Montgomery, AL

Just like Myrtle Beach, a road trip from Miami to Montgomery will take 11 hours as it covers a distance of 689 mi (1108 km), but the long ride will be worth it when you get to this captivating city and indulge in its delightful offerings. It boasts a fascinating history, as it played a big part in the Civil Rights Movement. Here, you’ll find lots of remarkable antebellum mansions, 18th-century Alabama State Capitol, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, and many others. Also, your family will surely have the time of their life at Montgomery Zoo & Mann Wildlife Learning Museum.

A fitting place to begin your Montgomery visit is the King Memorial Baptist Church on Dexter Avenue, where Martin Luther King, Jr., was pastor during the Montgomery bus boycott. The church is within easy walking distance of all the downtown hotels. You can tour the church and also the Dexter Parsonage Museum on South Jackson Avenue, a few blocks away, where the King family lived during their time in Montgomery. If you are short on time, book a timed tour in advance (the last Friday tour is at 3 p.m.), but walk-ins are accommodated if they have room; allow an hour for the church, two if you visit the parsonage. Nearby, on Washington Avenue, is the Maya Lin–designed Civil Rights Memorial that sits in front of the Civil Rights Memorial Center. If you have time, definitely go inside to see the exhibits, the Wall of Justice, and to watch the short film on the Civil Rights Movement. A trip to Montgomery is one of the best road trips from Miami.

Address: 103 North Perry St Montgomery, AL 36104

Official site: www.montgomeryal.gov

Phone: (334) 625-4636

Entrance fee: Adults (13 years old or older): $18 · Children (3 - 12 years of age): $14 · Toddlers (2 years old or younger): FREE

Google rating: 4.5/5.0