"Tuscaloosa- THE University town" Tuscaloosa by Roadquill

Tuscaloosa has several claims to fame, the first being the University of Alabama, the 2nd being the football coach Bear Bryant and for a brief time it was the capital of Alabama. The city was all but ignored during the Civil War until several days before Lee surrendered. In those several days a Union force burned down most of the University, all of the manufacturing and businesses, including the hat manufacturing plant. I didn't realize that hats were of such strategic import during the Civil War. Maybe they were the ones you toss like Oddjob threw at James Bond in Goldfinger. Hmmm? Probably not.

Long just a university town, the city is making major efforts to revitalize the local economy. In addition to an old town walk, there is now a river walk by the Black Warrior River.

The town was named after an Indian chief named Tsuka Loosa (Warrior Black) who fought the Spanish explorers. The site was one of the few places on the river where there was a stretch of the river that could be forded.

Denny Bryant Stadium

The city seems to revolve around the college football season. The recently refurbished stadium stands out, relishes in past and current glory.

It seemed that on every main street there was a bar b que place. Nothing fancy. I was only able to enjoy the original "Dreamland", but there was Mike and Ed's on 15th, Tee's, Big John's (that could have been in Moundville).

• Pros:Nice courteous, smiling folks who always say hello
• Cons:Hot and Humid in August
• In a nutshell:BBQ