Raycom program will promote civil rights landmarks
More than 60 Raycom Media television stations will air a documentary tracing the path of the civil rights struggle through churches, courthouses, jail cells and other historic sites across the South.

“Many of the communities served by Raycom Media television stations were at the forefront of our nation’s civil rights movement,” said Raycom Media President and CEO Pat LaPlatney. “These are important stories to tell and we are honored to be part of this effort to share and preserve them.” Documentary producer Dave McNamara created the program.
The project was inspired by the U.S. Civil Rights Trail, a campaign by Southern  state tourism departments to link the landmarks that played a pivotal role in advancing social justice. It chronicles the stories of many civil rights activists and others who continue working for the cause. Alabama tourism director Lee Sentell said the documentary will encourage visitors to seek out important destinations to visit. “What happened at these sites changed the world,” he said.

The program will air on Montgomery’s WSFA on Sat., Feb. 17 at 11 a.m., Birmingham’s WBRC on Sat., Feb. 24 at 6 p.m., and Huntsville’s WAFF on Sunday, March 4 at 10:35 p.m. Dothan’s WDFX will air the program twice: Sat., Feb. 24 at 5 p.m. and Sun., March 4 at noon.

“Trail of Hope: The Journey to Equality” is sponsored by the Alabama Tourism Department, the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and local Ford dealers.

Sentell promotes Alabama to one million radio listeners
Alabama Tourism director Lee Sentell taped a 30-minute radio interview while in New York City that veteran host and executive producer Paul Lasley broadcast the following day to approximately one million listeners via the U.S. Armed Forces Radio Network. Sentell and USA Todaytravel columnist Larry Bleiberg discussed the highly successful new U.S. Civil Rights Trail that was launched on Jan. 15. The state tourism department participated in the 15th annual New York Times Travel Show.

Auburn’s Kreher Preserve and Nature Center to be part of Alabama Birding Trails
The Alabama Birding Trails has announced that Auburn University’s Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve, informally known as the Kreher Preserve and Nature Center, will be designated as an Alabama Birding Trail location as part of the regional Piedmont Valley Birding Trail.

The 120-acre preserve, located just north of Auburn, features five miles of well-marked trails which traverse seven natural bird habitats including pine, oak/hickory, bottomland hardwood and mixed pine/hardwood.  As part of the Saugahatchee Creek Watershed, visitors will also find a stream, small waterfall, pond and wetland areas.

Approximately 80 different bird species can be found on the property throughout the year, including the Belted Kingfisher, Mississippi Kite and Indigo Bunting. The preserve habitat hosts migratory birds in the spring such as warblers, vireos, tanagers and orioles.  Fall and wintering birds such as nuthatches, kinglets and woodpeckers are frequently observed.

Visitors to the Kreher Preserve are also able to observe various species of raptors including hawks, owls and vultures. Nesting Bald Eagles are present on nearby properties and are frequently observed flying into and over the preserve.

“The Kreher Preserve and Nature Center is enjoyed by the university community as well thousands of locals and visitors every year,” said Janaki Alavalapati, dean of the Auburn University School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences. “We hope that by adding it to the Alabama Birding Trail even more families will be exposed to the opportunity to enjoy this unique discovery center with its miles of beautiful trails, natural habitats and educational programs.”

Preliminary findings from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2016 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation estimates that in 2016, more than 101 million Americans – nearly 40 percent of the U.S. population – participates in some form of fishing, hunting or other wildlife-associated recreation such as birdwatching or outdoor photography.

“The economic impact of outdoor and wildlife-related recreation is a boom for the U.S. economy representing nearly 1 percent of the gross domestic product,” said John Wild, president of the Auburn Opelika Tourism Bureau.

“With the addition of the Kreher Preserve and the Lee County Fishing Lake to the growing list of birding sites in Lee County, including the Wood Duck Preserve and Chewacla State Park, we anticipate the new designations will draw more people to the Auburn/Opelika area who will also visit our hotels, enjoy meals in restaurants and make retail purchases while they are here,” Wild said.

The Kreher Preserve and Nature Center is located at 2222 North College St., in Auburn. It is open to the public every day from sunrise to sunset and features amenities such as a picnic area, restrooms, drinking fountains, boardwalks and two improved parking areas.

