I Found A Place In Alabama That's Actually Thriving

[@kennybeck5519]

I just moved to Alabama from California! Big culture shock!!! Everyone is so kind here, and willing to help.

[@libdavis7854]

Welcome to the south

[@hynkie]

Get out

[@christophercooper5843]

If your woke u need 2 go...otherwise welcome

[@valeriereid1234]

​@@hynkieU r not God! So, shut up!😅😅😅

[@suzylindblom139]

Many places in Alabama are thriving. Just moved to North Alabama from Alabama gulf coast and each have their own character. I love Alabama. Mountains in the north, beaches in the south. And so much in between.

[@viceman8152]

Yep. Redstone Arsenal has a little over 700 Active Duty Soldiers and 50,000 plus civilian and contract employees. Not the only reason, but the biggest reason the Huntsville area is always thriving.

[@concernedcitizen6572]

​@@viceman8152 Thank goodness for the government investing in the area. Many small towns around the USA have died as job opportunities have dried up. Sometimes paying taxes helps.

[@RoadRunnergarage8570]

I would love to see Syracuse have a College Football program like The University Of Alabama.. Until S.U. ponies up for a top notch coach that's highly unlikely to happen..

[@RoadRunnergarage8570]

​​​@@viceman8152 The Cold Winter Central New York climate doesn't seem to help either... Other than maybe Ohio State, Michigan,Notre Dame and Penn State the best High School talent tends to migrate to southern schools like Alabama, Georgia,L.S.U, Clemson, Florida State etc...

[@viceman8152]

@@RoadRunnergarage8570 It takes a commitment to football to get a coach like Saban. You not only have to pay him, but keep him happy and that means investing in top notch everything. The advantage the state of Alabama has is actually in the culture. Since there are no NFL teams in Alabama, college is the highest level in the state and thus instead of many nfl fans, we have many college fans. Climate helps but in New York kids play football. In Alabama, they live it.

[@ronniegreen3513]

I will begin by admitting that I am biased, I grew up in the Shoals area and now live in the Huntsville area, I believe that the best parts of Alabama are in the northern third. However, the State in general is a surprise to visitors who have a 60-year-old view of us. It's still the South, but the new south that has done a pretty good job of ridding itself of the bad while holding on to our polite friendly culture. We're not perfect yet, but we're working on it. Oh, and don't let the accent fool you, there's some pretty smart people who have an accent.

[@ebikeoutdoors]

I have always looked at the USA as such a cool country I'm from England but love the idea of living in America for town's like this and I love hunting and you guys have a great hunting seen over there in England we can't even hunt with a bow 👍✌

[@alansewell7810]

I lived in Muscle Shoals, Montgomery, Birmingham, and Mobile at various points of my life. Typical Alabama story: In 2005 my transmission failed 7 miles outside of Luverne and I didn't have a cell phone. I started hoofing it into town. Hadn't been walking 15 seconds before a black man pulled over and took me to the garage in town. By then I was driving with a Florida plate I thought it was going to be a rip off, with an out--of-state motorist stuck at the only garage within about 30 miles that could repair transmissions. It wasn't like that at all. The owner of Stephens Garage ordered a new transmission from Birmingham, which was better than the original. Installed it for $2,400, a great price. I had a good time in town for a couple days it took to get the factory order shipped, meeting people and just having a great time. An event that would have been terrible anywhere else turned out to be nice in Alabama. I remember "Stephens Garage" because a journalist from the Wall Street Journal broke down this year in similar circumstances and wrote them up as being a wonderful place to be broken down in, as they gave him the same courteous service and fair price they did me 18 years before. That's how Alabama is. The good things don't go away like they do in a lot of other places.

[@eltonfan62]

🎉Perception and reality are totally different about Alabama. It's true the majority of people in Alabama are nice and we do get along no matter the color .I guess morals are more important in the South than some other places.

[@bentoncushing8693]

Amen,,,,beautiful,,,place

[@paulrice8342]

Alabama is the best kept secret! Shhhhhh. It’s starting to get crowded.

[@flicmac3401]

I have just binged on all your KZbin videos and I love them. I'm from Australia so it's been a good way to see what's happening in your part of the world. Thank you.

[@nicolerenee8402]

One of my favorite things about Alabama is the adorable little towns throughout the state. So many of them have so much character. Historic buildings with modern updates.

