Recently in Tourism Category

State tourism director Lee Sentell encourages tourism representatives to photograph landmarks and other destinations THIS MONTH for future publicity needs. "The spring is the ideal time to take photos of your area's most popular attractions. Having pictures with flowers and budding trees will add a lot to your next brochure or website. Do it while the spring is at its peak," he says. He hints that a new photo contest will be announced next week.

Tourism Cares, the premier charity in the travel industry dedicated to preserving the travel experience for future generations, is partnering with Travel South USA to raise funds for the Birmingham Civil Rights Heritage Trail, opening this spring. Travel South USA is the marketing alliance and the Official Regional Destination Marketing Organization for the southern United States.  "We are thrilled to once again partner with Tourism Cares," remarked Lee Sentell, Alabama Tourism Director and Chairman, Travel South USA.  "Our two organizations have worked together on three previous projects in New Orleans, LA., (twice) and Biloxi, MS to provide funding and manpower to restore and preserve important tourism areas.  This year we are combining our efforts during the 27th Annual Travel South Showcase in Birmingham to raise awareness and money that will enhance the Birmingham Civil Rights Trail and preserve stories from of an important time in our region's history."  

The Birmingham Civil Rights Trail documents the events of the Civil Rights movement in Alabama in the 1960's. Signs and displays at various sites of historic significance around the city, share the story of how Birmingham helped change a segregated nation. The trail tells the stories of the past, but has a focus on showing how Americans came together around an idea that completely changed American history. The $1 million project is still in the building stages, with a few of the routes opening in the spring. Travel South USA and Tourism Cares will raise funds as part of the Travel South Gives Back campaign by selling "Tourism Cares" wristbands on site at the 2010 Travel South Showcase in Birmingham or at www.tourismcares.org.  Both Travel South USA and Tourism Cares will each match all donations up to $5,000. Other companies are invited to do the same. For more information, visit the Tourism Cares website.   
Travel South USA is America's oldest and largest regional travel promotion organization, formed in 1965 by resolution presented at the Southern Governor's Conference. As the Official Destination Regional Marketing Organization for the South, its mission is to promote, foster and encourage travel to and within the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. For more information please see www.tourismcares.org. 

Bridge Crossing Jubilee - Mar 4-8
Commemoration of the Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights March. Highlights include a parade, pageant, symposiums, music, Voting Rights Hall of Fame induction and much more.

George Lindsey/UNA Film Festival - Mar 4-7
Nominated by Southeast Tourism Society as one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast for the month of March, the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival is an exciting event consisting of film screenings, panels, discussions and celebrations throughout the Shoals area.

Cottontail's Village Arts, Crafts, & Gifts Festival - Mar 5-7
Mar 5-7, Birmingham Cottontail's Village Arts, Crafts, & Gifts Festival 205-836-7178. www.christmasvillagefestival.com. Admission charged. Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex--With more than 450 booths of arts, crafts, gifts and food items, this is a great place and time to purchase Mother's Day gifts, graduation gifts, and spring decorations. Fri., 10 a.m.- 8 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.- 7 p.m.; Sun. noon- 5 p.m.

Southeastern Livestock Exposition Rodeo, 53rd Anniversary - Mar 11-13
Celebrate the 50th anniversary of "The Greatest Show on Dirt." Competitions include bull riding and calf roping. Thurs. is Military Night and Fri. is "Tough Enough to Wear Pink" night.

9th Annual BBQ Championship Hog Wild Festival - Mar 12-13
Each year, thousands of residents and visitors flock to the Fairgrounds for this "hog wild" benefit for the United Cerebral Palsy. Live music, children's activities, barrel racing, cooking demonstrations and barbecue.

58th Fairhope Arts & Crafts Festival - Mar 19-21
More than 200 exhibitors from throughout the nation will bring their best works to show and sell at this prestigious juried show. Live entertainment is set throughout the three-day event and unique cuisine will be served in the food court. Voted as one of the 100 Best Predominantly Classic & Contemporary Craft Shows in the nation by Sunshine Artist Magazine in 2008.

Opp Rattlesnake Rodeo, 50th Annual - Mar 26-27
Weekend filled with food, children's activities, musical entertainment, snake races, buck dancing, karaoke contests, beauty queens, arts, crafts, and a headliner concert.

