Tuesday, April 8, 2008

The Regions of Alabama

Alabama is comprised of coastal plains at the Gulf of Mexico turning to hills and broken terrain in the north. Five major land areas make up the Alabama landscape with more than two thirds of the state covered by the East Gulf Coastal Plain. You may view a generalized map of these regions or a detailed map that includes more specifics and the Black Belt Prairie.

Central Alabama- Central Alabama includes the area surrounding Montgomery, Auburn and Tuscaloosa. The Tuskegee National Forest, a portion of the Talladega National Forest, numerous State Parks and several large lakes can be found in this area.Gulf Coast Region- The Gulf Coast Region encompasses the southernmost portion of the state, in southwest Alabama. Mobile is the largest city in this region. The Gulf Coast offers white sand beaches, lakes, coves, and bayous.North Alabama- North Alabama includes the northern third of the state, from Birmingham, north. This region offers waterfalls, fish-filled rivers and lakes, rapids suited for rafting and caves to explore.Southeast Alabama- Southeast Alabama includes the area around Dothan, Eufaula, Troy and Andalusia. The region is home to the Conecuh National Forest and several State Parks

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Retire to Alabama

The State of Alabama is located in the southern region of the United States of America. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland waterways. The state ranks 23rd in population with almost 4.6 million residents in 2006. Alabama is unofficially nicknamed the Yellowhammer State, which is also the name of the state bird. Alabama is also known as the "Heart of Dixie". The state tree is the Longleaf Pine, the state flower is the Camellia. The capital of Alabama is Montgomery, and the largest city is Birmingham.

The fact that the cost of living, including home prices and taxes, are below the national average only adds to the state's attractiveness as a great place to retire. But perhaps nothing has spurred interest in Alabama as a retirement destination as much as the development of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, a system of more than twenty challenging courses spread out across the state at ten ecologically diverse locations. Combine over 50,000 acres of unspoiled wilderness in the rugged foothills of the Appalachian Mountains…miles of snow-white beaches and the pleasant sea breezes of the Gulf Coast... an almost total absence of urban congestion …and a unique and affordable collection of public golf courses… and you have a formula that makes the state of Alabama an extremely inviting place for thousands of retirees.