There are many interesting things to do in Florence Al ranging from fishing to diving, visiting museums to restaurants, and many more.
Florence is a lovely, quaint city in Alabama, near the Tennessee-Alabama border. This beautiful city is right on the Tennessee River and has a magical feel to it. The oldest state college in northwest Alabama is in Florence, which is also home to other important historical sites and tourist spots.
The best places to stay and eat in Florence, Alabama, are in the city’s historic downtown Florence, filled with cute cafes and excellent restaurants.
The Rosenbaum House in Florence, Alabama, is the only known house by Frank Lloyd Wright in the state.
Here are some of the most enjoyable things to do in Florence Al, Alabama. Let us check those out.
20 Things to Do in Florence Al
Florence Alabama is filled with beautiful vistas and amazing places to explore and refresh your soul. Here are some of the top things to do in Florence Al.
1. Helen Keller’s Birthplace
One of the best things to do in Florence Al is visit Helen Keller’s birthplace. Florence is a city that has been responsible for the birth of a large number of famous people throughout history. One of them is Helen Keller.
Even though Helen Keller lost her sight and hearing at a young age due to scarlet fever, she remarkably learned to read and speak despite this.
Ivy Green, her house is in Tuscumbia, across the river from Tennessee. Helen Keller was born in Ivy Green, where there is a shrine and museum dedicated to her.
Helen Keller received her college degree and became one of the most well-known champions for persons with disabilities.
Ivy Green is available for guided visits during the entire year. The Keller family had provided much of the furniture in the house.
In addition, throughout June and July of each year, Helen Keller Festival is celebrated, and the grounds of Ivy Green are converted into an open-air theatre. You can see performances of The Miracle Worker, a drama based on Helen Keller’s memoirs.
2. The Rosenbaum House, Constructed by Frank Lloyd Wright
Another best thing to do in Florence Al is visit “The Rosenbaum House“.
It is one of the most famous and successful architects in America, Frank Lloyd Wright, produced several masterpieces. The architect only produced one project in Alabama, the Rosenbaum House, which was finished in 1940.
The Rosenbaum House is a single-family residence constructed for Stanley and Mildred Rosenbaum.
World-famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright was responsible for the design of the home.
Visitors can take guided tours of this stunning piece of architecture led by trained interpreters during certain times.
Rosenbaum House looks modern while surrounded by more traditional-looking homes in a high-end residential neighbourhood. The Rosenbaum House was built by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1939.
Wright used sunshine to make the home bright and cheery, as in most of his constructions. He adopted eco-friendly construction practices far before his contemporaries. The house appears to be a decent place to live even today.
3. Learn the History of the Walnut Street Historic District
If you are interested in learning about the history of architecture, design, and the economy in Florence Alabama, you should explore the Walnut Street Historic District. Visiting this place is among one the best things to do in Florence Al.
In the 1880s and 1890s, Florence Alabama went through a financial crisis due to the Civil War.
New homes were consequently being constructed by immigrants in the areas close to the Walnut Street Historic District.
The National Register of Historic Places recognizes the Walnut Street Historic District as a location of historical significance.
A stroll around the old historic district in the late afternoon is an unforgettable experience.
The court street lamps in the old historic district are designed in the form of gaslights from another era, giving off an old-fashioned and quaint atmosphere.
4. Incredible Views at the McFarland Park
McFarland Park is a beautiful place to spend some time relaxing and having fun.
McFarland Park provides you with a secluded and peaceful setting in which you may enjoy engaging in all of your preferred types of outdoor activities. Thus, it is the other best thing to do in Florence Al.
This is made possible by the park’s proximity to the river Tennessee, which flows softly along one side of the park. A family picnic or relaxing days out are ideal at McFarland Park, located along the Tennessee River.
The tranquil garden has excellent facilities and activities for people, including paved walking and jogging routes, picnic shelters with fires, playgrounds, soccer and baseball fields, and a floating restaurant and bar.
5. Experience Calmness at the River Heritage Park in Florence Alabama
River Heritage Park, which can be found on Hightower Place, is a fantastic tourist destination.
The Tennessee River and Wilson Dam are also visible from this Florence Alabama park, which offers its guests breathtaking vistas of both. The park provides many picnic shelters and locations and beautiful views.
Aside from a lovely playground, River Heritage Park also has paved walking trails, a sizable and fun splash pad, a beautiful fountain, and an excellent light display.
A trip to this park will be enjoyable whether you’re travelling alone or with friends and family.
6. Visit the Pope’s Tavern And Museum
This is the other best thing to do in Florence Al.
The University of North Alabama, founded in 1830, is the oldest university in Florence Alabama and is not far from Pope’s Tavern and Museum. There is a lot of history at Pope’s Tavern and Museum.
When you go to Pope’s Tavern Museum, you’ll get the opportunity to recall and walk down memory lane. The building is one of the oldest in the region and has a lengthy history.
