South - Alabama 4-day trip ideas?

Hi all,

I'm probably going to be doing a lot of business travel to BNA for the rest of the year, and I'm contemplating a side trip down into Alabama in late September. Mostly to play golf on the Robert Trent Jones trail, but also for good Southern cooking, and finally because I've read enough articles about Alabama's investments towards becoming a retirement destination (I'm 43, only plan on working full-time another 7-8 years) that I'm curious.

What would you consider as a reasonable tour itinerary? I'm up for driving a fair amount, maybe an average of 150 miles/day. I'd probably leave Thursday after work, play Fri, Sat, and Mon, and fly back Monday night - either from BHM or BNA depending on what kind of one-way car rental rate I could get.

TIA

I'll help a little.

I don't play the game, but if you select Silver Lakes as one of the courses you play, give me a shout as I'm 45 minutes away when I'm home. You're probably looking at a 4 hr. ride from BNA. Golfers I work with enjoy playing there and I've been to meetings there and can attest to how attractive and well maintained it is.

Excellent - thanks for the advice, and I'll be sure to post something if I'm passing through. At this point, I'm probably looking at late September or early October, which means that the hurricane season is in play as well in terms of rainouts.

Excellent - thanks for the advice, and I'll be sure to post something if I'm passing through. At this point, I'm probably looking at late September or early October, which means that the hurricane season is in play as well in terms of rainouts.


I had more to say, but for some reason keep getting timed out.

As far as food is concerned, there are some interesting options, but none in my area where non-chain restaurants specialize in barbeque and deep fried seafood.

What I like most about the state is the natural beauty. There are waterfalls and mountains in the northeast quadrant and the AL shore is wonderful despite its brevity. We even have an autumn display of sorts, although it would take more to impress a native New Englander such as myself, and September is too early.

Recommendations in the Northeast:
Little River Canyon & DeSoto State Park (awesome waterfall)
Huntsville (NASA) and then drive to Guntersville
Lake Guntersville (go bass fishing)
Mt Cheaha (good view from the highest pt in the state)
Talladega Race Track (get yer redneck on)
45 minutes to BHM

Guntersville is becoming a retirement destination. I've thought about it. Depending on what else you're looking for in retirement, Wedowee is growing and an unusual possibility as it develops is the former Ft McLellan in Anniston where there are low cost homes a short cart drive from the on-base course.

I'll leave the rest of AL to those more familiar with it.

Hi all,

I'm probably going to be doing a lot of business travel to BNA for the rest of the year, and I'm contemplating a side trip down into Alabama in late September.

Make it late Oct/early Nov and you'd more than likely have a road trip partner, unless of course you are taking the sig other along.

And if you've never been tailgating before an SEC football game...:D

RollTide.com (www.rolltide.com/SportSelect.dbml?&SPSID=37427&SPID=3011&DB_OEM_ID=8000&Q_SEASON=2007)

Make it late Oct/early Nov and you'd more than likely have a road trip partner, unless of course you are taking the sig other along.

I can be convinced to make it later.... You have PM.

The Capitol Hill course down here in Montgomery is pretty nice. If you're "good southern cooking" includes barbecue, I can make a couple of recommendations. The Smokehouse in Millbrook is pretty darn fine.
http://www.thebestbbq.com/
My personal favorite is Sam's Barbecue. A little hole in the wall, no website.

I second the Cheaha recommendation. It is quite lovely in the fall.

Regarding Birmingham, I hope you know to try Frank Stitt's places, Highlands Bar and Grill and Bottega

http://www.highlandsbarandgrill.com/index.html

http://www.bottegarestaurant.com/

Hope you enjoy your stay!

Spouse and I were in BHM recently and thoroughly enjoyed the city. We visited the Vulcan park (especially the view from the top at sunset). You'd think the place would be crowded, yet we had the place to ourselves. Downtown we went to a movie at the retro Alabama Theatre. Cuisine-wise we were not too terribly impressed with the city. Locals had recommended a BBQ joint called Half Moon or Full Moon or something like that, but alas once you've been to the original Sonny Bryan's in Dallas, no other BBQ joint anywhere is any good. Our best meal of the trip was probably the one at California Pizza Kitchen.:)

Cuisine-wise we were not too terribly impressed with the city. Locals had recommended a BBQ joint called Half Moon or Full Moon or something like that, but alas once you've been to the original Sonny Bryan's in Dallas, no other BBQ joint anywhere is any good. Our best meal of the trip was probably the one at California Pizza Kitchen.:)

It's all in what you're used to. I've been to Sonny Bryan's in Dallas and I wasn't blown away. There are better places to eat in BHM that don't serve bbq.