Imagine a 200+ mile greenway system connecting all of North Alabama–from the bustling towns to the tucked away hidden gems–along an uninterrupted outdoor human highway, brimming with nature, activity and, most of all, heart.

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23 counties across the mid-section of Alabama are better known to locals as the Black Belt. This area between the Appalachian foothills and the Coastal Plain has become popular to tourists for many reasons, but there are a few standouts. Here’s what we’ve found when exploring Alabama’s beautiful Black Belt.

Whiting and the Facing Waves crew came to Lake Guntersville in April of 2022 to film this show. He paddled through Morgan’s Cove, Guntersville Dam and discovered Painted Bluff and Hambrick Bat Cave during his adventures. He also tried his hand at kayak fishing Lake Guntersville, which is best known for its large-mouth bass.

North Alabama’s golfing community is one of vibrance and variety. With such a beautiful landscape serving as the backdrop to these greens, it can be easy to get lost in the environment and shank your shot for par into the majestic forests in the distance. When the time comes to set a tee-time this summer, here are a few North Alabama courses to take a swing at.

With the natural beauty of North Alabama, as well as the many gorgeous bodies of water the region provides, paddling is a fantastic outdoor activity for the paddling veteran, as well as the novice. It is a particularly good activity for families to enjoy together, as it is an all-level sport.

The last two years have been filled with an ebb and flow of trends throughout the pandemic. While some have faded, like bread baking and the popularity of Tiger King, others like board games and Zoom have remained. Another of the biggest lasting trends has been an increased interest in birdwatching. Businesses that sell birdfeed and backyard birdfeeders reported a sales increase of between 45 percent and 50 percent.  The usage of Audubon, a birdwatching app, also went way up. If you got into birdwatching during the pandemic or are curious to see what it’s all about, Alabama is a great place to start. Here are the best places to go birding in Alabama. 

On the trailhead at Cheaha State Park stands a large, red-stemmed pokeweed. Usually found in alleyways or roadsides, this ubiquitous weed is normally easy to pass by, but not when hiking with famed herbalist, Darryl Patton. Those of us hiking with him have learned to expect long stops, as he shares his prodigious knowledge of plants. The poke sallet, sometimes called poke salad, is generally considered poisonous. Patton sees it as deadly to viruses. According to him, “It will kill them graveyard dead.”

She was only five years old when she tentatively toddled over to the paleontologist to show him her dinner-plate sized find. He leaned in with a smile of patience, assuming it was just a rock. He flipped up his sunglasses for a better look. The fossil hunt was 20 minutes in and the smallest child had picked up a museum-quality fossil. It was an Attenosaurus track, called a “coal lizard.”  These giant ancient reptiles spanned from six to eight-feet long and dominated swamps as the largest land animal before the dinosaurs emerged.

“The Kelly,” recently announced its partnership with the Smoot Harris family and City of Wetumpka to offer a premier wildlife arts festival in downtown Wetumpka this fall. The Wetumpka Wildlife Arts Festival (WEWA) will be a cumulation and celebration of wildlife and field sports through the arts in a new, month-long series in the central Alabama town.

Summer may turn a wildflower hike into a sauna, but there are plenty of creeks, caves, swimming holes and natural phenomena to make working up a sweat worthwhile. Our famed hydrangeas are in full bloom in every variety from climbing to giant foot-long blooms. Creature features include the largest emergence of bats east of the Mississippi and a glowworm only seen here and Down Under. Alabama is a natural paradise, ranked as number four in biodiversity in the United States. Much of this diversity is due to our five geologic regions. Alabama is a special place for the explorer willing to seek its charms. Here are 10 nature experiences to add to your list this summer.