[@andyusfca]

God will not be mocked

[@nicolerenee8402]

@@andyusfca hhmm, ok. 👍

[@jimdep6542]

@@andyusfca true, but those liberals keep trying.

[@nicolerenee8402]

@@jimdep6542 I grew up north of Pittsburgh but I’ve lived in FL, WA, HI, AL, Italy, and currently live in Australia. I lived in Prattville while I was in AL. Plenty of charming towns in the area and headed toward FL.

[@jimdep6542]

@@nicolerenee8402 You've been to a lot of places. I've been to those places too, except for FL and Australia. I have not been near the Florida border in AL, so maybe that area does have the charming towns that you speak of. I do like the villages and towns in north western PA and I love Upstate NY and New England., regarding the scenery. I spent my 7th birthday years ago in Florence, Italy and it was very beautiful there.

[@KCFromTheIE]

Such a cool state! Everyone was sooooo NICE! You definitely captured what makes this state great! Great vid Nick!

[@NickJohnson]

We had fun didn't we??

[@helloimclaudio]

@@NickJohnson It’s been my lifelong dream since I was a small boy, to be able to visit the great state of Alabama. Thank you for taking me with you Nick.

[@jouir45]

Nice if you’re Christian, white and don’t support a woman’s right to make decisions about her own body.

[@charliecfh]

I lived in the Birmingham area for 10 years but worked all over the state. Florence/Muscle Shoals was by far my favorite place to visit. I always say that if I had to move back to Alabama, I would definitely be moving to Florence.

[@kenwaltson7113]

Birmingham is shit Huntsville all the way

[@paulrice8342]

@@charliecfh I was there a few days ago. It was amazing. I live in Madison, which is also amazing.

[@temperanceawakening7002]

My wife is from Alabama and is deaf. Went to Helen Keller's home up in Tuscumbia. Very nice!

[@nancyhollandsmith2802]

I was born and raised in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. We are a nice community and generally quiet. You must not have talked to a older southern lady or gentleman to get the southern vibes. The Shoals is rich in music and other things. There is no place in the US that don’t have issues.

[@NickJohnson]

I talked to everyone Nance

[@brittianmoore726]

I didn't know u came here I live in Florence would of liked to meet u

[@markmccullough5873]

You didn't mention that Sam Phillips, the first one to blend hillbilly bluegrass with the delta blues and created rock and roll, is a Florence native.

[@alexmobil7463]

Sweet home Alabama Where the skies are so blue Sweet home Alabama Lord I'm comin' home to you

[@davebryant8050]

That song wasn't recorded at Muscle Shoals.

[@morganlafae1882]

Allman Brothers recorded there. Beautiful little Southern town. Alabama is a beautiful state.

[@Bond.girl.007]

I loved this episode! I just love Alabama, and the people there. I feel like I was meant to live there, not up north where I'm from. Thank you Nick for showing us all of these places. 😊

[@mgarner1227]

I felt that way too. Moved there from Connecticut and could handle it for about 12 years before the rural-ness and the lack of anything to do got to me. I lived in the Shoals and I eventually couldn't handle being 2 hours plus away from a major city/airport.

[@budmangt2]

I live in Decatur, al. near the Tennessee River It's a little diverse but clean and quiet, and it's about 45 minutes from Huntsville. there are little towns close by like Hartsville, Moulton, and Priceville.

[@joneastman5627]

I've been here for 20 years now .lived in other states. It's laid back ,I enjoy it

[@timstar28]

Nick, you need to bring back the Unboxing theme song! Mappy said he agrees 🗺

[@انت-صلي-عالنبي-بس]

Truly Correct 😍👍🏻⭐️

[@user-vh2tj4hv6k]

Thanks for showing this. My grandparents lived in the shoals, Florence to be exact. My grandfather walked to work on a regular basis when the weather permitted. He was the town tailor. His favorite spot to eat is called Trowbridge's. Still there and famous today. My grandparents have been long gone from there. But I have wonderful memories of the community of the shoals. I'm 61 yrs of age now. . . . . thanks for sharing your videos.

