The Year of Alabama Small Towns & Downtowns

Governor Bob Riley invites you to celebrate your town in 2010 by participating in the
statewide promotion of The Year of Alabama Small Towns & Downtowns.

The Year of Alabama History

Etched in the cornerstone of our American heritage, you will discover Native American, Civil War and Civil Rights history, as well as a proud heritage in music, sports and aviation in Alabama. In fact, everywhere you travel along our Southern soil – from the state's birthplace in Huntsville to Birmingham, our largest city, to historic Montgomery and on down to the coastal plains, you will see history reflected in pine-rimmed rivers, flowing from lofty mountaintops, captured in old homes, and echoing from the shadows of mammoth caves.

The Year of Alabama Sports

If you like sports, you will love Alabama!...football, baseball, basketball, auto racing, golf, soccer, tennis, etc. Just about every sport imaginable can be found here. The king of sports in Alabama is football. Fans have an unbelievable passion for their teams and the intense rivalry between Auburn and Alabama is unmatched anywhere.

Beyond team sports, individuals have gone on to national, international and Olympic greatness: soccer kids Mia Hamm and Cat Stevens; track stars Jesse Owens, Carl Lewis and Harvey Glance; swimming and diving gold medalists Rowdy Gaines and Jennifer Chandler; PGA champions Hubert Green, Larry Nelson, Jerry Pate and Jo Ann Prentice; and the inimitable Charlie Boswell, the World's champion blind golfer.

This state is truly a sportsman and spectator's dream.

The Year of Alabama Arts

"Alabama has a diverse array of artists ranging from music to pottery to spoken word to painters — and everything in between," said Lee Sentell, director of the Alabama Tourism Department. "We're excited to show the rest of the country what we have to offer."

The Year of Outdoor Alabama

With majestic mountains, clear blue streams and abundant natural wildlife, Alabama is the perfect place to enjoy outdoor activities. At the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, visitors stroll scenic pathways while observing a variety of flowers, plants and the Southeast's largest clear-span greenhouse.

History lovers will enjoy the authentic Indian village and artifacts at Moundville Archaeological Park that rests on the banks of the Warrior River. The Alabama outdoors has attractions that offer a diverse mix of history, nature and fun for every member of your family.

While exploring underground wonders in DeSoto Caverns, visitors can view the Cathedral Room, which is larger than a football field and higher than a 12-story building. And DeSoto Caverns also features some fantastic examples of Alabama camping.

Other Alabama campgrounds can be found throughout the state, from the wiregrass in the south to the mountains in the north. Each filled with outdoor activities for the entire family.

The Year of Alabama Food

If you grew up or spent any time in Alabama, you know every year is the year of Alabama food. It seems our peaches are the juiciest, tomatoes the reddest, blackberries the plumpest, and catfish the savoriest, of anywhere on God's green Earth.

Folks from around here also know the tender connection between our stomachs and our hearts. In Alabama, we love you with food. Tragedy is met with casserole. Every get-together is an excuse to entertain. Kids come home from college and beg for Mom's meatloaf. Out-of-town guests go out of their way to pick up a pound of pork from their favorite barbecue joint.

In this site, you'll find information about the many facets of Alabama foods. We'll talk about our crops from sweet potatoes to shrimp. We'll visit many of our food manufacturers, who produce jams and jellies, potato chips, homemade rolls and a whole lot more. We'll check in on establishments from the Shoals to the Gulf Coast — all with their own unique flavor.

Finally, you'll find recipes on this site. Some were contributed by noted Alabama cooks, some copied from yellowed family-recipe cards — each and every one a treasure.

Whether you pick up some Alabama-made sauce and grill with it yourself, or head to one of Alabama's fine restaurants, ring the dinner bell 'cause it's time to eat.

We invite y'all, resident and guest alike, to celebrate Alabama food — this year and every year.

The Year of Alabama Gardens

The spectacular gardens across Alabama cordially invite you to visit during the special celebration of 2004: The Year of Alabama Gardens. You can stroll acres of camellias, azaleas, dogwoods, daylilies, hydrangeas, mums and rare native species or wander through bogs and backwoods to find some of the South's most abundant and fascinating wildflowers. Choose from dozens of splendid public and private gardens located in small towns and cities that will be open for tours.

Festivals offer exceptional opportunities to see and sense botanical varieties at their peak. Visit Bellingrath Gardens during the Azalea Festival, catch a butterfly at Huntsville's Botanical Garden or hone your knowledge of Alabama plant varieties at the Dothan Area Botanical Garden. Stroll unique garden shops and nurseries for plants, decorative items and expert advice.