It’s below freezing here!!! We are canceling our group walk schedule for the weekend January 17-19, 2025. We invite everyone to walk when it is warm in the middle of the day… or wait until the spring. All walks are available OSB. Any questions, please email alabamaamblers@gmail.com

Walkcations have been the rage for awhile, especially among Volksmarchers. As a group, we love to move, see, and explore our surroundings. Some of us like the solitude of a quiet day to ourselves and others love company. AVA offers both. When I am traveling, AVA sanctioned walks are my favorite way to get to know a city. Because local volunteers spend time and energy to perfect their walks to show the best parts of their town, I trust that my time is going to be a good one.

The combined walks of Alabama’s two clubs, the Capital City Wanderers and the Alabama Amblers, will give anyone on a walkcation plenty to do. North Alabama has plenty to experience including a delicious local food scene, the home of Helen Keller, a Frank Lloyd Wright house, and mix of rural hiking and city pavement trails for your enjoyment. There are 13 sanctioned walks within a 3-hour radius from Montgomery heading North to the TN border. Many of them have Special Programs. Come to North Alabama this Fall and Winter season to enjoy our Fall leaves and Holiday seasonal festivals.

Montgomery is the capitol of Alabama and our historical capital walk qualifies for the Walking around the US- Capitals. The route is around downtown Montgomery and takes in numerous historical points of interest including the National Memorial for Peace and Justice and  other important Civil Rights locations. On Dexter Avenue, you can take your picture with a life-sized statue of Rosa Parks, grab a hot dog at Chris’ which has been open since 1917, and see a tribute to Hank Williams. You could spend a whole day here if you stop at all the historical sights and museums. 1.5 hours north of Montgomery is Birmingham, Alabama’s Magic City. Spend the day seeing the many interesting historical sites including the Civil Rights District, the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, the Alabama Theatre, the Sloss Furnaces and the Five Points area.

Huntsville is 1.5 hours north of Birmingham and has 3 walks within the city and 7 others within a 1-hour radius of downtown. Huntsville has a historic downtown walk, a downtown craft coffee trail walk, and a hidden art walk. Madison and Athens are permanent walks while the towns of Decatur, Florence, Tuscumbia, Scottsboro, and Cullman are sanctioned for 2024 and 2025 to support the Amblin’ in Alabama County Program. 

There are a total of 20 sanctioned walks in Alabama with 6 of them changing every July 1 so walkers can complete the Amblin’ in Alabama Challenge.  Please check the AVA website to see if those counties are ones that you want to include in your goals (a nod to David and the folks who have completed or hope to complete this goal!). We hope everyone will join us walking every county in Alabama over the years. We invite you to explore and enjoy our wonderful state on your next walkcation