Tennessee River. Rocket Center. Ave Maria Grotto.
For spring break, we searched for a place where we could inhale the ocean salts but not sink into the crowds known to, say, Florida. The state of Alabama had never settled into a tourist destination in my head before. With this blog and next, I wish to help fellow travelers like me to find their “far from the maddening crowd” in Alabama. Today’s focus is the northern part of the state, touching Tennessee, which we haunted not too far ago.
Athens, Alabama
Tennessee River cuts through this small town, surprisingly equipped with coffee and restaurants like Atlanta bread, etc. Toward East is unbroken development until Huntsville. But fifteen minutes west of Athens, the buildings shed into sleepy farmlands, the cattle grazing over dark violet wildflowers, and the Wheeler Reservoir cultivates a habitat for birds, their songs ringing through the night. We stayed at an Airbnb on the reservoir. The view delivered its promise but not the home. Nonetheless, break that cycle of the daily grind. Come here. And relearn how to fill time with absolutely nothing, just the hum of hummingbirds, the body of sun over the water, and the carpet of purple over emerald.
Bed of violet 
Daybreak at Wheeler Dam 
Rocket Center
As you enter “Sweet Home Alabama,” a stationary rocket soars the skies. This destination is Alabama’s most widely known stop. And for nerds like me with sons like mine who fantasize about outer space, it will not disappoint. Its hours of operation between 10 a.m. and 4/5 p.m. (depending on the day) dictated we begin our day here. The lines form fifteen minutes before opening. Most visitors had booked their tickets online, but somehow, we lucked out. Not only did we gain entry, but we also beat the line. For our final destination, six hours away, ten o’clock was a late start, and the lines imperiled not only the time-crunched itinerary but the covid-weary minds as well. Everyone wore a mask. Rest assured, most of the attractions are outside, our worries ebbing in minutes.
Inside, the lunar tale, the launch capsules, the Saturn 5 rocket, the spaceships, and the ISS replica will deliver the geek fix, export you to history and the future at once. Reserve two hours for a relaxing trip to read and learn though you can comb the area in one hour.
ISS Replica
Ave Maria Grotto
An hour south of the Rocket Center, away from the bustling, developed university town of Huntsville (falling right on our route,) is a place named Cullman, Alabama. While I am not religious or share the same religion as Brother Joseph, but this stop is for all and a must-see. It showcases outdoor cities worth of sculptures from around the world—Jerusalem, Spain, Italy, Vatican City, France, Brazil, Babylon from various periods. The precision of every rock, every glass will not only allow your legs the welcome outdoor stroll they need, but it will also mesmerize your soul with the record of events. The self-guided tour begins and ends in the gift shop, filling fifteen minutes to a half-hour with a world history tour.
My Alabama blogs will show how the state offers a diverse palate of destinations keeping the adults and children motivated, learning, and loving. After the Ave Maria Grotto, our final stop was the state’s southernmost island town named after the heir to the French throne, Louis XIV’s great-grandson, once Louisiana Territory’s capital, Dauphin Island.
