Feral · The Local

Muscle Shoals FAME Studios Soul Weekend — Florence, AL

Destination: Florence, ALNights: 3Group: 4–10Season: March, April, May, September, October, NovemberEstimated: $550–$1,000 per person

FAME Studios on East Avalon Avenue in Muscle Shoals recorded Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, and Duane Allman — over 350 million records sold out of one room. The bridesmaids book the FAME Backstage Tour (behind the velvet rope at Rick Hall's office, the Aretha session exhibits, the gold record wall — $40, books out fast on weekends), a follow-on Muscle Shoals Sound Studio tour at 3614 Jackson Highway, and a long dinner at The Stables in Sheffield. Day two is the W.C. Handy Birthplace + Museum (the Father of the Blues), a Florence vintage walk, and a barbecue dinner at Big Bad Wolf. Decompression: morning coffee at Rivertown Coffee Co. before the Huntsville flight.

What she'll do

Tour

Food Tour

Walking Tour

Shopping Tour

Where she sleeps

· The Stricklin Hotel (Florence)
· Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa
· GunRunner Boutique Hotel

Where she eats

· The Stables
· Big Bad Wolf BBQ
· Odette
· Rivertown Coffee Co.

Questions

FAME Standard vs Backstage Tour?

Standard ($25) covers studio history. Backstage ($40) adds Rick Hall's office, the Aretha session exhibits, and gold-record wall. Book Backstage.

Closest airport?

Huntsville (HSV) is 75 minutes. Birmingham (BHM) is 2 hours. Memphis (MEM) is 2.5 hours and a fun add-on.

Best months?

March–May and September–November. Mid-summer is humid and slow on the cultural side.

Ready to book the story?

Five quick questions, then we build the full itinerary — lodging, daily schedule, dining, bars, the group-chat message — and drop you into a Trip Room you can share with the bridesmaids.