18 Best Things To Do In Anniston, Alabama

1. Explore Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Preserve

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Mountain Longleaf Wildlife Preserve was named after the disappearing mountain longleaf pine tree forests that were so popular in the southern states. The reserve boasts of over 9,000 acres (3642 hectares) of parklands and wildlife and it is one of the most peaceful and scenic places you will ever find Alabama. Being a part of the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountain ranges implies that the Wildlife Preserve has a host of sites for hiking, biking, picnicking as well as nature trails. The lushness of the greenery around, the sounds of the chirping birds, the flora and the fauna in the park is very therapeutic to the mind, body, and soul. This is a must-visit place when you come to Anniston, Alabama.

Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Preserve

Address: 407 Bains Gap Rd, Anniston, AL 36201, USA

Opening hours: 8am - 6pm (daily)

2. Enjoy mountain biking at Coldwater Mountain Bike Trail

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Coldwater Mountain comprises of over 4,000 acres (1618 hectares) of woodland and mountainous terrain and it is one of the most idyllic mountain biking trails you will ever find in the United States. It is located just outside Anniston, and it will satisfy your mountain biking needs whether you are just a beginner or a seasoned biker looking for more challenging trails. The trails you find here feature both short and easy loops and also gravity trails and very steep descents for the adrenalin junkies. And the good news is that you don’t have to come with your mountain bike because you can always rent one and enjoy the incredible sceneries of the Coldwater Mountain.

Coldwater Mountain Bike Trail

Address: Coldwater Road Anniston, Alabama

Website: Coldwater Mountain Bike Trail

Opening hours: 6am - 8pm (daily)

3. Grab a beer at Cheaha Brewing Company LLC

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Cheaha Brewing Company is a one-of-a-kind restaurant in Alabama. The company is set in an old train station and it serves a variety of house-made beers, cocktails and American eats. Since it operates as a functioning brewpub, you can expect to be served with expertly crafted beer brewed onsite in its factory. The beer you get will comes alongside with unique delicacies prepared using organic and dairy products, as well as all-natural meats. If you love beer and you also love meat, then a visit to this place will be pure bliss.

Cheaha Brewing Company LLC

Address: 1208 Walnut Ave, Anniston, AL 36201, USA

Website: Cheaha Brewing Company LLC

Opening hours: Tue - Thu: 11am - 11pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 12am; Sun: 11am - 10pm (closed on Mon)

4. Admire the interesting exhibits at Anniston Museum of Natural History

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

A great component of travel is to sample the culture and the history of the places you visit, and there is no better place to do so than visit the museums you find in the localities you visit. The Anniston Museum of Natural History is where you will find exhibits of more than 2000 natural historical items on permanent display, and this includes the display of very rare and extinct animals, fossils, and minerals that dates back to thousands, if not millions of years. It is a place worth visiting if you are intrigued by the history of the region, and you would love to learn more about the culture and the way of life of the people who lived in the region thousands of years ago.

Anniston Museum of Natural History

Address: 800 Museum Dr, Anniston, AL 36206, USA

Website: Anniston Museum of Natural History

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am - 5pm; Sun: 1pm - 5pm

Price: Adults: 8 USD; Children: 6 USD

5. Go camping at Michael Tucker Park & Chief Ladiga Trail

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

If you love the outdoors, and you have included camping as part of your itinerary to Alabama, then Michael Tucker Park & Chief Ladiga Trail should be on top of your list of the best camping sites. The park’s campground is located on Weaver Road. It has picnic areas with shelters, bathrooms with showers, and ample parking area for every guest interested in enjoying the scenic trails. Whether you are camping alone, as a couple or you are traveling down here with the entire family, the amenities in the park will ensure that you have everything you need for spending a great time outdoors.

Michael Tucker Park & Chief Ladiga Trail

Address: 6514 Weaver Rd, Anniston, AL 36206, USA

Website: Michael Tucker Park & Chief Ladiga Trail

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

6. Relish traditional American cuisines at Classic on Noble

Classic on Noble is one of the leading restaurants for fine dining in the state of Alabama, and also one of the best places to experience authentic and traditional American dishes. The restaurant has a casual, but welcoming atmosphere, making it easy for customers to feel at home and enjoy their meals. The eatery still maintains a rustic look, and their menu speaks volumes about the traditional American food culture. It is a great place to sample culinary diversity that has been present in the region for centuries.

