Are you kidding me? I was just writing the 2007 version of this seemingly yesterday. I do believe as you get older, the years go flying by faster.

This is my annual effort to get you off the Interstate, and on the roads less traveled. The journey is my favorite part of a beach trip for me, and I hope you consider riding down this route and seeing some very special Alabama places. Just remember, this will add a couple of hours to your trip, but the memories you make are well worth that time.

FROM BIRMINGHAM: This year, lets head down I-65, and exit at U.S. 31 in Alabaster. Turn right onto U.S. 31 (headed north), and then left onto Alabama 119.

AMERICAN VILLAGE: Below Alabaster, our first stop is American Village, which will be on the right as you drive down Alabama 119. This is a great place to learn a little U.S. history… from their web site:

“Visitors are encouraged to re-discover the American journey for independence where the call for liberty is as strong and passionate as it was more than 225 years ago. Facility includes the following: President’s Classroom and full replica of the Oval Office, Estes Family Orientation Theater, Educational Support Facilities, renovated Washington Hall and the Meeting House.”

The American Village is open Tu-F. 10-4; Sat. 10-5, Sun. 1-5. It is closed on Monday.

From American Village, we will drive through the lovely college town of Montevallo. When you come to Alabama Highway 25, turn right onto that highway in the direction of Brent and Centreville.

BRIERFIELD IRONWORKS: Below Wilton, lets turn into the Brierfield Ironworks Historical State Park; the entrance will be on your left. It is built around the ruins of the Bibb Furnaces that were destroyed by Yankee troops toward the end of the Civil War. Begun by wealthy Black Belt planters to profit from the Civil War, the works were taken over by the Confederate government in 1863. Two brick furnaces were built here and destroyed by a Federal Calvary raid on March 31, 1865.

From Brierfield, we head back on Alabama 25 into Bibb County, and take a break for some food! I suggest the Twix and Tween in Brent… just follow the signs for Alabama 25 (you will be taking a right as you get into town), and you will see the Twix and Tween on the right. It has been in my “Top 5 Alabama BBQ Joints” list for a long, long time. You won’t go wrong here.

DOWNTOWN BRENT: Keep following the signs for Alabama 25; you will be turning left through downtown Brent. This community was just about wiped out by an F4 tornado on May 27, 1973; you can see a plaque on the Brent Baptist Church (the church will be on your left) about that Sunday night; one person, Andrew Mitchell, was killed in the church that night. Read more about this tornado on this great web site by John Brasher.

We will leave Brent on Alabama 25, which merges for a while with Alabama 5, another highway I use often on the journey south to the Gulf coast. But, this time, lets veer off Alabama 5 and stay on Alabama 25, which turns off to the left a few miles below Brent.

OLD CENTREVILLE RADAR SITE: Soon, look on the left and you will pass an historic Alabama weather location; the site of the old WSR-57 Centreville radar that scanned the Alabama sky for years before the NEXRAD system was installed at the Shelby County Airport. This installation was destroyed by the same tornado that ripped through downtown Brent May 27, 1973.

Stay on Alabama 25 into Greensboro; this place was also hit hard by the 5/27/1973 tornado. Greensboro is a lovely Black Belt town; known as the “Catfish Capital of Alabama”.

This year, lets stay on Alabama 25 for a while. From Greensboro, you will go through the communities of Faunsdale, Dayton and Thomaston. In downtown Thomaston, turn left onto Alabama 28. Follow Alabama 28 into Wilcox County; you will cross the Alabama River near the Millers Ferry Dam, where an F4 tornado stirred up a big fuss on March 1 of last year. In downtown Camden, you will be getting on Alabama Highway 41.

Hungry again? Try Uncle Redd’s Soul Food and Barbeque in Camden… this joint rocks. I am talking about real soul food here.

MONROE COUNTY COURTHOUSE: From Camden, follow Alabama 41 down through little places like Coy and Franklin. The next sizable community is Monroeville. You can’t drive through Monroeville without a stop at the beautiful old Courthouse on the town square, which now houses the Monroe County Heritage Museum. This place served as a model for the famed courtroom scene from Harper Lee’s masterpiece “To Kill a Mockingbird” (Lee is a Monroeville native). The Museum provides a variety of exhibits, events and activities throughout the year for people of all ages and background. Atticus Finch, Scout, Jem, Dill and Boo Radley come alive with a visit to this special place.

From Monroeville, take Alabama 21 south through Frisco City. In the vilage of Uriah, lets veer off Alabama 21, and onto Alabama 59. Just about every Alabamian is familiar with the southern half of Alabama 59, better known as Gulf Shores Parkway. But, few enjoy the northern half of the route in northern Baldwin County.

FORT MIMS: Alabama 59 will wind through Chrysler and Blacksher. At the community of Tensaw, consider turning right at the sign that says “Fort Mims”. One of the most striking periods of Baldwin County history occurred during the War of 1812 at this spot. The British incited a band of 1,000 Creek Indians, under the command of famous chieftain William “Red Eagle” Weatherford, to attack the American garrison at Fort Mims. The Red Sticks (so called because they voted for war by laying their tomahawks on the red side of the council fire) massacred nearly 500 men, women, and children in the fort. This remains the largest Indian-led massacre in American history. This event brought an army of outraged Tennesseans, under the leadership of General Andrew Jackson, into Alabama intent on avenging the massacre, which they ultimately accomplished in the battle at Horseshoe Bend, when only 200 of the 1,000 Indian warriors survived.

Lets go back to Alabama 59 and continue south through Stockton. In a few miles, we will cross I-65 (and see all of the people who missed these great sites!)… just follow the signs for Alabama 59 and soon it turns into the four lane “Gulf Shores Parkway”, which runs down through Bay Minette, Robertsdale, and Foley.

Hungry? You can’t pass Lamberts on Alabama 59 in Foley; it will be on the left near the Tanger Outlet Mall. Line are long, but you gotta catch a “throwed roll” on the way to the beach.

An alternative is Lulu’s… on the Intracoastal Waterway just off Alabama 59. Turn left once you pass The Track and follow the signs. This is the place owned by Jimmy Buffett’s sister.

Alabama 59 ends at the Gulf of Mexico, and you can turn right or left onto Alabama 182. At that intersection, you can see the ABC 33/40 SKYCAM atop the Phoenix All Suites; the one we use so often on ABC 33/40 News.

I am actually headed down this route next week… I hope you consider taking a little extra time and join me on the roads less traveled. Bring the camera, soak up some history and enjoy what our great state has to offer! Be safe and God Bless.