The preserve was established in 1993 with a gift of land from Louise Kreher Turner and Frank Allen Turner to Auburn University and is operated by the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences as a not-for-profit outreach program.

The Alabama Birding Trails is a partnership of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the University of Alabama Center for Economic Development and the Birmingham Audubon Society.  It highlights many of the birds found in Alabama and encourages economic development through a tourism-based model.

More information about the Kreher Preserve and Nature Center can be found online at http://wp.auburn.edu/preserve/

More information about Alabama Birding Trails can be found online at https://alabamabirdingtrails.com/

Frontier Airlines to start service from BHM
From the article by Angel Coker in the Birmingham Business Journal:

A new airline is coming to Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport.

Frontier Airlines, an ultra-low-cost carrier, will offer nonstop flights from BHM to Denver, Philadelphia and Orlando beginning in April.

The entrance of additional airlines – particularly a true low-cost carrier – has been on the wish list of Birmingham business leaders and travelers for years. Industry consolidation has led to Birmingham only being served by the four major airlines – Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines and United Airlines – reducing competition at the airport.

But the debut of Frontier will add a new player to the mix with a different business model.

The airline, which has been expanding its route network in recent years, has a low-cost model that allows passengers to purchase travel options like bags and seat selections either a la carte or in one bundle.

“It is indeed a momentous occasion to celebrate these new routes by Frontier Airlines,” said Miguel Southwell, interim Birmingham Airport Authority president and CEO. “We will work diligently to build a partnership with Frontier, our local economic development partners and the business community to further expand the airline’s schedule and link Birmingham to even more cities with nonstop flights.”

Experts say the addition of a low-cost carrier to Birmingham could have a number of effects, including bringing in more traffic by securing passengers who may have previously chosen another airline served by low-cost carriers.

Brett Snyder, president of Cranky Flier LLC, said it’s unlikely the addition of a low-cost carrier will have a significant impact on other carriers’ airfares or flight schedules – although he noted it could result in some lower fares far in advance.

“Of course, it could bring more traffic,” he said. “It would bring more people into the airport, but it still would have a fairly limited effect.”

Of the routes Frontier will be operating, United currently serves Denver, American serves Philadelphia and both Delta and Southwest serve Orlando.

Frontier will operate the flights with jets from the Airbus A320 family of aircraft.

“This year, we will proudly call Alabama home not only with new flights from Birmingham, but with new aircrafts from Airbus’ U.S.-based Mobile production facility,” said Daniel Shurz, senior vice president of commercial for Frontier.

For the complete article please see https://www.bizjournals.com/birmingham/news/2018/02/08/frontier-airlines-to-start-service-from-bhm.html?ana=e_birm_bn_breakingnews&u=yR6EzMegYo3HiugBPpPOQfL%2Bby3&t=1518106572&j=79895411

Fall in love with Mobile, Alabama
From the article by Nina Zapala on NaplesNews.com:

Do thoughts of romance conjure up a romantic dining experience atop an iconic building with panoramic city views? Do handholding walks through one of the last remaining longleaf pine forests, stealing quiet moments with one another, sound like the perfect day

How does a visit to a quaint beachside town, where 32 miles of snow-white beaches give way to Caribbean blue, turquoise waters? A beachside town where traffic lights don’t exist! Can you believe all of these romantic escapes are waiting to be discovered in and around Mobile, Alabama?

Mobile is a refreshing change from traditional small-town America. The city is steeped in history, rich in French, Spanish and American traditions. This port city is proud to honor its past, with Fort Condè being a city centerpiece. The fort guarded Mobile and its citizens for almost 100 years, from 1723 to1820. Its strategic location on the easternmost part of the French Louisiana colony allowed it’s French builders to defend against British and Spanish attacks and to protect the port which leads to the Gulf of Mexico.

Fort Conde gives way to Mobile’s modern skyline with the RSA Bank Trust Building, the tallest building on the Gulf Coast outside of Houston, and one of the most recognizable skyscrapers in the city. Located on the top floor is Bar 424, one of the best spots in the city to enjoy Alabama-sourced spirits, and craft or classic cocktails infused with local ingredients; honey, mint or whatever bar chef Rachel Ferrand decides to source from the rooftop greenhouse.

