“There’s so much to do!” Emma Gilbert responds when I ask how the new year is going for her–and that, she believes, is a good problem to have. Gilbert has been painting for as long as she can remember, from the time she was able to hold a brush. Once she learned what paint was, […]

Tucked away in the charming city of Cullman, Alabama, lies a site that inspires awe in visitors from near and far: the Ave Maria Grotto. This peaceful and artistic destination offers a unique experience for travelers looking to connect with art, history and spirituality. Known affectionately as “Jerusalem in Miniature,” the Ave Maria Grotto is […]

Each January, thousands of cranes return to Alabama’s winter wetlands, and the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge in Decatur becomes the perfect place to witness them. From January 9–11, 2026, the annual Festival of the Cranes offers visitors the chance to see more than 20,000 Sandhill cranes and at least 20 rare Whooping cranes in their […]

If you’re craving an unhurried, peaceful start to the new year, it’s best to begin with a cozy new book. But what makes a book cozy? It’s the kind of story that draws you in with relatable, memorable characters, and lived-in, inviting settings: small towns, close-knit families, or quiet corners of the world. The pace […]

For those looking to begin the new year outside, Alabama State Parks offer an easy and beautiful place to start. On January 1, Alabama State Parks will host First Day Hikes at more than a dozen locations across the state, offering guided hikes as part of a nationwide initiative encouraging people to start the year […]

Tucked away in the heart of Florence, the Rosenbaum House is an architectural treasure designed by none other than the legendary Frank Lloyd Wright. This home is more than just a historical structure—it’s a storybook woven from modernist dreams, community pride, and the creative spirit of one unforgettable couple. We had the pleasure of speaking […]

Whether you love the holidays or loathe them, chances are you feel a little extra stress this time of year—which is why it’s so important to protect your mental health. Between gifts to purchase, meals to plan, parties to attend, trips to schedule, and family dynamics to navigate, it can all add up quickly. Not […]

Meet Dawn Diehl, owner of Birch Tree Day Spa and our trusted esthetician, whom we’ve consulted to advise how to keep our skin healthy during the winter months. Although Alabama doesn’t see the harshest winters, the temperatures still drop, and our body’s largest organ—our skin—often pays the price. Dryness, dullness, and irritation are all common, […]

As we talk, Tammy West of Glow Floral Event Design is doing what she does best: decorating a Christmas tree. This is the second attempt of the day (the first tree the client ordered was eighteen inches taller than the ceiling), and the power is out. Yet West seems totally at ease as she simultaneously corrals […]

When you arrive at Jubilee Suites on the Eastern shore of Mobile Bay, you feel it immediately: a sense of being welcomed. Dana and Jim Maloney have filled the inn with warmth and hospitality, from the vine-covered courtyard to the made-to-order breakfast, every detail shows they deeply care about their guests.  The name Jubilee itself […]

As winter settles over North Alabama, Cullman transforms into a place where Christmas comes to life. Each year, this small Southern town of just 20,000 people transforms with remarkable intention into a storybook-worthy European village, home to the beloved Cullman Christkindlmarkt. What has emerged is one of the nation’s most authentic German-style Christmas markets, a […]

A major expansion of Alabama’s entertainment tax incentive program is turning heads in the music industry. Representatives of the Alabama Department of Commerce and the Alabama Entertainment Office have been promoting the new opportunities, and the Muscle Shoals Songwriters Festival was a recent stop. The festival, held in November, drew more than 50 songwriters and hundreds of […]

The Black Jacket Symphony brings Pink Floyd’s ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ to life at McWane Science Center’s dome theater. For the first time ever, experience a live concert inside McWane’s fully immersive digital dome theater, where video, sound, light, and performance will collide. Witness the Black Jacket Symphony like never before as cinematic […]

One of my earliest connections to Southern food was in my great-grandmother’s kitchen, on a chicken farm in rural Alabama. We’d make the drive up from Birmingham and arrive in time for breakfast. My great-grandmother, who we lovingly called Ma Cash, was usually still elbow deep in White Lily flour. We’d open the screen door […]

It’s December, and that means it’s time to gather around the table for a holiday meal—and perhaps sip on something delicious. With so many components to seasonal feasting, choosing wines can feel a little daunting for even an experienced wine enthusiast.  Fortunately, Mountain Brook’s Golden Age Wine takes the guesswork out of holiday sipping with […]

In the heart of downtown Decatur, The Princess Theatre stands as a beacon of history, culture, and community. Over a century old, the Princess has grown from a humble livery stable into one of North Alabama’s most treasured performing arts centers, a place where generations have gathered to celebrate the magic of theater, music, and […]

At The Grand Hotel in Point Clear, Alabama, traditions are enthusiastically celebrated year-round. Each day, the resort honors the military with a lobby procession ending in the firing of a Civil War replica cannon. Easter brings a sunrise service on Julep Point, and Thanksgiving features the Grand Turkey Buffet. However, it’s the Christmas season where […]

I am excited to introduce to you all our newly named Editor, Holly Swafford. Over the last two years Holly has worked with the SoulGrown team as a contributor. Her “contributions” quickly grew into much more than the words she penned to paper (or typed to keyboard). While her stories have earned their place on […]

Pediatric dental practices are more than healthcare settings; they’re community touchpoints where families, local businesses, and neighborhood institutions naturally intersect. Fireside, a Birmingham-based technology company, was founded on the belief that these everyday interactions hold untapped potential to support both practice growth and the broader communities they serve. “Fireside began with a simple shared challenge […]

The day after Thanksgiving marks a moment of pure Birmingham magic. Families bundle up, food trucks line 5th Avenue North, and the city gathers at the base of the Regions Center as twilight settles in. This Friday, November 28, at approximately 5:15 p.m., a switch will be flipped—and suddenly, downtown is glowing with two 30-story […]

Rickwood Caverns State Park is once again preparing to turn its underground passageways into a festive spectacle as “Wonderland Under Warrior” returns for the 2025 holiday season. Now in its ninth year, the popular event invites families to walk through a cave system filled with holiday lights, themed rooms and Christmas characters. “This is the […]