RV Rental Paul M. Grist State Park, AL

The major draw of Paul M. Grist State Park is its in-park lake, known as ‘Valley Creek Lake.’ Valley Creek Lake covers one hundred acres of the state park and has been a draw for local fishermen and women for decades. The lake here is home to a variety of fish species, making an interesting fishing trip for even the hardest to please angler. Paul M. Grist State Park campers can try their hands at catching largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, black bass, bluegill, sunfish, and catfish. This plethora of fish will keep both beginner anglers and experienced anglers engaged.

Along with the fishing, Valley Creek Lake offers great opportunities for boating and watersports. Although motorized boats are permitted, the lake does allow electric motors, kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards. The lake has several boat launch sites located around the park, making accessing Valley Creek Lake a simple undertaking. Those campervan camping without their own boats can rent various vessels from the park itself. These rentals include flat-bottom Jon boats, kayaks, canoes, and pedal boats. Those RV camping overnight can rent boats for a longer 24 hour period.

As Paul M. Grist State Park lies in around some of the most idyllic woodlands and forests in central Alabama, it is no wonder that hiking is one of the main draws to campers. The state park has a network of approximately 15 to 20 miles worth of trails, which can be either hiked or traveled along with your equine friends. Horseback trails and hiking trails vary in both length and difficulty in Paul M. Grist State Park, meaning all skill levels will find enjoyment from them.

Those camping with an RV at Paul M. Grist State Park will find a whole range of campsites equipped for their needs. The state park campgrounds all come with full 20, 30, 50 amp electric, water, and sewer hookups. Facilities include a dump station, flushing toilets, shower block, and all are ADA Accessible. Many of the sites at Paul M. Grist State Park campground are pull-thru sites, meaning all sizes of rigs are welcome. Pets are also welcome but must be kept on a leash at all times.

An alternative to camping on the state park’s campground is to head to one of the nearby RV parks. ‘Gathering Place RV Park’ just south of Paul M. Grist State Park makes for a comfortable alternative. Full hookups are provided here, including 20, 30, 50 amp electric, water, and sewer. Facilities also include a restroom and shower block.

The city of Montgomery is only an hour’s drive from Paul M. Grist State Park and is home to an abundance of day trips and sight-seeing opportunities. Among some of the most famous places in the American south is the ‘First Whitehouse of The Confederacy’ in Montgomery. The now-famous building was the residence of Confederate President Jefferson Davis and his family, during the city’s status as the capital, until 1861. Visitors can take a tour of this Italian style building, complete with period furnishes from the 1850s and 1860s. On the register of historic places since the 1970s, the building is an icon of southern history and provides a look into the history of the short-lived confederacy.

Alabama, and particularly Montgomery, is known for its long historical association with the United State’s civil rights movement. One single moment that epitomizes the movement is Rosa Parks and the ‘Montgomery bus boycott.’ The ‘Rosa Park Museum’ in Montgomery showcases a wide range of exhibitions on the bus boycott and the civil-rights movement as a whole. Artifacts in the museum including a replica bus, identical to the one used during the 1950s. This a must-visit museum when in the city and will give visitors a somber but essential overview of the sacrifices made by Americans for a better society.

A perfect family-fun day out in Montgomery is a trip to the ‘Montgomery Zoo & Mann Wildlife Learning Museum.’ The zoo was first opened in the early 70s and includes over seven hundred and fifty animals, covering over a hundred different species. The zoo is divided into areas that incorporate animals from Australia, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. The attached ‘Mann Wildlife Learning Museum’ allows visitors to get up close and personal with preserved specimens.