A follow-up to cocktails and appetizers will take couples to Dauphin’s, a sophisticated, hot spot where locals go to enjoy a menu of local coastal cuisine with hints of Caribbean and Creole. While guests feast on locally sourced seafood and other fare, they will marvel at the panoramic views of Mobile Bay, admiring the sweeping canopy of live oak trees that create an enchanting backdrop for the variety of signature, historical homes. Additionally, guests to Dauphin’s will delight in the works of local artists, and an impressive baby grand piano adds another element of fun and entertainment to the experience.

Downtown
Downtown Mobile is undergoing a revival and one of the newest eateries, at 650 St. Louis St., is The Cottage Cheese bistro, a cheese and charcuterie board eatery. The owners, Kristi and Charles Barber, are very hands-on and oversee all items as they leave the kitchen. The herbe chèvre with roasted red peppers sandwich was delicious, with just the right amount of spice to make it interesting.

Another landmark to hang with the locals is Bob’s Downtown Diner, a ’50s throwback, and one of the top-rated spots in the city for brunch. TripAdvisor gives it 4.5 stars.

Spot of Tea, too, is a popular eatery, located in a circa-1836 building, the Meaher–Zoghby House, a historic townhouse. This gorgeous building retains its original cast iron details and front-yard fence and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. The restaurant offers five themes including American cafe fare to British high tea. The restaurant recently started to provide Segway tours.

Honestly, there are so many things to see and do in downtown Mobile, I could go on forever, but I want to introduce you to the culture of the area, especially if lingering moments in museums provide intimate and quiet moments to cherish.

Culture
One of the best ways to get to know the area’s history is to visit the Conde-Charlotte Museum house, one of the oldest homes in Alabama. The 1850 Federal-style home was renovated from the city’s first official jail and now houses authentic antiques which tell the story of the port city’s history under five flags: French, English, Spanish, Confederate and American. Stroll through the charming courtyard from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays.

When in Mobile, don’t miss Carnival Museum, which speaks to the history of Mardi Gras. Did you know that Mobile is the birthplace of Mardi Gras? Yep, I didn’t either. The Carnival Museum reveals this secret and also showcases royal robes and costumes, crowns and scepters, float replicas, and historical photographs. Tip: If you do happen to visit during February, know that it’s one of Mobile’s biggest festival times with Mardi Gras in full swing. Enjoy parades, live music, roving funnel cake stands and parade goodie carts, dinner specials on every corner, and a city that is alive with festival fun! You won’t want to miss it and know the party ends on Fat Tuesday, Feb. 13 this year.

There are many more museums to see in the area including art museums, from the traditional Mobile Museum of Art with 10,000 artworks in a variety of disciplines to the Alabama Contemporary Art Center, located in Cathedral Square, featuring rotating exhibits from contemporary artists as well as permanent collections.

What I found fascinating when speaking to locals is many call themselves artists. This made sense as further exploration revealed flourishing local artist co-ops. Art(ology) is a unique all-female co-op. It’s colorful, inspiring and fun, featuring a variety of artistic expressions: printmaking, jewelry and fine art. Another community art space is Gallery 450, which encourages artists to display their wares affordably while offering support and encouragement. The area’s largest co-op is Cathedral Square Gallery in downtown Mobile. The gallery is home to 40 local and regional artists presenting visitors one of the most extensive collections of eclectic art within the region.

If you are a conscious consumer who loves art and locally made products, The Urban Emporium offers aspiring entrepreneurs a program called the Springboard to Success. The Emporium is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to nurture startup and early stage, independent retailers. One of the tenants, Zoe Jean Designs, offers digitally printed, soy-based inks on 100 percent organic fabrics. The cool thing about this retailer is you can choose one print or 100. Of course, my traveling companion and I had to get kitchen towels with our own kooky little phrases printed. We walked in one morning to place our order and the next day we picked up seven original designs made just for us. We were enamored!

Lodging
Finding a place to stay overnight in the downtown area is easy and a variety of choices are available. Of course, traditional chains exist: Holiday Inn Downtown Historic District, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, offering an attractive round building, to name a few. If you prefer boutique properties, then opt to stay at the historic Fort Condè Inn, a grand dame with roots dating back from 1723, located in luxurious Fort Conde Village. The inn is just steps away from Fort Condè and the Gulf Coast Exploreum/IMAX dome, which are part of the village. Mobile’s waterfront, museums, art, dining and the entertainment district are just a few scenic steps away.

