Northern Alabama offers hills and forests for hiking and climbing and a long string of lakes for water sports. Catch a glimpse into the future at the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville; or visit some of Alabama's historic past at the W. C. Handy Home and Museum in Florence or at Ivy Green, the birthplace of Helen Keller, in Tuscumbia. Big-city life can be enjoyed in Birmingham, the state's largest city and home of the famous Vulcan statue. Spanish moss, meandering rivers, and white-sand beaches are the setting in south Alabama. Gulf State Park, in Gulf Shores, offers miles of beaches. Fun-loving Mobile is the host-city for the oldest Mardi Gras celebration in the country. (Courtesy of Rand McNally http://www.randmcnally.com)