196th Anniversary of Battle of Horseshoe Bend - Mar 27-28
Celebrate the park's 51st anniversary and enjoy this festival of culture and history on the grounds of Alabama's first national park. Enjoy Creek hunting camps, military camps, dance, cannon fire demonstrations, exhibits, and more.

City of Talladega's 175th Anniversary Celebration - Mar 27
Celebrating its incorporation 175 years ago with a grand parade, historical play, a DVD of Talladega's history shown at our historical Ritz Theatre, bands, karaoke, and fireworks!

Siege of Bridgeport Re-enactment - Mar 27-28
Bridgeport brings history alive when almost 1,800 re-enactors thrill thousands of curious visitors and history buffs with their authentic re-creation of this fateful battle of the Civil War. Also included are period music, authentic encampment and vendors of historical objects and clothing.

From an article in Wednesday's Richmond Times-Dispatch:

Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, the state's chief job-creation officer, got a lunch pail full of ideas last night about how to create more jobs in Virginia....Decrying the lack of Virginia tourism promotion money, Bolling said: "If I hear about the Robert Trent Jones golf trail one more time, I'm going to barf." The state of Alabama has been advertising the golf trail on Virginia television stations. McDonnell has proposed increasing state funding for tourism promotion.

For the complete article see http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/state_regional/state_regional_govtpolitics/article/SQUA241_20100223-231802/326465/  

The University of North Alabama's 2010 George Lindsey Film Festival being held March 4-7 in Florence will host a 25th anniversary "Back to the Future" reunion. Actors Lea Thompson, James Tolkan and Claudia Wells along with screenwriter Bob Gale will be participating in the reunion. The "Back to the Future" celebration will also include public appearances of an exact working replica of the famous DeLorean time machine car, complete with flux capacitor and functional circuit displays. This year the UNA George Lindsey Film Festival is working with several partners to raise money for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. The George Lindsey UNA Film Festival is one of the few film festivals hosted by a university. The event was founded in 1998 in part by UNA alumnus and celebrated actor and entertainer George Lindsey. Lindsey is known internationally for his role as the character Goober Pyle on "The Andy Griffith Show."

For a complete list of film festival events and ticket information please see www.lindseyfilmfest.com   

The Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown Florence was named a National Lighthouse Award Winner designating it in the top five percent of Hampton Hotels in the nation. The hotel was recognized for its high rankings in overall accommodations, service and quality. The 5-story, 88-room Hampton Inn & Suites Florence Downtown is located near such area attractions as the University of North Alabama, W.C. Handy Birthplace, Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House, Helen Keller Birthplace and Alabama Music Hall of Fame. www.florencedowntownsuites.hamptoninn.com

The Quality Inn Athens recently received the Choice Gold Hospitality Award. The Choice Gold Hospitality Award is awarded to the top ten percent of hotels within the Choice brand. The awards are based on a ranking system that measures guest satisfaction, product quality, room condition and cleanliness, and staff service. The Quality Inn Athens is located near Athens State University, host of the annual Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention. http://www.qualityinn.com/hotel-athens-alabama-AL325?promo=gglocal

The Alabama Tourism Department is asking representatives from state attractions and events to turn in their 2009 attendance figures. This list is used by state tourism in economic impact studies and is the basis for our annual "Top 10" listings of tourism destinations. This list serves as an invaluable guide for state government, local organizations, and the media. It will also be distributed in our press kit to travel writers and group tour operators. In order for you to be counted we must have your data by Friday, Jan. 22. The reporting process has been streamlined to allow you to enter your attendance figures directly online. The entire process should take less than 5 minutes to complete.

Please follow this link to enter your attendance figures: http://www.alabama.travel/media-room/attendance.cfm  

From The Associated Press article "Alabama Urged to Extend Land Preservation Program" by Bob Johnson:

Conservation leaders in Alabama urged the Legislature on Monday to continue the Forever Wild program that in 18 years has preserved about 200,000 acres of wilderness in the state. Forever Wild uses money from oil and gas revenues to purchase private land. It will expire during the 2012-2013 fiscal year unless the Legislature votes to continue it. Conservation Commissioner Barnett Lawley joined tourism, hunting and fishing group officials and other outdoor enthusiasts at a Statehouse news conference to push for renewal of Forever Wild for another 20 years. Lawley said areas preserved by Forever Wild include the rugged wilderness area along the Alabama-Tennessee line known as the "Walls of Jericho" and the swampy Tensaw Delta north of Mobile.

