Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament of Our Lady of the Angels Monastery
Built by Mother Angelica and located in the City of Hanceville, it is the home of the Poor Clare nuns of the Perpetual Adoration. It is modeled after European 13th century monasteries with both Spanish and Italian influences. The monastery features stained glass windows from Germany, building stone from Canada, marble pillars and inlaid marble designs from Italy, roofing tiles from Columbia, South America, carved stonework decorations from artisans in Spain, and the main altar area is made of carved cedar covered in gold leaf. The Monastery Chapel and grounds are open to the public from 6 AM until 6 PM, Masses are held daily at 7 AM with confessions heard directly following the mass. Gift Shop is Open 8 AM – 5 PM Monday – Saturday.
FREE, Groups Welcome. (256) 352-6267
www.olamshrine.com

Smith Lake
Smith Lake impounds approximately 21,000 acres with over 500 miles of shores, primarily in Cullman and Winston counties. It is a deep, clear lake with dozens of different feeder streams, winding bays and sloughs. Steep bluffs cradle much of the lake, with water depths dropping as deep as 60 or 70 feet just a few yards offshore. Access to the lake is easy from I-65 in Cullman via Alabama Highway 69, Exits 299 and 304.

The big bass months on Smith Lake are February, March and early April with October and November also being excellent times. Action continues through the summer, but is best very early and late, or at night. Crappie action is best in April and May with stiped bass hunting good year-round.

The deep waters leaving Smith Lake provide a fishery unique within Alabama. The Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior River below Lewis Smith Dam remains in the 50°-65° range all year. These temperatures are too cold for native populations to thrive, but the cold water provides an opportunity for anglers interested in rainbow trout to test their skills. The tailwaters also provide a seasonal skipjack herring fishery (March-April). Visit www.outdooralabama.com/fishing/freshwater/where/rivers/smithlaketailwaters/ for more information.

Clarkson Covered Bridge
One of Alabama's largest covered truss bridges and the site of the 1863 Battle of Hog Mountain. Named to the National Register of Historic Places, the bridge is the centerpiece of a public park spanning a shallow creek surrounded by hiking trails and picnic grounds, Open Daily.
FREE, groups welcome — (256) 734-3369
www.cullmancountyparks.com/clarkson.htm

North Alabama Birding Trail
For millions of years, the Tennessee River has cut its way through the Cumberland Plateau carving the Tennessee Valley, one of the most diverse and beautiful landscapes in the south. Dense woodlands and rich waters contribute to a natural diversity of birds and other wildlife.

This year the area became home to the North Alabama Birding Trail, one of America’s newest bird watching trails. The trail features 50 designated stations, many with a developed kiosk, which allows visitors to observe a rich diversity of feathered friends.

The trail is offered in three loops - the Central Loop, the Northeast Loop and the Northwest Loop - that encompass stops from the Georgia to Mississippi borders.

Cullman area Birding Site, Central Loop:
Trail Site 32: Hurricane Creek Park — Kiosk Site
GPS Coordinates: N 34.2860, W 86.8950
Contact: Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce/Hurricane Creek Park
Phone: (256) 734-0454 or (800) 313-5114/(256) 734-2125

Directions: From the intersection of Interstate-65 and US Hwy 31 near Lacon, Ala., take Exit 318 and drive south on Hwy 31 South for 2.2 miles to the park entrance on the left.

Description: Hurricane Creek Park is known for its scenic deep canyon, which is heavily wooded with mature hardwoods. The park offers a number of trails, leading birders through a landscape crisscrossed by streams and waterfalls. As you walk the trails, listen for Red-eyed Vireos and Great Crested Flycatchers among the numberous Northern Cardinals and Carolina Chickadees. Peer through the canopy for Red-tailed and Red-shouldered hawks soaring high overhead. During the winter, White-breasted Nuthatches and Yellow-rumped Warblers join the cardinals and chickadees, while almost anything could appear during migration.

For a trail map and brochure, contact the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau at (256) 734-0454 or (800) 313-5114 or via e-mail at: cullman@corrcomm.net or visit www.northalabamabirdingtrail.com.

Cullman County Museum
This replica of the home of city founder Col. John G. Cullmann houses thousands of historical items dating back to the early 1800's. Displays include an Archaeological Room with Indian artifacts, a Primitive Room showing turn-of-the- century tools, a Clothing Store with outfits from the 1800's, a Main Street exhibit with 19th century storefronts, and a photo gallery. Open Monday - Friday 9 AM - noon and 1-4 PM.; and Sunday 1:30-4:30 PM.
Admission, Group Rates Available — (256) 739-1258
www.cullman.com/museum

Evelyn Burrow Museum of Wallace State College
The museum houses a $9.5 million collection and includes 5,000 pieces from around the world acquired over 65 years. This is one of the finest collections of its kind in the world today. Object d’art in the Museum date as far back as the 1600s. Other pieces are so rare they are priceless. The Museum boasts one of the largest known collections of horse sculptures in existence.
FREE, groups welcome — (256) 775-7477
www.wallacestate.edu/museum

