There are 10 of The Best Kept Secrets In Alabama That Really Stand Out

The Best Kept Secrets in Alabama are far too numerous to mention, but there are 10 that really stand out.

This beautiful state is full of both historical sites and as well as natural ones.

The natural sites include gorgeous waterfalls, breathtaking caves, numerous parks and hiking trails, and some of the most scenic drives in the country.

The Harmon Park Safari in Huntsville Alabama

The historical sites include several that surround the Civil War, numerous Plantation homes and Museums, as well as numerous Civil Rights Museums.

However, there are also several sites that are not very well known, and here is the list.

The First Five of the Best Kept Secrets in Alabama

The Alabama Music Hall of Fame In Tuscumbia

Chewacla State Park in Auburn
The Alabama Music Hall of Fame in Tuscumbia
The Harmony Park Safari in Huntsville
The U.S Veterans Memorial Museum in Huntsville
The Dothan Area Botanical Gardens

The Chewacla State Park

First on the list of the Best Kept Secrets in Alabama is the Chewacla State Park, which is located in the Auburn/Opelika area.

While this town may be best known for its famous University, there are also other attractions in the area.

This beautiful State Park offers the visitor more than 696 scenic acres, and it includes a 26 acre lake, swimming pools, as well as numerous hiking trails.

There is also a modern campground that includes picnic facilities as well as cabins, if you do not wish to “rough it”.

The Lake located in the park, Lake Chewacla, is stocked with numerous species of fish, and there are also two creeks that offer fishing.

While motorized boats are not allowed on this lake, canoes and kayaks are more than welcome.

The Alabama Music Hall of Fame

Next on the list is the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, which is located in Tuscumbia, which is in the northeast part of the state.

It was established by the Muscle Shoals Music Association, to bring to the forefront the states musicians, songwriters, and other music professionals.

It officially opened in the year 1990, and it drew over 35,000 music lovers.

If you are a fan of any kind of music, it is a must-see day trip for you and your family.

The Harmony Park Safari

Next on the list of the Best Kept Secrets in Alabama is the Harmony Park Safari, located in Huntsville, which is open from March through November.

It is a day trip that you must see with your family, as it is one of the most unique experiences you will ever have.

On this Safari, you actually stay in your own car, and will witness some of the most unique and endangered animals on earth.

You will see zebras, antelope, buffalo, camels, as well as giraffes.

You also may be able to see kangaroos, ostriches, as well as tortoises, and many of these exotic animals may come right up to your car.

You can drive at your own pace, and because there is very little walking except for the exhibits, it is a great trip for infants as well.

The U.S Veterans Memorial Museum

Next is the Veterans Memorial Museum, which is also located in Huntsville, and is operated by the Alabama Center of Military History.

This Museum has one major purpose; to promote and disseminate the accomplishments of the Men and Women of the U.S. Military.

It has on display over 30 historical military vehicles that date from World War I, to the present day and age.

It also has on display tableau's, artifacts, as well as military memorabilia that date all the way back to the Revolutionary War.

The Dothan Area Botanical Gardens

Closing out the first list of five of the Best Kept Secrets in Alabama, is the Dothan Area Botanical Gardens.

Established in 1991, today is consists of 24 gardens that are joined together by a paved trail.

Its primary mission is to provide an educational resource for people of all ages that have an interest in gardens as well as environmental issues.

These vibrate attractions make for a very nice family day trip, if you are in this part of the state.

The Second Five of the Best Kept Secrets in Alabama

The Tinglewood Carvings in Montevallo Alabama

Rainbow Mountain Trails located in Madison
The Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum located in Montgomery
The Ruffner Mountain Preserve located in Birmingham
The Southern Museum of Flight located in Birmingham
The Tinglewood Carvings located in Montevallo

The Rainbow Mountain Trails

First on this list of the Best Kept Secrets in Alabama, are the Rainbow Mountain Trails that are located in Madison.

By setting these up, the City of Madison is trying to connect its numerous green-ways and pathways and make them available to explore.

There are four major trails in this complex, and they include the Mill Creek Greenway, the Rainbow Mountain Preserve, the Indian Creek Greenway, and the Bradford Creek Greenway.

These trails vary in length, but they all offer the hiker an outstanding view of nature and a way to promote a healthier lifestyle.

The Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum

Next on the list is the Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum, that is located in Montgomery, and it operates out of the last house this couple lived in.

It was saved from demolition by local residents in 1986 and is the only place in the country where you can learn about the legacy of this famous couple.

If you are a fan of Jazz Music, this famous fiction writer and this museum bring both this and the Great Depression that followed, back to life.

The Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve

The next attraction of the list of the Best Kept Secrets in Alabama is the Ruffner Mountain Preserve, located in Birmingham.

This preserve is just over 1,000 acres and includes many of the animals that are natives to this State, and they include, owls, raptors, snakes and turtles.

It contains over 14 miles of hiking trails, and at one time was the home of iron ore mines as well as stone quarries that supplied Birmingham’s many steel mills.

The Southern Museum of Flight in Birmingham

The Southern Museum of Flight

The Southern Museum of Flight is located near the Birmingham Airport and is well marked by signs as you enter in the airport.

It is over 75,000 square feet and has over 100 planes on display, as well as simulators to experience the thrill of flight.

It also has several militaries, civilian, as well as experimental aircraft and numerous pieces of aviation memorabilia.

The Tinglewood Carvings

The final attraction on this list of the Best Kept Secrets in Alabama, is also one of the most unusual, the Tinglewood Carvings that are located in Montevallo.

It is located in Orr Park that is best known for its myriad of athletic fields for youth sports, but it also has another very interesting attraction

There are several dead trees in the park that were killed by a storm in 1993, that have several extremely interesting carvings.

A man named Mr. Tingle decided that the only way to save these dead trees was to make carving on them.

This extremely talented man-made carvings that resemble men, alligators, squirrels, as well as other animals.

This is one on the most interesting trips of all the Best Kept Secrets in Alabama that you can take with your family.

References

http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/

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