Travel Tips - Shoals Area in Northern Alabama

Recently, we took a family trip to visit friends in Killen, Alabama. Killen is near Muscle Shoals, Florence and Tuscumbia. We enjoyed our visit with friends and were delighted at all the area has to offer.

The "Shoals area" is in the Northwest corner of Alabama on the shores of the beautiful Tennessee River. Although this area provides a "small-town" atmosphere, it has many of the amenities a large city has including many restaurants and hotels. Meanwhile, you will find "Southern Hospitality" everywhere you go.

For Civil War buffs, Pope's Tavern in Florence is a necessary stop. It is one of the oldest buildings in Florence and was once a hospital for both Confederate and Union soldiers. Pope's Tavern is now a museum and has memorabilia from the 18^th and 19^th centuries.

Do you golf? A course on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail is located in Muscle Shoals called "The Shoals." There are many more golf courses including Blackberry Trail in Florence.

For the outdoor lovers, The Tennessee River and various lakes provide many areas to fish or go boating. There are also many national fishing tournaments each year. The Shoals area is definitely a must for the outdoor lovers.

Tuscumbia, Alabama is the home of Helen Keller. You can take a tour of Ivy Green which is Helen Keller's birthplace. At 19 months old, she developed a life-threatening disease that left her blind and deaf. After her mother saught help, Anne Sullivan was assigned to help Helen. Anne was only twenty years old at the time and was vision-impaired as well. You will learn a lot about Helen Keller, Anne Sullivan and disabilities at the museum.

Festivals are popular in this area. One popular festival is The Helen Keller Festival in June. Parades, concerts and games are among the activities. Children participate in "Keller Kids" and learn Braille and sign language plus games that help children learn what it is like to live with a disability. Crafts and other vendors sell original artwork from all over the Southeast and also many food items. This festival started in 1979 and to this day, remains a volunteer effort.