‘Pastport’ provides perfect motivation to soak in Franklin County tourism destinations

It’s a special thing to be celebrating the bicentennial of both the state as well as Franklin County, and it exciting that so many opportunities are available to mark this 200th birthday/anniversary. With special events around the community and in our schools, people are clearly taking the time to appreciate Franklin and Alabama’s history.

The latest project announced by Chris Ozbirn at the Franklin County Archives is an idea I’ve never heard of before – and I have to wonder why not, because it’s pretty stupendous.

If you missed the details of the “Pastport” program, you can read more about it on page 2 of this issue. Basically, the Archives is issuing county Pastports printed with the hottest destinations in Franklin to spur people to visit all the great attractions we have right here at home. Over the next almost two years, until November 2019, folks can take their Pastports when they visit the designated locations to receive a stamp. Next year, all completed Pastports may be entered into a drawing for a sweet prize basket.

We’ve all heard the advice to “be a tourist in your own backyard,” but sometimes that can seem like a tough idea to put into action. Pastport provides the perfect opportunity to finally visit all those places you’ve always known about but never taken the time to see for yourself, whether that’s Dismals Canyon, Bear Creek or somewhere else in FC.

So grab your Pastport and your calendar, and let’s make a plan to really soak in everything Franklin County has to offer.