Echota Cherokee Interpretive Center
The Echota Cherokee Interpretive Trails has approximately 1.5 miles of naturalized trails with a wide variety of native plants and trees. Many of the plants are labeled for identification. Middle, Lower, and Over the Hill Trail. These trails were named because of the different towns of the Cherokee Nation: the Middle Towns, Lower Towns, and Over the Hill Towns. An 1860’s log house shows the architecture and the life of early Americanized Cherokees. Features an Outdoor Classroom that will seat approximately 30 children. Outdoor educational programs include: environmental responsibility, ecology, biology, history, and cultural information.
FREE, Tours are scheduled by appointment only, (256) 734-7337 or via e-mail: echotacherokeetribeofal@yahoo.com
www.echotacherokeetribe.com

Smith Lake Park
Over 500 miles of shoreline for camping, and 21,000 acres of clear water for sport fishing, skiing, and boating are all accessible from Smith Lake Park. This back-to-nature park offers 200-plus tent and RV campsites, cabins, a swimming pool (in season), spiral waterslide and lake swimming, picnic area, pavillions and special events throughout the summer. The park also offers a rod-reel and tacklebox loaner program for kids.
Admission — (256) 739-2916
www.cullmancountyparks.com/smithlake.htm

Heritage Park
The cornerstone of Cullman's city parks, the 70-acre complex offers five lighted championship softball fields with underground dugouts and phones, soccer fields, picnic shelters, multipurpose fields, outdoor basketball courts, pavilions, children's playgrounds, 1.5 mile lighted paved fitness trail, water play area, and recognition garden.
(256) 739-9931
www.cullmanrecreation.org

Hurricane Creek Park
The scenic park features hiking & mountain biking trails with amazing natural beauty, a swinging bridge over a crystal clear creek, waterfalls, hanging cliffs, primitive camp sites, rock climbing, guided tours, shady picnic areas and Site #32 on the North Alabama Birding Trail. The hike takes you from the top of the cliffs to the valley below. Open Tuesday – Saturday 9 AM to 5 PM and Sundays 1-5 PM.
Admission, (256) 734-2125

Sportsman Lake Park
Situated within the Cullman city limits, the park offers a small-scale train which goes along the shore of the lake, fishing, a mini-Ferris wheel and a carousel, mini-golf, pedal boats, picnic area and pavillions.
(256) 734-0532
www.cullmancountyparks.com/sportsman.htm

Cullman County Agricultural Center
The Ag Center is the focal point of many music events , sports competitions, far exhibitions and family activities for a four-county area. A sampling of events include rodeos; dog agility shows; bluegrass and gospel festivals; Racking, Walking and Quarter Horse shows; 4-H events; outdoor exhibitions and Boer goat shows.
(256) 739-4959

Peinhardt Living History Farm Days
Peinhardt Edgewood Farm is primarily an evolving family farm focusing on rural life in the 1930's and 1940's. Farm days in October educate students on what life was like as a farmer in those days.
Admission.

For more information, e-mail wfpmd@prn-inc.net or call: (256) 737-8009

Cullman Depot
This Pueblo style stucco building has been designated a historical landmark by the National Register of Historical Places, and serves as the offices for United Way of Cullman County. The lobby contains displays of vintage railroad related items. The Depot was restored from 1994-1997 by the Citizens of Cullman County and the City of Cullman with the help of the Alabama Historical Commission and Alabama Department of Transportation.
FREE, Groups available — (256) 739-2948

Weiss Cottage
Cullman's oldest home is listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage and the National Registry of Historical Places.
Open by appointment only — (256) 739-1258

Historical Districts
Cullman County has many historic sites for visitors to the area to enjoy. There are several sites registered on the National Trust for Historic Sites in Washington, D.C. — the Crane Hill Masonic Lodge, Shady Grove Methodist Church, The Green-Owens House and The Stiefelmeyer Building. Other nationally registered sites include Clarkson Covered Bridge, Ave Maria Grotto and the L&N Railroad Depot.

There are three historic districts in the City of Cullman — the downtown business district, the residential district of “Die Deutsche Kolonie Von Nord Alabama” (The German Colony of North Alabama) which consists of mostly Victorian type architecture and the Betz Addition Historic District which is composed of 72 residential structures dating from the 1800s.

For more information contact the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce, (256) 734-0454. www.VisitCullman.org.

Cullman County offers events and festivals throughout the year which draws locals, as well as folks from the surrounding area. Some of the largest events include the Cullman County Fair, the Bloomin’ Festival, Oktoberfest, Indian Festival, Alabama Gourd Show, Smith Lake Park’s 4th of July Fireworks and Day in the Park.