[@FigmentForever]

Absolutely love Trowbridges. My mom introduced me to it, but sadly just passed away due to hospital malpractice

[@michaelhe34]

Im from this area , moved to pensacola a few years back .I recognized Gary Nichols at the 21:50 mark ,who was with the Steeldrivers a few years back

[@ebikeoutdoors]

I'm from England and this is the sort of town I imagine when I think of a nice place to live in the USA 👍✌

[@NickJohnson]

Here's my entire Deep South Road Trip Playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLq-_cmf3H6yrg0_gX1fq81lsxUQTnt7Vl And if you need help finding a place to move, I do consulting. I can help you pick where to move and get you a real estate agent, too. Email me! [e-mail]

[@cookielover1018TM]

Hope to retire near Gulf Shores someday, vacation there for now, thanks for your videos

[@davel7014]

Seems like years ago, most small towns were "boring", unless you lived in a tourist town. Even then, tourist attractions lose their appeal when you live near them. That being said, there is something to be said about living in a quiet "boring" town. Quiet, peaceful, stable and affordable. I'll take that anyday over living in a big city.

[@MrNajibrazak]

i am just thinking; if i ever intend to migrate to America one day, it must somewhere peaceful, stable and affordable. I think i need to look at Alabama more. Sounds like a nice place to raise a family? i hope it wont change like California did. My first visit to the states was to California, was actually there for work in the semiconductor ind. It is a total dump nowadays. Made me glad that i didn't stay when offered the opportunity on days i regretted not taking the offer. An advice give to me by a friend in San Francisco was, never live in any state run by liberals, it will go to hell and I think Alabama would never be anything like California. i hope.

[@davel7014]

@@MrNajibrazak Agreed

[@panlam3366]

​@@MrNajibrazak you bumpkins say anything to make yourselves feel better lol you guys flood the comments with bs red state good blue state bad your trying to justify being boring lol tell southern states to take their homeless population back

[@paulcarney7495]

I'm so glad that you did a video about The Shoals! I work in college admissions, and in early December 2019, I was in the Huntsville-area recruiting students. On December 3rd, I had a mid-day appointment at Florence High School. On my drive from Huntsville to Florence, I passed through Muscle Shoals and then saw some highway signs for the recording studios in the area. I had heard a little bit about Muscle Shoals in the past and that Lynyrd Skynyrd had recorded there. But, that was about the extent of what I knew. I thought to myself, "I'll have to stop by the studios on my way back to Huntsville." I had a little downtime in the early afternoon and followed the road signs on my way back. I came to the Muscle Shoals Sound Studios first. The place looked abandoned. But, there was one car in the gravel parking lot. Also, I did hear someone playing piano inside. I wasn't sure if the place was open to the public, but I decided to go to the front door to inquire. As I walked to the front door, I noticed two banners hanging on both sides of the building's facade of the Rolling Stones/Andy Warhol lips and tongue icon with "December 2-4, 1969" underneath. As I walked in the front door, a lady working the counter welcomed me and let me know that there would be a tour in just a few moments. I was the only person in the place until a couple that appeared to be about 10 years older than me. I was 52 at the time in 2019. When we were taken on the tour, I learned that the banners were up to celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Rolling Stones recording there. Through sheer happenstance, I just happened to drive through that area on the 50th anniversary of the Stones recording "Brown Sugar" there. Also, Keith Richards came up with the melody for "Wild Horses" in the bathroom on that same day, and they would record it the next day. I got goosebumps on the back of my neck!

[@beardedba]

You stumbled upon one of the great music areas...thanks for showcasing the Shoals!

[@markmccullough5873]

The entire US72 corridor across north Alabama is as good as it gets.

[@Firstfives]

Beautiful area, we visited there several weeks ago. Love the FAME and Alabama Music Hall of Fame! Sweet Home Alabama!

[@yapahkalayahkimberlym4448]

Great video! Thanks for highlighting the shoals! Sheffield is my mom’s (RIP) hometown! We still have property down there but I haven’t been since the 80s but planning to visit soon. 😊

[@MX-CO]

Wow you have property you haven't been to since the 80's???

[@yapahkalayahkimberlym4448]

@@MX-CO nope! My brother and I inherited the property plus some land as well.

[@MX-CO]

@@yapahkalayahkimberlym4448 Nice

[@Pksparty2112]

It’s pretty much in between Nashville and Memphis. So it doesn’t surprise me artists record there.

