Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about what NOT to do on a trip to Alabama. While many travel blogs will tell you the fun things to do in Alabama, we want to be sure you know about the things you should NOT do when you visit Alabama.
Don’t Forget to Pick a Team
Alabama football is a serious business. Everyone is either Crimson Tide for the University of Alabama or an Auburn Tiger for Auburn University. There is no middle ground, so pick a side and stick to it! We are big fans of the Georgia Bulldogs, but when we visit Alabama…Roll Tide!
Don’t think football is the only sport in Alabama! Talladega, anyone?
Don’t Forget the First Mardi Gras Celebration
New Orleans likes to lay claim to America’s Mardi Gras celebration, but the first one ever was held in Mobile, Alabama. It’s still a great celebration in Mobile! It’s one of our favorites because they throw Moon Pies off the floats…pretty tasty!
Don’t Worry About Driving in Alabama
Driving in Alabama is a piece of cake. The roads in Alabama are really nice; since they don’t have such drastic weather changes, the roads don’t buckle as they do elsewhere. It is a long state, so if you are taking an Alabama road trip, it takes about five hours to drive from the northern border to the coast. It’s a nice drive, with rolling hills. You do need to drive, though, as public transportation is pretty rare in Alabama.
Don’t Skip the Small Towns
Although the highways in Alabama are nice and smooth, you should take a few exits and travel the backroads. The small towns that were bypassed by the interstate system are some of the best places to visit in Alabama, and they are also where you’ll find some of the best southern food. Skip the chain restaurants and check out authentic Southern food at the dozens of mom and pop joints you’ll see along the way.
Don’t Forget Your Southern Manners
They are all about manners in the south, so don’t forget to be polite and say please and thank you. You are expected to hold the door for the person after you, even if they’re a bit farther behind.
Things that Will Shock You in the South
Don’t Skip the Alabama White Sauce BBQ Sauce
When you order barbecue in Alabama, you might be surprised to find a white sauce on your food. In Alabama, they have white barbecue sauce. It sounds weird, it looks weird, but it’s delicious. It’s a mayonnaise-based sauce, and you have to try it! And don’t forget to wash your food down with Southern sweet tea!
Don’t Assume Alabamans are Simple
Many people think of Forrest Gump when they think of Alabama, but the people of Alabama are not simpletons. Sometimes the accent leads to assumptions about intelligence, or lack thereof. But there are many smart people in Alabama. It’s where Space Camp is held! Astronauts are not dumb!
Don’t Forget About Alabama Outside of Gulf Shores
Some of the best places to visit in Alabama are the Alabama vacation spots along the coast. But there is a lot more to Alabama than just the beaches. Mobile and Montgomery are great cities where you can learn more about the Civil Rights Movement. Selma is known for an important march in the Civil Rights Movement. Huntsville and Birmingham are two other Alabama cities worth visiting. In the north of Alabama, you have lots of forested hills that are great for hiking and outdoor recreation.
Don’t Visit Alabama in July or August
Alabama summers are notoriously hot and humid. They also tend to get tropical storms in late summer and early fall, so that may not be the best time to visit. Northern Alabama is not as hot as Southern Alabama, but it’s still ridiculously humid.
Don’t Forget Your Bug Spray
Along with heat and humidity come some pretty big bugs. The mosquitos are notorious, and you’ll probably run into a palmetto bug or two. (That’s a fancy word for flying cockroaches) If you plan to spend any time outdoors in Alabama, make sure you have your bug spray!
Grab Some Wolters World Travel Gear!
Don’t let these “don’ts” keep you from visiting Alabama. It’s a really neat southern state with a unique culture and there are a lot of fun things to do in Alabama. I really hope you will decide to visit Alabama because it’s worth it! Want more of our Southern US travel tips? Check out some of our other blog posts: