Montgomery

Montgomery is a must-see destination in Alabama for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, it is the state capital. Second, it is the third-most populous city in Alabama, and its size is reflected in the variety of restaurants, museums, and shops. Most importantly, during the twentieth-century Civil Rights Movement, Montgomery became a focal point, and today, multiple sites in the city serve to educate visitors about the ongoing fight for equity and racial justice.

Follow the Civil Rights Trail to learn more about the conflicts that arose here as a result of segregation and other racist policies. The Civil Rights Memorial Center includes educational activities, exhibits, the Wall of Tolerance, and a somber granite memorial with the names of those who died in the civil rights struggle between 1954 and 1968. The Rosa Parks Museum, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and the Legacy Museum are also must-sees.

Montgomery is well-known for its cultural offerings. Theatergoers should check out the Alabama Shakespeare Festival's schedule, which includes six to nine productions per year, usually including three plays by Shakespeare himself. The Scott & Zelda Fitzgerald Museum, the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, and the W.A. Gayle Planetarium are also noteworthy.

Location: beside the Alabama River, on the coastal Plain of the Gulf of Mexico.

Tripadvisor rating: 4.4/5

Best times to visit: early March to late May during spring