Things to Do in Anniston

Helmed by an by ex-military parachute-regiment veteran who holds three World Skydiving Championship medals, the United States Parachute Association-certified instructors at Skydive Alabama fly customers up to heights of 14,000 feet for solo and tandem dives. The skydiving center supplies oxygen for these jumps, and conducts both ground schools and eagle-impersonation classes to get first-timers and experienced divers ready for their aerial plunges. Instructors take up to 18 participants to the height of the drop zone in a Grand Caravan turboprop plane, from which they free fall for more than one minute, either by themselves or securely fastened to an instructor. A professional videographer can also join visitors on each jump to capture the aerial experience.

In accelerated free-fall programs, instructors lead students through a ground school, up to seven flights with instructors, and several solo jumps, allowing them to earn their USPA diving license without having to compete a multiple-choice test inside a wind tunnel. While every dive takes place in the designated drop zone, ground-school classes are held inside the airport's dedicated hangar. The airport complex also boasts four cabins for overnight stays, a spectator area, and a restaurant where chefs serve up Southern comfort fare.

From the ground, it’s easy to tell when Skydive Georgia’s airplane reaches 14,000 feet—just look for the tiny specks barreling out of its side. These specks are really the company’s team of certified skydive instructors and their clients, both beginners and experts alike. To ensure everyone’s safety at that extreme altitude, the staff meticulously maintains their turbine airplane and equips all of their parachutes with zero-porosity canopies, digital altimeters, and Cypress automatic-activation devices for a flawless jump. Before and after their big moment, clients can prepare or relax at Skydive Georgia’s climate-controlled training facility, which boasts a simulator, observation deck, and picnic area ideal for swooping down and stealing tuna sandwiches.

Georgia Kayak Adventures’ experienced staff guides tours centralized on the Etowah River, which plays host to 75 native species of fish and strategic Civil War battle sites and crossings. Its eco tours embark on the green, natural waters of the river surrounded by lush foliage as guides explain the ecology of the area, with chance sightings of deer, birds, and incredibly lost scuba teams. Weekend evening tours tempt romance beneath the moonlight, whereas history tours explore covered bridges and Civil War hot spots. Kayak fishing trips come in both day and overnight versions, in which anglers search for bass or etowah and cherokee darters, which are native only to this area of the world.