There’s no better time than after retirement to see the sights across the South that you never had a chance to while you a member of the work force. Even if you are making the transition to an assisted living or senior living community, there’s no rules against getting out on the open road, be it in your own car, SUV, RV, Winnebago, or one you’ve rented for just this occasion.
Sure airplanes get you to your destination faster, but for traveling at your own pace and the spontaneity to stay or go as the mood strikes you, there’s nothing better than being behind the wheel of your own vehicle, either with your spouse, or a friend or three.
Plus, airplanes bring with them the hassle of battling your way through security, enduring tiresome delays, folding your body into tiny seats, and going through the whole thing again once the aircraft has landed.
One of the best things about the South in general and our Regency Pointe senior living community in Rainbow City, Alabama, is that it’s quite literally in the middle of everywhere, making day trips, weekend excursions, and extended getaways all within just a few hours drive away.
The South has something for everyone’s taste, from natural beauty to historic landmarks to nights out on the town. Here is a brief look at some of the South’s best attractions that are all within easy reach of the highways that pass through Rainbow City, Alabama.
- Birmingham, AL (1 hour away) – Barely 60 miles from Rainbow City is Alabama’s biggest city, beautiful Birmingham. If you’re a history buff or of African-American heritage, you’ll want to soak up the city’s passionate presence in reflecting on the Civil Rights Movement that polarized the nation during the 1950s and 1960s. Martin Luther King Jr. preached in Birmingham, and both the 16th Street Baptist Church and Birmingham Civil Rights Institute are powerful reminders of just how far we’ve come and how much work remains in judging the quality of a man’s character rather than the color of his skin.
- Tuscaloosa, AL (2 hours away) – If you have a taste for all things college football, you’ll never find a better game-day atmosphere than on the campus of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, home of the Crimson Tide, who under head coach Nick Saban, have won three of the last five NCAA Division I college football titles. The Tide’s Bryant-Denny Stadium is sold out each and every Saturday, but there’s plenty of fun to be had tail-gating or simply soaking up the charms of the South if you can’t get a seat inside. The gorgeous campus, which first opened in 1831, enrolls 36,000 students annually, and can be a great trip to visit college-bound grandchildren or other relatives.
- Atlanta, GA (2 hours away) – Want to get out of the state? Atlanta, jewel of the South, beckons just 120 miles due east along Interstate 20. If you have a taste for the ins and outs of television, take a tour of CNN’s headquarters, but if old-fashioned drama is more your cup of tea, you can’t be the Fox Theatre, a 5,000-seat arena which opened in 1929 and regularly hosts traveling Broadway shows.
- Memphis, TN (4-1/2 hours away) – If you grew up listening to the sweet, soulful voice of Elvish Presley, and be honest, who among us didn’t, you’ll know what the biggest draw of Memphis really is – Graceland, the King of Rock’n’Roll’s private residence and site of his mysterious death in 1977. Graceland was opened to the public as a museum in 1982 and became a national historical landmark in 2006. Even now, nearly 40 years after Presley’s death, it still draws 600,000 visitors a year. The only private residence to bring in more tourists is the White House.
- Nashville, TN (3 hours away) – Who needs Las Vegas when you’ve got the bright lights and fantastic shows of Nashville so close by? Sight of the Grand Ole Opry, the Tennessee State Fair, and the annual Country Music Association’s Music Festival are all major attractants to music fans of all ages. If you prefer your entertainment on water instead of land, there’s also the General Jackson showboat, which cruises the Cumberland River daily and nightly with a healthy dose of country music to keep you company as you take in the sights of downtown Nashville.
When it’s time for your next great adventure, the South is chock-full of destinations for every passion, taste, and style. And when you travel with Regency Pointe as your home base, you can rest assured that your suite and your possessions will be closely guarded and waiting for you in perfect condition when you return from your latest Southern adventure.
Discovery Village at Deerwood offers a variety of senior living programs to keep seniors healthy and active. Learn about our senior living options and amenities today when you contact us at 904.667.3500.
