my hometown

Weekend Assignment #126: Where You Live

         

i'm from northwest alabama, an area comprised of 4 cities known as the shoals. (lynyrd skynyrd's 'sweet home alabama'). florence is on the tennessee river....and there are lotsa water activities all summer...annual bass tournaments, fishing, swimming, jet skiing, water skiing, sailing, boating....

         

after much debate, the old railroad bridge was turned into a pedestrian walkway.  it is nice to walk out on the bridge to watch sunsets or fish, and eagles have even been sighted.

                                                

we have the beautiful university of north alabama here, known as the una lions, national champions of the ncaa division II  3 years in a row (early 90's).

   

                   

                           and are very proud to have live mascots....ms una and mr leo....

                                           

          leo refused to come out of his den for the photo shoot...so una hogged the show.  ;)

beautiful downtown florence has undergone restoration and renovation of many old buildings and we now have quaint restaurants, gift shops and local businesses.

     

   our historical district boasts of many victorian homes and a couple of bed and breakfast inns...

                                                  

beautiful downtown wilson park  hosts the annual w.c. handy (father of the blues) festival and renaissance faire. (for city name sake, florence, italy)

   

george lindsey (goober from the andy griffith show) attended una and sponsors an annual  film festival at the university.

                

just across the river is tuscumbia....birthplace of helen keller, and home to the annual live summer production of  'the miracle worker'

      

and the beautiful big spring park that was featured on the today show a few years ago....

   

   with free trolley to downtown, carousel and small roller coaster and train for the children...

                                   

lots of pictures taken in front of these waterfalls, and out in the middle of the spring is a big fountain and on weekends  there is a choreographed light show set to popular tunes.