Alabama is home to several places that will take you back in time. From bowling alleys and soda fountains, to game arcades and record stores, nostalgia will forever live on in the “Yellowhammer State.” The best way to experience some of Alabama’s most nostalgic places is by taking a retro road trip.
If you’re unsure of where to go, let us help you out. Listed below is a retro road trip we’ve mapped out. It begins and ends in the town of Abbeville. This would be a fun road trip to take during a weekend.
As you can see, the total mileage for this retro road trip is 696 miles, with an estimated drive time of 12 hours and 21 minutes. You can take a look at the actual Google map here. Now, let’s take a look at six of Alabama’s most nostalgic places that are perfect for a retro road trip.
1. Huggin' Molly's - 129 Kirkland St, Abbeville, AL 36310
Our first stop is Huggin' Molly's, located in Abbeville. The moment you step through the door of this 50s-inspired restaurant, you'll think you've traveled back in time. The authentic soda fountain and nostalgic posters and signs will remind you of yesteryear.
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2. Leland Lanes - 1125 26th Ave E, Tuscaloosa, AL 35405
No retro road trip is complete without stopping by a bowling alley. Leland Lanes, located in Tuscaloosa, is the perfect bowling alley for our retro road trip. Its atmosphere gives off such a vintage vibe. Leland Lanes is a great place to spend a Friday or Saturday night with family/friends.
3. King Drive-In - 18478 Hwy 43,
Russellville, AL 35654
We've now arrived at King Drive-In, located in Russellville. King Drive-In began showing films in 1949, which makes it the oldest continually operating drive-in theater in Alabama. It normally plays double features on Friday and Saturday nights, and sometimes on Sunday nights. Occasionally, triple features are played. Over the years, King Drive-In has become a popular place to be during the summer months.
4. Trowbridge's - 316 N Court St, Florence, AL 35630
Our next stop is Trowbridge's, located in Florence. Established in 1918, Trowbridge's is Alabama's oldest ice cream parlor and sandwich shop. Their chicken salad sandwich and pimento cheese sandwich are a must try, in addition to their signature orange pineapple ice cream.
5. Vertical House Records - 2211 Seminole Dr,
Railroad Room Ste 3,
Huntsville, AL 35805
If you're a record collector, you're going to love Vertical House Records - our next stop. Vertical House Records, located in Huntsville, offers more than 20,000 new and pre-owned records. They also sell turntables, stereo equipment, cassette tapes and comic books. Interesting fact: The vinyl material that's used to make records was developed by Waldo Semon, an inventor from Demopolis, Alabama.
Before returning to Abbeville, our final stop is BumperNets, located in Birmingham. If you're a true video game fanatic, you'll love this arcade. Numerous arcade games and pinball machines line the walls, and there's even a "Nostalgia Room" that has games dating back to the 80s.
What do you think? Does this sound like a road trip you could see yourself taking? Where are some of your favorite nostalgic places in Alabama?
Now that we’re into the fall season, here’s another road trip you don’t want to miss. While on this road trip, you’ll get to see how beautiful Alabama truly is this time of year.
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