Steeples, sawmills, and sacred soil—these are the backroad chapters of Alabama where the past never quite packed up.
The Sign That Wouldn’t Stop Lying There are two kinds of brown highway signs in this world:the helpful ones… and the ones that gaslight you for years. Somewhere along a busy stretch of road in Enterprise, there’s a sign that confidently points toward a historic marker. We saw it once, followed it, and found nothing. … Read more
Some histories announce themselves with columns and statues.Others whisper from brick and stone, waiting for someone curious enough to notice. While exploring downtown Dothan’s historic core—near landmarks like the Houston County Courthouse—we came across a building most people walk past without noticing. No interpretive sign. No dramatic marker. Just a name carved quietly into the … Read more
Some places don’t let you rush. They slow your steps, quiet your voice, and remind you—without ever saying a word—that history is heavy. Steel-heavy. Memory-heavy. The kind of heavy you feel in your bones before you ever feel it in your feet. Our final stop on NOLA Road Trip #2 was Battleship Memorial Park, home … Read more
Gravestones, Ghost Towns, and the Long Way Toward What Matters Some road trips begin with wanderlust.This one began with unfinished business. On Alabama Road Trip #1, Dusty and I did what we thought was right at Bethlehem Cemetery—but “right” didn’t quite stick. Time, weather, and the quiet cruelty of neglect had already erased almost everything … Read more
A four-day journey through history, heart, and the unexpected Some road trips are planned down to the minute.Others leave room for detours, discoveries, and the quiet moments that stay with you long after the bags are unpacked. This was one of those. Our first Alabama road trip began in Orlando and unfolded over four days … Read more
The long goodbye. The final day of a road trip always has its own personality. There’s less talking. More staring out the window. A soft, shared understanding that something good is ending and reality is waiting patiently down the road. Day Four of our first Alabama road trip was exactly that—simple, meaningful, and intentionally slow. … Read more
Promises kept. Curiosities followed. Hearts lightened. Day Two of our first Alabama road trip was a careful balance of wandering and personal business. Day Three leaned into that rhythm even harder—finishing what needed to be done first, so the rest of the day could belong to curiosity, color, and the open road. We had two … Read more
The first day of our first Alabama road trip was all about getting to Dothan with a few cool stops along the way. The second day of our Alabama Road Trip was part explore Enterprise, Alabama and part business. Dusty’s mom passed away a year before this trip and Dusty made a promise to her … Read more
In 1905, the people of Dothan, Alabama gathered beneath a brand-new bell tower to celebrate what they proudly called a Temple of Justice. The original Houston County Courthouse stood as a symbol of progress—brick, mortar, and law rising together in Alabama’s newest county. But while the bell rang and the courthouse doors swung open, another … Read more
Dothan, Alabama Some stops are planned weeks in advance.Others happen because you’re early, the doors aren’t open yet, and curiosity refuses to sit quietly in the passenger seat. Howell School was one of those stops. We found ourselves wandering near downtown Dothan while waiting for the Visitor’s Center to open. From the outside, Howell School … Read more