There are days when you just want to get away. To leave all your responsibilities and break up your daily routine with something different. While an extended vacation might be nice, it is not always a possibility. Fortunately, there is another way for you to take a break and recharge. Take a day trip!
Break up your routine without breaking the bank on a week-long vacation. Day trips are the perfect solution to help you refresh, and Anniston, Alabama, is a beautiful area surrounded by unique attractions that make for great miniature getaways. McClellan Senior Living, an all-inclusive senior living community in Anniston, is sharing day trip ideas to help you get the most out of our vibrant area.
Immerse Yourself in History
Located right in Anniston is the Anniston Museum of Natural History. The museum houses seven permanent exhibit halls which display various natural history subjects from dinosaurs to live animals. The perfect way to explore and engage in history with the whole family!
Discover DeSoto Caverns
Named after the Spanish explorer, Hernando DeSoto, DeSoto Caverns is one of the most beautiful cave systems in the country. Visitors can explore this geological treasure by a guided educational tour enhanced with a light show to further make the experience special and memorable.
Beyond experiencing the beautiful cave system, you will discover the history of the caverns. This location was previously used as a burial ground, so DeSoto Caverns is historically important to the indigenous culture. Through the guided tours, you will learn about the indigenous people who lived in the caverns, the confederate soldiers who mined the gunpowder here, the traders who visited, and the moonshine made there during prohibition times.
Even if caves are not your thing, DeSoto Caverns has many other attractions, including:
- The Destiny Express Train
- DeSoto’s Lost Trail Maze
- Gemstone Panning
- Wacky Water Golf
- DeSoto’s Wall Climb
- Bow & Arrow Shoot
- And more!
Located in Childersburg, Alabama, DeSoto Caverns is less than an hour’s drive from our senior living community in Anniston. What are you waiting for? Put on your cave exploring hat and take a day trip to DeSoto Caverns.
Explore Bankhead National Forest
The state of Alabama is rich in natural beauty, and we are proud that our all-inclusive senior living calls this state home. Just over two hours from McClellan Senior Living is one of these natural wonders – Bankhead National Forest.
Located in Double Springs, Alabama, Bankhead National Forest allows visitors to follow the calm waters of the Sipsey Fork River, making it the perfect place to explore and discover cascading waterfall after waterfall. Hike or bike the numerous trails, pack a picnic for the family, or bring your fishing pole and enjoy all that this beautiful national forest has to offer.
Additional recreational activities at Bankhead National Forest include:
- Boating
- Camping
- Horse trails
- Swimming
Certain areas of the park also have sanitary facilities, trailer dump stations, bath houses, and water and electrical hookups. Before you pack up for your day trip, be sure to visit their website to learn more about each area.
Dismals Canyon
Want to take a trip to a place that looks like “something from Middle Earth?” Visit Dismals Canyon. Offering an enchanting atmosphere, this 85-acre national natural landmark is home to waterfalls, moss-covered boulders, caves, and is one of the few places in the world where dismalites (glow worms) can be found.
Wander through the trails of Dismals Canyon that feature natural and man-made bridges to help guide you on your extraordinary journey. Do not forget to pack your camera for this day trip that will make you feel like you are on another planet!
In addition to exploring this natural wonder through hiking trails, Dismals Canyon also offers:
- Camping in rustic, luxury cabins
- Rustic camping
- A country store, equipped with a soda fountain café
Cheaha State Park
Only 30 minutes from our community, Cheaha Resort State Park is the oldest park in Alabama which many consider one of the most unique parks in the country. A truly magnificent Alabama destination, this park features a cliffside pool, lake, dog park, accessible and extreme trails, cultural heritage, Vista Cliffside Restaurant, and more!
As you visit this beautiful area, we invite you to tour our senior living community nestled in the Cheaha Mountains, which offers easy access to the outdoors and is conveniently located near all of these wonderful sites and destinations!
You don’t have to travel far to experience all that Alabama has to offer. Even better – you don’t even need to venture outside of our local community to experience its beauty! To learn more about life within our city of Anniston, Alabama, read our blog, “Sweet Home Alabama: Discover Life & Senior Living in Anniston.”
For more information about life at McClellan Senior Living and all that our community has to offer, contact a member of our team or visit our website.