Another charming place to rest your weary head is Malaga Inn, located in the historic downtown area and the only one of its kind in Alabama. It’s an elegant boutique property with a gorgeous courtyard, the perfect spot to enjoy breakfast. The doors to enter the inn are exquisite, while the wrought iron fences that surround quaint porch balconies beg to be used as a place to rest and people-watch. The owner, a Mobile native, is dedicated to bringing Southern hospitality at every touchpoint, and it seems to be working as I noted a line of happy travelers checking in.

Outdoors
If a city scene isn’t your idea of a romantic getaway, not to worry as the area boasts over 250,000 acres of raw, natural beauty. Scenic waterways, woods, wetlands and parks are an excellent way for couples to experience nature. In fact, this delta region is known as the “American Amazon.”

It’s the meeting place of five rivers; Mobile, Spanish, Tensaw, Apalachee and Blakely. Kayaking, nature walks and paddle boarding are perfect ways for couples to enjoy the serenity of nature and one another. Find hidden inlets along the way; they make a wonderful place to enjoy a brown-bag lunch.

Dauphin Island
Looking for a romantic rendezvous to pop the question or say “I do”? Why not enjoy the sugar-white sandy beaches of Dauphin Island, where traffic lights don’t exist! Far removed from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, the bride and groom and bridal party can enjoy low-key island vibes, centered around natural beauty.

History, like many places in the region, can also be found on Dauphin Island. The island is home to Dauphin Island’s Historic Fort Gaines, which was active in the Civil War. Today, the fort acts as a sentinel overlooking Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.

Got the courage up to pop the question? Here are several places that provide the perfect setting: Cadillac Square is surrounded by a canopy of live oak trees, the pier is a gorgeous backdrop for selfies, and the white beaches and turquoise waters create a textbook frame for an unforgettable photo. Another engagement tip: The island is known as the sunset capital of Alabama; why not pack a picnic and enjoy a magical sunset on the Gulf Shores? It’s the perfect time to pop the question.

If you are thinking of overnighting on the island, Dauphin Island Vacation Rentals is a great place to start. If a condo or Airbnb is not what you had in mind, opt for Willow Tree Cottage, a charming seaside cottage. The newly remodeled 10-room Dauphin Island Harbor House also offers a homespun atmosphere, featuring a living-room-style lobby plus each guestroom has its own unique décor. If you’re arriving by boat, Harbor House has boat slips, and the upgraded waterside dock is lit for night fishing or leisurely strolls.

For the complete article please see https://www.naplesnews.com/story/travel/2018/02/10/fall-love-mobile-alabama/306949002/

Rocket Center partners with Sloss Furnaces for Valentine’s event
Tickets are still available for this Saturday’s “Pour Your Heart Out” Valentine’s event at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. The Rocket Center is partnering with Sloss Furnaces of Birmingham for the fourth year for the event, which takes place Feb. 17, from 7 to 11 p.m. This memorable evening includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and dancing to live music by Juice under the Saturn V moon rocket in the Davidson Center for Space Exploration.

Guests can also carve their own Valentine design into a 4-inch-square sand and resin mold the Sloss metal sculptors will fill with molten scrap iron from an on-site 75-pound coke-fired furnace. Once cooled, the tiles are an upcycled work of art and a special Valentine keepsake.

Tickets to “Pour Your Heart out” are a perfect Valentine’s Day gift. The cost is $90 per couple or $45 per individual ticket and includes a mold for each guest to create a personal tile. Museum members receive a $5 discount on each ticket. A cash bar will also be available, and additional tiles may be purchased for $12.50 each. Dressy casual attire is suggested. Click here to reserve tickets.

The U.S. Space & Rocket Center has also partnered with the Huntsville Marriott, located on property, for a special Valentine’s Day package for guests interested in staying the night. Click here for details and to reserve a package that includes two tickets to “Pour Your Heart Out,” a bottle of chilled champagne, a box of chocolate truffles, a bouquet of flowers and breakfast for two for $219.