[@Battleneter]

As a New Zealander I find Alabama fascinating, it has the same population as my entire country and yet somehow seems a lot smaller. Alabama largest city Huntsville is only around 30% of the population of our largest Auckland, and in fact is smaller than my city Christchurch the 2nd largest when factoring in metro areas for all. I would guess the US larger states have in a way have impacted Alabama and caused a urban brain drain of sorts, limiting urban growth.

[@andrewtaylor3167]

It's more that Alabama has more evenly split "major" urban areas. Huntsville might be the largest city, but it's not the biggest urban area. That's be Birmingham (urban area pop is 774,956.). That's followed by Huntsville (329,066), Mobile (321,907) and Montgomery (254,348). Compare that to Auckland (1,440,300), Christchurch (377,900), Wellington (212,000) and Hamilton (179,900). Alabama's also not an island. The urban areas of Pensacola (390,172) and Columbus, GA (267,746) cross into the state, with Chattanooga (398,569) being separate by a single Georgia county. On top of that, Mobile's got a bit a sub-city in Fairhope (76,807) that a separate urban area across the bay (separate urban area due to the distance over the water). Huntsville's got that to a lesser degree with Decatur (60,458), a river city that tends to do a lot of the manufacturing tied to Huntsville's military research. Auburn (100,842) is similarly considered sorta tied to Columbus.

[@kimberlythomas4373]

Nah, the towns are small because leaders want to keep them that way. It has very little to do with “urban brain drain”. Keep in mind that there are other states on every side of Alabama so there are lots and lots of living options. Many people in this area don’t want to live in larger cities.

[@captainvanaroo1729]

You trying to compare a communist country like New Zealand to Alabama shame on you.

[@frednugent2310]

Birmingham is actually the largest city in Alabama

[@ridesharegold6659]

I lived in Australia, visited NZ, live in FL now and visit AL. It was difficult to explain to Australians but basically the whole eastern half of the US has a town at least every 10 miles. Farming or ranching is possible everywhere. There is no real wilderness. We don't have a huge mountain range that makes a huge part of this half of the country difficult to settle. What I'm trying to say is that there are people everywhere, even in the rural areas. Also, Birmingham and Huntsville, while quite different, are pretty cool towns.

[@bigmoneycarlos8947]

Love the area, move to Alabama 3 years ago and don’t regret it purchas 78 acres of land for the price of 2 acres in Florida and you can’t bet the property tax. You can defenetly retire here.

[@Still_Waters99]

One of my favorite movies is a documentary called "Muscle Shoals" 2013 about all the famous music made here. Thanks for the video.

[@jimdep6542]

Rick Hall was a great guy. His wife still works at FAME and she's a lovely lady.

[@cobbchannel9993]

There is another place thriving in Alabama. It's Huntsville, it's upscale and lots of local businesses, and I even visited there. You should look into doing a video on this city as well.

[@NickJohnson]

I did already

[@sandyfields678]

Known as rocket city, USA, lots of engineering,, resistancxxxxgoofed, Redstone arsenal, army,, nasal,, etc,, lots of traffic, we hav mtmountaind,, mtns,, foothills of Appalachia mtn end near anniston..Birmingham, chaytanooga tn not far ftm huntsville,,Bama has bches, mtns,, all of it,,

[@andrewtola8536]

Yeah I live In Huntsville, I love it. It’s a great place to live, and raise a family.

[@chiaralistica]

I worked the toy section at a nice department store back in the 80s. It was one of my first jobs. Definitely an experience and probably why I never had kids lol. Watching these kids carry on over not getting a toy, when they probably were getting it for Xmas. Lucky for me it was part time and no Sundays.

[@ChadSimplicio]

Those locals will want to keep it that way.

[@everythingnotknown]

Amen ❤

[@cxrmack6922]

I live here I enjoy it

[@beckysmith2222]

I've lived here all my life & love it, nice & quiet also BEAUTIFUL💙

[@EllenAday]

I was born and raised in Sheffield, lived away for a while, but came back home. Nowhere like it! Although you showed some nice places, you missed many beautiful areas, homes, neighborhoods and great restaurants. Also, most weekends downtown Florence is covered up with people and music. So many festivals, parks, fairs, shows and more to do! The Shoals Theatre is no longer a movie theatre but holds many other events. I have fond memories of my mother taking my friends and I to see Disney movies there, when it still was a theatre. Just a wonderful, beautiful, magical place to grow up!

