Feel the need to explore Florence? Then get ready for some variety, as the city has several things to do and see. To get started, here is a list of five places to check out.

W.C. Handy Birthplace, Museum & Library

Location: 620 West College Street 

Anyone who knows enough about the Shoals remembers the “Father of the Blues,” W.C. Handy, was born in Florence. Today, his original birthplace, a wooden cabin with a brick chimney, serves as a museum. The W.C. Handy Birthplace, Museum & Library contains a collection of artifacts and memorabilia. Notable artifacts include his trumpet, pieces of original sheet music and the iconic piano he used to create “St. Louis Blues.”   

Escape Room Florence

Location: 108 South Pine Street

Whether finding a way out of a seemingly-alive cabin in the woods or escaping a holding cell before KGB agents come back for interrogation, visitors choose their fate in two different escape games at Escape Room Florence. Players are put with one to seven others (whether they be friends or strangers) and have to work together in order to find the way out. To do this, players must find clues and solve puzzles before the one-hour time limit runs out. Two new games are coming soon, so be sure to try out these two to get caught up.

Deibert Park

Location: 2801 Hermitage Drive

Feeling like some fresh air? Check out Deibert Park, a 70-acre area that is fun for both adults and children. Dr. Kirk Deibert and his wife Lillian donated the land, once part of an antebellum plantation, to Florence. For those who like to take a nice walk, there are paths going around large ponds and several trails to explore. Pets can even join in on the fun as long as they are on a leash. A playground is also available for kids.

Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts

Location: 217 East Tuscaloosa Street

For art connoisseurs or just those who want to see some art, traveling elsewhere is not needed to find some great pieces. The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts features annual and rotating exhibits for all ages. Despite the focus on art, it also serves as a center for cultural groups in the area. Among the events it hosts are concerts, lectures, workshops and Arts Alive, an annual fine arts and crafts festival that takes place both at the center and Wilson Park.

Florence Indian Mound and Museum

Location: 1028 South Court Street

Take a step back in time with a 43-foot mound created by Native Americans and a museum filled with Indian artifacts dating back to over 10,000 years ago. The Florence Indian Mound and Museum brings the past to life by allowing visitors to climb an ancient mound and see a large exhibit of Native American tools, pipes, pottery, jewelry and rare arrowheads.