Seniors Drop By Hoover

I was watching a baseball tournament that was being broadcast from Hoover, Alabama. I had not ever heard of this town, in spite of the fact that it has around 85,000 inhabitants making it the sixth largest city in the state.  Senior travelers will find that Hoover, the largest suburb of Birmingham, in north central Alabama, is a relatively new city.

The City of Hoover was incorporated in 1967 and was named after William H. Hoover, a local insurance company owner. The area had been known as the Green Valley community since the 1930s and was mostly a residential community. Hoover’s neighborhoods and planned communities are located along the foothills of the beautiful Appalachian Mountains.

The city is home to the Riverchase Galleria, one of the largest shopping centers in the Southeast. Senior visitors will enjoy a stop at Aldridge Gardens, the former estate of Eddie and Kay Aldridge who owned Aldridge Garden Shop and Nurseries. Today it is a beautiful 30-acre site showcasing classy hydrangeas and picturesque gardens designs.

 Seniors Enjoy Park Avenue Historical District

After that Garden visit, I’d want to be sure and head off for the Park Avenue Historical District that includes 51 structures built between the early 21st century to post World War II period. The Shades Crest Road Historical District is another must see area.

If you enjoy sports, the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium hosts a wide variety of events. “The Met” is a baseball stadium that has been transformed for sporting events, concerts, clinics, and more. Furthermore Hoover Met is home to the SEC Baseball Tournament that features the top 12 teams from the Southeastern Conference and draws more than 100,000 fans each year. The Met is also the home field for the Hoover High School Buccaneer football team.

Seniors Find Nature Preserve

Seniors, if you enjoy just strolling along in parks you will find a perfect balance of nature and community in Hoover with Moss Rock Preserve, a 349 acre nature preserve abundant with forest systems, rock outcroppings, streams, waterfalls, wildlife, and other unique natural features. Moss Rock Preserve’s Boulder Field is a favorite among rock climbers which would say to me…just observe and watch from a distance.

The 2016 Summer RailFest will be held on Saturday, July 9th at Birmingham’s Railroad Park and feature a phenomenal music lineup including national headline performer Shwayze. TripAdvisor chimes in with their take on Hoover and things you will not want to miss.

The Mayor wants all visitors to know that 24/7 Wall Street ranked Hoover as being in the top 30 cities in which to live in the entire country.   Hoover was the only city in Alabama on the list and one of 15 in the south. That’s quite an honor.

So seniors, set your sites and GPS for Hoover Alabama and enjoy the many amenities the city has to offer. -jeb