Spending a weekend in Montgomery may not be the most exciting thing to do; however, there are still a ton of ways to do it and still have a great time. After living in Montgomery for quite some time, I’ve learned a few things about how to enjoy time in a city that may not have flashier sites like many of the bigger cities in the US.
Place to Stay
The Renaissance Hotel
Considered to be Montgomery’s premier hotel and spa, The Renaissance is a short distance from many of the sites throughout the capital city. The incredible spa is where you can spend a relaxing evening after a day out on the town.
The Zelda Fitzgerald Suite
This Airbnb houses the only museum to Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald in the world. The couple stayed in this residence while they wrote their respective novels, “Tender is the Night” and “Save Me The Waltz.” It’s the perfect stay if you’re interested in the couple or if you’d like to learn more about the author of one of the most famous books in the world, “The Great Gatsby.”
Friday
Dinner
Just a short walk from many of the sites downtown, SaZa’s is one of the best places to get Italian food in Montgomery. Whether you’re getting pizza, meatballs or any of the other Italian classics that they have to offer, SaZa’s is the perfect place to grab dinner after unpacking in your hotel or Airbnb.
Entertainment
Situated on the Alabama River, Montgomery Riverfront Park is the perfect place to take a short walk while visiting many of the restaurants downtown. The riverfront park is home to the Harriet II, Montgomery’s own riverboat, an amphitheater as well as the historic Montgomery Union Station train shed. It’s the perfect place to take a walk and enjoy the peaceful views of the river on a summer afternoon.
Saturday
Breakfast
The Cahawba House is one of the best places to get breakfast in Montgomery, and maybe even the state of Alabama. They host a variety of Southern classics. Whether you want a Southern-style chicken biscuit, breakfast bowl or cheese grits, the Cahawba House has a variety of different options to choose from. Also, if you get there after breakfast time, they also serve quite a few lunch options from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., including some of the best beignets you can get in Alabama.
Early morning and late afternoon
Montgomery is full of history and there are plenty of ways to explore this. Here are a few places to visit on Saturday.
The National Memorial for Peace and Justice is a memorial to commemorate many of the lives that were lost to lynching in the United States. 805 steel rectangles denote the counties in which a documented lynching took place. Many of the names and dates of the victims are also engraved into the steel memorials. Additionally, a trip to the Legacy Museum is a necessary addition to a trip to Montgomery as many of the displays discuss the lynchings, segregation and enslavement of African Americans in further detail.
You can also tour the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church. A tour of this church allows you to view the pulpit of Martin Luther King Jr., where he helped to lead the Montgomery Bus Boycott. During his time as pastor, the church was also the site of many Civil Rights meetings that helped organize the Bus Boycott as well. Additionally, just a short drive away is the home of Martin Luther King Jr., where you can tour the home that he stayed in while he helped to lead the Civil Rights Movement in Montgomery.
Lunch
Chappy’s Deli is one of the best locally owned delis in Montgomery. Whether you’re looking for breakfast, lunch or dinner, Chappy’s has a variety of different menu options to choose from. Grab a quick lunch from here and decide what you want to do for the rest of the afternoon and evening.
Late afternoon and evening
There are a few things to choose from in Montgomery when it comes to evening entertainment.
The Alabama Shakespeare Festival is considered to be one of the largest Shakespeare Festivals in the world, they put on numerous productions throughout the year. The plays range in genre and playwright; however, they typically perform at least three works by Shakespeare. It’s a great place to watch an excellent performance during your stay in Montgomery.
You can also see a Montgomery Biscuits Baseball Game. Situated a short walk away from the Montgomery Riverfront park is Montgomery’s Minor League Baseball team, the Montgomery Biscuits. The stadium is filled with history. It was once a train shed that has since been turned into the exterior of the park. It’s the perfect place to go to watch a baseball game, grab some food and spend a perfect summer evening. If you’re lucky, you may even catch some of the future stars of the MLB.
Another option is the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. It is the oldest fine art museum in the state of Alabama and the museum has a collection of pieces from a variety of artists throughout the world, including works by Whistler, Dürer and Rembrandt. It’s an excellent place to spend an evening if you prefer to get away from the noisiness of downtown Montgomery.
Dinner
Irish Bred Pub was designed to create a place where the community can come together, make new friends, have some great food and drinks and experience some quality entertainment. It has a variety of traditional Irish-style food as well as a variety of typical American bar food entrees, making it one of the best restaurants to visit during your stay in Montgomery.
Sunday
Brunch
Martha’s Place is home to some of the most amazing Southern comfort food and serves some of the “best banana pudding in the world.” It’s the perfect place to visit if you’ve spent the day visiting some of the numerous Civil Rights museums and memorials throughout the town and need a place to relax and enjoy some Southern comfort. Also, if you’re lucky, you may be able to meet Martha herself and she can share with you her journey and the many challenges she has faced before owning her restaurant.
Shopping
The Shoppes at EastChase hosts a variety of stores and restaurants and is the premier shopping center in central Alabama. EastChase is an excellent place to go whether you’re looking for a quick bite to eat or a place to shop during your stay in Montgomery as well as to grab any goodies before you end your trip. Also, every Saturday the Shoppes at EastChase holds a farmers market, which is the best place to grab some products from many small businesses throughout the central Alabama area.
