Florence and The Shoals offer lots of free attractions and activities to see and to do to the visitors. When you’re in the beautiful city of Florence, you can’t say that fun things can only be enjoyed by spending a heavy budget. Trust me, you don’t need to break a bank for having some of the best city attractions and activities when you’re visiting the history rich city Florence. The city is a popular year-round destination among many families for its free or almost free entertainment opportunities. So, here are some of the best free things for you to do in Florence AL for enjoying a great weekend vacation!
1. Downtown Florence
Downtown Florence offers multiple free fun things to explore. First Fridays on every month, downtown becomes the most prompting place. Live music pours more lively vibes in the entire surroundings.
Local stores and restaurants extend their operating hours to serve the crowd. Vendors with several crafted things starts selling their goods. The entire land looks very colorful and vibrant for different types of people, shops and vendors. It looks like downtown is celebrating a joyful fair on first Fridays.
The remaining days of the month are equally great for exploring the downtown. The historic downtown itself offers so many walkable streets, shopping, dining and historical explorations possibilities. A number of annual events are also held in downtown. You will not find lack of inspiring things to do in downtown Florence in Alabama.
2. The Alabama Renaissance Faire
The Alabama Renaissance Faire is one of the best attractions in the city. About 40,000 visitors attend this colorful festival each year. The fair is held in downtown Florence on the fourth weekend in October, every year.
The best thing is you can enjoy this super gleeful annual festival without paying any fees. The fair was started in 1987 by a group of educators and city leaders. The aim behind the creation was to create a festival during the school year. The fair is run by non-profit volunteer groups.
Some of the fine attractions in the fair include sword fighting, fire dancing, troubadour shows, a scavenger hunt and so many fine attractions. Having fun with your family or friends in the Alabama Renaissance Faire is no doubt one of the best free things to do in Florence, AL.
Address: 217 E Tuscaloosa St, Florence, AL 35630
Phone: (256) 718-5020
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3. Tom’s Wall
Tom’s Walls is the 3-to-5-foot-high wall and is the largest rock wall in the United States and the largest monument to an American woman. Exploring this unusual site is definitely one of the best things that you can do almost freely.
There is an amazing story behind the creation of Tom’s Wall. In the late 1830s, native Americans were forcibly ostracized from the eastern part of the US, and they were moved to the west part. One of the many ostracized natives, identified as No. 59, is the reason behind the creation of this monument.
The monument has been named with relation to the creator. Tom is the great-great-grandson of the women or No. 59. Her real name was Te-lah-nay which means “Woman with Dancing Eyes.” Later, Tom as a grown person wanted to do something special for his warrior ancestor. And in 1988, he started constructing the commemorative stone wall.
The construction was continued for more than three decades and ultimately Tom was able to finish it. This historical wall consisted of nine million pounds of stone, and the used stones are from more than 120 countries.
Being a part of the trip to Tom’s Wall is not only exciting but also inspiring and emotional.
Address: 13890 Lauderdale County 8, Florence, AL 35633
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4. Rockpile Recreation Area
The Rockpile Recreation Area is located at the base of Wilson Dam. The area is some of the most visited tourist spots in the Shoals.
The free to visit place offers numerous useful amenities. Amenities include restrooms, camping and picnicking facilities. The parking area is clean and vast. Bird watching is a fun thing to do. For nature lovers, Rockpile Recreation Area is a must-to-visit place.
The reservoir is great for canoeing and boating. Fishing opportunity is also huge. There is also a hiking trail that provides access to some of the woodlands in the park.
The best seasons to visit the spot are during Fall, Spring and Winter.
Address: 663 Rock Pile Rd, Muscle Shoals, AL 35661
Phone: (800) 882-5263
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5. Pope’s Tavern Museum
Pope’s Tavern Museum is a nice spot to know about the early history of Florence and Lauderdale County through several fun programs. By paying very less amount, visitors can explore educational programs and public discourse. It’s one of the popular spots for hosting historical events and public gatherings.
Located in downtown Florence, Pope’s Tavern is a popular attraction and it drags many visitors to enjoy the exciting programs. The most famous one is to attend the workshops. Must try to attend any of them. Other featuring programs include historical talks and films which are mostly related to early Florence history.
The museum is open to the public from Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 am to 4 pm. The entry fees are $5 for adults and $2 for students. The site is worth visiting as visitors can explore different aspects of Alabama history in the museum. For history lovers, Pope’s Tavern is a must-to-go spot!
Address: 203 Hermitage Dr, Florence, AL 35630
Phone: (256) 760-6439
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6. Pickwick Lake
Pickwick Lake is a 50-mile long lake with the surface area of 47,500 acres. The lake is best known for fishing opportunities, and the most sought after fish species include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, blue catfish, crappie and channel catfish.
The huge lake runs from Wilson Dam in Florence to Pickwick Dam in Tennessee. The lake offers 490 miles of vast shoreline, a perfect place for strolling and exploring the natural beauty. This attraction is another one of the best free things to do in Florence, AL, as the site is free to visit and offers multiple opportunities to get engaged with.
During summer months, the lake is very popular for swimming. Engaging water activities are canoeing, kayaking and paddleboarding. Among the bird watchers, the lake is also famous. Bald eagles are commonly spotted birds.
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7. Deibert Park
Deibert Park is a 70-acre beautiful park. It’s some of the best parks for families in The Shoals, and it is located next to the Children’s Museum of the Shoals. Multiple opportunities and facilities make this park a nice stop in the city.
Group tour is a fun thing in the park. Your kids will love the playground and will make new friends also. Spend some leisure time sitting besides the nice pond, or you may go for exploring scenic walking trails. The land is very greeny, many trees are grown. Abundant open area is also available to sit and enjoy the nature.
The park is a passive park and is not used for special events. Restrooms are available. Leashed pets are also allowed in the park. Deibert Park is open daily from dawn till dusk, and it is free to the public. For enjoying a relaxed weekend, Deibert Park is a perfect option.
Address: Darby Dr & Cox Creek Parkway, Darby Dr, Florence, AL 35630
Phone: (256) 760-6416
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8. Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge
Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge is the 1060-acre national wildlife refuge and is administrated by the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. It was established in 1997 with the purpose to protect the endangered species.
Entrance fee to the wildlife refuge is free. A day trip inside the refuge with the whole family and exploring the exciting locations is certainly one of the best things to do in Florence, AL for collecting lots of memories.
The site attracts more than 6,000 visitors per year. Two caves were the biggest attractions in this refuge. But now both the caves are closed to the public. The refuge itself has been named after Key Cave, one of the two caves of Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge. Other areas of the refuge are open to the visitors.
Hikers can go for 2.5-mile-long trails. Cycling is another fun thing to do. Nearby top activities are hunting, wildlife viewing, and interpretive programs. For photography, Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge is a great place, too.
FAQs
1.Why is Florence, Alabama famous?
Florence and The Shoals are popular for many reasons. The indigenous culture and rich history make it a worth visiting place among diversified age groups. The best part is, Florence offers multiple free or almost free attractions and activities that suit all interests. Another interesting thing about Florence is, the city is the birthplace of Helen Keller.
2. What does Florence Alabama have to offer?
The vibrant town of Florence receives thousands of visitors every year for its inviting facilities. The city is popular with both indoor and outdoor entertainment, and live music, multiple hiking and biking trails, outdoor dining, wildlife refuge are some of these best outdoor attractions. Indoor attractions include some of the great historical museums.
