Jackie Sheckler Finch - Alabama Off the Beaten Path®: Discover Your Fun

An award-winning journalist and photographer, Jackie Sheckler Finch has covered a wide array of topicsfrom birth to death, with all the joy and sorrow in between. She has written for numerous publications and is the editor of a nationally award-winning regional magazine. She is also the author of more than a dozen books and has been named the Mark Twain Travel Writer of the Year by the Midwest Travel Writers Association a record five times, in 1998, 2001, 2003, 2007, and 2012. She also belongs to the Society of American Travel Writers and the Midwest Travel Journalists Association. She shares her home with resident guard and entertainer, a rescued pooch named Pepper. One of her greatest joys is taking to the road to find the fascinating people and places that wait over the hill and around the next bend.

As I crisscrossed Alabama while researching this book, many people offered suggestions and provided information. I want to thank everyone who helped me with the birthing of the previous editions as well as this one. My appreciation to Verna Gates, Dawn Hathcock, Michael Hicks, Andrea Horton, Meg Lewis, and the excellent team of public relations officials who promote the awesome aspects of Alabama, as well as to the residents, volunteers, and business owners who took the time to share what makes Alabama special. Gratitude to Sarah Parke, Amy Lyons, and the friendly and professional staff at Globe Pequot Press for allowing me the pleasure of revising this book.

Traveling through this area of Alabama, with its wooded glens, rugged mountain vistas, and sparkling lakes, is almost like moving through a calendar of splendid landscapes. Keep your camera handy because youll discover some spectacular scenery.

Entering at the states northern border, youll drive through the rolling Tennessee Valley to reach Huntsville, a handy hub whether youre heading east or west to explore north Alabamas numerous attractions.

The birthplace of Americas space program, Huntsville also served as an early capital of Alabama and later grew into a cotton mill town. After Dr. Wernher von Braun and his crew of German scientists arrived in the 1950s to pioneer the space program at Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville traded its title as World Watercress Capital for World Space Capital. The decade from 1950 to 1960 saw the population in Rocket City, USA, mushroom from 15,000 to 72,000. Even today, ongoing road construction cannot keep pace with the burgeoning population and traffic.

As for the green scene, Huntsvillians recognize the importance of protecting local and global environments and preserving natural resources. In The Green Guides in 2013, Huntsville was listed among The Top 10 Green Cities in the U.S. for environmental excellence.

If you want to pretend youre in Venice, you can take a gondola ride at Bridge Street Centre in the heart of Huntsvilles Cummings Research Park. Or enjoy a brisk walk or leisurely stroll through this European-style plaza that features upscale shops, restaurants, and lodging. Only a stones throw away (depending on how far you can hurl) from the citys famed Space & Rocket Center, the complex features entertainment from multiple movies and a full-size carousel to a 10-acre lake with pedal boats and gondolas. Pavement performers entertain on evenings and weekends. Visit bridgestreethuntsville.com.

Only two miles from Bridge Street Town Centre is the lovely Huntsville Botanical Garden (256-830-4447; hsvbg.org), home of the nations largest open-air butterfly house. Stroll through the aquatic garden, nature trails, many specialty gardens, childrens garden, and plant collections. With a motto of Theres Always Something Growing On at Huntsville Botanical Garden, the 112-acre attraction offers five festivals each yearBeaks & Barks, Huntsville Blooms, Summer Butterfly House, Fall Scarecrow Trail, and Holiday Galaxy of Lights.

A good place to start a local tour is the Huntsville Depot & Museum (256-564-8100) at 320 Church Street. Take time to tour the authentically restored depot, a big yellow building where a robotic telegrapher, stationmaster, and engineer welcome visitors and describe railroad life in 1912. During the Civil War the depot served as a prison, and upstairs youll see some interesting graffiti such as a rather unflattering drawing of Union officer Major Strout and an inscription that reads happy new years to all in the year of our lord 1864. The depots hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wed through Sat. Admission: $10 per person. Visit earlyworks.com/Huntsville-depot-museum.

Watercress Capital of the World

Huntsville acquired the title Watercress Capital of the World because in earlier days it produced and shipped a large volume of watercress throughout the eastern half of the country. A member of the mustard family, watercress thrives in limestone spring water and once grew prolifically in the Tennessee Valleys many limestone springs.

Huntsvilles old Russell Erskine Hotel was noted for its watercress salad, and several local cookbooks feature this specialty, sometimes known simply as cress. The Huntsville Heritage Cookbook contains a section devoted to watercress including the Frozen Cheese and Cress Salad, a tasty recipe, once served at a White House state banquet. Long a local favorite, this book is again in print, thanks to the Huntsville Junior League. Look for it at gift shops and bookstores throughout Huntsville, and while browsing, pick up a copy of the Junior Leagues award-winning Sweet Home Alabama, a handsome volume featuring Food for Family and Friends from the Heart of the South.

Huntsville Depot & Museum became the new home for Santas Village in 2018 from November 19 to December 21. Previously the popular event had been at Alabama Constitution Village. Visitors can see a live reindeer, create a holiday craft, navigate the Icicle Maze, and visit Santas Workshop.

As you drive around the area, check out the Von Braun Center (256-533-1953; vonbrauncenter.com) at 700 Monroe Street. This large multipurpose complex may well be hosting a concert, sporting event, or play youd like to take in while in town. A major expansion set for completion in 2019 will add a 1,200-capacity Von Braun Center music venue with a new ballroom, outdoor terrace, meeting space, concourse, full-service kitchen, food and beverage venue, and extended parking facilities.

Continue your self-driving tour through Huntsvilles Historic Twickenham District with more than 65 antebellum houses and churches. Architectural styles represented include federal, Greek revival, Italianate, Palladian, Gothic revival, and others. For a fine example of federal architecture, tour the Weeden House Museum (256-536-7718; weedenhousemuseum.com) at 300 Gates Avenue. Built in 1819, the home contains period antiques and features the work of Huntsville artist and poet Maria Howard Weeden, who lived here until her death in 1905. Her impressive body of work includes book illustrations, whimsical drawings, fascinating character studies, and portraits. History tours are offered from 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Wed through Sat, with tours available at other times by appointment. Admission: adults $5; children (ages 12 and under) $3. No debit or credit cards accepted.

On the square in downtown Huntsville, stop by Harrison Brothers Hardware Store (256-536-3631 or 866-533-3631; harrisonbrothershardware.com), located at 124 South Side Square. Here you can purchase marbles by the scoop, old-fashioned stick candy, cast-iron cookware, vintage mix-and-match silverplate flatware, and other merchandise that speaks of yesteryear. The store also features regional and locally handcrafted gifts. Historic Huntsville Foundation volunteers ring up sales on a 1907 cash register. The interior, with pot-bellied stove, ceiling fans, rolling ladders, barrels, tools, and antique safe, looks much as it did in 1879 when the store opened for business a few blocks away before moving to its permanent home on the square. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon through Sat.