So we’re well into January of the new year. How are those resolutions going? If you’re faltering or need some extra motivation, here’s our MSNHA county-by-county guide to making those intentions stick:
- Colbert County – Was “learn more about my own backyard” on your 2026 intention list? If not, it should be because little ol’ Colbert County is known around the world as a music hot spot. Hundreds & hundreds (thousands?) of hits have been recorded at studios such as FAME Studios, in Muscle Shoals, (the confusingly named) Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, in Sheffield, and others. Luckily for us, those two studios are still making music AND offering tours – you can stand where Cher, Aretha Franklin & the Rolling Stones once stood as they created songs that changed the world. Add a visit to the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, in Tuscumbia, and then explore our Roots of American Music Trail website for interviews & self-guided cellphone tours.
- Franklin County – “Try new things” is usually a good resolution, and we can make that one easy for you. Franklin County’s county seat of Russellville has some of the most authentic Mexican food around. Over the past 25 years Hispanic immigrants have made their home in Russellville as they found work in the area’s agricultural economy. Today 41% of Russellville’s population is Hispanic, giving this town the largest concentration of Hispanic residents in Alabama. When immigrants arrived in Russellville, they brought with them their customs
and culinary traditions. Restaurants, stores and bakeries scattered across the historic downtown area help preserve this culture. - Lauderdale County – One way to accomplish the eternal “get healthy” resolution is to get off the couch & away from the desk and go outside. Lauderdale County is full of walking & hiking trails – but for a family-friendly experience that still offers some satisfying challenges, check out Wildwood Park, in Florence. This 200-acre urban wilderness has 17 trails of all levels. Hike, fish, mountain bike, launch your canoe or kayak into Cypress Creek, spread out a picnic lunch or simply breathe in nature.
- Lawrence County – If answering the question “who was here before me?” is a 2026 must-do, head to Oakville Indian Mounds Education Center, in Danville. Operated by the Lawrence County Board of Education, the center is on land that hosted an indigenous village in the early Middle Woodland period. Explore the free 122-acre park that includes a Cherokee Council House-style museum with more than 20,000 local artifacts from the local area as well as two mounds, a conical burial mound and a squared-off platform mound.
- Limestone County – We know that some version of “stop fiddlin’ around” is on your resolution list. But the town of Athens encourages fiddling, so don’t check that box off yet. Start planning now to attend the annual Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention, which is Oct. 1-4 this year. Can’t wait? Good! The convention offers several performances throughout the year as part of its ongoing concert series. In fact, the first one of 2026 is 7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 22, at McCandless Hall as the Jim Hurst Band takes the stage. Go to the website to learn more, reserve tickets & get early looks at the festival lineup.
- Morgan County – “Explore more” tops several lists, and the city of Decatur has the perfect place for you to discover fascinating facts about our world & our universe. Visit the Cook Museum of Natural Science and you’ll come away amazed. Check the website for family-focused programs & workshops and don’t forget to stop by the on-site Nature’s Table café for a healthy snack or a yummy meal. But the museum is also for grownups — it’s a great place to shop for creative gifts or book space for your next work meeting.
Good luck with your 2026 resolutions! You can fulfill them all right here in northwest Alabama – and have fun at the same time. Check back here soon for another “Six Counties – Countless Stories” post.
