-- continued from p. 1 Meandering in Montgomery--
Adventures in Northwestern Alabama
Where can you sing backup to famous Muscle Shoals recordings, see the water pump from Helen Keller’s biopic “The Miracle Worker,” and visit a cemetery entirely devoted to dogs who chase raccoons? Northwest Alabama!
Attractions are centered around what the locals call The Shoals – the towns of Florence, Sheffield, Tuscumbia and Muscle Shoals on the scenic Tennessee River. Check out www.flo-tour.org for some trip pre-planning, then consider these options:
Helen Keller’s home, Ivy Green
If your older children are not familiar with America’s deaf and blind “First Lady of Courage” and her amazing life story, take some time before your visit to rent the movie “The Miracle Worker,” or encourage them to read a book like “Helen Keller’s Teacher” by Margaret Davidson.
Miss Keller’s birthplace at Ivy Green in Tuscumbia faithfully preserves her home and artifacts. In the back of the house is the pump where her teacher Annie Sullivan spelled out W-A-T-E-R using the manual alphabet, and Helen learned to communicate. The tour guides are full of interesting stories, and in the summer “The Miracle Worker” drama is staged on the grounds on weekend evenings (the play entrance fee includes a tour of the house.)
Alabama Music Hall of Fame
Entrance fees seem a bit steep for what you get (there’s a AAA discount) but this is still a fun place for kids, even young ones, who enjoy music. Alabama has been the birthplace for an extraordinary variety of musicians (including Hank Williams, Nat King Cole, Tammy Wynette, Emmylou Harris, Lionel Richie, Jimmy Buffett) and they are all showcased here. Everyone enjoys climbing around on the country supergroup Alabama’s tour bus “Southern Star,” parked in the middle of the museum. There’s a small recording studio where you can make your own karaoke-type tape or video to take home.
Children’s Museum of the Shoals
This hands-on discovery museum allows children to explore the arts, a fossil dig and a scale model of the Tennessee River, plus other exhibits and special programs.
W.C. Handy’s Birthplace
The “Father of the Blues,” the prolific composer William Christopher Handy’s log cabin birthplace in Florence is now a museum housing his music memorabilia and artifacts. Handy was one of the first to write formal written compositions of the blues, also laying the foundation for other American music like jazz and rock and roll.
Here’s a clip of his “St. Louis Blues”. The entire Shoals area also enjoys a yearly summer music festival in his honor: see www.wchandymusicfestival.org.
Key Underwood Coon Dog Cemetery
Now, you really have to be into dogs for this one (or just collecting uniquely Southern experiences) but buried here in Freedom Hills are over 100 faithful raccoon-hunting hounds, complete with headstones listing the details of “Preacher” and “Night Ranger” and other canine faithful. Mr. Key Underwood of Tuscumbia started the tradition in 1937, burying his own favorite hound “Troop” at this spot. Go west on Hwy. 72 for seven miles. Turn left on 247, go for approximately 12 miles, turn right and follow the signs.
Note:] In between kid’s activities, Mom or Dad might also schedule a quick escape at the new Robert Trent Jones golf course, The Shoals, in the Colbert County area.
*photo (c) Sheila Scarborough
