Flavors of the Black Belt Offers Back Road Adventures and Tasty Treats
Good eats, cold drinks and back road treats abound along the trails found within the Flavors of the Black Belt!
Feed Your Adventure along the 9 themed-trails that map outa bounty of consumable goods created by the locals across Alabama’s Black Belt and also highlight travel destinations designed around the hand-crafted food, treats, and spirits found across our 23-county region.
Additionally, you can find where to shop for all of the featured Flavors products as well as find the uniquely Black Belt places, eateries and overnight accommodations.
Flavors of the Black Belt also offers a fun “passport” competition for a grand prize and a Feed Your Adventure Photo Contest that will have a monthly winner as well.
For more information and to see the full Flavors brochure, click here.
Birding in the Black Belt - Connecting With Birds and Nature Tours
Christopher Joe knows that his family's third-generation black Angus cattle farm in west Alabama is a special place for many reasons. He also uniquely understands the importance of conservation and conservation practices as well as the need to provide access for birding and other recreational opportunities.
Joe, who serves as a district conservationist for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS), and his family recently launched a new endeavor near Newbern that will use their farm as a place for birders from all over to come to experience nature and observe unique birds in the heart of the Black Belt.
WSFA's Hailey Sutton has hit the trails all across Alabama this summer, and recently ALBBAA was pleased to welcome Hailey to experience some of the many recreational opportunities available in the Black Belt region.
In early August, Hailey visited the Joe Farm in Hale County, along with various members from the Alabama Audubon Society, to learn about birding in the Black. See Hailey's segment here: Black Belt Birding at the Joe Farm in Newborn
Shortly thereafter, Blue Springs State Park in Barbour County was also a stop on Hailey's trek. Blue Springs State Park near Clio has long been known as a favorite local, and cold, swimming hole for visitors seeking a respite from the summer heat. If you've never been or want to learn more, be sure watch this short segment.
Miller's Ferry and Roland Cooper State Park near Camden are well known for the prime fishing and recreational opportunities that are available. On Hailey's recent visit to Roland Cooper State Park, the good folks with Alabama State Parks helped guide Hailey along on an eco-tour to observe the local flora and fauna, including an alligator, osprey and several bald eagles!
Most recently, Hailey hit the water on Lake Eufaula ("Big Bass Capital of the World") at Lakepoint State Park to experience the world-class fishery first-hand. See Hailey get the hang of fishing in her latest segment.
Alabama Dove Season Opening Soon
The "official" start to Fall and hunting season begins on Saturday, September 5th (in the north zone) with the opening day of dove season at 12 o'clock noon. The season in the South Zone (Baldwin, Barbour, Coffee, Covington, Dale, Escambia, Geneva, Henry, Houston, and Mobile counties) begins on the following Saturday, September 12 at 12 o'clock noon. For further information on season dates bag limits, visit: Outdoor Alabama official website.
Additionally, thanks to the tremendous work of biologists with the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division there are action-packed public dove fields available all across the state, including the Barbour Wildlife Management Areas, David K. Nelson Wildlife Management Area and the Lowndes Wildlife Management Area in the Black Belt region. For information on the dove fields and locations provided by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, visit: WMA Dove Field Information
As a reminder, hunting and fishing licenses from last year expire of August 31. BUY YOUR LICENSE HERE to support the ADCNR (which receives no taxpayer money and is supported by license sales) and their conservation efforts across the state.
Recreational Opportunities Plentiful in Black Belt
While the Black Belt region is known as a sportsmen’s destination, it’s the natural resources as a whole that make this area the perfect place for adventures of all kinds. Whether you are looking for quality hiking, biking, camping, wildlife viewing, or just to be in nature or on the water, the Black Belt has it ALL!
Alabama State Parks provide important public access across the state to the state’s various treasures, and the state parks within the Black Belt all provide fantastic recreational opportunities and overnight options for visitors.
Chewacla State Park, near Auburn, offers nearly 700 acres of respite where visitors can enjoy fishing, swimming, or birding on the 26-acre lake as well as the well-established miles of biking and hiking trails. These trails range from short and less aggressive to the more challenging mountain biking trails that have been built by the Cental Alabama Mountain Pedalers (CAMP). Chewacla State Park was recently honored with Tripadvisor.com’s “2020 Travelers’ Choice Awards.”
