Results tagged “marion” from Alabama's Front Porches: A Blog About Alabama's Black Belt

Two military veterans were inducted into the Alabama Military Hall of Honor on October 31, 2008. One, 94 year old Bert Bank, arrived in the Philippines in 1942. Four months later, he was among the 75,000 American and Filipino troops who were surrendered to the Japanese  by U.S. commanders, beginning the Bataan Death March, a 90-mile trek through the jungle.

Read more from the Tuscaloosa News and the Tide Sports special and learn more about the Alabama Military Hall of Honor. Visit the Alabama Military Hall of Fame, located on the campus of Marion Military Institute, Marion, Alabama. The museum also displays a variety of associated memorabilia including weapons, uniforms and pictures.

For a pleasant weekend getaway, try heading south. No, not the beach, the Black Belt of Southwest Alabama. There's much to see and do-and close enough to make the trip with less than a tank of gas. We'll continue to add new trips to our list as the next year progresses.

For now, try this simple, one or two night getaway into the true heart of Alabama for an authentic experience of the Deep South. Don't have time to get away for a night? Well, you should, but if you just can't pry yourself away, try a daylong trip.

Begin your weekend getaway heading to Selma, Alabama. Approximately 85 miles from Birmingham (or a little over 200 miles from Atlanta, Georgia). Once you've arrived in Selma, plan to park near the river and just stroll around the downtown area. Park near the historic and recently renovated Saint James Hotel, directly on the river along Water Street and less than a block away from the famous Edmund Pettus Bridge.

Try some down home cooking at one of the local eateries in Selma (during the week, try the Downtowner for an excellent "meat-and-three," a true Southern staple). There are excellent dining choices in Selma for a variety of traditional Southern fare, including BBQ, fried chicken and catfish, along with more exotic choices.