By Mary Colurso
There’s plenty to do in Cullman, if you know where to look, and several cultural gems to attract visitors on a Southern road trip.
That’s the word from USA Today, which included the Alabama city on its list of “10 small towns you can’t miss for a culture-centric escape.” Cullman took the No. 3 spot in a recent Readers Choice 10Best poll, ranking the best small-town cultural scenes in the United States.
“Situated between Birmingham and Huntsville is this small town that’s full of personality,” USA Today says. “Here you’ll find one-of-a-kind attractions like the Ave Maria Grotto, a 4-acre park featuring over 100 miniature reproductions of world-famous religious structures, including St. Peter’s Basilica. Other interesting cultural attractions include the Cullman County Museum, 4D Farm and the Highway Pickers Antique Mall & Flea Market.”
The USA Today list focuses on cities and towns with populations of fewer than 25,000 people. “What each lacks in size, it makes up for in culture: museums, art galleries, performing arts and plenty of events,” USA Today says.
Cullman fits the bill with a population estimated at about 20,000 this year, according to the website World Population Review. The city, which sits about 50 miles north of Birmingham, is “fueled by its quaint heritage and indelible Southern charm,” according to the City of Cullman website.
Cullman was ranked behind Alamosa, Colorado, a scenic town that took the No. 1 spot on USA Today’s list, and De Smet, South Dakota, which came in at No. 2. (De Smet is famed for its ties to Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the “Little House on the Prairie” book series.)
Cullman’s Parks & Recreation office touts annual events such as Rock the South, Cullman Oktoberfest and Cullman Christkindlmarkt, if you’re planning a visit. And The Crazy Tourist website points to attractions such as Sportsman Lake Park, Clarkson Covered Bridge, St. Bernard Abbey and Goat Island Brewing.
