Montevallo leaders position city as day-trip destination

Published 2:15 pm Thursday, July 21, 2011

By CHRISTINE BOATWRIGHT / Staff Writer

MONTEVALLO – Montevallo Chamber of Commerce President Mary Lou Williams said Montevallo is the perfect place for senior adult day trips.

“Senior groups from communities and churches take trips farther afield,” Williams said. “They have a lot of fun because they just want to be together.”

Williams said she’s willing to get on the seniors’ buses and give historical tours of the University of Montevallo. She said that because she knows the history of Montevallo and has been there “for a long time,” she is an ideal tour guide for visiting seniors.

“My little stories make it more than history,” she said.

For a group that visited on July 21, Williams set up an organ recital for the church group with the University of Montevallo’s music department. She said she has little issue with setting up mini-concerts by the music department faculty or students for visiting groups.

The American Village, Williams said, is a separate, big trip that seniors take other times, but Montevallo has more to offer, such as the University of Montevallo, walking tours and luncheon options.

“Sometimes I take them to the library to show them the art in the gallery, or I’ll take them to Orr Park to see the carvings. Montevallo is a nice day trip,” she said.

“We’ll drive through the Alabama National Cemetery. There are over 1,000 buried there. It’s going to become a very profound place,” she added.

To schedule a tour or learn more about day-trip options, contact Mary Lou Williams at the Montevallo Chamber of Commerce office at 665-1519 or email montevallocc@bellsouth.net.