Rattlesnake Saloon in Barton, which is the only establishment I know of that has a natural waterfall cascading down into the middle of the place...Good eats...Rustic unique atmosphere...
Dance the night away on weekends..
Fishing at Wilson Dam...stripe and skipjack are running presently...they will wear your arms out...in the next few weeks...not months...the fiddler cats will start to run...a mess of fresh 4-6oz fried blue cat on the plate that you can eat like pencil corn...now that is some fun...
Biking the back county roads upon wheeler or hawkpride mountain...the quietness of the ride allows you to see mother nature at its best...
Hiking the deep ruts of the old Natchez Trace Road.As you walk in the quietness of the woods, you may hear the faint sounds of strong spirited people who walked the road before you, close your eyes and imagine what it was like camping night after night on your trip along the way...Stop at the site of Chief Colbert's lodging house, where Indians and Whites got a good hot cooked meal and then slept outside underneath the blanket of the stars..
Tom Hendrix's Rock Wall located on the Trace in North Lauderdale County which is now the largest Unmortared Rock Wall in the United States.
There you will see over 2 million lbs of rocks that have been picked up from all over the local area, unloaded, picked up again and stacked into one of the most fasinating rock designs you will ever see. All created and built in honor to the strength of not only his Great Grandmother but to women everywhere.
He has been building this wall for over 20 years and continues to add to it daily. It has meditation areas,and rock slabs to set and just enjoy the quietness of the wall as mother natures children play around you. But you are not alone still for as your eyes focus on the wall you realize there are faces formed with the rocks themselves watching you as much as you are watching them. This will surprise you at first, then the next thought is you expect them to speak to you. Then you realize they have for they represent all of the spirits of all races and cultures who have traveled this earth before you. Never will you hear louder voices speak to your heart from the silence of those rock faces.
You do not have to go around the world to touch a piece of other parts of the globe. People have sent or brought to the wall rocks from all parts of the world for you to see, touch and be a part of . Each has a story and Tom if around will be more than glad to tell you the history of each one.
If you are lucky, you will see Tom somewhere along the Wall building and extending it. He will entertain you with Indian Stories and other stories that will make your heart laugh and your spirit proud that you took that 20 min trip from Florence.
But most of all, you will get to meet a man who put into action what he felt in his heart toward his family culture. While not a real big man is physical stature, you will come away with the impression that you have met one of the most remarkable men you will ever have the chance to meet.
As you stand beside this man and observe what just one man can accomplish with small pickup trucks, a flat bottom boat, several pairs of gloves, numerous wheel barrels,and sugar bear his faithful dog(now deceased). You start to realize that with will and dedication there is nothing that you, yourself can not achieve in your life. Laid out before you is living proof, that if you only tap into the same power and put that same spirit to work you will achieve whatever dreams you have for yourself...
Just like the Ivy Green of Helen Keller, this is a must see for everyone...
