Tuscaloosa: Water, Nature and History

Tuscaloosa offers a variety of travel ideas: natural history, paths along the water, museums and historic sites each give a trip its own focus. Those travelling with children or in a mixed group can choose between active days, culture and more leisurely discoveries. When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home, it helps to first decide whether water, nature, university history or downtown should be the main focus.

Nature, Lakes and Paths Along the Water

The Alabama Museum of Natural History presents exhibits and collections featuring objects related to the natural history and prehistory of Alabama. The University of Alabama Arboretum offers a different way to experience the landscape. There, walking paths lead through a native forest, a wildflower garden, a collection of ornamental plants, an experimental garden and a children's garden. This makes it possible to plan natural-history experiences and time outdoors as separate elements of a trip.

The lakes also each have their own appeal. Lake Nicol offers opportunities for canoeing. The area around Harris Lake is entirely designated as protected parkland; Harris Lake is also part of the Alabama Birding Trail. Lake Tuscaloosa is known in the region for its year-round fishing and boating culture. Depending on your preferred daily rhythm, you can therefore choose between canoeing, nature observation, and fishing- and boating-related activities without limiting the trip to just one type of activity.

The Riverwalk is a paved path along the southern bank of the Black Warrior River near downtown Tuscaloosa. The current total route is approximately 4.5 miles long, beginning at Capitol Park and ending at a pavilion on the eastern side of Manderson Landing. The Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater occupies 15 acres along the banks of the Black Warrior River and is connected to the Tuscaloosa Riverwalk. Anyone wishing to include a waterside route in their day plan will find a clearly described course here and can combine the visit with other urban or nature-related activities.

History, Museums and Culture

The Gorgas House Museum is the oldest building on the University of Alabama campus. It houses original furnishings belonging to the Gorgas family, memorabilia and a collection of 19th-century artefacts. The Paul W. Bryant Museum collects, preserves and displays objects related to the sports history of the University of Alabama. Its exhibits document the history and tradition of the Crimson Tide from the first team in 1892 to the present day.

The downtown section of the Tuscaloosa Civil Rights History Trail deals with the events surrounding “Bloody Tuesday”. The Old Tavern offers a glimpse into the early history of Tuscaloosa County: it was built in 1827 as a tavern and hotel on the stagecoach route passing through Tuscaloosa and is now a museum about the county's early history.

The Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center is housed in the former building of Allen & Jemison Co. Hardware and has two gallery spaces with changing exhibitions. For culinary discoveries, there is Tasting Tuscaloosa: the chef-led culinary walking tour through downtown takes place every Wednesday evening.

Choosing the Right Focus for Your Stay

When choosing your accommodation, you can use these differences as a practical framework. For a trip centred on water, paths and landscapes, Lake Nicol, Harris Lake, Lake Tuscaloosa and the Riverwalk provide useful thematic points of reference. If you are more interested in history and culture, the museums, the Civil Rights History Trail, the Old Tavern and the galleries of the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center take centre stage. A holiday apartment or holiday home should above all suit the daily schedule you are planning for your trip to Tuscaloosa.

For maps, brochures and visitor guides, the Visit Tuscaloosa Visitor Center provides free materials. Other destinations for planning your trip include Fosters, Vance, Northport.

For the overarching travel overview: Tuscaloosa.