Day trip offerings organized by the FMCS Symposium Committee:

Optional day trips are scheduled for Thursday, March 14th, 2013: the day after the Guntersville Symposium concludes.
All event trips will provide roundtrip transportation from Guntersville State Park.

1. US Space and Rocket Center:

The US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama is a state park originally opened in the late 1960's. It is one of the most highly visited space museums in the world, with a majority of exhibits focused on early NASA Mercury – Apollo missions. Huntsville's Redstone Arsenal was the primary engineering, development and testing center for NASA's early space program. The US Space and Rocket Center is 50 miles from Guntersville State Park.

The trip includes museum admission, IMAX movie, and round trip transportation. Lunch will be available at the large cafeteria at the US Space and Rocket Center.
Trip cost will be $60 per participant.

More information about the US Space and Rocket Center can be found at :
http://rocketcenter.com/

2. Paint Rock River Excursion:

Located between Huntsville and Scottsboro, Alabama the Paint Rock River hosts one of the most diverse freshwater mussel assemblages in North America (45 species). The river has been the target of conservation and restoration efforts for more than a decade. The river and it's inhabitants were severely impacted by a snag removal and channelization program conducted by the US Army Corps of Engineers in the late 1960's. Fortunately, channelization efforts were comparatively small and the channel retained much of its native fauna. On the ground restoration efforts undertaken by The Nature Conservancy of Alabama, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the US Fish and Wildlife Service have intensified over the last 10 years. Restoration activities have focused on the ground projects along with some 15,000 acres of land acquisition. This watershed tour will highlight several projects including: land acquisitions, bridge removal / replacement, stream meander restoration, culvert replacement and streamside buffer restoration. Paul Freeman with The Nature Conservancy of Alabama will lead the trip.

The day-long trip includes roundtrip ground transportation from Guntersville State Park and a boxed lunch.
Trip cost will be $60 per participant.

More information about ADCNR and TNC restoration activities in the Paint Rock River can be found at: http://www.outdooralabama.com/research-mgmt/Landowner/lip/pr/

3. Little River Canyon National Preserve and Cathedral Caverns:

Jackson County Alabama hosts some spectacular mountains, rivers and the highest density of caves in North America. This daytrip focuses on all 3 of those elements with a visit to Cathedral Caverns State Park and the Little River Canyon National Preserve. Cathedral Caverns State Park is about 35 miles from Guntersville State Park and is home to some of the most spectacular cave formations in North America. Among the highlights is a single large stalagmite column extending over 45' in the air. The guided cave tour takes approximately 90 minutes. Little River Canyon National Preserve is located on Lookout Mountain approximately an hour's drive from Cathedral Caverns. Operated by the National Park Service the preserve was established in 1992. The Preserve's centerpiece is a 40 foot waterfall that plunges into a deep canyon extends several miles down rugged Appalachian terrain.

The trip will include a tour of the Little River watershed and picnic lunch at Canyon Mouth Picnic Grounds.
Trip cost will be $60 per participant.

More information about Little River Canyon National Preserve can be found at:
http://www.nps.gov/liri/index.htm

More information about Cathedral Caverns State Park can be found at:
http://www.alapark.com/CathedralCaverns/

Other information about the Guntersville region can be found at the Marshall County Convention and Visitors Bureau http://www.marshallcountycvb.com/index.php

We look forward to seeing you at Lake Guntersville next March.

Location and Travel:
Lake Guntersville State Park is located in northwest Alabama, on the bank of Guntersville, Reservoir (Tennessee River). The park is accessible by car via US 431 from Huntsville International Airport (HSV). It is approximately 58 miles from the airport and multiple ground-transportation vendors and car rental facilities are available. Round trip shuttle service from Huntsville Airport to the park is approximately $150.00. Alternatively, the Birmingham International Airport (BHM) is 87 miles from the park and also provides multiple car rental and ground transportation options. Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia is 163 miles from the park.

Accomodations:
There are a number of housing options at the park including 112 hotel rooms and suites from $80.10 or $90.00 (bluff side) per night; 15 lakeside cabins that can accommodate up-to 6 people ($112.50 per night); or 19 chalets for up-to 6 people at $103.50 per night. Chalets and hotel rooms are adjacent to the main lodge while cabins are approximately 1.25 miles from the mountaintop lodge. To make reservations you can reach the park at: (256) 571-5440 or (800) 548-4553.

Main lodge convention facilities include 2 large rooms for presentations (concurrent sessions) and a large banquet room. There are also multiple support rooms to accommodate committee meetings and other smaller functions. You can find out more information about Lake Guntersville State Park on the web at:

http://www.alapark.com/LakeGuntersville/

Ground Transportation :
All major car rental services are available at the Huntsville International Airport. In addition to car rental, several ground transportation services are also available including:

Executive Connection Shuttle Service:
Phone: (256) 772-0186 - Web: http://executiveconnection.biz/home.nxg

Huntsville Cab Company:
Phone: (256) 539-9444

Rocket City Cab Service:
Phone: (256) 534-4524

For More Information:
Paul Johnson
Paul.Johnson@dcnr.alabama.gov