Rep. John Robinson, D-Scottsboro, said he's "100 percent" for continuing the Forever Wild program. His district is adjacent to the "Walls of Jericho," an unusual rock formation that is a popular destination for wilderness hikers. "I've hiked it several times and it's a great place. We have people come from everywhere to see it," Robinson said. Alabama Tourism Department director Lee Sentell said preserving land through Forever Wild has given people a chance to explore "unpolluted, untrashed" areas of Alabama. "I have people say to me that they had no idea that Alabama was such a beautiful state," Sentell said.

For the complete article please see http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=9535436

More than 1,650 events including a major Star Wars exhibit at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and the first Indy Racing League competition in Alabama are featured in a calendar of events published by the Alabama Tourism Department. Several major anniversary celebrations are scheduled for the year including the 50th anniversary of the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" in Monroeville and the centennial of Birmingham's Rickwood Field. The 96-page calendar has a city-by-city index of events and features a top ten list for each month.  "We've made planning a trip to Alabama easier than ever," said tourism director Lee Sentell.

The calendar also serves to kick-off the tourism agency's campaign of the "The Year of Small Towns & Downtowns." More than 200 communities across the state are participating in "Small Towns & Downtowns" by holding local homecomings. These events, known collectively as the Great Alabama Homecoming, are highlighted in the calendar.  
 
The cover features Bellingrath Gardens and Trowbridge's, a 1917 ice cream parlor in Florence. Travelers can pick up copies of the publication at each of the eight Alabama Welcome Centers, by calling 1.800.ALABAMA or by going online at www.alabama.travel. 

Eagle Awareness Weekend - Jan 1-30
Hear the call of the wild. Enjoy fireside chats, guided interpretive programs at various Bald Eagle nesting sites, and guest speakers. Each program followed by meals in park's dining room. All activities take place at Guntersville State Park the weekends of Jan 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23, 29-30.

The Presenters Exhibition - Jan 2-31
In conjunction with the 25th anniversary of the Clay Conference at Troy University, this exhibit will showcase the artwork of four of the top pottery artists in the world.

USS ALABAMA Battleship Memorial Park's 45th Anniversary - Jan 9
In honor of the park's 45th anniversary, Alabamians will be admitted on this day at 1/2 price (a valid AL driver's license must be shown). Since opening to the public, more than 13 million have visited Battleship Memorial Park.

Reflect and Rejoice: A Community Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - Jan 17
A musical gala presented by the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, the Alabama Symphony Orchestra and the Alys Stephens Center in honor of Dr. King.

Pike Piddlers Storytelling Festival - Jan 29
Storytelling featuring nationally acclaimed storytellers Donald Davis, Barbara McBride-Smith, Kevin Kling and Elizabeth Ellis. Tickets go on sale Dec. 29, 2009. For tickets, call 334-735-3125. Open reserved seating only.

2010 Senior Bowl - Jan 30
The nation's unique football game and football's premier pre-draft event features the country's best senior collegiate football stars and top National Football League draft prospects. Teams represent the North and South and are coached by the entire coaching staffs from two NFL teams.

381 Days: The Montgomery Bus Boycott Story - Jan 30-11
This exhibition offers a gripping account of the men and women whose nonviolent approach to political and social change matured into a weapon of equality for all.

Neil Berg's 100 Broadway Years of "Singing with Broadway Stars" - Jan 30
It's your chance to be a star. How would you like to have the opportunity to win a chance to sing a song with five Broadway stars in front of family and friends? To enter the online auditions, take a 90- to 120-second video of yourself singing a Broadway show tune and upload it to YouTube, MySpace, or Facebook.

Congratulations to the 29 towns in rural southwest Alabama for being selected and recognized in the Alabama Department of Tourism's Year of Small Towns and Downtowns. Each one of these towns had to submit a summary of the things that make their town special and agree to host a festival that will continue as an annual event.

"This many towns hosting an annual festival will give tourists a reason to visit our area at various times throughout the year," according to Linda Vice, Director of  Southwest Alabama Office of Tourism and Film . "Tourism is ongoing economic development. Each town, in the process of defining what makes them special and what festival the community will support, has found something interesting that tourists will want to see."

Each town that is part of this 2010 Year of Small Towns and Downtowns will receive a historic marker that gives some highlights of the town's history. It will serve as a permanent recognition of the town's initiative in being part of this program. Many segments of the community and a variety of organizations came together to make this happen. This is an example of grassroots efforts that have come together for the betterment of their communities.  According to Vice "Tourists are interested in authentic experiences that give them a taste of what an area is really like. The festivals held as part of this effort will give tourists just that. Tourists just might like the area so much we can keep them coming back".

