100 Things to Do in Montgomery Before You Die

Book excerpt: As a central location for the Civil Rights Movement, the historical significance of Montgomery is heavy. But that heaviness created a strong foundation for the area’s vibrant present and dynamic future. At the Rosa Parks Museum, learn how her wrongful arrest for refusing to give up her seat on a bus resulted in a 13-month city bus boycott. See the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church where a young Martin Luther King Jr. pastored his first church, and experience powerful stories at the Legacy Museum. In 100 Things to Do in Montgomery Before You Die, you’ll discover more civil rights locations, but you’ll also find restaurants, art and music venues, parks, special events, shopping excursions, and outdoor adventures. This book celebrates the entire River Region of Montgomery, Elmore, and Autauga Counties. Enjoy the area’s diverse food scene from Venezuelan specialities at D’Road Cafe to Korean cuisine at So Gong Dong Tofu & BBQ along with Cajun and Creole favorites from Uncle Mick’s or Wishbone Cafe. Visit the Fitzgerald Museum to hear the tumultuous love story of F. Scott and Montgomery’s own Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald. Listen to the tunes of Hank Williams at his namesake museum. In Prattville, enjoy a refreshing drink from an artesian well and stroll through a bamboo forest in Wilderness Park. In neighboring Wetumpka, hike along the trails at Fort Toulouse–Fort Jackson Park or kayak with Coosa River Adventures. Millbrook is the best spot for a game of pickleball, and it’s home to the fictional town of Spectre from the film Big Fish. Local author Mary Johns Wilson has called the River Region home for more than a decade, and this book is her tribute to locals who have dedicated their time and energy to making the River Region a better place.