Have you tried these ‘5 hidden gems’ in Tuscaloosa
“Hidden” in the in the eye of the beholder, so we don’t feel too bad about spilling on these great places in Tuscaloosa, even if residents might prefer to keep them on the down-low so they can enjoy them all to themselves.
The good people at Visit Tuscaloosa shared an Instagram reel highlighting five “gems that locals know & love.”
Commenters shared their own recommendations for local hidden gems including Lake Lurleen, Tuscaloosa Barnyard, Babe’s Doughnut + Coffee and more.
What are some other lesser-known places you think more people should know about in Tuscaloosa? What best-kept-secrets make the city such a great place to live?
Do you agree with Visit Tuscaloosa’s picks? Here’s more info on the places they call “hidden gems” in Tuscaloosa.
READ: 10 new Tuscaloosa restaurants to try in 2023
Hurricane Creek
Located at 7005 Old Birmingham Highway in Tuscaloosa, this park offers hiking, mountain biking trails, swimming, kayaking and picnicking. It’s the most accessible place in Tuscaloosa County to see the boundary between the Paleozoic region and the coastal plain — “the place where the Appalachian (Paleozoic rock area) ecosystems meet and interact with the coastal plain ecosystem,” according to the park website. The perfect getaway spot on a beautiful day when you need to feel at one with yourself and nature.
The Veganish Market
“Food for both vegans and carnivores,” the Visit Tuscaloosa people write. Owned by a local entrepreneur Yazmyn Rozier, this new market offers many gluten-free, dairy-free and plant-based items. You’ll find plant-based ice cream, smoothies and mocktails on the menu. “The idea behind Veganish was to not only create a menu that caters to the vegan community but also the vegetarians, pescatarians, flexitarians and those transitioning into a plant-based lifestyle,” the website says. Visit Tuscaloosa also spotlighted The Veganish Market as one of 10 Black-owned restaurants to try in the area.
Pastor’s Coffee and Gift Shop
Partnered with Purchase with a Purpose and other local missionary groups with a singular goal to support missions, this fair trade gift shop in Northport ensures people are compensated at fair wages to provide items, and it helps to support numerous missions both locally and internationally. All funds generated go towards some type of Christian mission, according to the website, while 10% of all generated funds are also dedicated to one mission group every month. Visit Tuscaloosa singled out the shop’s lattes, including the Mayan Mocha (latte with chocolate, cinnamon and vanilla) and the Spanish latte (latte with sweetened condensed milk).
Ernest & Hadley Booksellers
This indie bookstore near downtown Tuscaloosa (1928 7th Street) strives “to provide a unique selection of books and other creative materials from local, regional, and international sources.” On top of a rich selection of independent books (they accept used book trade-ins for store credit), the store also frequently hosts signings and readings from a variety of respected local and regional authors (including Alabama’s own Poet Laureate Ashley M. Jones).
Summer Snow
Tuscaloosa’s favorite snowball hut turns 35 this year, which should give some who spent their childhoods visiting a little pause to reflect when they take their kids to Summer Snow today. It’s still the Druid City’s one-stop shop for colorful multi-flavored snow cones, or “snowballs” as owner Sammy Sanders calls them, that melt in your mouth. Now on his third generation of customers since he opened on University Boulevard near Alberta in 1988 (at 1501 University Boulevard), the Gordo native said he now sees grandmothers toting their grandchildren when they had previously brought their own kids. Nearly four full decades in, people keep coming back for the frozen treat, comprised of a bowl of shaved ice mixed with flavored syrups. Flavors range from the basics like lemon, cherry, grape and orange to popular blends like tutti-frutti, piña colada, cherry limeade and even strawberry cheesecake.