[@LukeN3]

Heard Briggs talk about this area too, sounds like a chill place off the beaten path

[@xFactoryUSA]

Walmart falls. Amazon falls, the old mom and pop abandoned spots suddenly become an entrepreneurs gold mine. Long Live old school downtowns!

[@concernedcitizen6572]

Blame falls on the the consumer mainly. Whenever I go out with folks its always "Why dont you just buy it from Amazon its X amount cheaper there". If we arent careful soon we wont have any thriving small businesses if the average american consumer values final sticker price above all else.

[@TheHamburgler123]

@Concerned Citizen I was a low earner for most of my 20's so I get where those people are coming from. When you have to make every dollar count, it's hard to justify paying more for the same exact product. Those little decisions can add up to thousands of dollars that you can't afford to let go of. Now that I'm a small business owner and have increased my earning power significantly, I do my part to shop local for almost everything.

[@Methuselah969V]

I remember seeing the sign on I 65 Muscle Shoals and thought that sounds like a good name

[@carolwhitaker5880]

You should have visited the Coon Dog Cemetery and Rattlesnake Saloon while you were over that way.

[@frednugent2310]

I've worked many years at the TVA power plant in Tuscumbia and yes, the Muscle Shoals area is really a nice place to work and live while raising a family.

[@concernedcitizen6572]

Good thing the Federal government invested there. (Same here in East Tennessee with the TVA and ORNL). Getting real tired of folks demonizing the government when they help these areas tremendously

[@frednugent2310]

@@concernedcitizen6572 I've also worked at the TVA Kingston, TN and it's tragic about the disaster that happened there several years back with the flyash sludge. I hope everything has been cleaned up and the locals compensated. TVA has created so many good paying jobs for so many families and I was one of them. I will always be grateful for the opportunity given to me from TVA. They even put my kids through college. The ORNL is also a great area to raise a family. I left out the Bull Run fossil plant.

[@concernedcitizen6572]

I love the Bull Run plant. I drive by there otw home from work. I dont know what they do but it looks super cool! ❤

[@frednugent2310]

@@concernedcitizen6572 Bull Run is a coal power plant. I used to work as a union boilermaker and worked the entire Tennessee Valley region which includes Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Muscle Shoals, AL.

[@concernedcitizen6572]

@@frednugent2310 I wonder if the plant will stay open with this worldwide push away from coal. Maybe they will retrofit it as best they can. Or maybe we will keep some plants open always. Probably a good idea to have access to a variety of power sources.

[@SniperLogic]

🎼 Muscle Shoals has got The Swampers. And they’ve been known to pick a song or two.

[@Nonchalant_248]

Nice video. My grandmother and aunts were from Sheffield, AL and growing up we would visit cousins down there sometimes. I remember when you crossed that bridge you were in Florence.

[@jimaccardi1076]

The Shoals area is great. I'm from Huntsville (which is also great), went to undergrad school at UNA, played music with great musicians from the area. I was blessed to have been in school during the 60's and early 70's when a lot of great music was being made in Muscle Shoals/Sheffield. Still spend a lot of time over there. Wouldn't trade that part of my life for anything. BTW, Nick, my degree was worth a bunch!

[@NickJohnson]

Good jim! Degrees used to mean something- not so much anymore

[@concernedcitizen6572]

​@@NickJohnson CNBC - "A bachelor's degree holder earns a median of $2.8 million - 75% more than if they had only a high school diploma"

[@JohnMoore-xf5wy]

Muscle Shoals rocked in those days. Duane Allman and others recorded there.

[@jimaccardi1076]

@@JohnMoore-xf5wy I played in a lot of groups---folk, bluegrass, rock---based in the Shoals...got to play with some great studio musicians, including the guy who played the iconic piano intro to "Old Time Rock `N' Roll".... I was in school there when The Stones, Linda Ronstadt and Kenny Rogers recorded

[@JohnMoore-xf5wy]

@@jimaccardi1076 Cool. Duane Allman did back-up there, but you know that.

[@Just_Trudy]

So happy to see this review. I just got accepted to their remote schools program and wanted to get a feel for the area. Thanks 😊

[@dr.burtgummerfan439]

My daughter and I go to the Renaissance Festival in Florence every year. Always a great time.

