Food Scene
Based out of Birmingham, AL, this tiny shop has the best popsicles on the planet. Opens at noon most days. Walking distance from Campus and Downtown. Fruity or Creamy --both menus are the best, somehow. Avocado + Sugar + Cream. Blackberries + Sugar + Water. Locally sourced ingredients, real food, a real treat!
Steel City Pops
2128 University BlvdBased out of Birmingham, AL, this tiny shop has the best popsicles on the planet. Opens at noon most days. Walking distance from Campus and Downtown. Fruity or Creamy --both menus are the best, somehow. Avocado + Sugar + Cream. Blackberries + Sugar + Water. Locally sourced ingredients, real food, a real treat!
Heritage House has the best atmosphere. Get work done or chill, drink coffee or tea, nibble on salad or sweets. Leave prayer requests on the bulletin board at the back. There's even a drive-thru, if you don't have time for the best atmosphere around!
31 locals recommend
Heritage House Coffee & Tea
700 Towncenter BlvdHeritage House has the best atmosphere. Get work done or chill, drink coffee or tea, nibble on salad or sweets. Leave prayer requests on the bulletin board at the back. There's even a drive-thru, if you don't have time for the best atmosphere around!
For me, it's the dark chocolate-covered pretzels. Peterbrooke's got something for anybody with a sweet tooth, though. Gelato, gift baskets, chocolate-covered wine bottles... That royal blue bag with the pink paper means you bought something extremely yummy.
Peterbrooke Chocolatier
1530 Mcfarland Blvd NFor me, it's the dark chocolate-covered pretzels. Peterbrooke's got something for anybody with a sweet tooth, though. Gelato, gift baskets, chocolate-covered wine bottles... That royal blue bag with the pink paper means you bought something extremely yummy.
You have to park around back of this very small, often crowded, historic restaurant. If you care in the least about Alabama Football, absolutely eat breakfast here and soak in the Crimson Tide. Animal-shaped pancakes recommended for the kids.
10 locals recommend
Waysider
1512 Greensboro AvenueYou have to park around back of this very small, often crowded, historic restaurant. If you care in the least about Alabama Football, absolutely eat breakfast here and soak in the Crimson Tide. Animal-shaped pancakes recommended for the kids.
"More sweet tea, hon?" This place is the real deal. Older than any other place I know of. Open only for breakfast and lunch, Monday through Friday, because they can. A long line forms around 11am, and booths are first come first serve. Good Southern food, and the veggies are never cooked in animal fat. Try the fried okra and the fried green tomatoes!
28 locals recommend
City Cafe
408 Main Ave"More sweet tea, hon?" This place is the real deal. Older than any other place I know of. Open only for breakfast and lunch, Monday through Friday, because they can. A long line forms around 11am, and booths are first come first serve. Good Southern food, and the veggies are never cooked in animal fat. Try the fried okra and the fried green tomatoes!
"Under the Biggest Cactus in Town", you'll find the best Mexican fast food anywhere. Taco Casa's local flavor and quick service make it a winner for lunch or dinner. Six locations in Tuscaloosa and Northport, plus one in Birmingham.
Taco Casa
4530 Rice Mine Rd NE"Under the Biggest Cactus in Town", you'll find the best Mexican fast food anywhere. Taco Casa's local flavor and quick service make it a winner for lunch or dinner. Six locations in Tuscaloosa and Northport, plus one in Birmingham.
Iguana Grill offers good Mexican food in a beautiful atmosphere, in close proximity to lots of other shops in Midtown. It's right across from the small fenced playground, and an easy walk from Barnes & Noble, Best Buy, and Starbucks.
Iguana Grill
Iguana Grill offers good Mexican food in a beautiful atmosphere, in close proximity to lots of other shops in Midtown. It's right across from the small fenced playground, and an easy walk from Barnes & Noble, Best Buy, and Starbucks.
With locally-sourced strawberries in their strawberry lemonade and a variety of old-fashioned games to play while waiting for your food, Urban Cookhouse is a family favorite. Best veggie quesadilla in town, for sure.
10 locals recommend
Urban Cookhouse
1490 Northbank PkwyWith locally-sourced strawberries in their strawberry lemonade and a variety of old-fashioned games to play while waiting for your food, Urban Cookhouse is a family favorite. Best veggie quesadilla in town, for sure.
You choose all the makings of your pizza, like at a Subway sandwich counter, but better. We like to see our personalized Za go from paddle into open oven, then go wash our hands in the automated hand-washer. Ah, spicy marinara, pesto, artichoke, olive, zucchini, garlic, broccoli, and sun-dried tomato bliss.
PYRO's Fire Fresh Pizza
1320 McFarland Blvd EYou choose all the makings of your pizza, like at a Subway sandwich counter, but better. We like to see our personalized Za go from paddle into open oven, then go wash our hands in the automated hand-washer. Ah, spicy marinara, pesto, artichoke, olive, zucchini, garlic, broccoli, and sun-dried tomato bliss.
This second location of our favorite coffee shop is in Downtown Tuscaloosa, close to campus and tons of other restaurants.
Heritage House Alberta
2614 University Blvd EThis second location of our favorite coffee shop is in Downtown Tuscaloosa, close to campus and tons of other restaurants.
