A Day At Tuscaloosa Alabama

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Home of the Crimson Tide

Our First Stop on the Way to New Orleans

We were in no big rush to start our 13-day trip, yet we managed to get on the road by 9:40. The weather was nice and traffic was not too heavy, especially after we got on I-59 South. Tuscaloosa was about 3 and half hours away. We planned to check out their Riverwalk and eat lunch there.

Tuscaloosa Embassy Suites

We had never been to Tuscaloosa before, even though we have watched the ongoing battle between the Crimson Tide and the Volunteers for years. When we arrived at the hotel, which seemed to be pretty new and very well decorated, the nice lady at the desk said our room wasn’t ready yet. We expected that since we got there way before the 4 o’clock checkin time. We reminded here that we preferred a high floor at least a few doors away from the elevator. It never hurts to ask, and we are usually granted our wish. We told her we would go get lunch and she assured us that the room would be ready by then.

The City of Tuscaloosa Riverwalk

We exited at the rear of the hotel and proceeded to walk down the steep slope towards the Riverwalk. We were immediately impressed with the modern landscaping design. The path layouts, structures, and lighting seemed very new. It looked like the city spent a lot of money to make this a very special area of the city. There is an amphitheater, the nearby Visitor Center and River Market, as well as The Park at Manderson Landing.

We didn’t have time to explore everything there was to see on the Riverwalk, but a little research told us that the Manderson Landing was opened in 2019, at the 200th birthday of the city of Tuscaloosa. The park features a sculpture of Minerva releasing an owl. It is shared with the community as well as the University of Alabama.

We walked east along the river and came upon a boardwalk overlooking the river where an older gentleman was eating his take-out lunch. He was very friendly and anxious to tell us about area. Originally from Montgomery Alabama he lives here now. We asked about the name of the river and he told us that it was called the Black Warrior River. He went on to explain that Tuscaloosa is an indigenous name derived from a Choctaw Native American named Chief Tuscaloosa which means Black Warrior.

We could tell that we were close to the University of Alabama because we saw dozens of young people, some jogging and others walking as a group on the Riverwalk. Nearby a University bus idled, waiting for any students that needed transportation back to their dorm or classes. A huge new apartment complex called Riverfront Village, was leasing apartments on the other side of the street from the Riverwalk.

The Avenue Pub

It was getting pretty warm and I was already feeling a bit peckish, so we headed back up the steep incline towards a cluster of shops and restaurants. We checked out several that my wife had researched. Many of them didn’t seem to have much activity so we dismissed them. In our mind, a busy restaurant is most likely a better choice. Especially if the locals eat there.

We ultimately chose The Avenue Pub on University Boulevard. It is in an old building. There is a small patio outside. Only one couple was seated out there, most likely because it was pretty warm. Inside we were greeted by a friendly hostess, who turned out to be our server too. The ceiling is stamped tin and the floors are very old, possibly original, hardwood. Support columns run down the center of the restaurant. And there is an interesting bar at the front with a chalk board listing the various beers and drinks they specialize in.

We ordered our food and observed the other customers ,either already enjoying their meal or waiting for their orders to arrive. There were business people, tourists like us, and university students. It was a nice mix. I got the shrimp tacos with a side of house salad, which was big enough to share, and my wife had a BLT with a side of roasted Brussels sprouts which were delicious. Prices here were pretty average – maybe a little less than average. And the service was great. There was no shortage of servers here.

After lunch we walked some, checking out the area, then returned to the hotel. Our room was ready. We were both admiring the decor and hotel design, so we took a few photos of the artwork on the walls.

In short, our room was very nice. Evening reception was exceptional. And I would rate this as one of the best Embassy Suites we have stayed at.

Tomorrow we head to historic Natchez Mississippi for another 1-night stay before we take a much longer drive to New Orleans.

Have you been to Tuscaloosa? What was your experience there? Let our readers know about your visit. See you at Natchez.