Montgomery, Alabama

Montgomery, Alabama's capital, was incorporated in 1819, and is located in the south central portion of the state. The city is rich in history, particularly Civil War history (it was the first capital of the Confederate States of America) and Civil Rights history. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preached out of Montgomery's Dexter Avenue Baptist Church from 1954 to 1960, and it was in Montgomery, on December 1, 1955, that Rosa Parks famously took a stand by keeping her seat. Montgomery was also the end point of the March 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery march for voting rights.

Looking for culture? Montgomery has it. Blount Cultural Park, a 300-acre (121-hectare) park that includes numerous lakes, trails, gardens, and pavilions, is home to the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. The city is also home to performing arts organizations including the Alabama Dance Theatre, the Montgomery Ballet, and the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra. And when you want dinner with your show, see what's on at the Faulkner University Dinner Theatre.

Sports fans can enjoy home games of the Montgomery Biscuits of the Southern League of minor league baseball, and the Montgomery Bears of the Arena Football League. And why not spend a day at the races at the Montgomery Motorsports Park?

And if you have kids, you'll be spending time at places like the Montgomery Zoo, which is home to 700 animals from five continents, and Fun Zone Skate Center, which in addition to skating, has bumper cars, games, a rock climbing wall, and plenty of junk food!

When you want to get out for some community fun, check out local festivals and events. Over Memorial Day weekend, enjoy the music, fun, and food of Jubilee City Fest. Old Alabama Town, the heart of historic downtown Montgomery, is the site of September's Storytelling Festival and October's Tavern Fest. Music lovers will not want to miss the Alabama Jazz and Blues Federation's River Jam in September. And kids of all ages will want to make time for the Alabama National Fair.

And if you want to get outside, you can enjoy the city's numerous park facilities and programs, or head further afield to places like Paul M. Grist State Park, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) west, or Roland Cooper State Park , about 87 miles (140 kilometers) southwest. And when the coast calls, Pensacola, Florida, is 164 miles (264 kilometers) south, and Gulf Shores State Park is about 188 miles (302 kilometers) southwest.

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