- Any of Tuscaloosa’s Museums
Mildred Westervelt Warner Transportation Museum is one of the great museum options that we have in town. Located at Tuscaloosa’s historic Queen City Park along the Black Warrior River, this museum is filled with knowledge and appreciation of our local and regional history and natural resources through exhibits, museum educational programs, and educational outreach efforts. For the ones who are rather interested in extinct models, the Alabama Museum of Natural History is a perfect place to visit with its ancient fossils and many other exciting things to discover!
- Art Galleries
We have some incredible and diverse art galleries in town that are definitely worth a visit. The Kentuck Art Center in Northport is an all-in-one museum, gallery and event location that is now featuring Good Trouble: Civil Rights Past and Present. In the heart of downtown Tuscaloosa lies another local gem: Paul R. Jones Gallery. Currently the exhibition It’s Like That: Selections from the Collection of Rebecca and Jack Drake is on display. Works for this exhibition were selected by independent curator Paul Barrett!
- Coffee Shops
What cozier place could there be to hide from a rainy day than a traditional coffee shop? The smell of coffee and pastries in the air, people reading the newspaper, studying or chatting steadily alongside a laid-back playlist…. sounds perfect to us! Tuscaloosa offers many such magical places. For example, the local chain Heritage House, Monarch Espresso Bar downtown, or the new kid on the block Just Love Coffee. Choose one and enjoy!
- Brewery
Local breweries in Tuscaloosa are the perfect place to spend a gray afternoon among friends and one of America’s favorite drinks: Beer. Druid City Brewing Company, Black Warrior Brewing Company, and Loosa offer great brews and relaxed space to lean back and enjoy an ice-cold one on this dreary day. These local treasures have the coolest merchandise to brighten up your wardrobe today!
- Shindig
Shindig Family Entertainment Center is another excellent option for rainy days like today. This is your one-stop entertainment center with bowling, laser tag, arcade games, mini-golf, and a restaurant with a lounge! Forget about your worries and completely immerse yourself in all of the family fun that this awesome place has to offer!
Now that it is wintertime and the blistering Alabama heat is on vacation, it can be tough to find ways to stay warm! Finding a way to stay active and social while staying warm and staying safely distanced is a monumental task, so we decided to help out! Below, we have compiled a list of activities for staying warm around Tuscaloosa while still being safe. While visiting the following locations and businesses, be sure to wear a mask and practice safe social distancing while you keep warm!
No Snow, Just a Cup of Joe
A classic way to get warm throughout wintertime is a nice, warm cup of delicious coffee! A coffee shop is versatile in what you are able to order, from black house coffee for the seasoned veteran to hot chocolate for the kids! A new coffee spot in town that has just recently opened up is Just Love Coffee.
Just Love Coffee’s grand opening is this weekend! After a very successful soft opening, Just Love is ready to open its doors for all of Tuscaloosa to enjoy and is ready to brew up some hot (and cold) coffee. In addition to coffee, Just Love also offers a number of different food items ranging from avocado toast, to sandwiches, to delectable waffle creations! Stop by the coffee shop in Downtown Tuscaloosa to warm up with a delicious cup of coffee!
Get Comfy Between the Book Covers
A perfect activity for sitting around and enjoying the heat of the indoors is curling up and enjoying a good book. In addition to staying warm, a book is a great way to travel to new worlds and exciting places while staying safely within your own home! To find your new favorite book or to rediscover an old favorite, stop by Ernest & Hadley’s near Downtown Tuscaloosa!
Ernest & Hadley’s is Tuscaloosa’s premier local bookstore that is based on sharing the wonderful activity of reading with all its visitors! In addition to providing new and old favorites, this bookstore does Tuscaloosa and West Alabama proud by featuring books written by local and statewide authors and books centered around Alabama culture! Stop by the bookstore this weekend to pick up a set of books to enjoy by the fire or under a cozy blanket!