For those looking to get out on the water, Lakepoint State Park is situated on the sprawling 45,000+ acre Lake Eufaula that a top spot for fishing as well as canoeing and wildlife viewing. Through an Alabama RC & D Council grant, ALBBAA provided canoes and kayaks that are now available to rent at the park. Additionally, the Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge offers a scenic place for wildlife viewing. Within the refuge, visitors can trek along the accessible eight-mile drive to get a closer look at the various habitats and associated wildlife. Birding enthusiasts will also enjoy the observation tower that overlooks the Houston Bottoms as well as the Uplands viewing platform.
Roland Cooper State Park features fantastic fishing and also provides hiking/nature trails as well as flat bottom aluminum Jon boats, kayaks, and canoes available for rent. The wildlife viewing is exceptional in this area and has landed the state park as a featured stop on the Alabama Birding Trails.
On the upper end of the Black Belt in Tuscaloosa County lies the 1,625-acre Lake Lurleen State Park. Located near Tuscaloosa, this park is on the banks of the 250-acre Lake Lurleen and features more than 23 miles of multi-use trails ranging from easy to moderate in difficulty. The trails hug the shoreline of Lake Lurleen and are open to both hikers and mountain bikers. The park also features a Nature Center, fishing, meeting facilities, paddleboats, swimming and a beach.
Young Angler with Special Needs Lands Best Fish Photo Contest
Lake Eufaula is well-known as the “Bass Capitol of the World”, but it was crappie that helped seven-year-old Blakely Sweatt reel in the winning photo for this year’s Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association Best Fish Photo Contest.
Fishing with her grandparents on the sprawling Lake in Barbour County, Blakely hauled in several crappie throughout the day. Danny Waters, Blakely’s grandfather, fishes often on the Lake and submitted the photo of Blakely with her great catch.
Waters described Blakely as an enthusiastic young girl who never meets a stranger and loves to be outdoors, especially with a fishing rod in her hand. Danny and his wife have a fishing camp on Lake Eufaula and spend many weekends in Alabama’s Black Belt with their four grandchildren.
“There is nothing better than being outdoors with family. These grandchildren are the light of our lives, and we love experiencing the bountiful beauty of nature with them whenever we can,” said Waters. “Blakely does not allow her special needs to slow her down, she is active and passionate about life, and we were all thrilled when she won the contest.”
Blakely won a half-day guided fishing trip on Lake Eufaula led by local expert Tony Adams of ‘Gone Fishin’ with Tony’ as well as a package of lures and hooks donated by Tru-Turn & Blakemore. The total value of the package was $350.
“We love seeing families and youngsters enjoying the vast recreational opportunities available within the Black Belt, especially during these times,” noted Pam Swanner, Director of the Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association. “Spending time in the great outdoors is so important, and the Black Belt is the perfect place to encourage a love and appreciation for nature. ALBBAA thanks all of the contestants who entered photos this year and is pleased to honor Blakely for her fish!”
ALBBAA promotes and encourages ethical hunting and fishing practices. The Black Belt includes the following counties: Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Crenshaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Monroe, Montgomery, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Russell, Sumter, Tuscaloosa and Wilcox.
Black Belt Bounty Coffee Table Book
Whether you are looking for that perfect gift or want to commemorate your personal passion and affinity for Alabama's Black Belt, the coffee table book Black Belt Bounty is sure to strike the right chord.
This new literary work of art celebrates the rich traditions of hunting and fishing that are so deeply embedded in the lives of those who are fortunate to call Alabama’s Black Belt home.
Its captivating cover will draw you into the pages filled with striking images from some of today’s most gifted wildlife photographers and artists and their visual offerings are perfectly counterbalanced by words from an impressive bevy of skilled, award-winning writers and recipes from some of Alabama’s nationally recognized celebrity chefs.
The Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association is committed to promoting and enhancing outdoor recreation and tourism opportunities in the Black Belt in a manner that provides economic and ecological benefits to the region and its citizens. For more information, go to www.alabamablackbeltadventures.org.