Exploring North Alabama Exploring North Alabama - Huntsville ...

Exploring North AlabamaGlorious scenery, outdoor adventureare yours in the Tennessee ValleyAlabama has incrediblehiking and biking trails,“Northalong with eight of the mostbeautiful lakes in the Southeast. It’s aMecca for outdoor enthusiasts, plusthere are over 100 tourism destinations,”commented Dana Lee Tatum, presidentand chief executive officer of the NorthAlabama Tourism Association. “Pictureperfect North Alabama has been our taglinefor years: There’s been no reason tochange it because it’s as true today as itwas twenty years ago,” affirmed the tourismexecutive.One organization that works to ensurethe ongoing scenic beauty of NorthAlabama for future generations is TheLand Trust of Huntsville & North Alabama.Incorporated in 1987 as Alabama’sfirst land trust, the group is responsiblefor protecting over 3,300 acres valued atover $9 million. Land Trust volunteersmaintain two major mountain preservesand almost 20 miles of public trails.“The natural beauty of NorthAlabama contributes significantly tothe decision process when companiesor families consider relocation,”confirmed Jill Gardner, executivedirector of The Land Trust. The missionof the organization is to preserveNorth Alabama scenic vistas,critical wetlands and green corridorswhich define this area of the South andmake it so attractive. Succinctly, Gardnerbelieves a healthy North Alabamaeconomy and quality of life are directlyrelated to a healthy natural environment.Land Trust and state park propertiesmeet on Monte Sano (Italian for‘mountain of health’), much to the delightof area mountain bikers. Mary AnneZollar, a writer with The HuntsvilleTimes, is an avid biker. “The dozens ofmountain bike trails on Monte Sanostrung together would make more than50 miles of terrain so varied you couldtake anyone – from tenderfoot beginnersto hard-core extreme bikers – for afantastic ride that will keep them comingback for more.”“Monte Sano has everything frombeautiful woodlands to waterfalls,” enthusedfellow Times employee andmountain biker Eric Schultz. Zollar wenton to say besides trails at Monte SanoState Park and on Land Trust property,“Surrounding Madison County boastsmany more miles of pristine woods forchallenging mountain biking not to befound for 100 miles in any direction.”Schultz particularly noted WadeMountain and Wheeler Wildlife Refuge.“In other words,” said Schultz, “there areplenty of places to ride mountain bikesaround the Tennessee Valley.”“I think part of the reason otherscome to ride here is the support ofmountain bikers, as well as other cyclistshere in Huntsville,” reflected Schultz.“The Spring City Cycling Club,www.springcity.org, is a wonderfuladvocacy group for local cyclists – bothroadies and mountain bikers. There arealways riders looking for someone else toride with. It’s not unusual to see anexperienced cyclist taking a novice for aride and showing them the trails.”Schultz added the group is also greatabout maintaining, marking and creatingnew trails.Hiking, whether on mountain trailsor on downtown city sidewalks, isanother passionate pastime for residentsand visitors alike. Land Trust and statepark trails take hikers through a varietyof terrain while hikes through downtownoffer another type of diversion. TheHuntsville/Madison County Conventionand Visitors Bureau offers a map forthose seeking architectural treasuresthrough the city’s historic districts(Huntsville is home to Alabama’s largestantebellum district) while the Historiccontinued on page 16Photo by Rob Robbins