101 Things to Do in Tuscaloosa

Tuscaloosa 101 Things To Do

Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports Commission

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Places You Don’t Want to Miss

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1. Discover the Mercedes-‐Benz US International Visitor Center and Factory Tour, the only of its kind outside of Germany. 2. Stop by the Visitor’s Center and pick up a driving tour CD of Tuscaloosa. 3. Be sure to drive by the JVC plant. This plant produces nine million CD’s per month. 4. Walk the trails and admire the beauty of the gardens at the University of Alabama Arboretum. Enjoy breathtaking native woodlands, experimental gardens, ornamental gardens, and wildlife flowers. 5. During the winter months, catch a glimpse of the majestic American Bald Eagle at Holt Lake. 6. Visit the Frank Moody Music Building. It is home of the famous Holtkamp Organ, which stands 3 stories high with 4 manuals, 65 stops and more than 5,000 pipes.

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7. Visit the more than 275 churches and synagogues in the area representing approximately 35 denominations. 8. Drive-‐by the Dearing-‐Swaim House. It was built out of handmade clay bricks and has 19 inch thick walls.

9. While in town, plan your next conference or

meeting in the beautiful Bryant Conference

Center.

10. If you are health conscious, take your pick of

one of the many fitness centers Tuscaloosa has to

offer.

11. Feed your sweet tooth at Peterbrooke

Chocolatier or Celebrations Bakery, voted best

place to ruin your diet.


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12. When traveling to Tuscaloosa tune into 103.3 WTUS Tuscaloosa’s visitor information station for the latest events, weather and points of interest mixed with smooth jazz Events Related to the University of Alabama. 13. Put on your “roll tide” gear and get ready to yell because Alabama football kicks off at Bryant Denny Stadium in the fall. 14. Follow more than 100 years of Crimson Tide Football at the Paul W. Bryant Museum. 15. Start the New Year off with the excitement of the nationally ranked, University of Alabama Gymnastics Team in action at the Coleman Coliseum. 16. Visit Foster Auditorium on the University of Alabama Campus and stand in the same spot that George Wallace stood in the “schoolhouse door.” 17. Experience the Gorgas Home. The home belonged to Jesiah and Amelia Gayle Gorgas. It was built in 1829 as the first structure on the University of Alabama campus. It was also one of four buildings, which survived the burning of the campus during the civil war in 1865. 18. Drive by the President’s Mansion on the University of Alabama campus. A notable example of modified Greek revival architecture. 19. Have your picture taken under Denny Chimes, which was built in 1886. The chimes play every quarter hour. 20. Visit the Old Quadrangle, located just north of what we know today as “The Quad.” The site is surrounded by the first four buildings-‐ Woods, Manly, Clark and Garland Halls-‐ constructed after the university was burned during the final days of the civil war.


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21. Attend a University of Alabama Department of Theatre performance. Catch a play, enjoy a musical or groove to a dance act. 22. Kick back in the stands; eat some cracker jacks and cheer on the Alabama Baseball Team.

History and Arts 23. Catch a glimpse of Tuscaloosa’s Black Heritage at the Murphy African American Museum. 24. Visit pre-‐historic Indian mounds at Moundville Archeological Park. 25. Visit the renowned Tuscaloosa Museum of Art: Home of the Westervelt Collection at North River Yacht Club. 26. Visit the Battle-‐Friedman House and discover the state’s oldest documented antebellum garden. 27. Visit Tuscaloosa’s oldest operating theatre. The Bama Theatre, at a time, served as the community’s grand movie house, as well as the only air-‐conditioned building in the city. 28. The Alabama Museum of Natural History showcases dinosaur fossils from the age of old dinosaurs, the coal age, and the ice age. 29. Capitol Park is the site of the first state capitol of Alabama; the ruins are from when Tuscaloosa was the capitol in 1826-‐1846. 30. Tour one of the last models of Italian architecture in the area, the Jemison Van de

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Graaff Mansion, built in 1859. It was home to a confederate senator Robert Jemison. 31. Experience the height of Tuscaloosa’s Black heritage by visiting historic Stillman College. The college was founded in 1876 to train black ministers. The original building was built in 1881 and still stands on Queen City Avenue. 32. Visit the Bama Belle Riverboat located in the Black Warrior River Walk. The Bama Belle is a modern day replica of the grand paddlewheel riverboat, which graced the Black Warrior in the 1900’s. 33. Visit Greenwood Cemetery, Tuscaloosa’s oldest public cemetery, dating back to the early 1800’s. 34. Visit the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center (CAC). The CAC opens in the fall of 2012 and will be a hub for the arts in Tuscaloosa. 35. Visit the Mildred Westervelt Warner Transportation Museum which features the transportation history of the Black Warrior River and topics that gave rise to the city of Tuscaloosa’s development. 36. Visit the Old Tavern, which has been a fixture in downtown Tuscaloosa since the time of the capital era. It is one of the few remaining 19th century inns in the state. 37. Drive by the Old Jail built in 1857. It was the first county jail in Tuscaloosa.


5 5 38. The Tuscaloosa Amphitheater is a 7,470-‐seat facility that hosts numerous concerts throughout the year. 39. Visit the Tuscaloosa Veteran’s Memorial Park. Exhibits include the Honor Roll of Veterans Wall and the Mast of the USS Tuscaloosa CA37 and other displays. 40. The Maxwell-‐Peters home. Built in 1867 the home exhibits a unique English architecture widely used in the South but, was essentially lost during the Civil War and Reconstruction. 41. The McGuire-‐Strickland House, which is located in historic Capitol Park, is a wood frame cottage that is considered to be the oldest wooden structure in Tuscaloosa. 42. The Kentuck Festival of the Arts celebrates a variety of artist styles ranging from folk to contemporary arts as well as traditional crafts. The festival takes place every third weekend in October. 43. Iron Bowl: long-‐standing rivalry between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers. 44. West Alabama Christmas Parade. 45. Dicken’s Downtown: Begin your holiday season in downtown Northport and wander through the historic shops. 46. Tuscaloosa Christmas A-‐Float: A parade of lighted boats that cruise both sides of the Black Warrior River. 47. USAT Triathlon: Watch world-‐class athletes compete. 48. Sakura Festival: A springtime festival focusing on Japanese heritage and culture. 49. A-‐Day Game: Take a first look at the Crimson Tide football team at the game held each spring.


