PLAN YOUR GETAWAY

By Kathy Fox

Take a journey down the Natchez Trace Parkway, the scenic route, to the Shoals in North Alabama for Mother’s or Father’s Day. The Hit Recording Capital of the World is situated on the banks of the Tennessee River, aka the singing river. Take a step back in time and enjoy a weekend full of shopping, dining, and the great outdoors as you explore the distinctive small-city happenings. Located 75 miles south of Maury County, the Shoals are the charming historic communities of Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia. The perfect combination of Southern hospitality and modern charm.

10 HIGHT OWER PLA CE • FL ORENCE, AL 35630 • (256) 246-3600 • discover.shoals@marriottshoals.com

The Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa in Florence awaits your arrival. This 4-star upscale hotel is the ideal location in Florence for your stay and is conveniently located. The traditionally decorated stylish rooms have plush bedding, white linens, and a large soaking tub, just what is needed after a busy day of exploring. To stay in style and go big, check out the top floor Presidential Suite, aptly named the Helen Keller whose birthplace is Tuscumbia, with feature amenities such as a fireplace, pool table, kitchen, and jet tub. The Marriott Shoals has two other suites, the W.C. Handy and the Sam Phillips, plus four Junior Suites for those who want an upgraded room experience.

To dine in the comfort of your room, 24-hour room service is available. However, a visit to the 360 Grille, on the top floor of the hotel, offers patrons a stunning panoramic view of the water, especially at sunset, and delicious food. Who doesn’t enjoy crab cakes and filet mignon cooked to perfection? The 360 Grille is also Alabama’s only rotating tower restaurant and is rated the number-one Marriott restaurant in North America!

Additionally, the hotel features an on-site European-style spa, Spa at the Shoals, where guests can indulge in facials, pedicure scrubs, and massages to help create an extraordinary relaxing stay. Enjoy the two pools, indoor or outdoor, during downtime and enjoy a frosty cold drink. Margarita, please! If exercising is your thing, the fitness center is

open 24 hours a day. After that workout, be sure to stop by Rock & Roast for a cup of gourmet handcrafted coffee and a quick bite to eat. For a casual meal, check out the Swampers Bar and Grille and savor some Southern flavors and an array of comfort foods like shrimp and grits or a pretzel and beer cheese.

In the lobby of the Marriott Shoals sits a jukebox. How fitting for the recording capital of the world. There is a daily ritual where a special guest selects the song of the day and at the beginning of happy hour, the manager announces the song and then it is played on the jukebox. Speaking of music, live music nightly can be heard at the Swampers Bar and Grille, which makes for an energizing evening.

Guest services will welcome you with a friendly smile and open arms ready to assist in any way to make your stay more enjoyable. Wi-Fi is provided in the hotel’s public areas, there is no charge for parking, and your fur babies are always welcome. At the Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa, expect a memorable stay.

Once settled at the hotel, check out Florence’s historic downtown which is only three miles from the Marriott Shoals. Get to know the local community as you walk the streets, have a bite to eat, and relish the diverse shopping.

From historic downtown Florence to Seven Points or the English Village, it is a shopper’s paradise. On the way downtown, take your pick and stop at Red Cow Coffee, Turbo Coffee, or Rivertown Coffee Company. Each coffee shop serves delicious cups of handcrafted coffee and more! If you pass Sweetwater Bakery, stop for something delicious, savory or sweet! Once downtown, shoppers will find an eclectic mix of stores ranging from clothing boutiques and gift shops to galleries and home furnishing stores. For the fashion lover, a must-visit is Billy Reid’s flagship location on N. Court Street.

Seven Points located on Wood and Royal Avenues offers restored historic shopping places with antiques, specialty stores, and eateries. Stop by the Midtowne Butcher for lunch and a specialty sandwich like the Cuban or the Hot Italian both served hot off the press. Afterward, walk across the street to the Grey House Gallery and browse local artists or up the street to eleven54 on Wood Antiques & Vintage to peruse antiques and more.

English Village, near the University of North Alabama-East Campus, is a historic yet invogue outdoor shopping center just a hop, skip, and jump from Seven Points. A collection of unique specialty stores, much like a small European village with a street of shops, awaits. Clothing — women and babies, gifts, fine art, flowers, and a café are among the offerings you will find there. While exploring stop at Marigail Mathis, a clothing boutique that has served the Shoals for 30 years. Afterward, grab a bite to eat at Sweet Basil, a charming café and market serving homemade fare open since 1996. Make sure to save room for dessert!