Want to live like F. Scott and Zelda?
From the article by Elizabeth Hutchison on GardenandGun.com:

The magnolia-shaded craftsman at 919 Felder Avenue in Montgomery, Alabama, is beautiful but unassuming—it looks no different than many of the other historic homes in the city’s Cloverdale neighborhood. And it isn’t; not really. But its occupants were. The century-old house is the last place where Jazz Age literary lights Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald and their daughter, Scottie, lived together as a family. In 1932, F. Scott set out for Hollywood; Zelda was hospitalized; and Scottie went to live with Scott’s literary agent in Baltimore.

Today, the structure—which was divided into apartments after the stock market crash—serves as the Fitzgerald Museum, the only institution in the world dedicated exclusively to the two authors, who wrote portions of “Tender is the Night” and “Save Me the Waltz” from inside those four walls on Felder. Despite the singular history of its subjects, the museum is an under-the-radar destination for most Southern travelers. “We have more visitors from Australia than Alabama,” says director Sarah Powell. But now there’s added reason to visit—and stay. Museum patrons have the opportunity to spend the night in one of the upstairs apartments, which guests can rent directly through the museum or via AirBnB beginning this April.

Overnight rentals will help provide a valuable source of income for the museum. “Because of certain restrictions we have by the city that don’t allow for any kind of retail space, we saw this as an opportunity for a steady revenue stream,” Powell says. The apartment is redecorated to reflect the late 1920s and early ’30s without sacrificing 21st-century creature comforts.  Copies of “The Great Gatsby,” “The Beautiful and the Damned” and other classics line the bookshelves.

Downstairs, the museum houses such artifacts as Scott’s honorary degree from Princeton in 1917, which just appeared in the museum’s mail one day. “Because of the vagabond way they lived their lives, working here is almost like a scavenger hunt,” Powell says. “You never know what you might find. There’s a story about Zelda throwing a platinum watch out of a train—a gift from Scott at their marriage—and I joke that somewhere out there is a beautiful diamond art deco watch just lying in the dirt.”

Staffers are also happy to point guests in the direction of other local Fitzgerald landmarks. Zelda, a Montgomery native, grew up one neighborhood over in historic Cottage Hill, and was said to have danced in the Court Square fountain. Also, though the Fitzgeralds always maintained that they met at the Montgomery Country Club, local old-timers claim the couple really met in the basement of Winter Place, a Cottage Hill mansion well-known for its risqué parties—there’s even a rumored bootleggers’ tunnel connecting the mansion to the river. All things considered, it’s surprising the pair didn’t run with the tale. “With Montgomery being Zelda’s childhood home,” Powell says. “There is all the lore you can imagine.”

For the complete article please see http://gardenandgun.com/articles/want-live-like-f-scott-zelda/

Jo Ann Flirt, recently retired director of Blakeley State Park, dies at 85
From the article by Michelle Matthews on AL.com:

Jo Ann Flirt, a passionate advocate for Historic Blakeley State Park, where she recently retired as director, died Friday, Feb. 2, at age 85. A native of Mobile, she was a longtime resident of both Mobile and Baldwin counties.

After her official retirement on Nov. 1, she had stayed on as a volunteer to complete the construction and furnishing of two new log cabins at the park – her final project. In December, just days before the cabins were unveiled at an open house, she slipped on some ice and broke her ankle in two places, said her cousin, Fran Terry. Flirt drove herself to the hospital, in her stick-shift car.

She was still recuperating from that injury when she had the stroke that led to her death. “We thought she would definitely outlive all of us,” said Terry. “She was a workaholic. She didn’t slow down.”

Flirt earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Alabama, where she taught journalism and public relations. She started two businesses in Mobile: Public Relations Counsel Inc., an advertising and public relations firm; and the Mobile Record, a daily legal publication with real estate and other civil business news.

She was a season ticket holder to the Mobile Symphony Orchestra and served on the boards of the History Museum of Mobile, Joe Jefferson Playhouse and Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce. She was a founding member and former president of the Press Club of Mobile and a founding member of the Mississippi-Alabama chapter of the Public Relations Society of Alabama.