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50. Heritage Week: Held in April by the Tuscaloosa Preservation Society. 51. You’ll find something for everyone at Midtown Village, University Mall, Tuscaloosa Galleria, Downtown Tuscaloosa, and Downtown Northport. 52. If collectables are what you are looking for, you will find just what you need at Sam Jackson’s Emporium, or a unique gift at Northport 5 & 10.

53. If you are an antique lover, visit the local area

antique shops.

54. One of a kind clothing can be found at Solo or

Effie’s Inc.

55. Get the freshest fruits and vegetables in town

at the Tuscaloosa River Market located on the

banks of the Black Warrior River.

56. Get all the information you need about

Tuscaloosa at the Visitor’s Center, home of the

Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports Commission.

57. Make sure you pick up all your Crimson Tide

souvenirs at The College Store on the strip.

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58. See a true hardware store of yesteryear at

Anders Hardware located in Downtown

Northport.

59. For the avid hunter or fisher a trip to Tuscaloosa would not be complete without a trip to one of Alabama’s premiere hunting and fishing supercenters, Woods and Water.

Activities for the Kids 60. Visit Children’s Hands on Museum (CHOM). It is sure to stimulate your child’s imagination and intellect. 61. Attend a performance of the Tuscaloosa Children’s Theatre. 62. Take your kids to Super Skate or Bama Golf located on McFarland Boulevard for a day of fun and some exercise too!. 63. All Fired Up is a contemporary ceramic studio where you paint your own pottery. 64. The Public Library of Tuscaloosa offers weekly book readings for children and other activities. 65. YMCA Baseball is open to boys and girls of many ages to test their baseball skills. 66. Tuscaloosa’s Park and Recreation Authority (PARA) has annual camps and weekly activities for the kids.


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67. Enjoy a performance of the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra. 68. Fore! Tee off at Ol’ Colony, one of Tuscaloosa’s public golf courses. 69. Take a paddleboat out at beautiful Lake Lurleen State Park, or pitch a tent in the campground. 70. Raise your glass of wine at Carpe Vino, a classy atmosphere. 71. Enjoy a jog or relaxing walk on Tuscaloosa’s Riverwalk, which overlooks the Black Warrior River, it stretches from the Amphitheater to Manderson Landing. 72. Sit back and relax at Holt Lake with facilities for boaters, swimmers, hikers, picnickers, and sightseers. 73. Bowl a game or two at AMF Bama Bowl or Leland Lanes. 74. Go boating and water skiing on Lake Tuscaloosa. 75. Spend a day at one of 38 parks managed by PARA. 76. Cast a reel on beautiful Lake Tuscaloosa. 77. Get together for a camping adventure at Deerlick Creek campground. The grounds have 46 campsites and are located on Holt Lake. 78. Go for a bike ride at Snow Hinton Park next to University Mall. 79. Have a night on the town, in style with Crown Limousine.

80. Meet the guys for a game of pool at T-‐Town Billiards. 81. Enjoy cycling along Tuscaloosa’s Scenic Byway, Jack Warner Parkway. 82. If relaxation and serenity are what you are looking for schedule a spa day at Nancy Taylor Day Spa or Spa Belle La Vie. 83. See today’s box office features at Cobb 16 Theaters. 84. Plan your next family reunion at any one of the 38 parks with facilities for banquets. 85. Go for a walk around Government Plaza, which adjoins the Intermodal Facility. 86. Join instructors at Sips-‐n-‐Strokes as they take you step by step to a finished product. 87. If you like the aroma of a fine cigar, R&R cigars is your place to relax and recharge. 88. Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports Commission can help you plan your next meeting, reunion or sporting event.


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Tuscaloosa Tourism & Sports Commission

1900 Jack Warner Parkway Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35401

www.visittuscaloosa.com

Dining and Lodging

89. Enjoy a traditional Southern breakfast at The Waysider. 90. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes and other southern delights are popular at the City Café. 91. If you want a taste of fresh seafood, visit Chuck’s Fish in downtown Tuscaloosa, where fresh seafood is imported everyday straight from the Gulf. 92. For a “one of a kind” dining experience, head to a Tuscaloosa tradition, Dreamland Barbeque. 93. Looking for exquisite dining? Visit Evangeline’s at the Tuscaloosa Galleria. 94. Meet your friends for a unique dining experience at Depalma’s in downtown Tuscaloosa. 95. Spend the night in one of Tuscaloosa’s hotels and see what true hospitality is all about.

96. Enjoy a Jazz brunch on Sunday at one of Tuscaloosa’s most unique restaurants, FIVE. 97. Dine with friends at the University Club. Built in 1829, it once served, as governor’s mansion during the years Tuscaloosa was the state capitol. 98. Enjoy a delightful lunch along the Black Warrior River at the Cypress Inn, home of the white BBQ sauce. 99. Opus will not disappoint with its’ elegant atmosphere and white linen dining. 100. Enjoy a romantic dinner for two at Kozy’s located on Loop Road, voted the best place to propose. 101. There you have it, now take your pick from any or all of these!

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101 Things to Do in Tuscaloosa