"Southwest Alabama Office of Tourism and Film wants to give a special thanks to their Tourism Partners in the 11 counties of Rural Southwest Alabama for encouraging their communities to participate in the Year of Small Towns and Downtown and for providing an ongoing calendar of events in each county. Tourists visit our website alabamasfrontporches.com and plan their visits to the area. Not only does the casual traveler check the website, but business travelers coming to the area, people coming to visit relatives along with the families of the hunters, fishermen and campers who spend many weekends here", says Vice. "Rural Southwest Alabama as Kathryn Tucker Windham says in our promotional video is 'a place where magic still happens and legends never die'".

Sick of freezing temperatures and icy roads? This winter season, escape from the cold and take a trip on Alabama's Coastal Connection! Soak up the sunshine, stroll through beautiful gardens, or enjoy an invigorating hike as you take the perfect southern winter getaway.

No matter what the season, the Bellingrath Gardens and Home, on the byway's western end near Bayou La Batre, is always in bloom. During the winter season, see poinsettias, tulips, and camellias, as well as other flowering plants, or come back for azaleas in the spring, roses in the summer, and chrysanthemums in the fall. You'll also love the Magic Christmas in Lights event held each December. Get into the Christmas spirit by exploring illuminated displays throughout the 65-acre estate or attending nightly choral concerts. Read the full article on Alabama's newest Nationally Designated Scenic Byway on the www.byways.org website.

The University of Alabama Center for Economic Development (UCED) in partnership with several agencies will be unveiling a series of signs highlighting Alabama's natural beauty to guide visitors through a four-county area along the Cahaba River. Facts about rare birds, mussels, butterflies and where to see these endangered species are included on the signs, as well as a synopsis of 10 highlighted historic/nature and outdoor recreation sites that can be explored and visited. The signs can be used as a guide to explore Alabama's past, says Nisa Miranda, UCED director. "Whether you want to connect with the Civil War, the civil rights movement, watch the birds, bicycle, camp, or browse through a museum, there is plenty to discover along the lower Cahaba River.  The signs include a detailed map so travelers can locate charming towns and their nearby historic treasures - all within a 1-1/2-hour drive." Several special unveiling events will take place in selected areas on Friday, Dec. 4. UCED has partnered with the Corp. for National and Community Service-AmeriCorps VISTA, USDA Forest Service Oakmulgee District, Bibb County Commission, Alabama Historical Commission, Perry County Chamber of Commerce and Moundville Archaeological Park with the goal of expanding tourism and outdoor recreation in west central Alabama.
 
For the complete article please see http://uanews.ua.edu/2009/11/ua-joins-rural-partners-to-expand-tourism-along-lower-cahaba-with-unveiling-of-nature-historic-site-signs/

You can access the site associated with the project by visiting http://www.lowercahaba.com 

A bronze statue of Helen Keller will be unveiled at 2:30 p.m. at the Alabama State Capitol on Friday, Dec. 4. The statue matches the one that was placed in the U.S. Capitol in October. The statue depicts the Tuscumbia native as a seven-year-old at her family's water pump at the moment when she learned language as teacher Anne Sullivan spelled "W-A-T-E-R" into one of her hands as she held the other hand under the pump. The iconic image was famously portrayed in the film The Miracle Worker. "Helen Keller was an extraordinary Alabamian who showed us the power of a determined human spirit can overcome any obstacle. The remarkable moment at the water pump, so vividly captured by this statue, will inspire countless others and remind them there truly are no limits to what people can accomplish," said Governor Riley. First Lady Patsy Riley served as the honorary chairperson of a committee that raised private donations and selected an artist to create the statue. The statue is made of bronze, its base is Alabama marble and it weighs almost 600 pounds.

Montgomery, Ala. -  Alabama's gardens, trails, historic homes and parks light up for the holiday season. Visitors can see historic homes decorated with lights and holiday finery in Eufaula, Decatur, Opelika and Montgomery.  Parks in Arab and Florence offer dazzling light displays and winter wonderlands, while gardens in Huntsville and Mobile showcase more than three million lights and hundreds of displays.

