Vacation Rentals in Alabama

Alabama lies in the southern USA and is roughly divided into four regions, a mountainous north, central Alabama with its large metropolitan areas, the River Heritage of the south, and the Gulf Coast. As well as having historic cities, the state is known for its scenic beauty and outdoor attractions. Alabama is served by four main commercial airports, the largest being Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport. Access by car is easy with five major US routes crossing the state.

The state is named after the Alabama Native American people. Montgomery was the original Confederate capital and is now the state capital. It was where the Civil Rights Movement was born in the 1960s. The Mississippi River borders Alabama and the state has more inland waterways than anywhere else in America. It also has several nicknames including the 'Heart of Dixie', the 'Cotton State', and the 'Yellowhammer State' after its symbolic bird.

Alabama has over 30 miles of white sandy beaches along the Gulf of Mexico. Orange Beach is the perfect place to head whether you simply want to chill on the sand or be active in or on the water. Take a boat trip for some deep-sea fishing or hike the wildlife trails along the coast with your binoculars ready to spot the shorebirds.

From winter skiing in the northern mountains to exploring the coastal areas, Alabama provides a wealth of outdoor activities, many centered on nature reserves like Splinter Hill Bog. This huge protected boggy area is full of white-topped pitcher plants and other beautiful wildflowers. If you love messing about on the water, then take to a kayak and explore a stretch of the Scenic River Trail. The whole trail offers over 600 miles of spectacular scenery.

Both Montgomery and Birmingham are perfect destinations for history enthusiasts. Montgomery has many monuments dedicated to the Civil Rights Movement while Birmingham showcases America's industrial heritage with places like the Sloss Furnaces. For over a century this enormous site produced pig-iron, today it is an industrial monument with workshops draped in cobwebs and eerily quiet production lines. Its museum explores the history of the furnaces. Also, pay a visit to the remains of a pre-Columbian Mississippian civilization at Moundville near Tuscaloosa.

Located in the state's capital Montgomery, the circular design of this center provides a poignant memorial to 40 martyrs of the movement as well as celebrating the life and works of Marth Luther King Jr.

For over 10,000 years prehistoric man made his home in the underground world of Russell Cave. A visit charts the daily lives of early American inhabitants from pre-history until the arrival of western settlers in the mid-17th-century.

Helen Keller was born and lived in Tuscumbia in her simple clapboard home, Ivy Green. The house remained undamaged throughout the civil war and is now maintained in its original state in memory of this strong woman.

Once a district known for its watercress production, the race into space transformed Huntsville into a huge technology town and home to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center.

The USS Alabama Battleship is moored at Mobile. Famous for surviving nine major WWII battles without losing a single sailor, the ship now provides a fascinating insight into naval life.

As a large state, Alabama has a varied programme of annual events but a hugely popular one is the National Shrimp Festival held every October along the Gulf Shore. Crafts, local produce, live music, and plenty of delicious shrimp draw thousands of visitors every year.