“I was born there, made lots of great memories there, so I’ll always feel a connection when it comes to my people and places in Alabama.”

My Alabama: Eight things I love about the Yellowhammer State

1. White BBQ Sauce
I’m originally from North Alabama, and my hometown of Decatur puts out some of the best Bar-B-Que in the South. Don’t believe me? Check out Big Bob Gibson’s website and you’ll see they have a not-so-shabby pedigree, one they’ve earned through the kind of hard work that’s more than just a few decades old (Est. 1925).

Now, I don’t just love the fact that they are purveyors of a well-made pork sandwich (with pickles, please). They also are responsible for introducing me to what I consider the most famous white sauce around. It was once considered a North Alabama speciality, but this sauce finally making it’s rounds throughout the South.

https://bigbobgibson.com/

2. Dill Pickle Chips
I’m a man who rarely see things as absolutes, but there have been times when I’ve come across certain things that have no real competition. And dill pickle chips—specifically the superior product put together by the good people over at Golden Flake—has always been my go-to option.

3. Getting out on the water!
Choose any region of the state, and you’ll find rivers, lakes, and beaches that might just surprise you. I’ve fished those backwaters off of the Tennessee River, tubed Lake Tuscaloosa, taken the plunge from the top of Chimney Rock on Lake Martin, and skied out on Smith Lake. There’s not a natural lake in Alabama, but there are still some great options to choose from.
And if a day on the lake isn’t your kind of fun, then head south to the beaches near Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Fort Morgan. Alabama’s beaches stand up against some of the best in the country!

4. Sunsets
I’ve put in my fair share of windshield time in across Alabama, riding up and down I-65, and running along those two-lane backroads. There are great cities peppered across the state, but there’s also a lot of what the Dixie Chicks called: Wide open spaces! And when I catch a sunset over a rural Alabama landscape—one that’s orange and blue, preferably—I usually slow down and take it in. Here’s one of them from a few years back, taken in Fort Morgan, Alabama, part of that beautiful stretch of coastline I mentioned earlier.

5. Old Friends
I like to tell people that there are good people everywhere, and I’ve been blessed to make friends with some great men and women over the years, many of them in Alabama. Every trip I make across that state-line comes with hopes that I’ll be able to catch up with old friends. Because in a world where we feel more connected by way of social media, it’s becoming more and more important for me to make sure I’m prioritizing those in-person interactions with old friends. And that doesn’t just mean it has to be catching up when we’re all back in the Yellowhammer State, either. Here’s a photo from a great friend getting married on Maui back in 2023.

6. Family
There was a time when I could stop in and see one of grandmothers at her farm that was north of Montgomery or grab lunch in Birmingham with another (my Grandell was a city girl through and through). Those days are behind me, though, and I miss them. Still, I try to focus on being as present as possible when I get to see those family members and in-laws, and it’s a great reason to get back for a visit to Alabama.

7. Auburn
I started my time at Auburn University in 2005, and left with my diploma, life-long friendships, and lessons I still carry with me to this day. On top of it all, I had unbelievable luck on the last day of my freshman year when I met an incredible girl from South Georgia, one who some years later agreed to be my wife!

The Loveliest Village on the Plains may be last on this list, but there’s no other place in Alabama that’s had more of an impact on my life. War Eagle!

8. Auburn Football

Auburn University is more than just football, but football season–what many from the South use interchangeably for that last season: fall–is at the core of so many great memories I continue to associate with Alabama. It’s a War Eagle! (maybe, Roll Tide for others) for those who know the special hold that that college football has on the state, and it’s one that got ahold of me from the early days of childhood. Here’s a copy of the last issue of Lindy’s Sports, one I’ve read with all the hope and anticipation that comes with another season of football on The Plains.