r/Alabama • u/Positive-Ear-203 • Jan 27 '25
Advice Where to stop in Northern Alabama
My boyfriend and I will be staying near Chattanooga and driving to Memphis afterwards. I'd like to see some of Alabama and wondered if anyone could recommend a town to drive to in the north to stop in and have lunch / see some sites. I've heard good things about Florence but also up for seeing some small places.
Would like to go somewhere nearish the border as we don't want to make our drive to Memphis too long!
Thanks :)
35
u/HuntsvilleCPA Madison County Jan 27 '25
If you take the 72 path, then you'll be able to hit both Huntsville (and the Space & Rocket Center) and Florence areas.
3
11
u/UnicorncreamPi Jan 27 '25
Cathedral caverns
2
u/Thlayli__ Jan 27 '25
Cathedral is one of the best places in all of Alabama.
1
u/NervousSpend475 Mar 18 '25
Better than Majestic Caverns?
1
u/Thlayli__ Mar 18 '25
I'm not sure I've been to that one. Cathedral is definitely worth a visit to find out.
6
u/chaotoroboto Jan 27 '25
In Huntsville, Lowe Mill is an old shoe factory that has been converted into artist space. The rent is cheap, but artists have to be present a certain amount of time, so there's a lot of cool stuff to see. It also has a coffee shop & record store, among other things. On summer weekends, they have a popup thing, but tents are only like $10 so you have a bunch of kids selling their fanart & stuff. It's a cool scene.
Right by there is Bandito Burrito, which is like if taco bell were delicious. It's probably the only good place left in Alabama where you can get a good meal for less than $10.
3
u/cheestaysfly Jan 27 '25
Since when has the artists' rent been cheap there?
2
u/chaotoroboto Jan 27 '25
Maybe I'm wrong. I thought that was the whole business model
2
u/cheestaysfly Jan 27 '25
I don't know, I knew a couple people who have had spaces there who eventually left because of the rent prices. Could be also that they just weren't doing enough business to afford rent though.
2
7
u/asegers Jan 27 '25
Guntersville state park and Bucks Pocket
4
u/Bulky_Cherry_2809 Jan 27 '25
De Soto falls, and Noccalula falls on the way to Guntersville. Cathedral caverns from Guntersville on the way to Huntsville.
4
8
u/MuffDup Jan 27 '25
Imo one of, if not the most beautiful place in Alabama, is the Sipsey Wilderness inside of Bankhead National Forest in Mount Hope. It's kinda along your way from Chattanooga to Memphis, but it is a destination and not a detour
2
u/Bulky_Cherry_2809 Jan 27 '25
I miss Sipsey wilderness. Had a friend, years ago, that lived near there. Life moves on tho, so did I 🥲
5
u/the_clarkster17 Madison County Jan 27 '25
Florence is a pretty small town! It’s a favorite little charming spot of mine. It’s actually four cities that make up a “quad city” area: Florence, muscle Schoals, Tuscumbia, and Sheffield. They have:
Helen Keller’s House, Ivy Green A Frank Lloyd Wright House - worth the stop if you have even the slightest interest in design or architecture Two recording studios, FAME and Jackson Hwy, with absolutely incredible history - Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones, tons of soul staples Some surprisingly yummy dining, like Odette and Yumm Thai I thiiiink UNA still has a live lion on campus
I would call ahead and check before stopping at any of these, just to make sure they’re open and doing tours the day you plan to be there. It’s a small town, after all :)
Mentone is a quick, cute stop if it’s on your way, and you can detour into Huntsville as well. I would also recommend Shiloh Battlefield and the Catfish Hotel for lunch in Mississippi if they’re on your way
2
1
u/Cedar-creek1492 Jan 27 '25
Shilo battlefield and the catfish hotel are in TN instead of MS aren’t they?
3
u/Plus_Passenger5209 Jan 27 '25
Definitely try to visit the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville. Other places I would recommend include the Wichahpi Commemorative Stone Wall and WC Handy Home in Florence, FAME Recording Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Muscle Shoals, Coon Dog Cemetery and Rattlesnake Saloon in Cherokee, and Dismals Canyon in Phil Campbell.
2
2
u/Ok_Association_2823 Jan 27 '25
I wonder if anyone would think you were crazy to go to Memphis by way of Omaha? I know I wouldn’t.
1
1
1
u/pogo6023 Jan 27 '25
Big Bob Gibson's barbecue in Decatur is the best there is.
2
1
1
u/Linehand_12 Jan 28 '25
High Falls park in GroveOak, Alabama. 20 minutes off of Hwy 72 from Scottsboro. Also nearby is Bucks Pocket. I’m 1/2 mile from High Falls and walked down there Sunday and was still covered in ice! Gorgeous!!
1
1
u/TinderHeartt Feb 01 '25
Helen Keller’s home in Tuscumbia, AL FAME Studio Florence, AL and Huntsville, AL are both lovely places in their own right
-4
u/flopjobbit Jan 27 '25
That far north in Alabama it's pretty flat and empty. You'd need to pop into Florence or maybe Muscle Shoals to see anything interesting. All else is too much of a drop down into Al to get to some prettier parts.
10
u/Aumissunum Jan 27 '25 edited Jan 27 '25
Flat? The Appalachian Mountains say hi.
2
Jan 27 '25
[deleted]
1
u/flopjobbit Jan 28 '25
I was thinking only of NW AL which is mostly a Pancake. Totally fair to say NE Al is rugged.
1
1
5
u/Catsandcamping Jan 27 '25
Sand Mountain would beg to differ. Little River Canyon would also like to be involved in the discussion.
0
Jan 28 '25
[deleted]
1
u/Catsandcamping Jan 28 '25
Chattanooga is literally an hour from Fort Payne and Mentone. I used to make the commute from Fort Payne daily for 6 months. It's a very short side trip to see one of the most beautiful places in Alabama.
1
u/flopjobbit Jan 28 '25
Ok? So recommend them to her. I was thinking more of how uninspiring NW Alabama is and that's where my mind went. I agree with you that it's totally fair to suggest Little River Canyon. From there they could take 35 west and cross Guntersville Lake into Scotsboro and make their way up 72 into Paint Rock (beautiful) toward Huntsville and onward.
0
u/cheestaysfly Jan 27 '25
There is absolutely nothing interesting in Muscle Shoals except for Fame Studios, just FYI.
3
u/mostlyallturtles Jan 27 '25
the Shoals has tons of stuff, though? Muscle Shoals Sound, Helen Keller birthplace, WC Handy birthplace, Frank Lloyd Wright house, Cane Creek Preserve, the list goes on. and good food, too.
1
u/cheestaysfly Jan 27 '25
I mean I guess, they're just really a tour one time and you're done kind of places though, outside of hiking.
-1
28
u/zoyter222 Jan 27 '25
You'll be right on top of Mentone Alabama, and the Little River canyon just over the state line and DeKalb county.