There’s nothing we love more than north Alabama in the fall. Whether we’re hiking, kayaking, out taking photos or cuddled up at home with some hot cider, we know all the best spots for enjoying autumn in the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area — and, lucky for you, we’re not keeping them to ourselves.
Here are MSNHA staffers’ favorite ways & places to celebrate fall:
From Dixie Norwood, UNA Archives and Special Collections and former MSNHA grad assistant —
Although I do not have a specific place in the MSNHA that I love to go to during the fall, I would have to say my most favorite activity about “fall in the MSNHA” is watching the colors change. I absolutely love to see the different shades of reds, oranges & yellows beginning their descent on the last flickers of summer. As I drive down the streets of Florence, the “caramel apple” or the “golden yellow” colors of the tops of the trees finally makes me feel like fall is arriving to north Alabama. Even getting a chance to look along the shoreline of the Tennessee River at the changing colors is a pretty amazing opportunity. I cannot wait to get out and photograph some of these beauties this fall. Above are just a few pictures I took last year of the leaves in their final performance. Hope you enjoy!
From MSNHA consultant Brian Corrigan —
My favorite place in the MSNHA to enjoy fall is the back deck of my folks’ place on Cypress Creek. The leafy greenness is beautiful during summer, but when the trees are bare, we get an unfiltered view of the creek flowing by. It’s easier to spot herons & other birds, too!
I personally spend a lot of time at Deibert Park, in Florence. It’s a special place, and one where the change of season is particularly front-and-center on display. I’ve also been doing research lately on the Deibert family for my work at the library.
From Terrence “TJ” Johnson, MSNHA programs coordinator —
My pick is Joe Wheeler State Park. Each fall I look forward to visiting the migratory white pelicans wintering in the park. They remind me of the brown pelican, their cousin I’d observe seasonally along the California coast when I lived there. The Awesome Trail & Jimmy Sims Birding Trail both give hikers the opportunity to catch a glimpse of these prehistoric-looking birds & enjoy the fall flora and fungi. Fungi are most prevalent in fall and there isn’t a trail’s bend in the park you can round without discovering the presence of another fungal species. If you’re lucky, you may also stumble upon a rare floral species, such as Indian pipe. Either way, the changing leaves will be there to admire.
Come back next week for more MSNHA staff fall favorites. And tell us what yours are in the comments below! ###
