Northern Alabama offers hills and forests for hiking and climbing and a long
string of lakes for water sports. Catch a glimpse into the future at the US
Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville; or visit some of Alabama's historic
past at the W. C. Handy Home and Museum in Florence or at Ivy Green, the birthplace
of Helen Keller, in Tuscumbia. Big-city life can be enjoyed in Birmingham,
the state's largest city and home of the famous Vulcan statue. Spanish moss,
meandering rivers, and white-sand beaches are the setting in south Alabama.
Gulf State Park, in Gulf Shores, offers miles of beaches. Fun-loving Mobile
is the host-city for the oldest Mardi Gras celebration in the country. (Courtesy
of Rand McNally http://www.randmcnally.com)