Montgomery has the vibe of an up and coming tourist destination. It’s got attractions and nice accommodation to give you the tourist experience, while still retaining a lot of small town, local charm. A little bit shiny, a little bit gritty, and full of history, character, and welcoming faces. Here’s your complete travel planning guide on how to spend a weekend in Montgomery, AL with everything you need to know before you go.
Ultimate Guide On How To Spend A Weekend In Montgomery AL
Disclaimer
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Quick facts about spending a weekend in Montgomery AL
Destination style: Small city break with focus on history.
Where to stay: Renaissance Montgomery Hotel and Spa
Good for: Families, couples, solo travelers, friends.
Safety tips: Avoid walking after dark particularly around the outskirts of town and especially if traveling solo. Otherwise use regular precautions.
Types of activities: Museums, parks, monuments, wildlife parks, unique bars.
Getting around: You can easily walk around the downtown area (using safety precautions I mentioned), drive, or use Uber.
Where to stay in Montgomery, AL
I stayed at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel and Spa and absolutely recommend it.
Here are a couple of other options in the same area:
From the moment you enter the Renaissance and look around the grand lobby area, you know you’ve made the right choice.
The staff were all helpful, the room was comfortable, and the location is walking distance to the main attractions and plenty of restaurants. It also has an impressive rooftop pool with bar area and full spa.
The rooms weren’t very soundproof so I could hear the conversations and morning alarms of my neighbors. I’m not sure if that was just my room, my floor, or if it is hotel wide. Other than that it was a wonderful place to stay.
Wherever you choose, I recommend searching on Booking.com to find a good deal and start getting the perks of their free loyalty program. This is what I have used to book accommodation for years and I can always find a good bargain there.
Lobby of the Renaissance Montgomery
Things to do in Montgomery, Alabama
Old Alabama Town
(closed Sundays)
When you visit Old Alabama Town you’ll probably find yourself wondering if you’d gotten into The DeLorean and stepped back in time.
At this unique attraction you can walk through a series of different buildings to explore life in a different era. From homes, to schools, storefronts, and medical offices, the buildings recreate a variety of aspects of life and you are able to learn about how they were experienced.
Guided tours are available otherwise you can walk at your own pace by taking a self guided tour.
Purchase tickets at Lucas Tavern for $10 per adult.
Old Alabama Town
Rosa Parks Museum
(closed Sundays)
This is another one to do at the start of your weekend visit because it is also closed on Sundays. I didn’t plan accordingly so don’t make my mistake.
Montgomery is rich in Civil Rights History and it is here you can learn all about Rosa Parks and the history of the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Purchase tickets for $7.50 per adult.
After the museum you can also walk down the road to see the Rosa Parks monument by the Court Square fountain.
Rosa Parks Monument
Riverfront Park
Head to Riverfront Park for a stroll with some gorgeous nature views.
You can walk and soak in the views, check out the amphitheater, relax on the grassy park or visit the splash pad. It’s also got a nice backdrop for a couple of photos to document your visit.
If you’d like to cruise on the water, you could take a dinner cruise on the Harriott II or a Sip-N-Cycle Pedal Cruise for something different.
Riverfront Park
Legacy Museum
Another must see when you visit Montgomery is the Legacy Museum. It’s a somber museum covering the history of the slave trade and racism in the United States.
Quite simply, this is one of the most impressive museums I’ve ever been to. It was an immersive multi-media experience with the perfect blend of visual, audio, and interactive exhibits. The technology and quality of the exhibits is fantastic.
Your ticket includes entry to the National Memorial for Peace and Justice which I recommend visiting after the museum. It’s about a 20 minute walk or you can take the free shuttle service from the museum.
Here’s the museum website for more information.
Hank Williams Museum
Another museum to add to your list is the Hank Williams Museum which is across the road from the hotel I recommended.
I didn’t visit this one, but it had great reviews and is one of the top attractions in Montgomery.
If you like Hank Williams or country music, you’ll probably love it.
Here’s the museum website for more information.
Alabama Safari Park
The Alabama Safari Park is about 20 minutes drive from downtown and well worth a visit if you have a car.
Here you can drive through the safari grounds and feed the animals that will come up to your window. You’ll see everything from llamas to zebras, and bison to ostriches.
There’s also exhibits where you can feed giraffes, walk through an aviary, see kangaroos in the ‘Alabama Outback’, and watch the sloths do….well… not much.
Here’s the park website for more information.
Alabama Safari Park
Blount Cultural Park
Another place for a scenic walk, picnic, or just to spend some time in nature is the Blount Cultural Park.
You can also see the Shakespeare Gardens where you can spot a range of plants and flowers mentioned in Shakespeares work.
The park is about 15 minutes drive from the downtown area.
Where to eat in Montgomery, Alabama
There’s no shortage of delicious food in Montgomery. Here are a few of my favorites.
Best place for beer and casual dining
Tower Taproom
The Tower Taproom is a self service tap room with a casual atmosphere. There’s a wall lined with a range of beers on tap which you can pour yourself with your unique swipe card.
A great place to pour a drink, grab a bite to eat, and chill out after your day exploring.
Tower Taproom
Best place for a fancy dinner
The House Restaurant
For a fancier experience, check out The House Restaurant located in the Renaissance Montgomery hotel I recommended.
The red snapper here was fantastic! It’s a great spot for a date night dinner.
Best place for BBQ
Dreamland BBQ
Check out Dreamland BBQ for tasty BBQ food with a cool, casual ambiance.
All the food was delicious, portioned generously, and the service was wonderful.
Dreamland BBQ
Best place in Montgomery for breakfast
Mama’s Sack Lunches
This is a fantastic mom and pop joint for hearty portions of delicious food and some of the friendliest service you’ll find.
I had a breakfast sandwich on a biscuit and it was amazing!
Best place in Montgomery for brunch
Goat Haus Biergarten
Here’s the best kept secret of Montgomery.
Go here for brunch, get the bottomless mimosas, and eat anything on the menu. Thank me later.
The drinks have a decent alcohol to mixer ratio so you don’t feel ripped off. It’s in an old home so the setting is a unique style of casual and homely. And the food is incredible.
Goat Haus Biergarten
Best place for pizza
Bibb Street Pizza
Skip the big chains and go here for an amazing pizza. I’m still thinking about it!
Great ambiance, great food, and friendly staff.
Best local coffee shop
Prevail Union
If you really like your coffee, this is the place to go. It’s an awesome place for high quality coffee with a hipster vibe.
I 10/10 recommend trying one of their specialities – the Alabama Stinger is delish!
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