Classic on Noble

Address: 1024 Noble St, Anniston, AL 36201, USA

Website: Classic on Noble

Opening hours: Mon: 11am - 2pm; Tue - Sat: 11am - 9pm

7. Pose for a photo with the Big Chair

Did you know that Anniston is the home to the world’s largest chair? Well, if you have ever imagined how the biggest chair in the world looks like, then all you need to do is visit this huge chair that was built in 1981 as a marketing strategy by Miller’s Office Furniture Shop. The chair “stands” at 31 feet (9.4 meters) tall, fully constructed with steel and strong enough to withstand heavy winds of up to 85 mph (136 kph). Would you believe it that this chair is so big that it can be seen right across the city? When you visit, you must not fail to take a photo alongside this enormous chair. I bet it will be one of the unique photos you will have of Alabama.

Big Chair

Address: Anniston, Alabam

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

8. Look at antique weapons at Berman Museum

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

The Berman Museum is fascinating in a number of ways, right from its origin to the items you will find on display on the shelves. The museum was started by an American GI, Farley Berman, who served in North Africa during the Second World War. During his tour, he met and fell in love with a French spy, who he later married and traveled the world with. During their travels, they collected all manner of weaponry, antiques and bizarre items you wouldn’t even imagine existed. In this museum, you will find items such as a bullet firing flute, Hitler’s silver tea service, and lots of intriguing items from both medieval and Cold War weaponry systems.

Berman Museum

Address: 840 Museum Dr 36206 Anniston, Alabama

Website: Berman Museum

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am - 5pm; Sun: 1pm - 5pm

Price: Adults: 10 USD; Children: 5 USD

9. Get connected to nature at Longleaf Botanical Gardens

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Longleaf Botanical Gardens is located right next to the Anniston Museum of Natural History and Berman Museum. It is in a beautiful, natural setting, full of greenery and wild sounds of chirping birds and insects. It is a nice place to relax and reminisce after spending your morning hours touring the two museums. The gardens have tropical cascades, frequented by beautiful butterflies and the ever-gracious hummingbirds. The Longleaf Nature Trail is right inside the botanical garden and here you will see more than 25 tree species that are native to Alabama, and you will also enjoy walking through the shaded woodlands as you breathe in fresh air filled with the sweet scents of azaleas and hydrangeas.

Longleaf Botanical Gardens

Address: 920 Museum Drive, Anniston, AL 36206, USA

Website: Longleaf Botanical Gardens

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am - 5pm; Sun: 1pm - 5pm

10. Relax at John Nettles Park

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

With so much to see and do in Anniston, you will need a place to relax and recharge as you ponder on your next move and John Nettles Park may just be that place. In this park, you will find shelters for gatherings, outdoor basketball courts, electrical access, covered entertainment areas, outdoor swimming pools, and lighted walking trails. If you don’t feel like sitting on the grass, the park will always be full of activities you could engage in.

John Nettles Park

Address: 214 S Christine Ave, Anniston, AL 36207, USA

Website: John Nettles Park

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

11. Jog through Zinn Park

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Zinn Park is right in the heart of downtown Anniston, and if you desire to keep fit during your visit, then this is one of the best places you should consider going for a jog. Again, if you are visiting with a family, it is a nice day for a family day out, given that it has nice playgrounds, including a fun splash pad for the little ones.

Zinn Park

Address: 01 W 14th St, Anniston, AL 36201, USA

Website: Zinn Park

Opening hours: 6am - 6pm (daily)

Price: Free

12. Hang out at Cheaha State Park

If you think of yourself as a lover of nature, then you have every reason to consider visiting Cheaha State Park. At an altitude of 2407 feet (824 meters) above the sea level, the park has spectacular views of mountains, lakes and forest covers. It is also one of the best places to be if you want to see how beautiful the Alabama sunsets are. It is a place that no visitor should ever miss when in Alabama.

Cheaha State Park

Address: 19644 AL-281, Delta, AL 36258, USA

Website: Cheaha State Park

Opening hours: 6am - 6pm (daily)

Price: Starting from 14 USD

13. Visit the beautiful Freedom Riders Park

The Freedom Riders Park is not just a beautiful piece of nature in Alabama, but it is also a site etched in the country’s memory of the history of the Civil Rights Movement. It was at this site that a bus carrying “freedom riders”, who were on a journey to test interstate bus segregation, was met with violence and their bus was set aflame with the passengers inside. A visit to this place will not just treat you to the beauty of the park, but will also educate you on the racial battles that have been fought in Alabama.

