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Cheaha State Park is a fun day trip for the whole family

September 6, 2019 By Rebekah Ledbetter

Planning a day trip that the whole family will enjoy can be difficult. Especially now that school is back in session, but just 25 minutes off I-20’s exit 188 is Cheaha State Park.

Inspired Southerner Cheaha
Mt. Cheaha is Alabama’s highest peak. Photo by Cheaha State Park

Alabama’s highest peak

In the heart of the Talladega National Forest, stands Alabama’s highest peak, Mt. Cheaha. The mountain is 2,413 feet above sea level making it the highest point in Alabama. Anyone who visits or hikes to Mt. Cheaha will experience breathtaking views. Cheaha gets its name from the Creek Indian work chaha which means high place.

The boardwalk at Cheaha State Park is wheelchair accessible. Photo by Cheaha State Park.

Our state parks are one of Alabama’s greatest assets and they offer fun for everyone in the family. Cheaha State Park’s best feature is a boardwalk to one of the most beautiful overlooks in the state of Alabama. The boardwalk is handicap accessible. There are also stairs throughout the park that lead to the trails and which run alongside the boardwalk. The stairs are for the trailblazer of the family or those who want a challenge.

The boardwalk

At the end of the boardwalk is wheelchair accessible and there you will find a breathtaking view.  

Inspired Southerner Cheaha State Park
Mt. Cheaha State Park has breathtaking views

The adjacent hiking trails lead to Bald Rock, which is in front of the boardwalk. 

Inspired Southerner Cheaha State Park
The boardwalk leads to this scenic view. It is elevated and wheelchair accessible.

Another popular and recognizable feature of the park is the tower. 

Inspired Southerner Tower at Cheaha
Tower at Cheaha State Park

The tower

In front of the tower is a plaque which designates it as the tallest point in Alabama!

Be sure to take a few quarters for the viewfinder, and climb the stairs to the top of the tower for yet another incredible view! If you remembered to bring a few quarters up be sure to use that viewfinder to your advantage! 

Bigfoot

Across from the tower, you will find Bigfoot. Bigfoot’s purpose at Cheaha is to be the mascot of the 7 Leave No Trace principles. You will find Bigfoot along the trail as a reminder to be just like Bigfoot and ‘leave no trace’. 

Cheaha State Park has made plenty of improvements to the park, including renovations to the restaurant and the addition of the pool. Just across from the Welcome Center and Gift Shop is the Walt Farr Native American Relic Museum. There you will find an amazing collection of arrowheads, spearheads, and other Native American Treasures. 

In addition, Cheaha offers excellent sites for camping and has a hotel for overnight stays. For more information on these amenities, and for the park itself, be sure to check out their website here. 

Filed Under: Family, Inspiration, Life, Outdoors, Travel, Uncategorized Tagged With: Alabama, Alabama travel, day trip, Family, Outdoors, Southern Travel, Travel

Alabama’s Cherokee Rock Village is a scenic mecca for hikers

July 1, 2019 By Rebekah Ledbetter

Inspired Southerner, Cherokee Rock Village
Cherokee Rock Village offer amazing views to hikers and campers

Just an hour and a half north of Birmingham, Alabama off I-59 lies a getaway with amazing views for anyone who enjoys getting outdoors. Cherokee Rock Village offers a scenic mecca for hikers and campers alike. It is a park you need to add to your list this year.

Little Rock City

Atop Lookout Mountain, Cherokee Rock Village is home to unique sandstone formations. Known to the locals as “Little Rock City”, it’s perfect for hikers and climbers of all skill levels. 

For just $6 per car (more for passenger vehicles and overnighters), you get an all-access pass to the trail. If you follow the drive down to the lot you’ll be at the beginning on one of the park’s trails. Cherokee Rock Village has over 14 miles worth of trails for you to hike! 

The trailhead is at an easy access point beside the parking lot. Be sure to have your map in hand and you’re ready to take off. Additionally, apps such as Alltrails have maps that are accessible through your phone! If you follow the trail to the left, you’ll almost immediately find the rock formation that will give you this amazing view. 

Amazing Views

Climb chair-like rock formations.

Most of the rocks are easy to climb and almost stair-like. Most noteworthy, the last major rock formation does require a bit of climbing, but it’s not hard, especially if you have a friend to lend a hand. Once you get to the top, you will have plenty of room to walk around or just sit to take in the amazing view  From the top you will see Weiss Lake, a 50.19 square mile Lake known nationally for it’s Bass and Crappie fishing!

If you follow the trail and your map, you’ll be able to find a hidden cave that is hidden inside the sandstone formations.

Another sight to look out for at Cherokee Rock Village is the natural stone arch, formed from the erosion of the sandstone. It’s also a geocaching spot! Click here for more information!

Adventurous trailblazers can grab a map and follow the Diamond Trail, which is 7.1 miles long with an elevation of over 1000 feet. This trail is open to hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians. This elevation is why we call the Cherokee Rock Park a scenic mecca for hikers.

Secure Climbing Access

Furthermore, climbers also can find that some climbing routes have permanent anchors bolted into the rock, for easy and secure climbing access. So as long as you have your map, some good shoes, and bottled water, you will be set to explore all that Cherokee Rock Village has to offer.

Inspired Southerner, Cherokee Rock Village
Cherokee Rock Village is a scenic mecca for hikers

Park Amenities

If you’re only staying for a day or overnight, the park offers amenities for campers and hikers. They include restrooms that double as storm shelters, showers, a picnic area, a camping area, a playground, a handicap accessible deck overlooking the mountain, and a designated camping area.

Inspired Southerner, Cherokee Rock Village
There’s a playground for children.

Cherokee Rock Village is a part of the Cherokee County Public Parks and Recreation system. For more info or to make reservations check out their website here. 

Filed Under: Life, Outdoors, Travel, Uncategorized Tagged With: campers, hikers, hiking, Outdoors, park, rock climbing

Interstellar with David Weigel, Director of Christenberry Planetarium

August 18, 2017 By Sheree Martin

To celebrate the upcoming total solar eclipse we bring you a Rewind of Birmingham Shines podcast episode 8, featuring David Weigel, Director of Christenberry Planetarium at Samford University, and an avid outdoors guy who loves rock climbing all around Birmingham and the South.

David Weigel, Director of Christenberry Planetarium, was the guest on Episode 8 of the Birmingham Shines podcast, released June 15, 2015. We rewind it here in this Retrospective series to tie in with the solar eclipse on August 21, 2017. Enjoy!

This episode was released as a bonus episode of Birmingham Shines on June 15, 2015. In it, David and I (Sheree) talk about recent discoveries, a bit of astrophysics, and what Birmingham has to offer those who love to spend time in outdoor recreation.

The Christenberry Planetarium recently published this short video on the upcoming solar eclipse:

Read more about David Weigel in this profile from Samford University.

David Weigel, Director of Christenberry Planetarium, was the guest on Episode 8 of the Birmingham Shines podcast, released June 15, 2015. We rewind it here in this Retrospective series to tie in with the solar eclipse on August 21, 2017. Enjoy!

 

Filed Under: Birmingham Shines Podcast, Life Tagged With: Alabama, Birmingham, Outdoors, Planetarium, Podcasts, Solar Eclipse, Things to Do

We tell real stories about the south. ~Kara Kennedy, Publisher

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