The community also offers a variety of activities for the whole family to enjoy throughout the year.

The Arts Center – John Sachs Art Studio hosts dinner theater programs throughout the year featuring such popular performances as “Steel Magnolias” by Robert Harling and “A Bad Year for Tomatoes” a comedy by John Patrick.

The Cullman Community Concert Association has been the leading force for cultural enrichment in the county. Each year the association brings four to five stage productions to town, ranging from music to acrobats, opera to pop. All shows are staged at the Wallace State Community College Theater in Hanceville. While the City Parks & Recreation Department and The Cullman Times have partnered to offer a Summer Concerts in the Park — a weekly series held at Heritage Park and offered FREE to the community.

As an agricultural community, the Cullman County Agricultural Trade Center offers various events throughout the year such as the Boer Goat Show, indoor Motocross events, horse and mule shows, World Champion IPRA Rodeo and more.

For an up-to-date list of community events, visit the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce’s online Calendar of Events at www.VisitCullman.org and select

Cullman County Parks and Recreation is in charge of three parks: Smith Lake Park, Sportsman Lake Park and Clarkson Covered Bridge Park.

Smith Lake Park is on the shores of one of the state’s best lakes. Smith Lake is a 21,000-acre reservoir that’s great for water skiing or fishing. The deep waters of the lake provide a cool water environment for a vast variety of fish. Smith Lake teems with bass, crappie, bream and catfish and is the home of fishing tournaments throughout the year.

Sportsman Lake Park is in the heart of Cullman, featuring a lake, picnic pavilions, walking trails, a train and children’s rides. Sportsman Lake also includes paddle boats for a leisurely trip around the lake.

Clarkson Covered Bridge Park is where one of the state’s last remaining covered bridges is preserved for the public. With the help of grant funds, the county is set to begin needed restoration work on the bridge this year.

Cullman City Parks and Recreation oversees Heritage Park, featuring tournament-caliber ball fields, a walking trail, picnic pavilions, soccer fields and more. In addition to Heritage Park, there is also Ingle Park, where kids come to play basketball and seniors come to play games at the recreation center and Nesmith Park, which features youth ball fields, tennis courts and a swimming pool.

City Parks and Recreation also oversees other recreational outlets such as the Cullman Civic Center, which is booked nearly every weekend with conventions, concerts, craft shows and more. The city department also offers a variety of classes, teaching everything from dance to flower arrangement as well as youngsters with recreational youth baseball, soccer and softball.

Hurricane Creek Park, a wilderness park located on U.S. Highway 31 just north of Vinemont, is also a park of the city department. The park offers everything the outdoor enthusiast or adventurer could want with hiking trails, picnic area, mountain biking trails, primitive camping, birding, rock climbing and scenic beauty in the picturesque setting of Hurricane Creek gorge.

Golfers love Cullman County, and for good reason. The county is home to a handful of quality golf courses. All are 18-hole championship-caliber courses that host a variety of tournaments throughout the golf season.

Chesley Oaks is a course based upon the design of those in the birthplace of golf, Scotland. Cullman Golf Course and Terri Pines are both well manicured and contoured.

The three courses are staffed by golf professionals. Individual lessons are held at each course, as are clinics throughout the year. All the courses in the Cullman area host flighted single-stroke tournaments throughout the year and each are sites of several charity golf tournaments, including the Cullman Regional Medical Center’s Million Dollar Hole-in-One contest held at Cullman Golf Course and an annual CorrWireless charity tournament that brings former college and professional stars each spring to Terri Pines. Chesley Oaks has played host to some of the top state amateurs in the Alabama Senior Open and the Alabama Left-Handers Classic.

• Cullman County Parks
  www.cullmancountyparks.com
  
  
• City of Cullman Parks & Recreation
  www.cullmanrecreation.org
  
  
• Hurricane Creek Park
  www.hurricanecreek.homestead.com
  
  
• Full list of area attractions
  www.VisitCullman.org
  
  
  

Downtown Cullman boasts the Warehouse District — renovated buildings on First Avenue that developers turned into an array of specialty shops, offices and restaurants.

Shopping centers located at each end of town feature retail and chain stores with merchandise to meet any shopper’s needs. Business owners line U.S. Highway 31 — the prime commercial artery through town.

“Part of our strength is the locally-owned specialty shops,” said Kirk Mancer, president of the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce. “Several area business and building owners continually upgrade the look of their area which enhances the customers’ shopping experience.”

And Mancer wants people to know downtown are not the only place to find good places to shop and eat.

“We have strong, locally-owned businesses throughout Cullman County,” he said. “Usually the vitality of the business community is judged by the central business district which is very strong.”

Hanceville, located about 10 miles south of Cullman, has seen an increase in business activity. Several stores have worked over the last year to improve facilities, and the city has obtained a downtown revitalization grant to do more with its central shopping district.

Business owners say the array of specialty shops attracts shoppers from all over.