Northern (or more commonly North) Alabama offers a dazzling and diverse mix of historical and cultural attractions, amazing restaurants, engaging community events and seemingly endless opportunities for outdoor adventures. This beautiful region of the state is home to United Country Real Estate | Premier Lake Homes and Farms, and we’re proud to live, work and unwind here.
From fishing area waterways, to hiking and trail riding through Alabama’s dense timberland, exploring local music history, attending popular festivals and more … there’s definitely something for everyone to enjoy here in North Alabama.
You might like to spend your time hunting waterfowl and small game in Tanner, or honoring America’s veterans at the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives in Athens. Or maybe you’d rather explore the thriving visual arts scene at Huntsville’s Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment, or troll the waters of Lake Guntersville for bass. You can do all that and a whole lot more across the region.
Let’s take a closer look at several counties we serve in this market and what makes them so appealing to locals and visitors alike. In other words, let’s discover the southern charm of Northern Alabama.
Athens is an ideal starting point, since that’s the location of our real estate brokerage. The city has some nice spots to enjoy the outdoors, such as the Cowford Landing at Round Island Recreational Area, which has campsites and a beach area along the Tennessee River. It’s also part of the North Alabama Birding Trail. The Richard Martin Trail offers 10 miles of stunning views and all kinds of seasonal events and activities. History buffs will want to check out Athens’ various museums and historic sites, as well as the history-rich Athens State University, which uniquely serves only upper-division students. Then there’s the nationally recognized Annual Storytelling Festival, though that’s just one of many popular events in the city.
The Elk River is often seen as the perfect place for canoeing and kayaking, especially during the changing seasons in spring and fall. Start your route launching into Elkmont’s Canoe and Kayak Trail. And from local parks in town to areas just beyond, there are plenty of spots to hit the trails by horse, bike or boat. Small-town life amid the Appalachian foothills is what you’ll find here. Stop by the locally-owned Gin House Barbecue for tasty eats, and browse the downtown shops.
Home to the University of North Alabama, Florence is also part of a four-city area known as “The Shoals.” Early Native Americans called the Tennessee River the “singing river” after the sound of the rapids over rocky “shoals” deposits. Later, “The Shoals” became a term used to describe the general area and the incredible music produced there. Music lovers and historians should visit Muscle Shoals Sound Studio and Fame Recording Studios for a deep dive into the plethora of 1960s and 70s era hitmakers. For recreation, the Shoal Creek Preserve is great for hiking, horseback riding and hunting, while McFarland Park in town is a nice multi-use park with camping along the river. Florence’s dining options overall reflect international cuisine, local libations and much more. As for annual events, there’s the May Day Music Fest, Jeepin’ the Saloon and others.
Often seen as part of the Florence area, Killen and Rogersville offer their own unique attractions and an array of things to do with the whole family. In Killen, it’s all about Killen Park, which has sports facilities and an amphitheater used for concerts, plays and events. Head to Killen Time Adventure Park for mini-golf, go karts and games. Everyone in North Alabama knows about the 2,250-acre Joe Wheeler State Park in Rogersville, with its resort on Wheeler Lake with championship 18-hole golf course, marina, overnight lodging and more. Looking for fresh Maine Lobster in North Alabama? Try the Taste of Maine food truck. Prefer an amazing pizza accompanied by locally-made wine? Check out Bloom Winery.
The most populated city in North Alabama, Huntsville offers a world of interesting attractions. Learn why Huntsville is called “Rocket City” at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, which features the largest American spaceflight hardware museum in the world, and sees some 600,000 visitors annually. Head to Monte Sano State Park for 340 acres of trails, picnic areas, campgrounds and the like. Or visit the Hays Nature Preserve to paddle part of the Alabama Scenic River Trail. Happen to be an avid golfer? Then don’t miss the Hampton Cove courses, included in the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. Open all year, Burritt on the Mountain is an informative and entertaining destination for all ages.
A rapidly-growing city, Madison is 20 minutes southwest of Huntsville and often gets lumped in with Huntsville’s lists of things to do. However, it also stands on its own, with unique offerings such as the Rocket City Trash Pandas, a minor league baseball team. There’s also a nice mix of local restaurants and watering holes in Madison, along with plenty of greenways and trails to take in serene natural beauty. Also, like Huntsville, Madison emphasizes the arts through the Madison Arts Alliance and other efforts. Lastly, like many cities and towns in North Alabama, Madison is big on events that bring the community together, especially around holidays. But no event may be bigger than the Madison Street Festival in October.
The annual events keep on coming, this time in Moulton, which holds its Strawberry Festival each May, along with the fall Harvest Festival, Veteran’s Day Parade and others. Recreation spots in town include Deer Run Golf Course and multiple parks and sports facilities. But its certainly worth expanding outside town to experience the Bankhead National Forest, which offers all the usual outdoor activities along rivers, lakes, creeks and in the forest. There are also a few historical sites to check out, starting with Jesse Owens Memorial Park, which presents exhibits and programs about the great U.S. Olympian. And then 20 minutes southeast and northeast respectively from Moulton, head to Oakville Indian Mounds Education Center, and Pond Spring, the General Joe Wheeler home.
Decatur has a handy and unique community map that allows you to search all the city’s attractions, restaurants, shops, parks and more. Digging into that, you’ll find popular restaurants such as The RailYard and Brick Deli, for example, as well as shopping at Bank Street Shopping District and 2nd Avenue Shopping District. The Cook Museum of Natural Science is always a fun and family-friendly outing, while the Princess Theatre is a great place to catch a live show. In the summertime, it’s all about GoFar USA Park, an outdoor recreation wonderland. And any time of year, Point Mallard Park invites visitors to play golf, swim, camp and attend regular events.
Sources:
LimestoneCounty-AL.gov
AthensAlabama.Us
VisitAthensAl.com
NorthAlabama.org
OutdoorAlabama.com
Fs.Usda.gov
Huntsville.org
FindMoreMadison.com
MadisonAl.gov
VisitFlorenceAl.com
ElmontAl.gov
TownofKillen.org
DecaturDowntown.org
LawrenceAlabama.com
CityofMoultonAl.com