Freedom Riders Park

Address: 1031 Gurnee Avenue 36201 Anniston, Alabama

Website: Freedom Riders Park

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: Free

14. Have a great night at Peerless Saloon & Grille

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Alabama has many historic businesses, and the Peerless Grille and Salon happens to be the oldest bar and has been in business for more than a century. The bar was set up in 1899 by Robert E Garner and was added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1985. A visit to this bar is a must for every history lover who may also be interested in sampling the nightlife of the city. However, you must remember that the crowd that visits this bar is distinguished, and so you may not get a lot of action if you are an active party animal.

Peerless Saloon & Grille

Address: 13 W 10th St, Anniston, AL 36201, USA

Website: Peerless Saloon & Grille

Opening hours: Fri - Wed: 11am - 10pm; Thu: 11am - 11pm

15. Go tubing at Choccolocco Creek

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

If you have ever imagined drifting on the water, then you should plan and spend a few hours floating lazily along the Choccolocco Creek. Other than the pleasure of floating on the tubes, the scenic river banks, the gentle sounds of the flowing river and the wild sounds coming from the forests will help you relax in a way you may have never imagined. If you have had a busy morning sightseeing, then you need to go tubing in the creek just to relax while you admire the scenery.

Choccolocco Creek

Address: 1413 Hillyer Robinson Industrial Pkwy Anniston, Alabama

Website: Choccolocco Creek

16. Try catfish at Top O’ The River Restaurant

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

You will be delighted to learn that Anniston, Alabama is the home to the largest seafood and catfish restaurant in the southeast – Top O’ The River Restaurant. This is where you will find the finest freshly prepared produce, seasoned with secret ingredients and recipes – the perfect definition of “from the farm to table” concept. If you are a fan of seafood, then you will be thrilled by the huge seafood platters, the Creole boiled shrimp dinners and most of all, the whole fried catfish dishes the restaurant offers on its menu.

Top O’ The River Restaurant

Address: 3220 McClellan Blvd 36201 Anniston, Alabama

Website: Top O’ The River Restaurant

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 5pm - 9pm; Sat: 5pm - 10pm; Sun: 11:30am - 8:30pm

17. Enjoy wine-tasting at White Oak Vineyards

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Alabama is known for its delicious fine wines, and if you are in Anniston, nothing should stop you from sampling a few of them at White Oak Vineyard. The vineyard is nestled among scenic rolling hills, and it offers a huge variety of French hybrid white and red wines as well as southern fruits and Muscadine wines. A visit to this place will give you a chance to sample different wines, browse through jars of juices, jams, and jellies, and even carry away a bottle or two from the farm shop.

White Oak Vineyards

Address: 1484 Dry Hollow Rd, Anniston, AL 36207, USA

Website: White Oak Vineyards

Opening hours: Thu - Fri: 1pm - 6pm; Sat: 10am - 8pm (closed from Sun - Wed)

18. Catch a game at Rack & Roll Billiards and Sports Bar

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Rack & Roll Billiards and Sports Bar is an ideal venue for a quiet Saturday afternoon when all you want is to sit down, enjoy a drink and relax while you watch a game. The bar has a nice atmosphere, super-friendly and attentive staff, and the décor is warm and welcoming enough to make you relax and enjoy your drinks and games. In addition to the drinks, the bar has a huge menu featuring meatloaf, hamburger steaks, fried pork chops, country fried steaks, fried shrimp, cabbage rolls and pulled pork plates among others.

Rack & Roll Billiards and Sports Bar

Address: 917 Noble St, Anniston, AL 36201, USA

Website: Rack & Roll Billiards and Sports Bar

Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 11am - 1am; Fri: 11am - 3am; Sat: 11am - 2am; Sun: 11am - 12am

Enjoy your trip to Anniston

With the above things to do in Anniston, Alabama, you have no reason to have a boring trip. The history, culture, food, and the beauty of the landscapes and parks should be sufficient to keep you busy throughout the duration of your visit. Just be sure to visit with an open mind and be ready to explore and have fun.