Sample Tour Itineraries

Music Tour of the Shoals - 1/2 to Full Day

W.C. Handy Home & Museum – This birthplace of William Christopher Handy, “Father of the Blues” will walk you through the life of this talented musician who was born in Florence, Alabama.  W.C. Handy has made a considerable contribution to the musical community, including such compositions as Memphis Blues, St. Louis Blues, and Beale Street Blues.

Alabama Music Hall of Fame - This museum features exhibits of talented Alabamians who have influenced the course of music history.  A tour is a walk through the “who’s who” in the music world.  See exhibits of W.C. Handy, Nat “King” Cole, Hank Williams, Sam Phillips, and the group Alabama. Experience the distinctive Muscle Shoals Sound or record a hit in the recording studio.

FAME Recording Studios - Established in 1959, FAME was the first successful professional recording studio in the state of Alabama.  It still serves as an active recording studio and has been the studio of choice for Aretha Franklin, The Osmonds, Little Richard, Etta James and more.

Muscle Shoals Sound Studios - Visit this original recording studio, which now serves as a museum and has been approved for a listing on the National Register of Historic Places.  MSSS served as a recording studio for Wilson Pickett, Bob Seger, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and more.  Located at 3614 Jackson Highway in Sheffield.

Taste of the Shoals - 1/2 Day

Shoals Commercial Culinary Center - This commercial culinary center is the site for production of many local culinary treats.  Take a tour and watch these delicacies being prepared in a commercial setting.  Two-hour cooking classes are also available.

Spring Park Market – This outdoors farmers market takes place at Spring Park in Tuscumbia each Thursday throughout the summer.  Every week a featured cooking demonstration takes place and a live band serves as entertainment.  The Spring Park train, roller coaster and merry-go-round will be operating throughout the night.  The evening concludes with a water and light show choreographed to music.

Local History Tour - 1/2 Day

Pope’s Tavern - This one time stagecoach stop, tavern and inn, now owned by the city, is one of the oldest structures in Florence. Both Confederate and Union Forces used it as a hospital during the War Between the States.  It is located on what was known as Jackson’s Military Road and Andrew Jackson himself is said to have stopped here. The museum now houses a wealth of local history and pioneer artifacts.

Edith Newman Culver Museum - This historic home is now the site of a town museum that features Native American artifacts, Civil War relics and the unique heritage of Waterloo, one of Alabama’s oldest incorporated towns.  The town was a stop along the Trail of Tears.  During the Civil War the town was burned, had a visit by U. S. General William Sherman, and was the site of the largest cavalry force ever amassed in the Western Hemisphere.

W.C. Handy Home & Museum - This birthplace of William Christopher Handy, “Father of the Blues” will walk you through the life of this talented musician who was born in Florence, Alabama.  W.C. Handy has made a considerable contribution to the musical community, including such compositions as Memphis Blues, St. Louis Blues, and Beale Street Blues.

Be Inspired! - Full Day

Ivy Green – Home of Helen Keller - Helen Keller, “America’s First Lady of Courage,” was born in Tuscumbia where her memory is kept alive at her birthplace. It is also the site of the “Miracle Worker Play,” held each June and July.

Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum Home - The Stanley and Mildred Rosenbaum house was completed in 1939 and is the only Frank Lloyd Wright-designed structure in the state of Alabama. It is also one of only 26 Usonian houses in the United States. The original owners lived in the house until 1999.   It is constructed of cypress, glass and brick and has been meticulously restored.

W.C. Handy Home & Museum - This birthplace of William Christopher Handy, “Father of the Blues” will walk you through the life of this talented musician who was born in Florence, Alabama.  W.C. Handy has made a considerable contribution to the musical community, including such compositions as Memphis Blues, St. Louis Blues, and Beale Street Blues.

Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts – The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is an educational and culturally diverse museum and center.  The art center hosts a wide variety of rotating art exhibits, programs and activities.

Home Grown & Homemade - Full Day

Oakland Cotton Gin – The Oakland Cotton Gin services over thirty local farms in Lauderdale and Colbert County.  This gin is a working facility that does allow groups to come and see how the South still gins cotton.

Shoals Commercial Culinary Center - This commercial culinary center is the site for production of many local culinary treats.  See how the most delicious tastes of the Shoals are prepared through this informative tour and demonstration

Little Cypress Natives Nursery – Florence residents Harry and Linda Wallace have opened Little Cypress Natives Nursery to provide native plants and educate the public about planting and conserving native Southeastern plants.  This scenic and informative tour will leave everyone with a desire to roll up their sleeves and begin to garden!

Take a Walk on the Wild Side - 1/2 to Full Day

Shoals Creek Preserve – This 300-acre area shows off the Shoals area natural beauty with its creeks, bluffs, forests and waterfalls.  With 4.5 miles of walking trails, Shoals Creek Preserve is an ideal place for one to get lost in nature.

Entertain the Kids - 1/2 to Full Day

Children’s Museum of the Shoals – Featuring a series of interactive exhibits and special events daily, the Children’s Museum is a place where children are entertained and educated at the same time.

Spring Park – Located in Tuscumbia, Spring Park features the world’s largest man-made waterfall, a carousel, a small roller coaster, and a train.  Each evening, there is a water and lights show choreographed to music.

Art & Culture Tour - Full Day

Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum Home - The Stanley and Mildred Rosenbaum house was completed in 1939 and is the only Frank Lloyd Wright-designed structure in the state of Alabama.  Wright stated that his houses were not only homes, but also works of art.  This statement rings true in the design not only of the house, but also of the furnishings, light fixtures and hardware.

Kennedy-Douglas Center for the Arts – The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is an educational and culturally diverse museum and center.  The art center hosts a wide variety of rotating art exhibits, programs and activities.

Downtown Florence Art Galleries – Historic Downtown Florence is home to several art galleries.  While strolling along Court Street, one can admire not only the architecture of these historical buildings, but the Southern charm incorporated into every front porch step.  With over five private art galleries and over a dozen specialty shops, there is sure to be something for everyone!

Tennessee Valley Art Association – The Tennessee Valley Art Center is located in Tuscumbia directly across the street from the Helen Keller Home.  The Art Center offers visual arts programs including rotating exhibitions, juried art competitions, and workshops for adults and children.

Add Some Drama – Enjoy one of the fabulous local theatre productions that take place throughout the year.  The Historic Ritz Theater, the Shoals Theater, and the University of North Alabama are just a few of the locations where one can enjoy top quality plays and productions.

Take A Walk On The Southern Side - 1/2 to Full Day

Guided tours of  University of North Alabama, North Court Street, Wood Avenue and Walnut Street historic districts.  Explore early history at the Florence City Cemetery tour and Forks of Cypress Plantation site.  Tom’s Wall will inspire and give you a new perspective on the Trail of Tears history.