This is southern living at its best. This is how life is supposed to be. From the houses on the bluffs overlooking the Tennessee River to the beautiful and historic homes in each city's downtown area, life in the Shoals is full of beauty.

Situated on the banks of the beautiful Tennessee River, the Shoals has a rich history in the music industry. We're known far and wide for the "Muscle Shoals Sound."  Our community hosts numerous festivals and events throughout the year including the NCAA Division II Championship Football Game and the Trail of Tears Motorcycle Ride.

There are four adjacent towns nestled in the hills of northwest Alabama, on the banks of the Tennessee River, that offer their citizens an enviable sense of safety and comfort. But because these towns are so intertwined, the residents here enjoy a quality of life and a variety of activities usually only found in much larger metropolitan areas.

Native Americans settled this area long ago, and the Indian Mound museum is located on a ceremonial burial mound near the river. The Festival of the Singing River honors our native ancestry each fall. But our celebrations don't end there. The Shoals is the site for the Alabama Renaissance Faire, held each October, as well as Arts Alive, Heritage Days, the Freedom of America Celebration on the fourth of July, an annual Trail of Tears Celebration, and many others.

The Shoals is an outdoor lover's dream. Golfers pick from a variety of public and private courses.  The river and its system of lakes offers a variety of recreational activities. Nature lovers and bird watchers find much to enjoy in the area's public parks, camping areas and walking trails. In the spring, neighborhoods come alive with flowering dogwoods and azaleas, and the downtown areas buzz with activity as restaurants move tables to the sidewalk and enjoy another change of season.

But there's plenty to do indoors, as well. The Kennedy-Douglass and Tennessee Valley Art Centers offer exhibits, classes and juried shows. Theater groups and dance studios perform; museums offer educational programs.

A mix of manufacturing, service industries, retail, medical and financial institutions give the Shoals stability and strength. This is a shopping and medical hub for the tri-state area.

The Shoals is the sixth largest market in Alabama and offers numerous opportunities for business investment and enhanced quality of life.

For more information, visit the Shoals Chamber of Commerce