Florence, Alabama

Florence, Alabama is a city located in the Northwest corner of the state and is the county seat of Lauderdale County. Florence is the largest and principal city of “The Shoals”, an area consisting of Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia in Colbert and Lauderdale counties. Florence is considered the primary economic hub of Northwestern Alabama, renowned for its annual tourism events. In the Summer there is the W.C. Handy Music Festival, and in the Fall there is the Renaissance Faire. Florence also has several historic landmarks such as the Rosenbaum House, the only Frank Lloyd Wright designed home in the state of Alabama. Florence is somewhat of a coastal town, being situated on the Wilson Lake and Pickwick Lake, bodies of water on the Tennessee River dammed by Wheeler and Wilson Dams. These waterways only add to the area’s number of things to do and to the overall character of the city. The Shoals are home to some of the most legendary and important country/folk/blues musicians in the country’s history, so expect to hear some fantastic Southern music while here as well!

We’ve made a short list of some things to do and see while here in your RV rental Florence AL. We hope you use them to start your trip in the famous Alabama Shoals!

Popular Tourist Attractions in an RV Rental Florence Alabama

W.C. Handy Home, Museum, & Library

W.C. Handy (William Christopher Handy) was an American blues composer and musician, widely known as the “Father of the Blues.” Handy is considered one of the most influential American songwriters and is accredited with giving the blues its contemporary form. Today his childhood home is now a museum and library, making it one of the city’s most popular attractions and a must see for any blues lover in the world. The museum houses a collection of memorabilia, instruments, personal papers, original sheet music, and other significant items. The house and museum is a small cabin, so the tours are short but packed with fascinating information and pieces of history. The W.C. Handy Home, Museum, & Library is ranked #4 on TripAdvisor.com for attractions in Florence, with several rave reviews, many from people who didn’t know who W.C. Handy was before they stepped foot into the museum. Make sure to check out this remarkable home of American music history.

The Rosenbaum House

The Rosenbaum House is the only home in the state of Alabama designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, and was built for Stanley and Mildred Rosenbaum. The house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, and remained in the Rosenbaum family until 1999. At this time, the house was in poor condition, with significant water penetration and termite damage. The Rosenbaum’s then donated the house to the City of Florence and sold the furniture and contents of the house to the city for $75,000. The city then spent $600,000 on repairs and opened the home as a public museum in 2002. The Rosenbaum House is ranked #1 on TripAdvisor.com for attractions in Florence and received their Certificate of Excellence for 2014. Frank Lloyd Wright’s homes are popular tourist attractions all across the United States, and the Rosenbaum House is no exception to this rule. It is an awesome, little Florence gem.

The University of North Alabama is a coeducational university in Florence and is the state’s oldest four-year public university. The university occupies 130-acres and is located within a four-city area that also includes Tuscumbia, Sheffield, and Muscle Shoals. UNA will celebrate its 185 anniversary in 2015 and has developed into one of the major influences on cultural, social, and economic life of Northwest Alabama. The campus is incredibly beautiful, with immaculate landscaping upkeep and fantastic architecture from the early 1800’s. The campus offers several tours and informational programs on the history of the UNA. There are several halls, University Centers, an amphitheater, the Opler Clock, the Presidents Home, and other fantastic attractions on the grounds. The University of North Alabama also operates a successful athletics program in NCAA Division II’s Gulf South Conference. Catching a football or basketball game is another fantastic thing the University offers for visitors and tourists.

Campgrounds and State/National Parks

Heritage Acres RV Park

Heritage Acres RV Park is located just 20 minutes South of Downtown Florence and is one of the area’s highest ranked and popular RV parks. It also a Good Sam Certified RV Park, offering RVers a quality place to park their rig while in the Shoals. The park has a total of 61 total spaces, 41 of which are full hookup sites. The amenities here at Heritage Acres RV Park include: Wifi & cable TV, dump stations, laundry, LP gas by meter, restrooms, RV supplies, a self-service RV wash, showers, quality gravel interior roads, 50 amp sites, big rig sites, an emergency phone, handicap access, pets are welcome but with a breed restriction, discounts and more for your travel trailer rental Florence AL. Heritage Acres RV Park is one of the best options for anyone exploring the Florence area in an RV. Book your stay here for your camper rental Florence AL!

Decatur / Wheeler Lake KOA

Decatur / Wheeler Lake KOA is located 45 minutes East of Florence, Alabama in Hillsboro, Alabama and is one of the regions highest rated campgrounds. While Decatur / Wheeler isn’t the closest RV park, it does offer RVers a great place to stay and an opportunity to explore a larger area of Northwest Alabama. The KOA has numerous sites, some of which are full hookup sites. The amenities here include: Mallard Creek, the Tennessee River, tenting, restrooms, dump stations, a covered pavilion, LP gas, firewood, laundry facilities, a campground store, pets are welcome with breed restrictions, swimming, boating, fishing, skiing, jet skiing, canoeing, picnicking, trails, and much more for your motorhome rental Florence AL</span>. KOAs are regularly considered some of the finer campgrounds wherever they are located throughout the country, and Decatur / Wheeler definitely lives up to this legend.

Events 

Festivals

The W.C. Handy Festival is a 10-day celebration and series of events held in the Shoals each year, and is an award winning festival named after the “Father of the Blues.” The festival has been recognized by the Alabama Department of Tourism Top 10 Event, Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 Event for Summer, and a Top 100 American Bus Association Event in North America. The W.C. Handy Festival is just an awesome event.

The Alabama Renaissance Faire began in 1987 and has turned into one of the most successful Renaissance Fairs in the country. While many people associate these festivals with certain judgments and stereotypes, the truth is these festivals are incredibly entertaining. Come and enjoy the celebration of a forgotten time with delicious food and drink, wonderful dances and music, and a hospitality and uniqueness that isn’t found at many other festivals.

Florence is another city in Alabama that brings its own flavor and personality to the American South, and is one that shouldn’t be looked over. There are some magical things going on here!

Thank you for choosing RVshare for your Florence, Alabama RV rental!