Tuscaloosa is the pride of West Alabama beckoning visitors with the lure of outdoor activities, arts, and culture, plus the calling card of the University of Alabama. Football may be the reason for your visit, but a fabulous sampling of Southern foods will bring you back. Dig into some of the South’s best barbecue at Dreamland or savor both food and atmosphere at River restaurant. Shop for antiques and relics or invest in some official UA gear at The Supe Store; there are boutiques, galleries, bars, and fancy eateries spread throughout the city for everyone’s pleasure. Meander down University Boulevard where you can duck in and out of live music venues, grab a signature Yellow Hammer drink at Gallette’s or choose a high-end meal at Half Shell Oyster House. You’ll find shopping along the way as well as several Civil Rights Trail markings. With 100 Things to Do in Tuscaloosa, AL Before You Die as your guide, explore the myriad of museums like the Paul W. Bryant Museum and the Alabama Museum of Natural History. Hit the water or the trails at Lake Lurleen State Park or catch the next concert at Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater. It is impossible to include all the opportunities Tuscaloosa has to offer within these pages, but it’s a mighty decent start. Travel writer and native Alabamian Becky Beall has been visiting Tuscaloosa for over 40 years. Sharing her love of all things Tuscaloosa, complete with game day pageantry, timeless traditions, loads of history and hidden gems, prompted the writing of this book. As a youngster, she fell in love with a sport…and a team…and that is where her love of Tuscaloosa and that famous ROLL TIDE battle cry originated.