Zenovia Stephens sits beside a campfire with her family and participants of Black Kids Adventure’s summer event, Family Adventure Camp. They prepare to rest their heads after day-one of their three-day weekend at Camp McDowell in Nauvoo, Alabama. Just over the canopy of oak and maple, stars dazzle in the Alabama night. Without service to wireless devices, the campers are vulnerable to each other’s presence. Some, for the first time in such an isolated outdoor setting. Others are familiar with the trek of exploration and welcome the new faces with welcoming smiles and humorous stories through the crackling, wooded blaze. It’s what Stephens says her organization is all about: connection, community, and family—outdoors. 

When the days drag on and you find yourself staring out the window dreaming about being outside, you know it’s time to plan your next adventure. Though Alabama isn’t home to any national parks, we are blessed with many state parks and thousands of acres of untouched natural land waiting to be explored. The nickname Alabama the Beautiful was coined for good reason, and one of the best places to see the natural beauty of Alabama is by heading south toward the Gulf Coast. Here are the best places to get outdoors in South Alabama.

The Agriculture Adventure Trail encourages the public to engage with local agricultural businesses in a fun and educational way. You’ll find all kinds of cool things to do on the Agriculture Adventures Trail: hands-on farms, orchards, farmer’s markets, made-on-the-farm products, farms with animals, U-pick farms, vineyards & wineries, farm-to-table dining, corn mazes, pumpkin patches, living history farms, farm festivals, and so much more!

Here are 4 highlights from the 35 stops along the Agriculture Adventures Trail.

The Yellowhammer State isn’t called Alabama the Beautiful for nothing. As one of the most biodiverse states in the country, outdoor time is an absolute must for anyone spending time here. In spring and summer, our native flora bursts into color and fauna emerge from their winter slumbers to enjoy the warm Southern sun. The same goes for locals who are ready to shed their coats and enjoy the gorgeous natural settings Alabama has to offer. In Central Alabama, there are several places to enjoy the wonders of Mother Nature, whether you prefer to hike, bike, get out on the water, or simply have a picnic in the sun. Here’s where to start. 

With rolling green mountains, sparkling lakes, lush forests, and roaring rivers, “Alabama the Beautiful” is best experienced outdoors. Now that the weather has warmed and the days are longer, it’s time to get out and enjoy the natural beauty Alabama has to offer. As one of the most biodiverse states in the country, there’s always something new to see and discover outdoors, whether it’s a vibrant species of bird or a gorgeous native flower. In North Alabama, there are several places to enjoy the wonders of Mother Nature, whether you prefer to hike, bike, get out on the water, or simply have a picnic in the sun. 

On May 21 in Mt. Olive, Alabama, the Revive Outdoors team will be hosting a one-of-a-kind event in partnership with one of the most elite bowhunters in the nation, Cody D’Acquisto of Lone Wolf Custom Gear, with giveaways from some of the top hunting brands in the world.

The podcast has so much more to offer, each episode a valuable resource for anyone wanting to know more about the hidden (and even not-so-hidden) gems of north Alabama.

Fourteen miles from The University of Alabama’s bustling college campus lies the site of another thriving community. More than 900 years ago, Moundville, nicknamed The Big Apple of the 14th Century by National Geographic, was once America’s largest city north of Mexico and one of the most powerful prehistoric communities of all time. Today, what remains of this huge settlement of Mississippian culture is one of the nation’s most important Native American heritage sites. This hidden historical gem is now managed by The University of Alabama College of Arts & Sciences and is open to the public to visit seven days a week.  

Tucked into the northeast corner of Alabama, Jackson County is a caver’s paradise. The county of just over 52,000 people is home to 3,537 charted caves, meaning there is roughly one cave for every 15 people. The county also has more caves per square mile than any other location in America!

It all started with the search for the perfect jacket. As an avid outdoor sportsman and attorney, Radcliff Menge often found himself caught between two worlds. There was the country, where he developed a passion for hunting and fishing as a child, and there was the city, where he worked as a mergers and acquisitions lawyer in New York. Equally comfortable in both environments, Menge sought a piece of outerwear that was similarly suited to both.