Pope’s Tavern is now a museum devoted to showcasing important relics from the times before and during the civil war period, having previously been used as a tavern, hospital, and command centre by forces during the Civil War.
The Civil War hospital is renowned for its role in the recovery of soldiers from both Union and Confederate forces.
7. Hone your Golfing Abilities at Blackberry Trail Golf Course
Visiting Blackberry Trail Golf Course is among one the best things to do in Florence Al. Blackberry Trail Golf Course in Florence Alabama is a well-maintained place to hone your golfing abilities.
This traditional golf course is an 18-hole facility located just north of the Tennessee River on a sizable tract of gorgeous farmland.
The Blackberry Trail Golf Course is situated on Clubhouse Drive. American links-style course features rolling fairways and greenside bunkers, so you can have fun trying to make birdies while you play.
A practice bunker, putting green, driving green, and friendly, knowledgeable personnel are all features of the course. You can also enjoy a grill and snack bar, a well-stocked golf shop, and other amenities.
8. Learn the History of Florence Indian Mound and Museum
Another best thing to do in Florence Al visits the “Indian Mound and Museum”.
The Florence Indian Mound and Museum, which is situated on the Tennessee River’s banks, protect the location of an old earthen mound that was constructed by Native Americans during the Woodland Period more than 2,000 years ago.
Visit the museum full of historical items located next to this magnificent mound and take a remarkable journey back in time. The museum houses a remarkable number of important historical artefacts and objects.
There are pottery, spear points, arrowheads, and ceremonial items. The Florence Indian Mound museum features top-notch displays and placards that describe the time period and way of life of the people who lived on this spot.
9. Have Delicious Pizza at the Pie Factory
Another best thing to do in Florence Al has your lunch, or dinner at Pie Factory. The Pie Factory is a restaurant that specialises in producing mouthwatering homemade pizza using genuine, conventional techniques and baked in an old-fashioned conventional pizza oven.
Pizzas with cheese, sausages, peppers, and traditional vegetables are all available at this establishment. Along with mouthwatering sweets, the Pie Factory also lets you build your own pizza using a variety of toppings.
The Pie Factory is a warm and welcoming eatery that offers a variety of handmade, wood-fired pizzas, fresh salads and sides, and a wide range of craft and small-batch beers in bottles and on tap.
10. Explore the W.C Handy’s Birthplace
The W.C. Handy Birthplace, Museum, and Library are all places that pay tribute to the musician W.C. Handy, also known as “The Father of the Blues.”
William Christopher Handy is a well-known jazz composer whose works include Street Blues, Memphis Blues, and St. Louis Blues are three examples.
Handy was born in Florence Alabama in 1873, and he is credited with composing these songs. The modest cabin house where Mozart was born is now a museum with artefacts, live music notation, and other memorabilia from the life and times of this famous artist.
Visit the home where the legendary bluesman spent his formative years and marvel at the piano on which the St. Louis Blues was first performed.
11. Enjoy Dishes at the Yumm Thai Sushi and Beyond
Have a craving for some tasty Japanese cuisine?
Then you should check out this amazing eatery. Even if you don’t have a desire for Asian specialities, Yumm Thai Sushi and Beyond’s outstanding cuisine and wonderful welcoming atmosphere are more than enough to keep you going back for more.
This restaurant is one of the greatest places to enjoy genuine Asian cuisine because it offers a variety of meal options, including completely vegan dishes, upscale cocktails, amazing sushi, and quick. It also has pleasant service and a contemporary ambience.
12. Drive Through the Wilson Park
Driving through Wilson Park is another best thing to do in Florence Al. A lovely park located in the heart of Florence Alabama is called Wilson Park.
The park, which has a large picnic area, holds a variety of events throughout the year, including the Alabama Renaissance Fair in October, the Handy Festival, Arts Alive, Easter egg hunts, the live music in the Park concert series, Christmas in the Park, and much more.
Wilson Park contains lovely landscaping, benches for relaxing on, a statue of W.C. Handy, and a sizable fountain.
The park is also available for rental for use in conjunction with special events such as weddings and other festivities. The fountain, seating, and landscape of the park are very stunning.
13. Tour the University of North Alabama
The University of North Alabama is the sole university in the area and is also the state’s oldest public university.
The University of North Alabama (UNA), which may be found on the banks of the Tennessee River, holds the distinction of being the oldest four-year public university in the state of Alabama.
The North Alabama University provides degree programs in a number of colleges, including those for science, humanities, music, visual arts, business studies, and education.
You shouldn’t pass up the chance to take a tour of the University of North Alabama, which will open your eyes.
14. Explore the Great Outdoors of Florence Alabama
If you’re tired of your daily routine, exploring one of Florence’s parks or preserve paths will instantly rejuvenate you. It takes less than an hour to explore the various outdoor activities in Alabama.
Thus, it is the other best thing to do in Florence Al.
The city offers a variety of outdoor recreation options, including sailing, kitesurfing, mountain biking, and rock climbing.
