ALABAMA

Start out in Birmingham, the state's largest city. Complete with nightlife, shopping, dining . . . there's something for everyone here and it's a great hub for visiting other parts of the state.

The central region of Alabama is also home to the Tide in Tuscaloosa and the Talladega Superspeedway, NASCARs longest track. This beautiful portion of the state is well-known to fans of the Auburn Tigers, but it's also a must-stop destination for those who love literature and history. The Talladega National Forest, DeSoto Caverns, Lake Howard and Cheaha Mountain attract nature lovers from across the region.

Alabama was central to the formation of the Civil Rights Movement in the U. S.. Historic events transformed ordinary citizens such as Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., Fred Shuttlesworth, Ralph Abernathy, Fred Gray and others into legends for the ages. Churches where leaders planned these protests are today recognized by the UNESCO World Heritage Site program.

Sugar-white sand. Warm, turquoise water. The freshest seafood imaginable. This area has everything you want in a beach experience. But there’s more to do here than just squish the soft sand between your toes. Beautiful Mobile sits on the bay with its incredible architecture and deep history, and golf is everywhere down here, including some of the most scenic and challenging courses in the country.

From hiking to biking, zip lines to trail rides, Tucson has everything you need for great fun in the great outdoors. Regardless of where you're road tripping from, you'll be able to experience a National Park (or two!)

Tucson is nestled in the middle of Saguaro National Park, home to the Saguaro Cactus, a Sonoran Desert native. If you're traveling in the summer, you may see the cacti in bloom with Arizona's state flower.

About 30-minutes north of Tucson is Catalina State Park. At 5,500 acres, Catalina State Park sits at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains and is home to plants, wildlife, canyons, streams and almost 5,000 saguaros.

Natural wonders and science abound in Northern Alabama where the southern Appalachians stretch across this portion of the state. It's where some of music's biggest stars were born and where others were made recording their hits in the local studios. Here you can gaze up at the cosmos from scenic vistas or learn from those who've actually been there themselves at the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville.

Natural wonders are abundant including the Noccalula Falls, Coosa River, the Rainbow Mountain Nature Preserve, the Wheeler National Wild life Refuge, Limestone Caves, Stephens Gap, the TVA Muscle Shoals Trails.

Visit the area that inspired Harper Lee as she wrote "To Kill a Mockingbird" and stop by the Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum in Montgomery. Learn more about he Civil Rights Movement and how it changed the world. Multiple key locations along the Civil Rights Trail can be found here.