Points of interest between the Villages and Tuscaloosa, AL
 

Hello,
Can anyone suggest some interesting places to visit between the Villages and Tuscaloosa, Alabama? We are from Pennsylvania and are new to the Villages. We are flying into Tuscaloosa in September to visit our daughter at the University of Alabama for the Penn State v. Alabama game. Although, we will probably just be tailgating since aquiring the tickets to the game will be almost impossible :(

We will be driving back home and are wondering if there are any points of interest that would be worth the stop on the long 10 hour trip back.

Thanks...

lots of choices
 

It only takes us 15 hours straight thru from TV to Columbus, OH, including stops, but if you want to do your trip in 2 days, there are lots of options, depending on what you like to see and do.

My first suggestion would be Tallahassee - very interesting statehouse tour, and look over the FSU campus perhaps. On your way to Tallahassee you could also stop at Tarpon Springs and do a sponge boat tour or just walk around this interesting town with lots of Greek settler influence. We had great baklava at a restaurant there with a view of a marina. Outdoor seating if the weather's nice. There are also lots of nice coastal towns in Florida to stop at. Check out a good Florida guidebook and choose what you like best. Grayton Beach just east of Panama City looks interesting from an ariticle in Southern Living I read. It's on our list for a beach trip once we live in TV.

We are avid travelers and always do a lot of research beforehand thru guidebooks (you can check some out of your local library) and also websites such as Tripadvisor.com and others. You can post specific questions on the appropriate forums and get suggestions you may not have thought of on your own.

We stopped at a place called Moundville. Located about 10 miles south of Tuscaloosa - so it won't break up your long trip, but still interesting - Moundville is an archeological site that was occupied from around A.D. 1000 until A.D. 1450 by a large settlement of Mississippian culture Native Americans on the banks of the Black Warrior River. At the time of Moundville's heaviest residential population, the community contained a population of about one thousand with around ten thousand in the entire valley and the enclosed community covered about three hundred-acres. It was neat to stand on the top of the tallest mound and imagine the plain below bustling with native activity. Pretty cool.

Another place which we found interesting and one of the more notable sites in Biloxi MS that has been restored is the retirement home of Jefferson Davis. Since it was located only about a mile from our RV campground and since Mike is something of a Civil War buff, we thought we’d check it out. It has a guided tour of the fabulous home with history of the home, the furnishing as well as Jefferson Davis' life after the war. We found it very interesting.

If you are interested in Civil War history the Vicksburg National Battlefield Park was definitely worth the stop for us. You can drive through it, since it is very large, or bike, but it is hilly and a long ride. You can also get out and walk a little and look in the windows of some of the old buildings and take in the views and Memorials. The area is beautiful.

We have a granddaughter at the U of Alabama. I've been wanting to stop in Birmingham and see some of the Civil Rights HIstory from that area.