A few weeks ago Rob and I celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary. Alex had a soccer game in Gadsden, AL, so we decided to make a day of it and head on up there. When I was googling free things to do in or around Gadsden I found James D. Martin Wildlife Park, which said it was a walking trail behind Gadsden Mall that is open to the public. I googled the mall address [Gadsden Mall 1001 Rainbow Drive Gadsden, AL 35901] and typed it into the GPS. When you turn into the mall, just follow around the edge of the parking lot till you’re in the back. You’ll see the park over to the right.
For birders, this is a location where you could sit for hours and see birds of all sorts including Herons and Egrets of all sorts.
This gorgeous spot for hikers, cyclers, and nature lovers was opened in 1991 after this area that was once a flood plain was turned into a recreational area with boardwalks, paved walking paths and hiking trails. I call this area the Everglades of Alabama on a miniature scale.
We were there about an hour and half before having to leave. When we got back to the car we realized the game was cancelled before we drove the 2+ hours to Gadsden. However, since we were making a day of it, we made the best of it and continued our adventures visiting the top of Noccolula Falls and eventually driving to Birmingham for an Anniversary dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.
And if you didn’t get enough pics in this post, check more about one flickr:
James D. Martin Wildlife Park
http://alabama.travel/places-to-go/james-d-martin-wildlife-park
http://alabamabirdingtrails.com/sites/james-d-martin-wildlife-park/
http://www.greatergadsden.com/portfolio-view/james-d-martin-wildlife-park-walking-trail/
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