Alabama Car Rental

Guide to Alabama

Weather in Alabama

Alabama experiences a humid subtropical climate with hot summers and mild winters. The state is prone to hurricanes, tropical storms, and thunderstorms during the summer months.

Biodiversity

Alabama is known for its incredible biodiversity. Ranging from the Tennessee Valley to the Gulf Coastal Plain and the beaches along the Gulf of Mexico, there are expansive pine forests, several unique species of animals native to this region, and a rich evolutionary past that has led to marvelous geological forms.

Things to do in Alabama

Learn about the Civil Rights Movement

Alabama is the place to learn about the Civil Rights Movement, as the meeting place of the early civil rights activists and parish of Martin Luther King Jr. Visit the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church, a National Historical Landmark located in Montgomery, to learn about Dr. King’s time there and the role the church played in the seminal Montgomery Bus Boycotts.  The city also houses the Rosa Parks Library and Museum, which exhibits the story of the brave act of defiance by Rosa Parks, and artifacts such as photographs, court documents, and a 1950s-era Montgomery city bus.

Go camping in Gulf State Park

If you want to go camping with your family, Gulf State Park offers two miles-long white beaches, guided nature walks, fishing lessons, and other fun educational activities for kids. Take a walk along the 25-mile paved trails, or play volleyball on the beach. Drive down and make a day trip out of it.

Visit the U.S. Space and Rocket Center

The U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville is one of Alabama’s top attractions. Visitors from all over the world come to see the display of rockets and missiles at Rocket Park and the museum at the Space Center which houses stimulators that mimic the real experience of an astronaut training session. There’s even a less intense version for kids.

Drive to Dauphin Island

If you are looking for someplace more secluded for a relaxing vacation, drive down to Dauphin Island, located three miles south of Mobile Bay in the Gulf of Mexico. Visit the historic Fort Gaines and breathe in the fresh air as you walk along the sandy beaches and walking trails. Swing by the Audubon Bird Sanctuary to watch migrating birds, explore a maritime forest, a swamp, and sun bask on the pristine beach.

Eating out in Alabama

One of the top-rated restaurants of Alabama is Highlands Bar & Grill, the recipient of many awards for its sumptuous Southern cuisine and warm ambiance. Using fresh local ingredients, Chef Dolester Miles makes formidable stone-ground baked grit and rabbit two ways. Another unique restaurant in Alabama is the Rattlesnake Saloon, located at the mouth of a cave, best known for its juicy burgers. Kowaliga Restaurant, located on Lake Martin, is where you’d go for a romantic setting to have an intimate dinner. Their catfish, seafood, and wings are worth writing home about.

Transport in Alabama

Airports & public transportation

Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) is the main airport serving Central Alabama and Birmingham, while Huntsville International Airport (HSV) is 9 miles southwest of downtown Huntsville. Trains and buses provide cheap transportation around the state.

Driving in Alabama

To visit the attractions beyond the routes covered by public transports, renting a car would be ideal. Rental companies like Hertz, Avis, and Enterprise serve the state of Alabama.