OK, I will start in the Northwest Corner of the state and work down. Near Muscle Shoals Alabama is the birthplace and home of Helen Keller; I think we all know her story. In the north central part of the state is Huntsville. There you will find the Huntsville Space and Rocket Center. This is part of the NASA network. Also located there is the Marshall Space Flight Center; this is where the R&D work was done on the Saturn V rockets that sent the first men to the moon. NASA still uses the Marshall site to test the engines for all shuttle flights.
In the Northeast part of the state near Gadsden is Noccalula Falls (gee, i hope spelling is correct). Very beautiful site; legend has it that Princess Noccalula jumped to her death at the falls, because her father, an Indian Chief was about to force her to marry a brave that she didn't like and would not let her marry the brave she loved.
South of Gadsden is Anniston, AL and near Anniston is Mt. Cheha State Park (highest point in the state). Yes, we do have mountains in Alabama. They are not as tall as the mountains in Cali., but just as steep. I should know; I grew up in the mountains of Alabama and worked for the U.S. Forest Service on the Sierra National Forest just outside Yosemite N.P. When I lived in Cali. I found that most people there knew very little about Alabama. We have mountains, forest, plains, and beaches. Now back on subject.
In Birmingham you will find the Vulcan; a statue dedicated to the steel industry of Birmingham, it is second in size only to the statue of Liberty. In Montgomery is the Alabama Shakespeare Festival Theatre. A very beautiful facility that features some of the best Shakespearian actors in the country. I have seen several performances over the years and never been dissappointed. Even caught a rare performance of MacBeth.
Then of course on the coast we have the fantastic sugar white beaches of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. In Mobile you can tour the U.S.S. Alabama, a WW II battleship or you can visit the Mardi Gras Museum. Oh yea, Mobile is the birthplace of the Mardi Gras celebration in North America ( not New Orleans).
I spent 3 weeks stationed out of Montgomery, Alabama, when I was working with the Red Cross just after Hurricane Katrina. It truely is a beautiful state, rich in history. I especially enjoyed the history of Rosa Parks and the Civil Rights Movement near Montgomery, Alabama. Well worth another trip, just not after a devastating hurricane!
Why not? I'm on call, standing by, as a first responder for the ARC. It's hard work but is great to help those in need and very rewarding!
Freakinheep is correct; we do not wish to undergo the hardship and PIA that comes along with a Hurricane. I appreciate your desire and willingness to help those in need; however, we do not want to be in "NEED". I spent almost 20 years as a Fire Fighter and I know the rewards of helping people. Hurricanes are not fun when you are the one without electricity, running water, or phone for weeks. IT SUCKS.
So, if you don't mind, we will keep praying that we get through another season without boarding up the house; cleaning out the grocery store; and making Home Depot stock go up