Catch spectacular holiday displays at these 10 Alabama Tourism recommended Holiday Light Festivals:

Arab --  Christmas in the Park

November 27-January 1

For the 14th consecutive year, the City of Arab will offer a dazzling display of nearly two million holiday lights that transform the park into a winter wonderland. Visitors will enjoy holiday music and special decorations in the Historic Complex, which features an old church, a school and an operational gristmill. 256.586.8128, www.arabcity.org.

Mobile -- Bellingrath Gardens -- Magic Christmas in Lights

November 27-December 31

Stroll through a wonderland of more than three million twinkling lights and 600 custom-designed holiday displays during Magic Christmas in Lights at Bellingrath Gardens in Mobile. Tour the historic Bellingrath Home decorated in its holiday finery, enjoy nightly entertainment and visit with Santa. 251.973.2217, www.bellingrath.org.

Birmingham -- Zoolight Safari at the Birmingham Zoo

December 4-30

Ride the Zoolight Express train while enjoying a half-million twinkling lights. The spirit is festive and the tradition comes complete with hot cocoa, a light show synchronized to favorite holiday tunes and appearances by Santa. 205.879.0409, www.birminghamzoo.com.

Decatur -- Christmas Tour of Homes

December 12

Decatur's historic districts are decorated with luminaries, greenery and thousands of lights. Several homes are open for tours. Refreshments are served and carriage rides are available. Tour from 4-8 p.m. 256.350.2028, www.decaturcvb.org.

Eufaula -- Christmas Tour of Homes

December 5

Visitors can stroll through downtown to see the antebellum homes aglow in holiday splendor. 334.687.6664, www.eufaula-barbourchamber.com.

Florence -- Open House & Festival of Lights   

December 4                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Florence businesses and Wilson Park will be decorated in lights for Christmas. Visitors can shop while listening to music on the street corners and in the park. The jingle of bells on horses giving carriage rides adds to the festive atmosphere. 256.740.4141, www.flo-tour.org.

Huntsville --  Galaxy of Lights Holiday Light Show

November 20 - January 2

Celebrate the holiday season with a drive or a stroll through the Huntsville Botanical Garden.

The walk-through takes place November 20-24 while the drive-through is November 26-January 2, 2010. This magnificent holiday light extravaganza features thousands of lights and more than 600 lighted displays arranged in 125 varied holiday scenes and themes, including a Patriotic Celebration, Winter Wonderland, Santa's Workshop, Christmas Celebrations, Nursery Rhymes, Birds, Bees and Butterflies. 256.830.4447, www.hsvbg.org.

Montgomery -- Governor's Mansion Candlelight Open House

December 7, 14, 21

Governor and Mrs. Bob Riley will open the Governor's Mansion for candlelight tours from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on each Monday night in December leading up to Christmas.  The 1907 Colonial Revival mansion located at 1142 South Perry Street in Montgomery will be aglow with lights and filled with the spirit of the season. 1.800.ALABAMA, www.alabama.travel.

Montgomery Zoo -- Christmas Light Festival

November 25 and November 27-December 31

Thousands of lights illuminate the pathways on a leisurely stroll through the Montgomery Zoo during the city's Holiday Lights Festival. Visitors can ride the train through the forested wonderland and see animals come alive in lighted displays. 334.240.4900, www.montgomeryzoo.com.

Opelika --Victorian Christmas

December 9-13

Step back in time with a visit to an Ole World Christmas wonderland in Opelika. On the Victorian Front Porch Christmas Tour, visitors will see more than 60 turn-of-the-century homes in all their lighted glory featuring life-sized Santa's, angels, toy displays and carousel horses. Also enjoy live holiday entertainment. 334.887.8747, www.aotourism.com. 

Budget Travel magazine is currently accepting nominations for its 2010 America's Coolest Small Towns Readers' Choice Poll. From now until Nov. 22, 2009, go to www.budgettravel.com/coolestsmalltowns to nominate your picks for the coolest small town in America. As part of the nomination process, you can also upload your own photos and videos of unique town features. Then return to the website on January 12, 2010 to vote. Budget Travel is looking for a town that has a population of fewer than 10,000 people- small towns, not big cities. The town has also got to be on the upswing, a place that's beginning to draw attention - and new residents - because of the quality of life, the arts and restaurant scene, or the proximity to nature. Towns with an edge, so think avant-garde galleries not quaint country stores. Budget Travel's Readers' Choice Poll debuted in 2009. "We knew from past experience that readers loved the Coolest Small Towns concept, but we built the poll tool for fun-- and we were a little surprised to see such a huge response," said Steve Merrill, the GM of BudgetTravel.com. "We received more than 100,000 votes, published almost 1,500 thoughtful reader comments, and then heard from the governor of Maine, who issued an official proclamation calling on Maine residents to vote for Rockland, Maine. It was wild."  The 2009 winners were featured at BudgetTravel.com, in an exclusive segment of The Early Show on CBS, and in the October 2009 issue of the print magazine.
 
