Book excerpt: From its white, sugar sand Gulf Coast beaches to the sparkling lights and excitement of big cities to peaceful landscapes and breathtaking mountain scenery, this state truly is Alabama the Beautiful. In 100 Things to Do in Alabama Before You Die, author Mary Johns Wilson captures that beauty, making it easy for travelers and locals alike to experience the state’s best restaurants, shops, museums, venues, sports, and more. There’s the obvious, such as the annual Iron Bowl football game between the University of Alabama and Auburn University. There’s the lesser known, like the Aliceville Museum that tells how the tiny town was home to the state’s largest World War II Prisoner of War Camp and housed thousands of Rommel’s German troops. There’s the quirky, including the Boll Weevil Monument in Enterprise—the world’s first monument to an insect. There’s the belly-filling, such as Big Bob Gibson’s Bar-B-Q in Decatur and Jesse’s Restaurant in Magnolia Springs near the coast. Spending a day on the Civil Rights Trail in Birmingham or at the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery is a meaningful way to encounter the painful and powerful history. Local author Mary Johns Wilson ties the lessons of history to the promise of the future woven throughout the state she loves. Hit the road and use this book as your guide to discover all Alabama has to offer and learn why it’s such a sweet place to call home.