Tuscaloosa is a college town of about 100,000 people, dominated by the University of Alabama and its fiercely loyal football culture. On game days in the fall, the city's population effectively doubles as fans descend on Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Beyond football, Tuscaloosa has a pleasant historic downtown with many 19th-century buildings still standing, including the ruins of Capitol Park — all that remains of the original Alabama state capitol — and the antebellum Battle-Friedman House. The Alabama Museum of Natural History on campus holds the Hodges Meteorite, the only space rock confirmed to have struck a living human being. The nightlife is good year-round thanks to the student population. The city is also home to Mercedes-Benz's first North American auto production plant.
For barbecue, skip the famous Dreamland and head to Woodrow's on University Boulevard instead — Carolina-style, thin, spicy sauce that locals swear by. Bring a thermos to buy extra sauce for your fridge.