[@shaennavincent5082]

This is where im from my house is Only a couple of blocks down from the Jackson studio in Sheffield. I tell my daughter all the time famous ppl are around us all the time and we dont even know it. 😂 I live on one of the sides of that graveyard across from the studio on Jackson hwy. I also have a house in the country side of Muscle Shoals. Its beautiful here!! I moved from Franklin county (neighboring county) to Colbert County about 20 years ago. Im 36 now. Alabama has beautiful lands. I couldn't see myself living any where else in the states. Y'all have a blessed day now.

[@Userkaf_II]

I've been missing out for awhile. Glad you're still going Nick.

[@NickJohnson]

Where have you been??

[@VivKittie32]

I’ve passed through, visited cousins in Huntsville back in 2004. I thought it was beautiful country. Now that I’m living in Arkansas I need to go visit again. ❤

[@patalou7843]

Hey Nick! You & your wife were just about 3 blocks from my house that was built in 1901 in this video. I wish I had known you were going to be in the area. I grew up meeting famous singers. You didnt mention that Elvis was at the Sound which was a big deal for folks here! Just like Aretha, Otis Redding, Alabama, & many more! Most of your info was pretty accurate. I really am enjoying your deep south series of videos! Thanks! 😊

[@ryanmilligan9372]

Great area! I'm through there fairly often. They have one of the best nature preserves I've ever been to off of hwy 72 of about 700 acres and lots of great waterfalls.

[@concernedcitizen6572]

You talkin bout Bankhead National Forest?

[@ryanmilligan9372]

@@concernedcitizen6572 Cane Creek Canyon is the one I've been to.

[@mercymade8]

Both are beautiful! That view at Cane Creek is a breathtaking surprise the first time you see it. ... Then of course, so is the hike uphill to see it depending on which way you got to the lookout😆. Such a treasure.

[@mandybrown-ys1pc]

Been There... loved it too!!! Loved How they Signed their Names on The Wall!!! 🇺🇸

[@Hawgwild97]

If you’ve ever really listened to Hank Williams Jr. you definitely know about muscle shoals. You probably haven’t, but he’s one who really made that town known for music. A true icon.

[@NickJohnson]

I know Hank

[@williammoran4898]

He was born in Mt. Olive just a few miles away.

[@tora201jp]

Bro i love your channel and this one gives me so much hope! Well done Alabama:) on my bicket list for sure :)

[@motherearthisinfear]

Hope you liked your stay in Alabama. If you are looking for more places to visit in Alabama. Come on over to Fort Payne. Where the group Alabama is from.

[@markmccullough5873]

My father was born and raised across the mountain from Ft. Payne near the Broomtown community, a few miles from the Georgia state line.

[@Joe-d3t1t]

We would like to keep it this way!

[@knivesgunfights526]

Thank you NICK. You did a great job with this. Awesome.

[@neilbruce123]

Thanks Nick.

[@WilliamtheWorst]

I was able to visit the studio/the Shoals and met Gary Baker who gave us an amazing tour. He wrote I Swear, I'm Already There, lots more hits. Really cool building & vibe. Mappy would fit right in...

[@NickJohnson]

Mappy says that's AMAZING!

[@margaretbeard6564]

All my favorite music was produced at Muscle Shoals!

[@chriscosby2459]

North Alabama is nice, lots of rolling hills and lakes.

[@prnunceddead3178]

Its cool seeing others make videos about florence, and muscle shoals... live in florence all my life

[@DUMPSTERDIVINGADELAIDE]

I'm a J. J. Cale fan, the king of laid back, his 1982 song, "Downtown LA" - from the "Grasshopper" album, it's excellent 😊

[@TerrySmith-hg8od]

I’m from Brewton, AL and have lived all over the world and now call Jacksonville, FL my home but Alabama is always home. I’m just passing through everywhere else.

[@benwoods4178]

I grew up here and I love it. I still visit it every few months and it still feels just as relaxed as when I left a few years ago. Though it's sad you didn't get to try any of the better truly local restaurants. Any plans on visiting the Huntsville/Madison area? They're also a pretty interesting location to visit in Alabama. They're a completely different vibe imo.

[@barryobrien7935]

Your production techniques have really improved. Good work!

