RateItAll: The Opinion Network

I've been fortunate enough to spend a fair bit of time in Alabama. My impressions have been largely positive. As someone who likes a smaller-town and laid-back atmosphere, Alabama really appeals to me. The quality of life is good, and the people are generally very friendly. The lakes and hills here are among the most beautiful in the Southeast--check out Weiss Lake or Lake Logan Martin, each only a short drive from Atlanta, for some gorgeous scenery. The smaller towns, like Auburn and Muscle Shoals, have a lot to see and do, while the larger cities like Birmingham and Huntsville offer good job opportunities and culture without a lot of the big-city hassles you see in places like Atlanta or Houston. The beaches of the Gulf Shores area are excellent, and rival some of the best in Florida or the Carolinas. The best part--they're not as crowded or as expensive (yet) as Destin or Hilton Head. Mobile has plenty to offer the history buff. As if all this wasn't enough, you get some of the best barbecue anywhere to go along with the greatest brand of college football on earth. Quite a tailgating combo! Nothing compares to the gameday atmospheres in Auburn or Tuscaloosa, and the "Iron Bowl" rivalry is the greatest football battle in the nation. Time for a road trip to Alabama. See y'all there!

How many of you have actually spent a significant period of time in Alabama? I have and I will say that the beauty of beaches on the coast rival the FL panhandle. Mobile has a nice downtown with pretty live oak trees. I met 2 nice and helpful ladies when I toured the capitol in Montgomery. Birmingham's suburbs are extremely upscale and have not lost their southern charm. Also, there is surprisingly nice mountain scenery in the NE part of the state. The only negative is that parts of the "Black belt" are very poor and depressing but the rest of the state is great. I saw lots of positive interaction between blacks and whites and would say that race relations are now as good as anywhere else if not better.

Laughing stock of America

I was at a Wal-Mart in Mobile, Alabama. As I'm walking to my car, out of nowhere I hear someone shout "China man!". Need I say more?

Awful! The deep south! Borderline KKK here! Dirty and boring! Stay away!

absolutely beautiful. the people on here that rate it bad are bringing politics into their ratings, which is garbage. people want to know about the state, not their political views. it's a beautiful state with rolling hills, beautiful beaches, amazing scenery, and the people are the nicest around -- i wouldn't have it any other way. i love alabama. come and visit yall and get a real taste of the south.

* THose who are rating this place a one have only been down there for not long or never been there, and yes, people from there are very polite.* Why are you all such prejudice against Alabama? I know that this is a nice state. No one can tell me it's not.

Unfortunately I travel to AL on business fairly often. a very pretty and clean state, but not much to do and home to some of the most ignorant people in the universe.

I can

Better than the state to its West, a lot better, but still not a place for me.

This is a nice friendly state with lots to see and do.

Like most of the states of the deep south Alabama leaves much to be desired. The Huntsville area shows much promise- however the rest is a sorry arm pit.

*shudders* man oh man i would hate to live there let alone even visit. full of uneducated, close minded, hicks. Its really no surprise this place is at the bottom of the list.

The northern part of this state is making strides- give it credit. The rest of the state remains mired in the past. Rates near the bottom for education, quality of life issues, envirionment, and health. Plus there is still rampant racism and intolerance.

The best state hands down..you either love it or hate it. I love it. How could you not like rolling hillsides, beautiful shores and clean cities? I will be going there tommorow.. :-)

Taking tiny baby steps to become part of the 20th century (no typo) But outside of Huntsville in the north- the state remains a southern racist culture. Look at the Electoral map of 1860- very much like that of today- and the last election- seems like the south has never understood.....Mobile has a pretty good Madi Gras- however the state has a long way to go.

Ala-f***in'-bama! Not my kinda town. Some of the biggest dumb@rses live in that sorry state. Yee-haw!

Although I have only been to Mobile, if the rest of the state is half as charming as this gem of a city, I plan to be back visiting soon. Great history, food, architecture, etc. Definitely worth the drive from Florida.

I drove through this state once- and was stopped twice by the police off the interstate. I have northern state plates. Intolerant toward outsiders or anyone 'different'. Is this part of the USA or the Confederacy?