Along with her friends, the late Dr. Hollis Wiseman and his wife Teko, Flirt founded a group called Alabamians Behind Local Education. ABLE’s goal was to peacefully integrate Mobile’s school system, according to the Wisemans’ daughter, Holly Wiseman. “While ABLE was at first supported by Mobile’s business community, once George Wallace attacked it on television, supporters fell away,” said Wiseman. “Jo Ann and my parents were among the few remaining stalwarts. They worked tirelessly in the face of opprobrium and death threats.”

Flirt served as the interim director of Blakeley from 1977 until 2003, when she was named director. In her application for that position, Flirt said that her vision for the state park was “for it to receive the national, state and local recognition it deserves as both an historic site spanning several periods of history and as a nature park and gateway to the Tensaw River Delta.”

She wanted the park to be “a very special place which is beautiful, historic, user-friendly, financially stable but never commercialized,” she wrote in her application.

Mike Bunn, the current director of Blakeley, said that he plans to build on her vision. “Everything we do going forward is made possible thanks to Jo Ann and those who worked with her,” he said.

Flirt “kept this place going,” Bunn said, “which was no small feat considering the ups and downs in funding, hurricanes and staffing. To keep it open and growing was a pretty remarkable accomplishment.”

Longtime friend Louise Bush, the secretary of the park’s authority board and president of the Historic Blakeley Foundation Board, said that Flirt was “a very dear and beloved friend” who introduced her to Blakeley. Together, they spent four years defending a lawsuit that the park lost in court. Jo Ann “had it all straightened out within a year after the case ended,” Bush wrote in an email. “Most people would have given up, but Jo Ann would not accept defeat, especially in a situation of questionable merit.”

Likewise, Hank Caddell started working with Flirt in the 1990s, when she created a brochure for the Alabama Coastal Heritage Trust. “She almost single-handedly saved the park when she led the successful request to Forever Wild for the funds that allowed them to pay off and burn a $700,000 mortgage,” he wrote in an email. “This fabulous and historic treasure would not have existed in its form today without Jo Ann.”

Sylvia Hart, a journalist who retired from the Mobile Press-Register, said she can’t remember a time when she didn’t know Flirt, but they became close friends when they both belonged to a local writing group years ago. The two met for lunch and conversation weekly, Hart said.

“She called herself a nurturer,” Hart wrote in an email. “Jo Ann carried the spirit of a much younger woman, so I thought she might live to be 100.”

One of Patricia Barker’s favorite memories of Flirt is from their days as college students at the University of Alabama, where they both worked in the cafeteria. One day, while working on the nearly abandoned campus during the Thanksgiving holidays, they experienced the first snow either of them had ever seen. After work, they hiked to the Black Warrior River so they could see as much snow as possible.

“I had hoped that JoAnn would live ‘forever,’ and it bothers me that I will never be able to pick up the phone and talk to her,” Barker wrote in an email. “She was such an unusual person: brilliant, determined, a superb conversationalist and very brave. … Also, I have to mention that she enjoyed having fun, and she found it everywhere. I’m so lucky to have had the chance to be friends with her.”

For the complete article please see http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2018/02/jo_ann_flirt_recently_retired.html

Link to lodging tax rates now on website
There is a new feature on our tourism industry website (www.tourism.alabama.gov). It is a link to the monthly Alabama city/county local lodging tax rates report on the Revenue Department website. Alabama Tourism Director Lee Sentell wanted to have a report about the local rates, since people frequently call to find out where they can access the information. Revenue set up the report on their site and we are linking to it from the dot gov website.

Once you are on www.tourism.alabama.gov, you can hover over the “Reports” word found on the menu bar, and tabs for the annual and monthly reports will appear.  By clicking on “monthly reports” you go to the page with the link to the local tax rate report.  It can also be found at https://tourism.alabama.gov/reports/monthly-reports.

“Partner Pointer” for the tourism industry website
Love is in the air! Do you have a special Valentine’s event? The Inspire Me feature allows you to tag events with the feeling and experience they offer. For a Valentine’s event, the tags may be “romance” and “music” or “relaxation” and “food” to name a few. Not hosting anything special on February 14th? No problem! Any event can be tagged and the combinations are numerous. To see how the Inspire Me feature works, go to https://alabama.travel/inspire-me to get started.