Alabama Overnight Recommendations- 'bama Ed, Tiggerdad, S.AL5er or anyone else.

[Teamubr]

This isn't directly a Fort question, but thought I'd throw it out to some of the locals for your advice.

We are going to Panama City Beach this summer. Driving down from StL. It's about 12 driving hours. Check in isn't until 3 and I hate getting up at 2 or 3 am just to drive 13 hours straight, so I have been leaving the day before, stop somewhere for the night 5 or 6 hours out from the final destination. Makes for a relaxed drive on check in day and we get in about the time we should. (no early check in options like the Fort).

Anyway, I've been looking at overnight locations that have some fun "tourist" things to do for a few hours. Two years ago we stopped at Stone Mountain outside Atlanta on the way to St Pete Beach. Went to the park for dinner and the laser show.

Looking at the maps, it seems like Huntsville is about half way and the Space and Rocket Center looks pretty cool. I've been to/through Birmingham going to Talladega and Barber Motorsports Park, but have never spent any time seeing what the area had. (Racing is funny like that. We travel all over the country and never see anything except the tracks)

So where is the best place to stay overnight and do some fun things for the afternoon/evening before heading to Florida the next day?

j

 

[derekryma]

I recently moved to Alabama, so I'm getting used to the attractions and things to do. But, Athens is about 15 miles into the state and has plenty of places to stay. It's got Huntsville to the immediate east, and Florence/Muscle Shoals to the west, both worth exploring.

 

[bama_ed]

Well I will chime in too...

Never thought of my home area in terms of tourism and sight-seeing...plus when I get as close as Huntsville I just push all the way to the house no matter what time it is.

Okay. Google Maps shows your preferred route as coming down I65 from Nashville all the way to Montgomery then Hwy 331 to PCB. In Huntsville there is the Rocket Center as you way with its bus tour of Marshall Space Flight Center at Redstone Arsenal. There is a small RV park next to the Rocket Center that I've seen but never stayed at. http://www.spacecamp.com/travel/rvpark . Says it has only 30amp full hooks. On the other side of I65 is Joe Wheeler State Park on the north side of the Tennessee River. It's okay but nothing around it really.

South of the TN river near Huntsville is Point Mallard Water Park (wave pool/water park) but it has an attached Campground that looked decent and it's close to I65. http://www.pointmallardpark.com/camp-ground.php Again, only seen it on a day-trip but never stayed. To the west of it in Tuscumbia is Ivy Green, Helen Keller's birthplace http://www.helenkellerbirthplace.org/

Further down I65 about 2/3 of the way to Birmingham from Huntsville is Rickwood Caverns State Park which has guided cave tours which are actually pretty cool. It has about 15 camping spots (only done it on a day trip) but the guided tour is interesting (it was a former private campground/tourist attraction the state took over about 50 years ago because it was worth it). No huge caverns like Mammoth Cave but still neat and close to the interstate.

Here is the link to Alabama state parks. http://www.alapark.com/

You'll come through the 'Ham at the I20/I59 interchange lovingly called Malfunction Junction. Coming south through the burbs you will have one big hill to tow over. Exit 255/Lakeshore Drive is at the bottom of the Shades Mountain and Exit 254/Alford Avenue is at the top of Shades Mountain. About the only thing around here to see is Vulcan. http://visitvulcan.com/ (not trailer friendly).

At the I65/I459 interchange if you head west on 459 for 5 miles and get off at Exit 10, the Hoover RV Park is adjacent to the AA baseball stadium, the Hoover Met (easy to get in/out of). Basically a paved parking lot with hooks, all pull thru's. The SEC Baseball tournament is held every Memorial Day weekend at the Met and the RV park is always full. http://www.hooveral.org/Index.aspx?NID=455 The one thing about it is full hooks but no shower/bathhouse. At this location you are less than 5 miles from CASA ED. Plenty of shopping, restaurants, movie places nearby.

Oak Mountain State Park is a little further south of the 459 interchange but it is a 15 minute drive off the interstate, the sites are crappy but they have some full hooks, the shower houses are cinder block, so I wouldn't recommend it. The park itself is great for outdoor activities, cabins, a golf course, hiking (my favorite) and a water fall when it's not a drought period.

