Alabama

END OF THE ROAD – Alabama’s location at the southern end of the Appalachian Mountain chain (and the trail of the same name) gives visitors the unique chance to hike in some of the most diverse and beautiful woodlands in the southern United States. A birders’ paradise, Alabama is home to over 400 species. Tall pines line more than 30 miles of trails at Lake Guntersville State Park, where a lucky visitor may see a bald eagle. Detailed hiking trail information and maps are available from the Alabama Hiking Trail Society at www.alabamatrail.org/hikingAL.

THE OTHER SIDE – Walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, the famed landmark of the civil rights movement, which became a symbol of the momentous changes taking place in Alabama, America, and the world in the 1960s. It was here that voting rights marchers were violently confronted by law enforcement on March 7, 1965. The day became known as Bloody Sunday. Located on Highway 41 in Selma, AL.

TOES IN THE SAND – A Gulf State Park, Romar Beach, near the town of Orange Beach, has free parking and is easy to get to. It’s perfect for a quick beach stroll or an impromptu picnic (located 6.8 miles east of Highway 59).

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