A Year of Alabama Trails

This article originally appeared in the 2025 edition of Inbound Insider: The Official IITA Member Directory & Magazine.

With Iconic Road Trips and a Rising Music Scene, Alabama Emerges as a Must-Explore Destination

INCREASINGLY, TRAVELERS are seeking vacations that enable them to enjoy a touch of nature. Alabama is delivering with The Year of Alabama Trails, a new two-year tourism marketing program showcasing the state’s outdoors, launched this year. Whether it’s conquering a challenging peak or wandering through ancient forests, you will find that the state’s trails offer unmatched biodiversity and experiences from the Appalachian foothills to the Gulf Coast.

True Adventure Sports can provide rappelling, rock climbing, cave, and motorcycle adventures in the Fort Payne area, a section of Northeast Alabama that includes Little River Canyon, a National Preserve operated by the U.S. National Park Service.  In Northwest Alabama, you will find an 85-acre Nature Conservatory, Dismals Canyon. This National Natural Landmark is famously known for its Dismalites, a select species of ‘glowworms’ that are kin to the New Zealand glowworms.  Near the coast in South Alabama is “America’s Amazon” which refers to the Mobile-Tensaw Delta, a vast and biodiverse wetland area considered one of the largest intact wilderness areas in the country.  Canoe or take a group adventure into the delta with Wild Nature Delta Safaris, Airboat Express, Airboat Adventures, Delta Explore, or America’s Amazon Adventures.

AMTRAK EXPANDS ALABAMA ADVENTURES WITH NEW TRAIN ROUTES
Get ready to explore Alabama in style as Amtrak rolls out an exciting new passenger train service. Starting in the summer of 2025, New Orleans to Mobile service should begin. This addition will result in Amtrak service with two distinct routes from New Orleans to Alabama, one along the Gulf Coast to Mobile and another to the central part of the state.

First up, the beloved Crescent Train offers a leisurely 8-hour ride from New Orleans to Central Alabama, perfect for travelers seeking relaxation and rich destinations. This route links you to three central Alabama hotspots, including Birmingham—nicknamed the “Dinner Table of the South” for its culinary prowess and a cornerstone of American Civil Rights history. Also in Alabama along the route are Tuscaloosa and Anniston. From there, the Crescent opens doors to endless travel possibilities, whether you’re looping back to New Orleans or venturing onward to Atlanta, Washington D.C., or even New York.

Amtrak’s brand-new New Orleans-to-Mobile route debuts in 2025, delivering a budget-friendly, 3-hour trip with two daily departures. This short-and-sweet ride ties together two Gulf Coast gems that share a deep love for history, bold flavors, and Mardi Gras revelry. In Mobile, you’ll savor world-class seafood, explore the historic Africatown community, marvel at prime birdwatching spots, and unwind on nearby pristine beaches.

With these two routes, Amtrak is making Alabama more accessible—and irresistible—than ever. 

GET YOUR VIBE ON I-65: AN EPIC ROAD TRIP FROM THE GREAT LAKES TO THE GULF
With the 100th anniversary of Route 66 sparking a renewed love for long-distance adventures, it’s time to set your sights on a fresh, iconic journey – Interstate 65. Stretching from the Great Lakes to the Gulf, I-65 offers a thrilling ride through the Midwest and South, blending vibrant cities, rich history, and stunning landscapes. Buckle up and get your vibe on I-65 for a trip that’s as diverse as America itself.

FROM THE HEARTLAND TO THE SOUTH: THE JOURNEY BEGINS
Kick off your adventure in Chicago, the third-largest city in the U.S. and a top-tier tourist destination nestled along Lake Michigan, one of America’s Great Lakes. From the Windy City, head south on I-65, where the Midwest unfolds in all its glory. Stop in Indianapolis to soak in the high-octane energy of racing culture, then roll into Louisville to sip on world-famous bourbon. Next up is Nashville, the beating heart of country music, where you can tap your boots to live tunes on every corner.

ALABAMA: THE SOUTHERN STAR OF I-65 
As you cross into Alabama, the journey takes a soulful turn. First, explore Huntsville, known as the “Rocket City,” where the U.S. Space & Rocket Center offers a glimpse into the stars. Just a short detour away, Muscle Shoals and Florence—collectively dubbed the “Hit Recording Capital of the World”—beckon with their legendary music history at FAME and Muscle Shoals Studios, where icons like Aretha Franklin and the Rolling Stones laid down tracks. 

Further south, central Alabama’s Birmingham and Montgomery deliver a powerful dose of history. In Birmingham, gearheads will love the Barber Motorsports Museum, home to one of the world’s largest motorcycle collections. Historians will love exploring the Birmingham Civil Rights District. Dive into the Civil Rights Movement with visits to the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery or pay homage to Rosa Parks at the Rosa Parks Museum. 

The I-65 adventure wraps up in Mobile, a historic port city with deep Mardi Gras roots and some of the freshest seafood on the Gulf Coast. Stroll through Africatown to connect with its unique cultural heritage. Then, decide your final Gulf Coast stop – stick around in Mobile, head to the pristine beaches of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, or swing west to the jazz-filled streets of New Orleans.

INSIDER TIP: THE ULTIMATE SOUTHERN LEG
For a shorter but equally unforgettable trip, focus on the lower half of I-65. Start in  Nashville and travel through Alabama, hitting its cultural gems and Gulf Coast beaches before heading west to New Orleans. In half the distance, you’ll experience a perfect blend of music, history, culture, beaches, and mouthwatering Southern cuisine. It’s the ideal way to soak up the best of the South on one epic road trip.

ALABAMA’S MUSIC SCENE SOARS TO NEW HEIGHTS
From the soulful wail of jazz to Jimmy Buffett’s breezy island tunes, Alabama’s musical tapestry is weaving a bold new chapter with cutting-edge exhibits and sprawling venues popping up statewide. In downtown Mobile, the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf is building a 5,000-square-foot, two-floor homage to the iconic Jimmy Buffett. Slated for a September 2026 unveiling, this immersive experience will explore Buffett’s nautical heritage and his unmistakable tropical flair. The museum’s spot carries deep resonance—perched across from where Buffett’s parents once worked and steps from the river his grandfather sailed.

Over in Birmingham’s storied Civil Rights District, the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame has emerged anew from a sweeping renovation. The 2,200-square-foot space now shines as a sleek showcase of the state’s jazz heritage. Nearby, the Uptown entertainment district is poised for a blockbuster summer with the debut of the 9,300-seat Coca-Cola Amphitheater, ready to pulse with the energy of its first crowds and inject a fresh rhythm into the city’s core. This new amphitheater marks Alabama’s fourth major outdoor stage, joining an impressive roster: the 10,000-seat The Wharf in Orange Beach, the 8,410-seat Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater in Tuscaloosa, and the 8,000-seat Orion Amphitheater in Huntsville. Together, they signal a crescendo in the state’s live music offerings.

Add to that the storied studios of Muscle Shoals, plus Montgomery’s Hank Williams legacy—complete with his statue, museum, and gravesite—and it’s clear Alabama’s latest ventures are just the newest notes in a thriving symphony. Here, music doesn’t just play; it pulses with life.

Reprinted with permission from the 2025 issue of Inbound Insider, published by IITA in partnership with Premier Travel Media.