For more information please see www.budgettravel.com/coolestsmalltowns
 

The December issue of Southern Living magazine has a special 8-page feature article on the historic town of Mooresville located in North Alabama. Mooresville is located between Huntsville and Decatur and has retained the look of a 19th century village complete with historic homes and buildings, white picket fences and tree lined streets. The Mooresville Post Office (1840) is the oldest continually operating post office in the state of Alabama and one of the oldest in the country. The entire town is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was chosen by Walt Disney Pictures as the primary filming location for the movie Tom and Huck (1995) based on the classic novel by Mark Twain.
 
From the article "A Small Town's Christmas in the South" by Tanner C. Latham in Southern Living magazine:
 
The tiny town of Mooresville, Alabama, knows how to celebrate the season: Get everyone involved, serve great food, and keep it fun. The town's annual Progressive Dinner does all three- and shows why this community captures the holiday spirit like nowhere else. You really begin to grasp the smallness of Mooresville, Alabama, when the whole town is stuffed into the foyer of Margaret-Anne and Kevin Crumlish's house on High Street. The entire population, 53, is here: The Prices, the McCrarys, the honorable Mayor Susan Golby, the Peebles, and on and on. Everyone here played a role in putting on this small-town holiday event, and it shows. On this night, at Mooresville's Christmas Progressive Dinner, the allure of small-town culture in the South is on display. Each of the stops shows off a different side of this place. Spend the night chatting and eating with the proud locals, and you get a glimpse of the community spirit that makes us glad we call the South home.
 
Why We Love Mooresville:
 
Because it will always be a small town: Mooresville is and always will be confined to three square blocks because it is hemmed in by Limestone Creek and Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge to the south and west, I-565 to the north and east, and self-imposed building codes.
 
Because it's full of beautiful historic homes: Visitors from all over frequent Mooresville to view the historic homes and buildings in this town, incorporated in 1818, one year and one month before Alabama's statehood. That interest creates some unusual moments, such as the time when Kathryn Price heard a commotion outside her home one Sunday morning. She cinched her bathrobe, opened her front door, and surprised a group of tourist posing for pictures on her front porch. "I think they thought our house was some kind of civic building," she says.
 
Because it's not stuck in time: "Mooresville holds on to the things that were great about its past, but it continues to grow and thrive," says local restaurateur Dee Green. "It's not a place captured in time." The mayor and five council members help manage the town's historic treasures, meeting at the pre-1825 original Stagecoach Inn and Tavern each month. Usually the main business is the preservation of Mooresville's three historic public buildings: the Tavern, the 1839 old Brick Church, and the 1840 Post Office. But they also handle more modern problems such as providing recycling services and addressing utilities issues.
 
Celebrate the season in Mooresville- join the Mooresville Yuletide Walking Tour, Dec. 6, 1-4 p.m.; www.mooresvillealabama.com, 256-355-2683, or 256-353-3628.
 
For the complete article please see the December issue of Southern Living magazine on newsstands now.

Registration is still available for the 2009 Alabama Welcome Center Retreat on Nov. 15 and 16 in Huntsville. The retreat is being hosted by the Huntsville Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau and the newly opened Westin Hotel at the Bridge Street Town Centre.  The Alabama Welcome Center retreat is designed to inform the Alabama Tourism Department's staff at the eight state-line welcome centers on the latest tourism developments from across the state. More than 6 million travelers visited the Alabama Welcome Centers in 2008. Registration to participate in events and provide a five minute presentation is $150 per person.  The Westin Hotel is offering a rate of $119 for the retreat.  For more information and to reserve your space, please contact Jennifer Moore, Huntsville Madison County CVB Vice President of Tourism at 256-533-5723 or email jennifer@huntsville.org