Don’t miss First Fridays if you happen to visit on the first Friday of the month. This takes place on the downtown streets and is a chance to shop with local artists, experience local flavors, and listen to live music.

Across the river from the Marriot Shoals is nearby Muscle Shoals. A small town where big hits were recorded. Home to FAME Recording Studios, which has gone on to be the heartbeat of the Muscle Shoals Sound with entities including FAME Publishing, FAME Recording Studios, FAME Records, and Muscle Shoals Records. The FAME Studio has worked in the studio with some of America’s most loved and greatest artists in rock music history. Artists such as Aretha Franklin, Little Richard, Etta James, Otis Redding, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, the Osmonds, Alabama, the Gatlin Brothers, Bobbie Gentry, and so many others. Enjoy a tour and step back in time to a soulful moment with some of the greatest artists of all time.

The Wilson Dam was completed in 1924 and impounds the Wilson Lake and runs between Florence and Muscle Shoals. This neoclassical-style dam, named for President Woodrow Wilson, was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1966. The lock lift at 94 feet is the highest single lock east of the Rocky Mountains. Nearby is the 15,500 acres of Lake Wilson. If you like fishing, Lake Wilson produces some huge fish!

Located between the cities of Florence, Muscle Shoals, and Tuscumbia is the town of Sheffield, also known as the Center of the Shoals. This small town is covered with historic landmarks and places that will surely pique your interest. Take the time to wander the revitalized downtown streets or drive the roads to find them, look for the historic Ritz Theatre, and wave to giant aluminum pseudo-Elvis, which stands 18 feet tall and commemorates the Muscle Shoals sound.

The town with a population of 9,000, was incorporated in 1885 and features three historic districts with antebellum architecture and Victorian-era buildings. As you make your way around downtown stop in the Red Clay Table serving up delicious, classic hometown American food. For some retail therapy, across the street is Zoey Belle’s Boutique & Briley’s Clothing Store, a Southern boutique catering to women, men, and the arts.

Sheffield is positioned on the banks and bluffs of the Tennessee River and the beauty of its natural resources is second to none. Best known as the home to the Muscle Shoals Sound, Sheffield is rich in musical heritage dating back to the 1950s. Many top songwriters and performers cut vinyl hit records at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, Norala Sound Studio, and several others. The Muscle Shoals Sound Studio was pictured on the cover of Cher's 3614 Jackson Highway album and Shoals native Percy Sledge recorded the iconic “When A Man Loves A Woman” at Norala Sound Studio on 2nd Street in Downtown Sheffield.

This city is loaded with personality and is approximately 15 minutes from the Marriott Shoals, just across the river and south of Sheffield. Dating back to 1820, Tuscumbia is known as the Charm of the Shoals with its walkable historic downtown and delicious edibles. The Palace Ice Cream and Sandwich Shop, on Main Street, is a must-visit. The chocolate malt and PB & Banana sandwich would delight even Elvis!

Spring Park, with the showpiece of the park being a large 51-jet fountain that shoots water more than 150 feet in the air to music, is a nature lover’s delight. The park also features a man-made waterfall and amusements for children including a train. Go for a jog, hike, or enjoy a picnic at Spring Park. For the avid outdoor type, the scenic Cane Creek Canyon is a great place to hike. During your visit to

Tuscumbia, make sure to include a stop at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, which pays tribute to and honors Alabama’s musical achievers and greatest legends.

Tuscumbia is the birthplace of Helen Keller, born in 1880. Ivy Green, her birthplace and childhood home, is on the National Register of Historic Places. This permanent shrine is open to visitors and tells the remarkable story of Keller. If visiting in June, the annual Helen Keller Festival is June 22-25, 2023, and pays tribute to America’s First Lady of Courage and commemorates her lifetime of achievements with activities including an outdoor marketplace and evening concerts.

On the outskirts of Tuscumbia, about 20 minutes from Ivy Green, is the Rattlesnake Saloon, which got its name during construction when some workers found a rattlesnake den with a mother snake with 12 babies. The saloon is a unique watering hole nestled under overhanging rocks and a great place to listen to some music and grab a bite to eat, alcohol is served after 5 pm. Open Thursday – Saturday.

For additional information on things to discover in The Shoals visit TheShoalsAL.com and follow them on social media at @visitheshoalsal. Plan your getaway today and hit the Recording Capital of the World in stride!