the state’s southern Gulf coast, the state has a whole dazzling array of attractions to offer to the tourist seeking solace in Nature’s arm. It is also a state with a rich history and heritage. So, whether it is just a weekend trip or a longer vacation, smart folks check out Alabama before deciding where to head when the well-earned break comes. And I say ‘smart’ folks, because a vacation in Alabama doesn’t hurt your pocket – you can have a wonderful time at a much lower cost than comparable vacation spots!
Ask anybody and the typical answer you will get is that there is nothing in Alabama that is of special interest to the tourist. Yet tourism happens to be big business in the state and is, in fact, the state’s biggest industry, generating well over $10 billion in revenue each year.
The key to Alabama’s attractiveness as a tourist destination is above all its rural and agricultural orientation punched with great hospitality, delectable cuisine, top notch Alabama motels, hotels and resorts, and a globally well-known events calendar with many festivals and performances thrown in.
The tranquil pace of life in Monroe County, Alabama, has nurtured some notable literary figures. Harper Lee and Truman Capote have called the county home.