I've lived here in North Alabama my whole life. I'm guilty of being a common local and saying "there's nothing to do here", but after almost 20 years of thinking I live in the most boring place on Earth, I'm planning a move. I started looking at popular places in Alabama so that I could go back to a few of my favorite places (article to come). Instead, I ended up finding tons of amazing places I never knew existed! Plus, they're all right outside my front door! I'm here to show you that there really are some pretty amazing things to do around here.

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1. Dismal Canyon, Phil Campbell

This definitely has to be my favorite place to make the list. Dismal Canyon is an 85 acre Natural Conservatory located in Phil Campbell, Alabama. Here you will see Alabama's "Middle Earth". Whether you're a fan of Lord of the Rings or not, this beautiful conservatory is a can't miss! They offer self guided day tours, guided night tours, massage packages, and cabin/camping rentals. This is one of the only places in the world where you can see Dismilites (glow worms). Admission starts at just $10 per person making this not only magical but also affordable! Check out their website for more gorgeous photos and pricing information here: http://www.dismalscanyon.com/

2. Parker Falls, Bankhead National Forest

I've been to Bankhead National Forest multiple times, but there are so many trails there I never knew Parker Canyon existed! The trail to the falls is around 2 miles long. The trail gets pretty steep, but the view makes the trip worth it. Definitely check out the difficulty level of this trail before planning your trip to make sure you can handle it. Also, make sure to plan your trip when there has been a good amount of rain in the area to make sure the waterfall is at its peak. https://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/cs/d...

3. Tumbling Rock Cave, Scottsboro

This is a wild cave located in Scottsboro, Alabama. A "Wild Cave" means you go through the cave without a guide and the cave houses bats. You will be expected to have your own equiptment (head lamp, helmet, boots, ect.). The cave is open Saturdays and Sundays and they request a small donation for cave entry. If you plan on making this trip please make sure to read about the cave first. There are some very challenging courses that include very small spaces. For more specifics click here: http://www.scci.org/preserves/tumbling-rock-cave/

4. Rickwood Caverns, Warrior

Rickwood Caverns State Park offers many activities with the most popular being a guided cave tour. During the summer you can cool off in the Olympic sized swimming pool for only $5 extra. The entrance fee is $3 and the guided cave tour is $17. It may seem pricey, but this place is beautiful and allows you to see 260-million-year-old formations! You can also picnic, explore the gift shop, go gem mining, or hike the Fossil Mountain Hiking Trail. I definitely recommend spending a hot, summer day here. For more information check out: http://www.alapark.com/rickwood-caverns-state-park

5. Chewacla State Park, Auburn

This state park has tons of things to do including hiking, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, camping, and picnicing. The gorgeous waterfall alone makes this location an amazing trip, but they also have amazing hiking and biking trails. Check out this website for more information: http://www.alapark.com/chewacla-state-park

6. Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve, Birmingham

There are 14 miles of trails to explore the mountain and admission is FREE! In the early to mid 1900s these mountains were home to many mines; the remainders of these mines make trails here interesting and unique. The mountain top offers breathtaking views of Birmingham and the sunset. For more information check out their website: https://ruffnermountain.org/

7. Little River Canyon National Preserve, Fort Payne

There are so many beautiful locations here it's hard to list them all. Little River Canyon contains waterfalls, overlooks, cliffs, canyons, and more. The entrance fee to the picnic area is $3 per vehicle OR you can purchase an annual pass for only $10! Check out their website for more amazing pictures and information: https://www.nps.gov/liri/index.htm

8. Vulcan, Birmingham

Who knew the world's largest cast iron statue was located in Birmingham, Alabama!? For just $6 per person you can experience the statue of Vulcan (Roman god of fire and forge), the park, and the museum. To find out more about the museum check out their website: http://visitvulcan.com/

9. Turkey Creek Nature Preservation, Bankhead National Forest

Admission is free and allows you to see 27 protected species! This preservation also includes beautiful scenery and waterfalls. Check out their website for more information: https://turkeycreeknp.com/

10. Ave Maria Grotto, Cullman

Also known as Little Jerusalem, this 4 acre park contains 125 miniature representations of famous and historic locations around the world. These reproductions were created by Brother Joseph Zoettl, a Benedictine monk of St. Bernard Abbey. I personally recommend going during spring when all of the flowers are in bloom. For more information click here: http://www.avemariagrotto.com/

11. Bellingrath Gardens and Home, Theodore

For $21 you can experience this beautiful home and garden. The garden contains many different species of flowers so that no matter what time of year you visit flowers will be in bloom. Check out their website to see what flowers are in bloom before planning your trip: https://bellingrath.org/

12. Cheaha State Park, Delta

This state park is the highest point in Alabama. Here you will find amazing views, waterfalls, hiking trails, picnic areas, rock climbing, and so much more! For more specifics and pricing click here: http://www.alapark.com/cheaha-state-park