The Alabama Restaurant Association and Alabama Hospitality Association held their annual awards dinner celebration in Montgomery on Monday night at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center. Winners include: Legislators of the Year- Representative Cam Ward and Senator Lowell Barron; Chef of the Year- Joseph Mitchell, Jefferson State Community College Culinary and Hospitality Institute; Restaurant Employee of the Year- Katerina Psarrass, Brocks at the Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa; Restaurant Manager of the Year- Eric Upshaw, VictoryLand; Restaurant Supplier of the Year- Don Gann, Royal Cup Coffee; Restaurant of the Year- Eric Duggan, Eastside Grill; Spirit Award- Ken Jordan, Manna Enterprises/Jack's Family Restaurant; Tourism Promoter of the Year- Holly Beach, U.S. Space & Rocket Center; Tourism Attraction of the Year- USS Alabama Battleship; Hospitality Employee of the Year- Marvin Jolly, Sheraton Birmingham Hotel; Hospitality Department Manager of the Year- Jarrell Clemons, Auburn Opelika Marriott at Grand National; Hotelier of the Year- David Clark, The Grand Hotel Marriott Resort; Lifetime Achievement Award Winner- Lee Sentell, Alabama Tourism Department.

The Wiregrass Museum of Art was one of 167 museums to receive federal funding in the amount of $62,080 from the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences as part of a Museums for America (MFA) grant. The MFA grant will allow the Wiregrass Museum of Art to create ART24, an interactive series of six visual arts experiences targeting a wide range of audiences. Each experience will feature a different artist, medium, subject matter, and collection of participant activities, which will take place both inside and outside the museum.  ART 24 will also result in a community gallery and a community advisory team that will continue to connect with and guide the museum regarding future collections, programs, and exhibits. "This award will direct a year-long, major program of service to our community and strengthen all areas of museums operations," said Wiregrass Museum of Art Executive Director Susan Robertson. "We are honored that our peers in the industry support and believe in our ability to inspire our audiences." The first ART24 experience will bring multi-media artist Randy Gachet to Dothan on Dec. 3. Visit www.wiregrassmuseum.org for an up-to-date schedule of events and future ART24 experiences.

2nd Annual Fruitcake Festival
Friday, November 13, 2009
Monroeville, Alabama, Old Courthouse Museum
Truman Capote's holiday classic "A Christmas Memory" is set just blocks from our Courthouse Square. But since those gentle days of Buddy and Sook, our once grand fruitcake has become the butt of holiday jokes. Please join the noble citizens of Monroeville as we return the fruitcake to its rightful place as Queen of the Christmas Dessert Table. "It's fruitcake weather!" is our battle cry!

 Monroeville, Ala., will hold its second annual Fruitcake Festival, Friday, Nov. 13, at the Old Courthouse Museum on the town square. The all­day event is a celebration of Truman Capote and the holiday dessert immortalized in his enduring holiday classic, "A Christmas Memory." The festival includes fruitcake sales and auctions, recipe exchanges, Capote­-related Christmas gifts and homemade kites similar to the ones Sook and Truman make in the story. The event is sponsored by the Monroe County Heritage Museum's Endowment Fund.

Master storyteller Dolores Hydock ends the festive day by bringing Capote's nostalgic Christmas classic to  life in the courtroom at 7 p.m. Tickets for the reading are $25 and include a holiday reception with fruitcake, of  course!

Capote's tender tale of family, friendship and fruitcakes is set  in Monroeville -- just a few blocks from the Courthouse  where Capote spent his childhood with his eldery cousins, the Faulks. The short story is one of Capote's most popular works and is built around an annual ritual he shared with Sook Faulk of gathering ingredients and making 30 fruitcakes as Christmas presents for people who struck their fancy ranging from the bus driver who waved on his way to Mobile each day to President Franklin Roosevelt. 

The story begins on a chilly autumn morning with Sook standing at the window to utter the famous line, "It's fruitcake weather!"   In the 1930s, when "A Christmas Memory" is set, fruitcakes  were a cherished holiday tradition. Today, however, the often­ maligned fruitcake is more likely the punch line of holiday jokes.

