Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Step1
Make sure to visit the Rosa Parks Museum on Montgomery Street, a tribute to the Alabama woman who bravely refused to "move to the back of the bus" in 1955, sparking the famous Montgomery Bus Boycott. Superb documentary videos, hands-on exhibits and a nicely re-created scene of the event are among the highlights.
Step2
Take a trip even further into the city’s past by stopping by Old Alabama Town, a rebuilt town from the "turn of the century" era. Dozens of restored edifices include wonderful old homes, churches, grocery stores and many others.
Step3
American Lit aficionados—particularly "Great Gatsby" fans—won’t want to miss the dandy but diminutive F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Musuem, housed in an old brick home briefly shared by the couple in the 1930s. Located on Felder Avenue, this is reputed to be the only museum in the world dedicated to the great author, and includes handwritten letters, an excellent short documentary film and paintings by Zelda.
Step4
Enjoy a casual lunch or dinner at one of the city’s most revered restaurants—the small and unassuming Martin’s, which seems to have changed little since its debut back in the forties. Save room for dessert, as Martin’s is known for its incredible pies—including a butterscotch meringue that will tantalize your taste buds.
Step5
Savor the works of the Immortal Bard in a fantastic setting at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival’s state-of-the-art Carolyn Blount Theatre. Performances are staged year-round, and the wonderful brick theater along a pretty lake is a perfectly dramatic locale; other classics of the stage are presented here as well, with works by such legends as Tennessee Williams, Thornton Wilder and Eugene O'Neill.
Step6
Set aside at least an hour for the captivating Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, located in the Wynton M. Blount Cultural Park off of Woodmere Boulevard. Of particular interest is the museum’s collection of American paintings, which includes works by Winslow Homer, Edward Hopper and John Singer Sargent.
Step7
Take a trip to the small but appealing Montgomery Zoo, where animals are all kept in natural "barrier-free" settings. An excellent bonus is the on-site Mann Wildlife Learning Museum, with 28,000 square feet of exhibit space.