No Brrrrr’s, Just Brews
An activity that applies well to summertime and wintertime is visiting the incredible breweries around town. The breweries of Tuscaloosa are a great way to enjoy company with friends indoors while staying distanced and safe. Two of the best locations in Tuscaloosa to visit for beer and other drinks are Black Warrior Brewing Company and Druid City Brewing Company!
Black Warrior Brewing Company is a local Tuscaloosa brewery with a wide variety of evergreen and seasonal beers for all to enjoy. There is plenty of space indoors to enjoy a brew with friends and stay out of the harsh winter cold! Druid City Brewing Company is Tuscaloosa’s first brewery and serves up one of the greatest porters in the Southeast. If you’re hoping to stay downtown, Cravings is home to a massive variety of beers, wine, and other beverages (including hot beverages) where almost anyone can find something they will love!
It is International Coffee Day and there is only one way to celebrate. Treat yourself to the must-needed companion, Coffee, as the work and school year are in full swing. With the temperature slowly dropping like an autumn leaf, what better time than now to discover a new coffee shop where you can enjoy specially-curated coffee brews and specialty coffee drinks? The City of Tuscaloosa is home to a variety of eclectic local cafes and shops to satisfy your coffee, so you’re in luck! Below is a list of locations around town where you can discover your new favorite cup of joe and celebrate International Coffee Day accordingly!
Coffee with Breakfast
You simply cannot go wrong with a hot (or iced) cup of coffee paired with a tasty treat to satisfy your sweet tooth. What are you waiting for? Start your week off with a little pick-me-up! On the corner of Greensboro and University Blvd sits Babe’s Donuts, this local favorite has earned quite a reputation around town with exceptional service and plenty of delicious treats to choose from. Their donuts can be topped with anything from fruity pebbles to Reese’s and Heath Bars, so be sure to scope out the many options before choosing wisely. Start your week off with this little pick-me-up! They are only open for take-out, so finding a good view of Downtown T-town to enjoy your killer combo is a must.
Breakfast with Coffee
If you are looking for a spot to grab a bigger meal and still celebrate today’s holiday, check out Another Broken Egg or Five Bar! Both of these restaurants offer a delicious variety for breakfast, brunch, and lunch (as well as dinner for Five). There is indoor seating available for those that want to get out of the house, but don’t forget to bring your mask! Five Bar also has a dedicated coffee shop that is open every day from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm! Visit either of these T-Town stops to pair an incredible meal with a delightful cup of joe.
On-the-Go
Traveling all around the city of Tuscaloosa is the Joyful Java food truck! This one-of-a-kind coffee stop is considered a must-try by hundreds of UA students. Each cup is filled with a full-bodied flavor, from beans that are daily roasted and brewed fresh. If that isn’t quite your style, no problem! Joyful Java has a nice variety to choose from, including nitro brew, Greek frappe, espresso, and even caramel apple cider. There are no wrong choices here. Find Joyful Java in Tuscaloosa, or have ’em out to cater to your next event!
Uniquely Local
Tuscaloosa is home to several unique coffee houses that all bring something special and different to this town’s cafe scene. Turbo Coffee, for example, offers cold-pressed juices, açai bowls, and superfood smoothies in addition to their coffee selection. If you are looking for to-go options, Monarch Espresso Bar currently offers wonderful window service and outdoor seating so visitors can continue to visit the shop and socialize safely while enjoying a cup of coffee!
Coming Soon
A classy coffee cafe, Just Love Coffee, is joining Tuscaloosa in a few weeks and we can hardly wait. Run by a mission to spread joy and kindness communities, this new local shop is sure to bring something unique to T-Town. Former alumni of The University of Alabama and two brothers are more than determined to spread the mission of Just Love Coffee to the Tuscaloosa area. In addition to the specially-curated coffee, Just Love also offers a menu of delectable goodies ranging from chicken and waffles to salads! Be sure to join us in giving this local business a warm welcome when they open!