Travel and hotel review metasearch site UpTake ranked Oak Mountain State Park near Birmingham second on a list of the "11 Best Places To See Fall Leaves" in the United States. From the UpTake listing: "Oak Mountain State Park is Alabama's largest state park. This nearly 10,000 acre forest is featured on several sightseeing lists.  Admission is only $3 for adults on weekends and holidays.  You can visit the park for fall foliage viewing from 7am to sundown." UpTake collects travel information from 5,000 sources including TravelPost, Expedia, Orbitz, Fodors, Travelocity, Hotels.com, TripAdvisor and Yahoo! Travel. UpTake analyzes and organizes the opinions of more than 20 million U.S. travelers for its website. The UpTake website has more than one million visitors a month.  http://www.uptake.com/blog/family_vacations/best-fall-foliage-scenic-drives_5763.html
 
Oak Mountain State Park is the first site listed on the Alabama Tourism Department's Fall Color Trail. The Fall Color Trail promotion is being coordinated by tourism department staff member Brian Jones. An interactive map on the Alabama Tourism Department's website allows visitors to see the predicted fall color change for each weekend this fall. The map, list of recommended viewing sites and a Circle of Color driving route are all available on the state tourism website. http://www.alabama.travel/activities/tours-and-trails/fall-color-trail/.  

In a move to increase vacation business in the state, the Alabama Tourism Department will feature vacation packages on the department's popular www.alabama.travel website.  To receive this free of charge listing, an Alabama Bed & Breakfast, Lodge, Campsite or Hotel should submit by email the vacation package information.  Vacation packages must contain both an accommodation and at least one extra feature that results in a complete vacation experience.  Examples might be a Hotel and Spa package, a Bed & Breakfast and hot air balloon ride package, a campsite and canoe rental package. Vacation packages must be good for at least 30 days and allow bookings and payments to be made in one simple step.
 
Please give the name of the vacation package, what it includes, the location of the accommodations and features, when the package rates starts and ends, cost and how to buy the package.  There also needs to be a two to three sentence description selling the features of the package.  You may also attach one digital photo for our use on the website. All qualified packages will be listed on the state tourism website. The best vacation package, as chosen by committee, will be featured for 30 days on the state tourism home page. To qualify for the home page feature, packages must be submitted by Oct. 31 and be active for at least a 30 day period between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31.  Vacation packages longer than 30 days are encouraged.  Submit information to grey.brennan@tourism.alabama.gov.

The Huntsville Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau and the newly opened Westin Hotel in Huntsville will host the 2009 Alabama Welcome Center Retreat on Nov. 15 and 16.  The Alabama Welcome Center retreat is designed to inform the Alabama Tourism Department's staff at the eight state-line welcome centers on the latest tourism developments from across the state. More than 6 million travelers visited the Alabama Welcome Centers in 2008. Registration for suppliers to participate in events and provide a five minute presentation is $150 per person.  The Westin Hotel is offering a rate of $119 for the retreat.  For more information and to reserve your space, please contact Jennifer Moore, Huntsville Madison County CVB Vice President of Tourism at 256-533-5723 or email jennifer@huntsville.org

An interactive map on the Alabama Tourism Department's website allows visitors to see the predicted fall color change for each weekend this fall. The map, a list of recommended viewing sites and a Circle of Color driving route are all available on the state tourism website at www.alabama.travel. Alabama State Parks are some of the best places to enjoy the fall color change. Joe Wheeler has an excellent viewing spot next to the dam and near the cabin area on the Lawrence County side. Autumn scenery can be found at DeSoto State Park at Little River Canyon and DeSoto Falls. Monte Sano has views of the Tennessee Valley along the Warpath Ridge Trail and its overlook. Cheaha's Bald Rock and Pulpit Rock trails both have excellent views. Cheaha is the highest point in the state at 2,407 feet above sea level.
With cooler days and lower humidity, autumn is a wonderful time to enjoy Alabama's many fall festivals and events. Lee Sentell, director of the Alabama Tourism Department, recommends several events designed around being outdoors and enjoying the beautiful fall weather.
 
Outdoor events scheduled for this fall include:
·         Alabama Renaissance Faire in Florence on Oct. 24-25
·         National Peanut Festival in Dothan on Oct. 30-Nov. 7
·         Original German Sausage Festival in Elberta on Oct. 31
·         Harvest Celebration in Hoover on Oct. 31
·         Alabama Frontier Days in Wetumpka on Nov. 4-8
·         Pike Road Arts and Crafts Festival in Pike Road on Nov.7
·         Cayne Syrup Makin' Day in Beatirce on Nov. 7
·         National Veterans Day Parade in Birmingham on Nov. 11

For a complete list of fall events see the Calendar of Events at www.alabama.travel. For more information on Fall Colors in Alabama and to see the interactive map go to http://www.alabama.travel/activities/tours-and-trails/fall-color-trail/.