The giant cat's paw adorning Toomer's Corner at the intersection of College Street and Magnolia Avenue says it all: Auburn's heart belongs to Tigers football. There are other reasons visitors keep coming back to town—reasons that’ll easily crawl into your family vacation’s itinerary. Alabama's wildlife, country-music history and—for those notoriously hot summer days—some serene fun on the water are all within an hour of downtown Auburn.
Southern Warmth
An Auburn summer requires shorts, sleeveless tops and sunscreen to cope with daytime temperatures in the high 80s and 90s. Nights are only 20 degrees or so cooler. Spring and fall compensate with delightful temperatures in the upper 70s during the day and in the low 50s at night. Winter brings highs in the 50s with lows seldom below freezing—sweaters with light jackets will do. Come prepared for rain, especially between June and September, but don't expect snow.
Wet, Wild and Williams
Take a break from the heat at Lake Chewacla, located in 700-acre Chewacla State Park, less than 6 miles from downtown. High dive into the swimming area or enjoy a relaxing family cruise aboard a rental canoe or pedal boat. Alabama wildlife runs free at The Louise Kehrer Preserve, 3 miles north of Auburn. Thirty self-guided trails meander through its seven habitats. The playground—where ditches, mounds and boulders replace the usual jungle gyms and teeter-totters—is a little nature lover’s natural habitat. Head 50 minutes down the road to Montgomery's Hank Williams Museum for a change of pace and to pay tribute to country western music's first superstar. Don't leave Auburn without stopping at the Toomer's Drugstore soda fountain for its legendary, fresh-squeezed lemonade.
Getting into Town
Interstate 85 runs straight through Auburn on its way north from Montgomery, or southwest from Petersburg, Virginia. This route will also bring you into town if you fly into the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport or Montgomery Regional Airport. American, Delta and six other airlines fly into Atlanta nonstop from 178 U.S. cities. Montgomery has nonstop flights from Atlanta, Dallas and Charlotte. Plan on a 90-minute drive from Atlanta to get to Auburn, or just over an hour from Montgomery. Amtrak doesn't serve Auburn, and the public transit system is reserved for Auburn University students and employees or area residents. For the best vacation, drive into town or rent a car when you get there.
Business Is Booming
With some 25,000 students, 400 buildings and 1,800 acres to oversee, Auburn University's 5,500 employees are the area's largest work force. Second place goes to the East Alabama Medical Care Center with 2,600 employees. Another 5,000 skilled manufacturing workers produce everything from aircraft and automotive parts to plastics packaging, cabinetry and wireless components in Auburn's four industrial parks. Major manufacturing employers include Briggs & Stratton, maker of small engines, and wheel manufacturer Borbet Alabama.