I would advise NOT coming through Birmingham between 4-6pm. Most morning traffic is northbound from the burbs. Just depends on when you think you will be between Huntsville and B-ham when you want to stop for the night .

Bama Ed

 

[tiggerdad]

I would recommend the Rocket Center. It's been a while, but it was really neat to me.

 

[SouthAlabama5er]

I'm glad Bama Ed stepped in on this one, I didn't know half of that stuff, Thanks Ed. I'm taking notes myself...

I'm sure you won't be coming through my neck of Alabama, Mobile. The main tourist attractions around home is the Battleship U.S.S. Alabama, the beaches and Outlets across Mobile Bay in Baldwin Co., There are several campgrounds but Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores is our favorite stop. Almost forgot about all the Casinos over on the Mississippi Gulf Coast,

We usually take a trip over to PCB once a year, and have done that since the long ago Spring Break partying (back in the day) Teamubr are you bring a camper or or renting a condo?

Let me get back on topic here, I agree with both Tiggerdad and Bama Ed, the Rocket Center is something I've always wanted to do, and it's on our to do list. We are wanting to do more in the state. We stayed in Desoto State Park up in Fort Payne, on our way home from Gatlinburg we seen Little River Canyon, and stopped by The Alabama Fan Club Headquarters, it was a nice stop over.

Sorry I couldn't be much help on this on.

 

[Teamubr]

I'm sure you won't be coming through my neck of Alabama, Mobile. The main tourist attractions around home is the Battleship U.S.S. Alabama, the beaches and Outlets... Almost forgot about all the Casinos over on the Mississippi Gulf Coast,
Teamubr are you bring a camper or or renting a condo?

Thanks Randy, ED and Derek,

We've been to Gulf Shores a couple of times. Toured the U.S.S. Alabama and the Drum. And I'm glad you didn't remind my DW about the casinos.

We are getting a condo this trip. I love taking the camper to Destin and staying at Camping on the Gulf, but it was MUCH cheaper to drive the car down and get a condo.

Never thought of my home area in terms of tourism and sight-seeing.

I feel the same way about StL, but we do have a lot of things to do when people start asking.

Okay. Google Maps shows your preferred route as coming down I65 from Nashville all the way to Montgomery then Hwy 331 to PCB.

I would advise NOT coming through Birmingham between 4-6pm. Most morning traffic is northbound from the burbs. Just depends on when you think you will be between Huntsville and B-ham when you want to stop for the night

You have the route correct. Thank you for all the campground info. I certainly have it logged for future trips. I should have been more clear that we weren't bringing the camper this trip.

Malfunction Junction definitely fits. Been stuck trying to get through there several times. If we stay north of town, we won't be coming through until Saturday morning. If we decide to stay in B'ham or Montgomery, we would likely be coming through about mid afternoon. Probably makes the case for staying north of town.

I'm still leaning towards the Huntsville area. I'll check out Athens. I'm not hung up on staying right next to the Space and Rocket Center.

j

 

[bama_ed]

My bad. I assumed you were bringing the trailer. So goin' upscale at PCB by renting a condo, huh?

Next thing you know, you'll be buying a DVC bungalow at the Poly....

Bama Ed

 

[Teamubr]

So goin' upscale at PCB by renting a condo, huh?

Next thing you know, you'll be buying a DVC bungalow at the Poly....

Ha ha. I wish on the Poly. Actually PCB is "slumming" compared to a Disney trip. I'm a certified numbers geek (literally). I have a spreadsheet that totals up gas, lodging, tickets, and other travel expenses for taking the truck and camper vs the car and a hotel/condo. Every vacation, I punch in the numbers to see what looks like the best deal. PCB is $1100 less than the Fort with park tickets. And $200 cheaper than taking the camper to Camping on the Gulf in Destin. The beachfront sites make a Fort Premium site look like a bargain. Summer rates on the beach are $192/night. Fuel costs being down now actually make the prices closer than it would have been last year. Funny how buying 200 gallons of diesel vs 60 gallons of unleaded can shift the balance.

