| Tips and photos of unusual, out-of-the-way Alabama attractions, posted by real travelers and locals. Map |
 | Alabama Off the Beaten Path | Tips 1 - 10 of 32 |  |
 by traveldave
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge contains many types of habitats, including bottomland hardwoods, wetlands, baldcypress swamps, pine uplands, shoreline or riparian woodlands, agricultural fields, and backwater embayments. The diversity of habitat types provides excellent feeding and roosting sites for waterfowl, as well as food and shelter for many of the other species of wildlife found on the refuge. Leave a Comment
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 by traveldave
The trunks of bald cypress are enlarged at the base, spreading into ridges and buttresses. Another unique feature of the trees is the cone-shaped "knees" that protrude from submerged root systems to allow the trees to get oxygen.
Called "wood eternal" because of the heartwood's resistance to decay, bald cypress is used for heavy construction, including docks, warehouses, boats, bridges, and general millwork.
There are some bald cypress swamps in the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, including the one pictured above. Leave a Comment
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 Lake Tholocco, restored by TropicGirl77Leave a Comment Other Contact: Park fee per carload.
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 Jeromy in the Lower
Entrance to Russell Cave by Stephen-KarenConn
Russell Cave National Mounument was established on May 11, 1961, on 310 acres of land donated by the National Geographic Society to the American people. This photo was taken on are earlier visit to Russell Cave with my son, Jeromy, before restrictions were placed on entering the lower part of the cave. The fog is caused by the cool water of the stream meeting the hot humid outside air. Today an upper entrance has a boardwalk and visitors are allowed to take either self-guided or ranger conducted tours.
Russell Cave is reached via I-24, about 38 miles west of Chattanooga, TN. Take the South Pittsburg exit, turn south on US-72 and follow to Bridgeport, AL. Turn west on County Road 75-N, follow one mile and take County Road 98-N. From there it is four miles to the Monument.
Hours:
Open daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day.
April - October: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
November - March: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Note: Alabama is on Central Time, whereas nearby Chattanooga is in the Eastern Time Zone.
No Admission Fee Leave a Comment
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 St. Stephens, Alabama by Stephen-KarenConn
In 1803 the Choctaw Trading House was established at Saint Stephens and the Choctaw Agency in 1805. The post was active in the deerskin trade, back when a "buck" was worth a dollar. Saint Stephens became the territorial capital in 1817, before Alabama was a state. A 200 acre park preserves the site. Leave a Comment
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 Talladega Scenic Drive by Stephen-KarenConn
An extraordinarily beautiful roadway is the Talladega Scenic Drive, which follows the crest of Horseblock Mountain for 23 miles of the Talladega National Forest on Highways 49 and 281. This drive reminds me of the better known Blue Ridge Parkway that runs through the mountains of North Carolina and Virginia, although the Alabama road is shorter, and much less crowded.
Several hiking trails criss-cross the Talladega, including the Pinhoti, designated a National Recreation Trail and stretching for 102 miles. I took a 24-mile backpacking trip on this trail several years ago in November and did not encounter another hiker for the entire distance, although I saw whitetail deer and wild turkey. Views from the rocky cliffs and overlooks were spectacular. Some trails in the Talladega lead to waterfalls at Devils Den, Cheaha Falls and High Falls.
These beautiful ridges and peaks are the southernmost reach of the Appalachian mountain chain which has its northern terminus 1,600 miles away in Newfoundland. Leave a Comment
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 A Shelter and Springhouse at
Blandon Springs by Stephen-KarenConn
Park facilities include about ten campsites with water and electrical hook-ups, picnic shelters, tables, grills, restrooms and a children's playground.
Admission is free.
Address:
3921 Blandon Road
Blandon Springs, AL 36919 Leave a Comment
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 Red-Tailed Hawk by RhondaRuthLeave a Comment
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 Treetop Nature Trail
begins here! by RhondaRuth
You can stroll along a broad, elevated boardwalk that winds through the trees in a secluded woodland valley. We found this boardwalk a pretty nice idea to keep you off the ground and the possible encounter with a snake. Nope, you don't want to meet a snake!
The birds here are living in spacious, naturally-furnished cages in the treetops, along the elevated boardwalk, so that you can see them as they should be seen-in the wild.
Each bird has a special reason for being there. The Alabama Wildlife Center have cared for these birds that were brought to the Center with serious injuries and which would have prevented them from surviving in the wild. Now healthy, though physically imparied, the birds live a sheltered existence in a natural setting at the Treetop Nature Trail.
There is much more to see, so stop by and visit! Leave a Comment
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Ave Maria Grotto in Cullman was an interesting stop located on the grounds of a Benedictine Abbey. There are over 125 miniature reproductions of famous churches, shrines and buildings from all over the world. Take Exit 308 off Interstate 65 and drive 4 miles east to St Bernard Abbey. Leave a Comment
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