Seniors Go South To Tuscaloosa

Tuscaloosa, that’s a mouthful, is a city in west central Alabama on the Black Warrior River. It is the fifth-largest city in Alabama, with a population of just under 100,000. Founded in 1819, on the site of a Creek village, it was named after Tuscaloosa, the chieftain of a Muskogean-speaking people.

At the head of the Tuscaloosa Basin in the Appalachian foothills, today the city is the regional center of industry, commerce, healthcare, and education for the area known as West Alabama. Tuscaloosa has appeared in Money Magazine’s annual list of best places to live in the entire nation.

It has been traditionally known as the “Druid City” because of the numerous water oak trees planted in its downtown streets since the 1840s. And football, Tuscaloosa is well known nationally for the University of Alabama’s Crimson Tide success in several sports, and particularly in football.

 Senior visitors, consider taking a fun boat ride on the Bama Belle. The boat is a modern day replica of the grand paddlewheel riverboats that graced the nation’s river ways in the early 1900′s. Today, seniors can experience the same magical, romantic, nostalgic celebration of the American spirit on the Bama Belle.

Tuscaloosa abounds in spirit, energy and passion. The oldest operating theatre in Tuscaloosa dates to 1938.  It is called the Bama Theatre and served as the community’s grand movie house, as well as the only air conditioned building in that era. The Theatre was one of the last movie palaces built in the South.

 Seniors Enjoy Big Sports City

Check out a popular City Visitors Flip Guide. The Tuscaloosa Visitor Center is located in the historic 1862 Jemison Mansion on Greensboro Avenue. TripAdvisor suggests 23 attractions that senior visitors can enjoy that include the Paul W. Bryant Museum.

“Bear” Bryant was the U of Alabama coach for many years and the museum is dedicated to his many consecutive and successful years. Wikitravel offers ideas and suggestions for your itinery. Sports are kind of around Tuscaloosa and the Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports Commission is actively supporting athleticism at all competitive levels.

Tuscaloosa covers a broad sporting spectrum due to the advantage three colleges located within 15 minutes of each other: The University of Alabama, Stillman College and Shelton State Community College.

The city is also home to the first automotive assembly plant of Mercedes Benz in North America, and holds a number of excellent attractions like the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra and of course football games at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Tuscaloosa County is a Mecca for water sports. The most popular lakes for recreation are Lake Tuscaloosa, Holt Lake, Lake Lurleen, Lake Nichol and Oliver Lake. The Black Warrior River also provides additional recreational opportunities.

There are three state parks in the Tuscaloosa area: Lake Lurleen State Park, Moundville Archeological Park, and Tannehill State Park. Enjoy all the scenery and cheer on the “Tide.” jeb