Outdoors

Browse exclusive SoulGrown stories Alabama's great outdoors and natural beauty

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A wildlife biologist explains why the state’s growing number of bear sightings is a sign of a healthy, natural dispersal pattern, not cause for concern.

Why black bear sightings are increasing across Alabama—and where they’re headed next

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August 10, 2026

From building homes and railroads to supporting rare wildlife, the longleaf pine remains woven into Alabama’s past and future.

Longleaf Pines

How the longleaf pine shaped Alabama—and came back from the brink

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August 5, 2026

The Ivory-billed Woodpecker vanished decades ago—or did it? Here’s why sightings continue to spark debate across Alabama and the Southeast.

illustration of an ivory-billed woodpecker

The enduring mystery of Alabama’s Ivory-billed Woodpecker

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July 16, 2026

Looking for a way to cool off this summer? These natural swimming spots showcase some of Alabama’s most beautiful places to swim, float, and relax.

Upper Caney Creek Falls

The best natural swimming holes in Alabama for a summer cooldown

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June 30, 2026

The story of Majestic Caverns spans ancient Indigenous culture, Spanish explorers, Civil War soldiers, and Prohibition-era outlaws.

Majestic Caverns

Alabama’s ancient underground: the remarkable history of Majestic Caverns

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June 26, 2026

The husband-and-wife team behind Land Revival LLC is working with landowners across Alabama to bring native prairies back to life.

Hunter and Jessica Vick

How one couple is helping revive Alabama’s Black Belt prairies

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June 22, 2026

Standing along the waters of Bayou La Batre, it is easy to understand what is at stake. The bay supports oyster farms, commercial fishermen, and countless coastal species. It fuels […]

Bayou la Batre

How Alabama Beer Co and Murder Point Oysters protect Alabama waters

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June 10, 2026

For one day this month, anyone can enjoy one of Alabama’s favorite outdoor pastimes without purchasing a fishing license.

Alabama Fishing

No license needed: Alabama’s Free Fishing Day is June 13

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June 9, 2026

The sixth annual Black Belt Birding Festival will return to Alabama’s Black Belt region July 31 through Aug. 2, bringing together birding, ecotourism, local history, and civil rights heritage across multiple counties in west and central Alabama.

Alabama bird watching

6th annual Black Belt Birding Festival returns to Alabama this summer

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May 27, 2026

An afternoon of local food, line dancing, community gathering, and fundraising among the crops is returning to downtown Birmingham this weekend as Jones Valley Teaching Farm hosts its second annual Gather fundraiser on Saturday, May 30th.

Jones Valley Teaching Farm

Gather returns to Jones Valley Teaching Farm this weekend

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May 26, 2026

TJ Johnson’s 652-mile kayak journey down the Tennessee River revealed how the waterway connected communities across four states, reshaping his understanding of the river, its landscapes, and the people who call it home.

TJ Johnson on the Tennessee River

The man who paddled 652 miles down the Tennessee River

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May 20, 2026

A childhood fascination with an Eastern Bluebird led Samford freshman Mason Currier to break Alabama’s single-year birding record while discovering a deeper sense of purpose in conservation, community, and the natural world.

Mason Currier

Mason Currier: the young birder who slowed down to see the world

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May 15, 2026

Alabama’s native grasslands and prairies once stretched across large portions of the state, creating one of the Southeast’s most biologically rich ecosystems. Today, however, only a fraction of those landscapes remain.

Southeastern Grasslands

Can Alabama restore its lost prairies? Experts say the work is just beginning

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May 13, 2026

What began as a roadside bait shop along Highway 431 grew into a landmark woven into Alabama fishing history.

Tom Mann's Fish World

The legacy of Tom Mann’s Fish World in Eufaula, Alabama

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May 11, 2026

Through local ingredients and longstanding relationships, Chef David Bancroft celebrates the communities shaping Alabama’s foodways.

Acre exterior

Seed to Soul: Chef David Bancroft of Acre in Auburn, Alabama

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May 7, 2026

With her newest cookbook The Flavor of Fire, Clark returns to something foundational: cooking outdoors over an open flame and the gatherings that naturally form around it.

Kelsey Barnard Clark

Kelsey Barnard Clark brings the fire in her new cookbook

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May 5, 2026

Alabama, with its rolling Appalachian foothills, deep canyons, ancient forests, and Gulf Coast wetlands, is a walker’s paradise. The Yellowhammer State features hundreds of miles of trails across its state […]

Cheaha State Park

Our favorite Alabama walking trails for health and wellness

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April 30, 2026

Alabama Power’s Renew Our Rivers program is once again bringing communities together to protect and restore the state’s waterways, marking its 27th year of cleanup efforts across Alabama.

Renew our Rivers cleanup

Alabama Power’s Renew Our Rivers returns for 2026 cleanup season

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April 15, 2026

The Nature Conservancy and Bank Independent are teaming up to support long-term restoration efforts in one of North Alabama’s most ecologically important waterways.

Paint Rock River

The Nature Conservancy expands restoration efforts in the Paint Rock watershed

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April 13, 2026

These are five Tuscaloosa parks I keep coming back to—for the views, the memories, and the moments you can’t quite plan for.

Lake Nicol

A local’s guide to Tuscaloosa’s best parks

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April 10, 2026

For many landowners in Alabama, fire isn’t something to fear—it’s something to understand.

Prescribed fire

How prescribed fire supports Alabama’s land and wildlife

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April 7, 2026