The University of Alabama’s George Carroll Lion Habitat is a fun place to go. The only live lion mascot in the entire country resides there. Another fun destination for kids within an adventure park is Killen Time Adventure Park.
15. Incredible Views at the Wilson Dam
The Wilson Dam is designed in a neo-classical manner as opposed to the Art Deco Hoover Dam in Nevada. The Wilson Dam, which was completed in 1918, was the largest hydroelectric plant in the world at the time.
The army engineer who led the team that was responsible for constructing the canal for the Wilson Dam later went on to construct the Panama Canal, and the army engineer who led the team that was responsible for constructing the dam itself later went on to construct the Aswan Dam on the Nile River in Egypt. It takes a few hours for people to enjoy the whole Dam.
16. Explore the Kennedy-Douglas Center
The Kennedy-Douglas Center for the Arts is a cultural arts centre that can be found in the middle of downtown Florence in the city of Florence Alabama.
The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is a school and arts venue whose goals are to spark people’s interest in the arts and encourage participation in a range of local cultural events.
The centre is home to a museum, gallery, educational facilities such as classrooms and studios for presenting works, as well as a gathering space for cultural groups to convene and debate art and culture.
The centre offers a variety of classes, workshops, talks, and art-based programmes for all ages.
It has a plethora of annual shows by artists from the Southeast as well as rotating and travelling exhibits by visiting artists.
17. Visit the FAME Studio in Muscle Shoals
In 1959, Rick Hall joined forces with Billy Sherrill and Tom Stafford to establish the first iteration of Florence Alabama Music Enterprises.
The original studio in Florence Alabama was located above City Drugstore in Muscle Shoals. And, it is among one the best things to do in Florence Al.
In response to Sherrill and Stafford’s breakup, Rick Hall changed the company’s name to FAME and relocated the studio to Muscle Shoals. Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, later known as The Swampers, served as his backup band while he recorded both Black and white performers, disobeying local Jim Crow regulations.
The Muscle Shoals Sound was produced by them. Muscle Shoals Sound become very famous.
18. Refresh yourself at the Deibert Park
A lovely, green, and relaxing area to unwind in Florence Al is Deibert Park. Deibert Park in Florence Alabama is a location to go to relax because of its lush vegetation, greenery, and beauty.
The Children’s Museum of Shoals is located at the entrance to this spectacular park, which also has a number of additional features.
Spend time in the shaded picnic area, stroll the paved walkways, or admire the breathtaking pond with fish and geese.
In addition, there are restrooms, benches scattered throughout the park, and a large open area where dogs are allowed to run free.
The tranquil pond that can be seen from this location is likely to help you unwind and appreciate the natural wonders that surround it.
19. Try Fishing at Pickwick Lake
Pickwick Lake is a must-see place in Florence Alabama if you enjoy fishing. The “Shoals” part of the lake, which can be found right downstream of Wilson Dam at the end of Seven-Mile Island, is recognised as being among the most popular places to fish for smallmouth bass on the lake.
Several well-known fishing competitions are held at the lake each year. Many people consider this lake to be the most productive trophy smallmouth fishing in the entire country.
Pickwick Lake is well-known among anglers for having a large population of largemouth bass fish.
The “Shoals” region of the lake, which is situated at the end of Seven-Mile Island and is immediately downstream of Wilson Dam, is one of the most well-liked locations for smallmouth bass fishing. Every year, the lake serves as the venue for a few notable fishing competitions.
20. Visit Tom’s Wall
Tom’s Wall is the country’s largest unmortared stone wall in Florence Alabama. Additionally, it is the largest memorial of its kind anywhere in the world dedicated to a Native American lady.
The Wichahpi Commemorative Stone Wall is an impressive edifice that boasts the distinction of being the longest unmortared wall in the entire nation.
This Wichahpi Commemorative Stone Wall, which Tom Hendrix erected as a memorial to his great-great grandmother’s extraordinary voyage back to her own land, is steeped in tradition and holds significant cultural and sentimental significance.
It took almost three decades for Tom Hendrix to construct this stone wall, which traversed the forests close to Florence Al. Today, this Tom Hendrix wall is a peaceful location with a prayer circle where you may sit, unwind, and think about the wonder of life.
Key Takeaways
You can go on a vacation to Florence, Alabama, with your family, friends, or even by yourself, and explore the lovely region with the people you care about. The experiences you experienced on your vacation to Florence, Alabama, will remain unforgettable in your mind.
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FAQs
1. How do tourists enjoy Florence AL?
Ans. Tourists enjoy beautiful parks, fishing, walking in various routes, and going for cycling. They also enjoy the picnic parks when the tourists are in Florence AL.
2. What is one interesting fact about Florence AL?
Ans. Gucci was founded in Florence AL.
3. Is Florence AL worth visiting?
Ans. Florence AL is one of the popular cities to visit in Italy and it is definitely worth the visit.
Last Updated on March 3, 2023 by Priya Das