[@TFDCAPT]

Thanks for visiting our area and most stuff was fairly accurate. Didn’t drive thru the rich neighborhoods, and you missed out on multiple homeless that we are pretty sure gets bused into our area. Really good place to live though.

[@carolyndavis6657]

Lived here in Alabama for the last 10 years and everywhere I’ve seen outside of a few Birmingham neighborhoods has been very nice. I work in a little town called Trussville which is very attractive and they have a community called the projects which is a nice historic area despite the name. I live in a town 20 minutes away where most of the communities are 15 years old or less. We have 3 coffee shops and what’s considered the best pizza in the state. I’ve lived in several states before moving here and consider this a nice, friendly, clean area. The population is diverse and there are plenty of jobs. It’s cheaper to buy a house here than rent as rent is around 1400 for an average place.

[@Tama31]

What pizza place? Davenport's and Post Office Pies are all I can think of as being considered the best in the state and they are not in new neighborhoods.

[@onespeedlite]

Are tornadoes a real risk if you are a home owner?

[@carolyndavis6657]

@@Tama31 I live in St Claire County and the pizza place is a little hole in the wall called Carpenettis. Family run place that serves New York style pizza. It was named Alabama’s best pizza and I agree.

[@sllankford7785]

@@onespeedlite it is not called tornado alley for nothing. Yes they are a real threat but it is a small risk for such aesome living.

[@Tama31]

@@carolyndavis6657 I will have to check it out. Thanks

[@tcwhite0104]

My old stomping grounds back in the day! Florence is a great city!

[@reginawalker7373]

You need to come to Pell City Alabama we are home to Logan Martin Lake an our once Lil Town is growing Fast

[@kenthespeaker6901]

Love the narrative presentation.Great video as always.Can't believe that basement bowling alley.

[@Nunya_Bidness_53]

Love small town Main Street America. We need more of it.

[@cowboyofscience7611]

I was born in Ala-Damn-Bama, but I fled the state when I was two years old. Anybody ever hear of Piedmont, Al? That's where I dove head first into this reality! Moved to Georgia and grew up here. Few regrets..... Haven't watched the video yet (I'll come back to it in a few hours) but I can say that Alabama has profoundly improved since 1960, when I was born. I look forward to it!

[@websurfer5772]

So what did you think of the towns we saw in this video, Science Cowboy? 🔬🤠

[@cowboyofscience7611]

@@websurfer5772 I think they are generic, boring Alabama towns. Here's the thing though: With all the crap going on in America's large cities nowadays, BORING IS GOOD! I live in a small, boring Georgia town, and all things being equal, I'm deliriously happy to live in such a way. You can have the big cities! I'll take boring any day of the week!

[@websurfer5772]

@@cowboyofscience7611 I hear you and I get it. Glad to know you're living a good life. I'm actually happy in my small town in CA too, but I'm very upset with what's happening in the cities all around us and what's going on in the world.

[@cowboyofscience7611]

@@websurfer5772 Yes, its bad everywhere but it seems particularly bad in California cities---at least according to media reports! Glad you're happy in small town California. That state is too beautiful to be treated like a trash pile! I've been to many parts of California. It is a fine place.

[@jeanierussell201]

Been to Piedmont many times. Born in Gadsden.

[@frankwoods4532]

No trash, nobody hanging out in the street. No blasting music. Not bad.

[@Rebelqueen89]

Sweet home Alabama ! I really loved this video. Your work is incredible.

[@lcraft2ndchannal138]

Thanks for the video, I have lived here all of my 71 years on earth.

[@patsylambert8283]

Great job Nick.

[@btetschner]

A+ video! Great to see a piece of Alabama (never been to that state before) and get an overview of what it is like living in the area.

[@NickJohnson]

Do you ever give me an A-?

[@btetschner]

@@NickJohnson I only give A+ or no rating at all! I suppose not all the videos can be the best....but this is certainly the most realistic and fair one of an Alabama region I have ever seen. I remember watching a couple videos from some other channels years ago and both of them made fun of Alabama the entire time.

[@Alpnach5151]

Hi Nick! Love your Videos! I was born in Garberville (CA) but live since 40 years in Switzerland! Rg

[@NickJohnson]

Wow can I come visit??

[@ronaldboykin9755]

This is my type of place! I’ve heard of it!

