Montgomery, Alabama is rich with American History, and very much worth an add to your national travel list.
How To Get To Montgomery, Alabama With Kids
Initially this trip was just going to consist of Atlanta, but then I remembered that in recent years the Equal Justice Institute had opened a lynching memorial in the Montgomery. With only a 2 hour driving distance, it was a no brainer that we would go. We flew into Atlanta from Dallas on American Airlines. If you don’t use skyscanner, I encourage you to make it a part of your travel saving strategy. You can set up price alerts for specific destinations, or you can keep all of your search options open including dates and locations to find the most affordable options for your budget, given you have that kind of flexibility.
Where To Stay In Montgomery, Alabama For A Big Family
We opted for a suite at Fairfield Inn & Suites. It was a fairly new property that offered the perfect price and space for our family. There are several options to choose from in Montgomery, but for our big family who usually has to pay a lot more for suites, we loved this location.
Where To Eat In Montgomery, Alabama
Now, this was honestly a much harder decision than choosing a hotel. I watched all the tiktoks and Instagram reels I could handle before finally settling on Itta Bena Fine Dining located at the Wind Creek Casino. After a long afternoon of flying from Dallas, then driving from Atlanta to Montgomery, all I wanted was a fine dining experience. Itta Bena passed the test on ambiance, but the food wasn’t as delicious as I was hoping. This restaurant is located inside the Wood Creek Casino, so if gambling is your thing and you bring your babysitter, it will be easy to make a whole night of adult fun here.
Things To Do In Montgomery, Alabama With Kids
I’m becoming a broken record at this point, but one of my favorite parts of traveling with my kids is providing all the learning opportunities for them. They get a hands-on, real world look at all the history and culture we discuss at home. There is nothing like seeing their little minds light up as they discover new things.
From the outset, I knew this quick trip to Alabama would be all about American History, specifically the civil rights era. Montgomery did not disappoint. There is so much history to uncover, even the parts you already learned about as kids yourself.
Here are the top six things to do in Montgomery with kids that will fill them up with fun and facts!
The Legacy Museum – Be warned this is a factual, thorough, well curated museum about Black American History from Slavery to the modern day problem of mass incarceration. Some people may find it too heavy for their young children, but I would beg to differ. It’s the most amazing History classroom I could give my kids to learn from. We spent over two hours and my husband and I were able to have so many valuable conversations with our kids and answer all of their curious questions. There are no cameras or recording allowed, and for good reason. This really is a space that should be experienced in person. I promise you it will stay with you forever. Hands down, the most impactful museum I’ve ever explored.
The National Memorial For Peace And Justice – Or as it was unofficially called, The Lynching Memorial. The Memorial and Museum both go hand and hand. The Memorial will inevitably elicit as much emotion as the museum. However, there was something about the open air layout in the hot July heat that made it even more overwhelming. While making the above video, I sound so disjointed because I was holding back tears. It makes me angry to think about how black people have been treated throughout the history of America, but it also gave me a sense of pride that no matter what evil tried to do by killing, stealing and destroying black bodies, they will not be forgotten. They will be honored in their passing and the fight they fought before their deaths.
The Dexter Parsonage House (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s former home) – The house was temporarily closed during our visit, but we stopped by and took some pictures outside and talked to the kids about Dr. King’s time living in Montgomery and preaching at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church.
Rosa Parks Museum And Arrest Site– Some would argue it’s the spot and event that launched the Civil Rights Movement we all know about today. As a bonus, drive just a half block to the circle with the big fountain, and just to the side you will find an unassuming statue of Rosa Parks.
The Riverfront Splash Pad – After a long day of history hopping around town, we decided to wind down by finding a Montgomery Mural (we love finding murals of the cities we visit) and then relaxing at the Riverfront. The Montgomery Riverfront has lots of spaces to enjoy. We opted to enjoy the Splash pad to get some relief from the heat, and, well, my kids are splash pad connoisseurs of sorts. haha.
The Alabama State Capitol – I wanted to go here to give my kids some in person context about where Doctor King gave his famous “How Long, Not Long” speech after the march from Selma. They mostly just preferred running up and down the steps. I tell you, youth is wasted on the young. haha
Our day in Montgomery was jam packed, but extremely educational and fun. Go ahead, book your trip and take your family on a real life history lesson tour. If you want to check out even more spots than we did, Check out the Civil Heritage Trail for even more.
If you have any questions about our trip, leave a comment and I’d be happy to answer.
Happy Travels!
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