And funny about DVC. Every so often I look into buying DVC on the resale market. My racing team mate owns at SSR. Our last trip to WDW we stayed in a 3BR villa there with his family. No matter how I cut it and paying the annual maintenance fees, I just can't make it work out. I'll keep towing the camper to the Fort every other year and save my money.

j

 

[SouthAlabama5er]

Malfunction Junction definitely fits. Been stuck trying to get through there several times.

I think Alabama has several Malfunction Junctions, at all cost avoid I10 around the tunnel during rush hour.

Hope yall have a good trip, PCB is always nice.

 

[Teamubr]

Hope yall have a good trip, PCB is always nice.

Thanks,

This will be our first time to PCB. We've been to Destin a number of times, Gulf Shores a couple and day trips to Pensacola. I love the Gulf coast. Figured I'd try some place new this year and PCB was much cheaper than Destin or Gulf Shores.

j

 

[SouthAlabama5er]

PCB is great, I know my way around there better than I do Mobile. Pier Park is a must do. Schooners is my favorite place to eat, it down Thomas Dr. toward St. Andrews State Park. If you have any questions I might can help ya out some.

 

[Teamubr]

Thanks Randy!

I may pick your brain. We are staying at the Wyndham Emerald Beach a little south of Pier Park. It's funny, but I can find all kinds of things to do when I search for Destin, but only hotels and restaurants come up when I search on PCB. We like to do a cruise/sailing boat trip one day and generally be tourists doing whatever the area has to offer. By now, I normally have a whole list of things we can do. Except for an expensive "natural dolphin" swim tour and the normal fishing boat trips, I can't find much else.

j

 

[tigger92662]

This isn't directly a Fort question, but thought I'd throw it out to some of the locals for your advice.

We are going to Panama City Beach this summer. Driving down from StL. It's about 12 driving hours. Check in isn't until 3 and I hate getting up at 2 or 3 am just to drive 13 hours straight, so I have been leaving the day before, stop somewhere for the night 5 or 6 hours out from the final destination. Makes for a relaxed drive on check in day and we get in about the time we should. (no early check in options like the Fort).

Anyway, I've been looking at overnight locations that have some fun "tourist" things to do for a few hours. Two years ago we stopped at Stone Mountain outside Atlanta on the way to St Pete Beach. Went to the park for dinner and the laser show.

Looking at the maps, it seems like Huntsville is about half way and the Space and Rocket Center looks pretty cool. I've been to/through Birmingham going to Talladega and Barber Motorsports Park, but have never spent any time seeing what the area had. (Racing is funny like that. We travel all over the country and never see anything except the tracks)

So where is the best place to stay overnight and do some fun things for the afternoon/evening before heading to Florida the next day?

j

J it's been a few years, but we stayed at that small campground by the Rocket Center. Nuthin fancy, just a nice place. Joe

 

[Teamubr]

Thanks Joe.

We won't be dragging the camper down for this trip. As Ed said it, we are goin' upscale and staying in a condo. If I'm going to the beach, I'm staying ON the beach. The only place I know to do that in a camper is in Destin and it's $192 a night.

j

And it looks like you have you 10 posts in. Now figure out how to post some pics!

 

[tigger92662]

Thanks Joe.

We won't be dragging the camper down for this trip. As Ed said it, we are goin' upscale and staying in a condo. If I'm going to the beach, I'm staying ON the beach. The only place I know to do that in a camper is in Destin and it's $192 a night.

j

And it looks like you have you 10 posts in. Now figure out how to post some pics!

I've got my 14 year old working on it. LOL

 

[knitngurl]

Space and Rocet Center is pretty cool, but as a local I haven't been in way too many years. There's a hotel right next door to the sprocket center, but you may be better off staying in Madison or Downtown Huntsville. I've been to a few events at the sprocket center hotel and was not overly impressed with the property.

If you do decide to visit Huntsville, welcome!!!

 

[tigger92662]

Space and Rocet Center is pretty cool, but as a local I haven't been in way too many years. There's a hotel right next door to the sprocket center, but you may be better off staying in Madison or Downtown Huntsville. I've been to a few events at the sprocket center hotel and was not overly impressed with the property.

If you do decide to visit Huntsville, welcome!!!

My sister and brother in law live in Huntsville, or as you guys say it Huntsvul, LOL. I'll tell her to say Hi!