Essentials
Shopping really is a pleasure where the employees will assist you with anything you need, you can find everything on your grocery list, and the bagger from check-out will help you to your car. I love Publix. (They have a pharmacy, too, and a free cookie for the kids.) ((Whoever shops for Coach Saban probably shops here.))
Publix Super Market at The Shops of Lake Tuscaloosa
4851 Rice Mine Rd NEShopping really is a pleasure where the employees will assist you with anything you need, you can find everything on your grocery list, and the bagger from check-out will help you to your car. I love Publix. (They have a pharmacy, too, and a free cookie for the kids.) ((Whoever shops for Coach Saban probably shops here.))
Parks & Nature
Sokol Park has forest trails for jogging or biking, pavilions for cooking out or picnicking, playgrounds for the kiddos, and even a dog park divided for large and small dogs.
Will May Dog Park
5901 Watermelon RdSokol Park has forest trails for jogging or biking, pavilions for cooking out or picnicking, playgrounds for the kiddos, and even a dog park divided for large and small dogs.
Ol' Colony, an 18-hole championship golf course, was ranked "Best Public Course in Alabama" by Golf Digest and "Top 50 in the USA" by Golf Weekly. It includes 25 acres of lakes and over 70 bunkers on nearly 600 acres of land. Open 7 days a week.
Ol’ Colony Golf Complex
401 Old Colony RdOl' Colony, an 18-hole championship golf course, was ranked "Best Public Course in Alabama" by Golf Digest and "Top 50 in the USA" by Golf Weekly. It includes 25 acres of lakes and over 70 bunkers on nearly 600 acres of land. Open 7 days a week.
Situated on 60 acres of protected forest, the UA Arboretum is a gorgeous place to hike trails or walk your dog on leash. Native plants are maintained for study and enjoyment; so you'll see some plants with ID plaques. Find out the difference between a Sweetbay Magnolia and a Loblolly Bay!
8 locals recommend
The University of Alabama Arboretum
4801 Arboretum WaySituated on 60 acres of protected forest, the UA Arboretum is a gorgeous place to hike trails or walk your dog on leash. Native plants are maintained for study and enjoyment; so you'll see some plants with ID plaques. Find out the difference between a Sweetbay Magnolia and a Loblolly Bay!
Arts & Culture
While everything in Downtown Northport is worth a look, the Kentuck Art Center is a tiny but ever-changing gem that shouldn't be missed. Art nights and other demonstration events are frequently on its calendar.
20 locals recommend
Kentuck Art Center & Festival
503 Main AveWhile everything in Downtown Northport is worth a look, the Kentuck Art Center is a tiny but ever-changing gem that shouldn't be missed. Art nights and other demonstration events are frequently on its calendar.
Shopping
The farmer's market of souvenir shops. The Makers Market is my go-to spot for unique gifts made by local or regional craftsmen and artists. Well-organized, fun, with a good range of prices.
the makers market
401 22nd AveThe farmer's market of souvenir shops. The Makers Market is my go-to spot for unique gifts made by local or regional craftsmen and artists. Well-organized, fun, with a good range of prices.
This small shop is packed with the cream of the crop of toys, from nostalgic to nifty new. They offer complimentary gift-wrapping and toy assembly. Nothing dinky, everything a great fun find.
The Toy Shoppe
431 Main AveThis small shop is packed with the cream of the crop of toys, from nostalgic to nifty new. They offer complimentary gift-wrapping and toy assembly. Nothing dinky, everything a great fun find.
Entertainment & Activities
You choose a ceramic item, paint it however you like, they fire it in the kiln, and you have a one-of-a-kind souvenir of your visit to Tuscaloosa. Check with the staff about having your finished item picked up by a local contact or shipped to you when ready. Dinner plates, piggy banks, spoon rests, a frog-shaped steel wool holder: we have all these works of art in our home, thanks to All Fired Up!
All Fired Up
You choose a ceramic item, paint it however you like, they fire it in the kiln, and you have a one-of-a-kind souvenir of your visit to Tuscaloosa. Check with the staff about having your finished item picked up by a local contact or shipped to you when ready. Dinner plates, piggy banks, spoon rests, a frog-shaped steel wool holder: we have all these works of art in our home, thanks to All Fired Up!
Take in a movie at the Hollywood 16 Tuscaloosa: it offers stadium seating, a good selection of shows and times, and lots to munch on in addition to popcorn.
7 locals recommend
Cobb Hollywood 16 Cinema
4250 Old Greensboro RdTake in a movie at the Hollywood 16 Tuscaloosa: it offers stadium seating, a good selection of shows and times, and lots to munch on in addition to popcorn.
Sightseeing
The closer to game time, the more crowded the Walk of Champions on the north side of Bryant-Denny Stadium will be. ESPN Gameday broadcasts from here when in Tuscaloosa, amid bronze statues of Alabama's national championship-winning football coaches: Nick Saban, Paul "Bear" Bryant, Gene Stallings, Wallace Wade, and Frank Thomas. Great photo-op!
Walk of Champions
Walk of ChampionsThe closer to game time, the more crowded the Walk of Champions on the north side of Bryant-Denny Stadium will be. ESPN Gameday broadcasts from here when in Tuscaloosa, amid bronze statues of Alabama's national championship-winning football coaches: Nick Saban, Paul "Bear" Bryant, Gene Stallings, Wallace Wade, and Frank Thomas. Great photo-op!