The 2008 Official Alabama Vacation Guide

reathe in the fresh mountain air, ﬁsh the great lakes, or play the links. It’s all ready for you in the Mountain Lakes region of North Alabama. Composed of 16 counties, this is truly an area where outdoor recreation reigns supreme. Great golf awaits you on nearly 50 courses, including two Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail courses. After hitting the links, indulge yourself at the magniﬁcent Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa in Florence. All guest rooms have private balconies and views of the Tennessee River. The resort also features a revolving restaurant. Doublehead Resort in Florence oﬀers everything from tennis and basketball to aquacycling and canoeing. And ﬁshing is just a stone’s throw away at Pickwick, Wheeler, and Wilson lakes, along the Tennessee River. Follow the mighty Tennessee River to Decatur, home of Point Mallard Park and site of the three-day Governor’s Cup soccer tournaments for the next three years. Near Moulton, visit the Jesse Owens Memorial Park & Museum which honors the Olympic track and ﬁeld great. Be sure to stop at Warrior Mountains Trading Company, the gateway to outdoor adventure at the Bankhead National Forest. Huntsville boasts the world’s largest space attraction—the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. See some stars of a diﬀerent kind when the Huntsville Stars minor league baseball team plays at Joe Davis Stadium. Take time to stop and smell the ﬂowers as the Huntsville Botanical Gardens celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Scottsboro oﬀers recreation galore at Goose Pond Colony, the Walls of Jericho, and Jackson County Park. Enjoy scenic vistas, waterfalls, and canyons along the Lookout Mountain Parkway, named by Reader’s Digest as one of America’s Most Scenic Drives. Fish Weiss Lake in Centre, the “Crappie Capital of the World,” or take a wild cave tour at Sequoyah Caverns where you can crawl through sections of the cave while wearing an illuminated hardhat. Enter Cathedral Caverns to see the tallest frozen column in a cave. From ﬁshing and baseball to golf and cave exploring, experience North Alabama during the Year of Alabama Sports. cities: BOAZ 32 | DECATUR 34 | FLORENCE 41 | HUNTSVILLE 46 | MADISON 48 | SCOTTSBORO 51 1 The Alabama Mountain Region feels—and looks—like an entirely different state. Get a bird’s eye view of Decatur and more from a hot air balloon (1) or see The Miracle Worker in Tuscumbia, the birthplace of Helen Keller (2). The U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville (3) is sure to enthrall kids of all ages…especially Dad! PHOTOS: ATD 3 2 { B story by brian s. jones w w w. a l a b a m a . t r a v e l 29 http://www.alabama.travel

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of The 2008 Official Alabama Vacation Guide

How to Use Your Vacation Guide State Map Welcome Alabama - The State of Sports Alabama - Sports Shrines Alabama - It's Your Turn Alabama Adventure Revved Up Alabama - Year Of Sports Alabama - Baseball Alabama - Civil Rights Alabama - Happy Trails Pugskin Pride Food and Wine Trail Alabama Mountains Alabama Mountains Map June Walking Tours Metropolitan Metropolitan Map The Race Is On Sports Trivia River Hertitage River Heritage Map Sports Trivia Gulf Coast Gulf Coast Map Shopping Civil War Trail State Park Amenities State Park Map Campgrounds Outfitters Hunting and Fishing Licenses Hunting Lodges Information Sources Attraction Index City Index Advertiser Index

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