Your Labor Day Detour!

Labor Day weekend is a perfectly good excuse to ignore the interstate exit you always take. With an extra day on the calendar, Alabama has room for art, open water, canyon views, and a few wonderfully unusual machines.

Start With a Little Action

On Sunday, September 6, Art Sunday turns Scottsboro’s King Caldwell Park into an open-air gathering of juried artists, local artisans, food vendors, live music, and children’s activities. The long-running northeast Alabama festival makes an easy centerpiece for a Sunday outing, particularly if your idea of holiday shopping involves meeting the person who actually made what you’re buying.

For something with considerably more horsepower, the MagikCity Slingers 2nd Annual 3 Wheel Encounter comes to Sloss Furnaces over the holiday weekend. Custom three-wheel vehicles are the main attraction, joined by vendors, entertainment, and family-friendly activities. Against Sloss Furnaces’ industrial backdrop, subtlety is hardly the point.

Then comes the useful question: What do you do with the rest of a three-day weekend?

Take the Long Way Home

Head toward Lake Martin and put the afternoon on lake time with a pontoon rental, or aim south and make the drive part of the outing. The Mobile Bay Ferry carries passengers and vehicles across the mouth of Mobile Bay between Fort Morgan and Dauphin Island, turning what could be another stretch behind the wheel into a trip across the water.

Farther north, Little River Canyon National Preserve offers a change of scenery with waterfalls, trails, and overlooks along the canyon. Little River Falls drops 45 feet, while the scenic drive along the Little River Canyon Rim Parkway includes eight overlooks. It’s worth remembering that waterfall flow varies by season, so September scenery may look different depending on recent rain.

For an easier afternoon, Jules J. Berta Vineyards in Albertville offers locally made wine, while Lake Guntersville State Park puts fishing, boating, and lake views on the table.

At the end of the day, the best Labor Day plan may be leaving a little room for a detour. With three days to work with, there’s no reason to rush home. Pick an event, add a stop you haven’t made before, and let Labor Day weekend take the scenic route.

Find more ways to get out and about at https://www.guidetoalabama.com/recreation-places!