Calhoun County

Calhoun County combines mountainous woodland landscapes, impressive civil rights history, historic sites, and a diverse cultural scene. Those looking for a vacation rental or vacation home can plan their trip around whether they want to focus on active days on cycling trails, historic sites, events, or activities with children.

Nature Experiences and Cycling Trails around Coldwater Mountain

Coldwater Mountain consists of mountainous pine and hardwood forest northwest of I-20 in Calhoun County, near Anniston and Oxford. The area offers opportunities for cycling, hikes through the woods, and wildlife viewing. Particularly notable is the trail network, with 35 miles of cycling trails for different skill levels, from beginner to expert. There are also 2 miles of gravity trails.

The Chief Ladiga Trail offers a different perspective on the landscape. It follows a former railway line through forests, agricultural areas, wetlands, and small towns. The historic route of the railway line shapes the character of the trail. For planning each day, it makes sense to prioritize your interests early: Coldwater Mountain represents an extensive network of cycling trails, while the Chief Ladiga Trail follows a former railway line through changing landscapes.

Civil Rights History and Historic Sites

The Greyhound Bus Burning Site commemorates the attack on the Freedom Riders and the burning of a Greyhound bus. Limited parking is available at the site in simple gravel areas on the side of the road designated for parking. The Anniston Civil Rights Trail commemorates key events, significant places, and people connected with the civil rights movement in Anniston from 1954 to 1968. These two offerings have different emphases, but both can be included in a trip focused on the history of the civil rights movement.

Earlier history is also present. The Choccolocco Creek Archaeological Complex once consisted of at least three earth mounds, a large stone mound, and a large stone serpent effigy. Before the 1830s, the complex was the ceremonial grounds of the Abihkas, one of the oldest tribal towns within today’s Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Janney Furnace was built in 1863 and 1864 by Alfred A. Janney to produce pig iron for the Confederate States of America during the Civil War. The different periods give a trip through Calhoun County an unusually broad historical scope.

Family Outings, Culture, and Regional Cuisine

Choccolocco Park covers more than 370 acres. The park includes a combined 2.7-mile loop trail, a Boundless Playground, and a 30-acre lake. The playground is a specific point of interest for families with children; the loop trail and lake add further options for spending time outdoors. This makes the park a suitable stop for a trip in which not every day is focused exclusively on challenging cycling routes or historical topics.

For cultural events, the Oxford Performing Arts Center offers live music, theater, comedy, and family shows throughout the year. The main theater has 1,200 seats, while the studio theater has 200 seats; the center also includes two art galleries. The Martin–Lett Gallery presents rotating exhibitions there throughout the year.

A culinary highlight is Coldwater Mountain Brewpub in Anniston. It offers craft beer and upscale home-style cooking. This adds a specific opportunity to the trip to enjoy regional time not only through excursions but also over a meal.

Getting There and Choosing Accommodation

Calhoun County is located along I-20 in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Travel options also include Amtrak train services, major highways, a Greyhound bus station, Anniston Regional Airport, and various cycling trails. When choosing accommodation, you can therefore first consider which forms of transportation will matter for your trip and whether nature, history, culture, or family activities should be the focus. A vacation rental or vacation home can then be selected more specifically based on the desired character of the trip, without reducing the different attractions to a single type of excursion.

Other Places for Orientation

For further searches, you can also visit the pages for Oxford, Anniston, and Jacksonville. You can also explore Limestone County, Jackson, Conecuh County, Russell, and Pike.

For the overarching travel overview: Alabama.