[@KatKO510]

I live in Florence and it is pretty laid back and very southern. The people here are so nice. It’s also a very religious Christian place. Maybe that’s why it’s a great place to live ❤

[@HueroVat]

We have lots of places like that. North Alabama is beautiful.

[@jillwiegand4257]

Nick, this video had me laughing all the way through!!!!😂 Love the comments you make. You are really funny 🤣! ❤

[@alexmartinez7278]

I grew up in Winston County, little town of Arley in the Smith Lake area. We always make the Trail of Tears ride up to Waterloo Al. Cross both dams first on 101 to 72, then back towards Sheffield. Cut thru McFarland Park to Waterloo. The area has some amazing history up there.

[@kellynumberone100]

I would move to any of those places in a heartbeat with my family! We live in SF Bay Area. No way affordable.

[@concernedcitizen6572]

Theres aways pros/cons. Typically southern states strip social services so it can be much harder for elderly/impoverished to get care they need. Also if you arent part of the very specific dominant culture (White, Anglo-Saxon, Evangelical Christian) you will likely feel like an outsider. Go to any local church in these areas and dont be surprised to hear 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 preached at you.

[@DMX_334]

Born in Alex City, raised in Tallassee. Basically right near Tuskegee and right in the middle of Montgomery and Auburn. Love my beautiful state.... Roll Tide🐘

[@michelecaron]

Alabama, worth taking a look at for down sizing….quiet, inexpensive, and Nick likes it. I trust Nicks perspective 😊

[@NickJohnson]

Some parts are wonderful

[@jeltoninc.8542]

That studio does not look like any other studio. Take that from a guy that runs a small studio. That place is magic.

[@annam753]

Muscle Shoals resident here ❤️ love the quad cities

[@allsmilz7234]

Your Karen and Mappy characters are an ingenious concept you got going 👍

[@Basement811]

In 5-10 years the shoals and Huntsville might be something

[@reynaldotellez6702]

It will be brother

[@tobydavis5673]

I appreciate this look at the northwest corner of Alabama. I grew up 50 miles east of here in Decatur, Alabama. As a child I would occasionally visit this area as my dad was an insurance claims adjuster and worked this territory and he would sometimes let us ride with him. When he would have a lot of work in this area and be here for 2 days, he would get a hotel and leave me, my siblings and my mother at the hotel while he worked. It was sort of a mini vacation as while we were at the motel we would swim in the pool during the day. In the late 70’s I attended the University of North Alabama graduating in December of 1980. It was a nice place to go to school and even cooler in the fact we do have a live lion as our mascot. I can’t say that I’ve really used my degree from UNA, but it did help me get my foot in the door at a couple of jobs I’ve worked over the years. My brother attended UNA for a while and met and married a lady from Sheffield and he resided there near the river until they divorced a few years ago. His now ex wife is a real estate agent in “the Shoals”. They have 2 sons, my nephews who also reside in the area. One thing I will say good about UNA is when I was a student there we actually had some really good concerts on campus from big name musical artists. Many times when they would come to “the Shoals” to record, they would combine it with a concert on campus. I now reside in Southeast Georgia and miss my roots in North Alabama. My 3 siblings and many friends are still in my hometown of Decatur, so I do get back to visit from time to time. Thanks again for an awesome video of the area that brought back memories of my past times of being there.

[@jsledge26]

I lived there 35 years. Cane creek preserve is a great place to hike. Southern Farm Table restaurant is a hidden gem.

[@johndoee3850]

Another great video. Thanks Nick

[@johnathanballard1304]

I go to college in the shoals region but after the school year the area is more empty

[@avioncamper]

Great video, sometimes boring is good, no problems. Nick , to be from Cali, you speak just like a Southerner, twang included. You are pushing 1 million Subs keep them coming..

[@DorthyMoo]

Really appreciate your priceless tours!

[@karendais9273]

Hi 👋 I'm curious about Bodega Bay California.Where they make the movie the birds. Beautiful place, but there is just not enough updated enformation .

[@Kirdie72]

Lol I work at one of the walmarts. Sheffield was actually suppose to be the old Detroit. Not sure what happened but when it did not happen Sheffield fadded into the back ground. Thank you for focusing on our lil town

[@PsychicStaggs]

This is my hometown, muscle shoals! I love this video! It’s pretty spot on!