Alabama State Parks offer lots of opportunities for fun, adventure, and family escapes, especially in summer.

Monte Santo State Park

Madison County

Known for its rich history and stunning landscapes, Monte Santo offers diverse outdoor activities and miles of scenic hiking and biking trails. It’s a perfect destination for nature lovers and families looking for a peaceful retreat.

Langan Park

Mobile

An urban oasis featuring lakes, walking trails, and large green spaces, Langan Park is a popular destination for families and outdoor enthusiasts. Visitors enjoy amenities such as playgrounds, picnic areas, and the Mobile Museum of Art.

Blount Cultural Park

Montgomery

A blend of art and nature, this park is home to the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Blount Cultural Park is beautifully landscaped with gardens, ponds, and scenic walking trails for the perfect day for nature lovers or anyone looking for outdoor respite.

Black Creek Park

Fultondale

A spot featuring scenic walking trails, lush greenery and a family-friendly atmosphere, Black Creek Park is a natural getaway. Enjoy outdoor movie night under the stars, adding a touch of cinematic magic to this beautiful park.

Oak Mountain State Park

Pelham

A haven for outdoor enthusiasts, Oak Mountain State Park offers a range of activities from hiking and mountain biking to fishing and horseback riding. With beautiful lakes and scenic views, it’s the perfect destination for adventure and relaxation.

Alabama airports are splitting $22 million in the latest round of federal grants to improve infrastructure like runways, lighting and taxiways.

Huntsville International Airport and Birmingham- Shuttlesworth International Airport are in line for the largest slices of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Grants, which are based both on passenger volume and capital improvement needs.

HSV will be getting $12.8 million to help shift a taxiway 200 feet and rehabilitate pavement and lighting on Runway 18/36, according to the FAA. In Birmingham, $6.9 million is earmarked for rehabilitation and construction of additional taxiways.

“The funding we’re announcing today will allow hundreds of airports to make critical improvements that will benefit passengers for years to come,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a news release announcing the grants.

The remaining funds are going to 10 other airports in the state, including:

• $667,080 to Weedon Field in Eufaula for taxiway construction
• $524,323 to Troy Municipal Airport for taxiway rehabilitation
• $332, 786 to MacCrenshaw Memorial in Greenville for apron rehabilitation
• $309,747 to Franklin Field in Union Springs for hangar construction
• $164,270 to Tuscaloosa National for lighting vault equipment reconstruction
• $46,674 to Gulf Shores International for temporary runway closure lighting