With Destin, Florida, as our family vacation destination from Columbus, Ohio, my husband and I looked to Birmingham, Alabama, as an overnight stop on the way. I thought of a historic inn or a B&B. Our daughter, heading from Fort Knox, Kentucky, with her husband and their four children — 7 months to 7 years old —had another idea. “We decided to push a bit further, closer to Montgomery. We are staying at WoodSpring Suites in Prattville, ” she said.
WoodSpring Suites is Brand New
Starting our family vacation early, we joined them at WoodSpring Suites Prattville-Montgomery North, heading into the lobby at 10:30 pm. My husband noticed a whiff of a fresh paint smell. “Is this place new? It smells new.” The check-in receptionist smiled, handing us our room keys, “We’ve just been open for two months.”
Within two months, Woodspring Suites has turned into a busy place. We were the last guests to check in, and the parking lot was full. Contract workers, families moving into the area, people heading to a conference in Montgomery, and folks traveling through are some of the hotel’s guests.
For a hotel on the budget end, WoodSpring Suites has a pleasant aesthetic that ties in a bit of Montgomery. The lobby’s framed photos of Montgomery landmark buildings and scenery are well-placed. The area rug matches the blue of the lobby accent wall, and the furniture and lamps are contemporary. There is a coffee maker dispenser for guest use in the morning.
Like the lobby, the hallways have a framed black and white photograph of a Montgomery landmark near the elevator.
About Our King Suite Room
When I saw the full-size refrigerator in our king suite, my concern about keeping our road trip food bounty cold went away. Cheeses, dips, lunch meat, blueberries, raspberries, and drinks found a place on the shelves. Ice packs landed in the freezer. By the morning, ice packs were frozen solid once more, and the food was back in the cooler.
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In addition to the refrigerator, a countertop stove, a microwave, cabinets, and a sink round out the kitchen section. Be aware that pots, pans, dishes, silverware, dish towels, and more are not part of the room’s offerings. This is bare bones, but you can bring your own.
Still, the bed, bedside tables, couch, work desk, and chairs are comfortable and non-fussy. Guest rooms have durability and functionality as a main component. Floors are quality wood vinyl. Everything is brand new. This newness is also part of the bathroom. Not one thing is scuffed or out of place. A hairdryer is not included, however. Fortunately, I brought one with me.
We sat on the couch, a lovely, soft yellow with matching hassocks, to watch the large flat-screen TV before going to bed.
Other Hotel Amenities
In the morning, I found out my son-in-law used the fitness center equipment, consisting of treadmills and a weight set. WoodSpring Suites also has a laundry facility. Wi-Fi is free.
Nearby WoodSpring Suites Hotel
If you don’t bring breakfast goods, there are plenty of restaurants in the area. We went to IHOP a couple of miles away before heading out of town. My husband did use the coffee maker in the lobby to start off our day.
Prattville is just minutes from Montgomery, so if you want a hub to explore this part of Alabama, this hotel is in a good location. For people like us who just needed a quick place to spend the night, it was perfect. Plus, we did take in a bit of the history in downtown Montgomery before we passed through. Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church, where Martin Luther King Jr served as a pastor from 1954 to 1960, was part of our look-see.
We also made a quick stop at Hank Williams Sr’s statue near the Hank Williams Museum and the River Front. If you do head to Montgomery, take the time to read the historical markers throughout downtown.
Hank Williams, Sr Boyhood Home & Museum is Worth the Drive
On our way to Destin, we had time to swing by Hank Williams, Sr. Boyhood Home & Museum in Georgiana, Alabama. Williams born in Alabama on September 17, 1923, cranked out 55 top 10 hits and tragically died at age 29 while on his way to perform in Canton, Ohio on New Year’s Day in 1953.
He lived in this house with his mother and sister from the age of 7 to 11 years old. It’s the only remaining house where Williams lived, and it’s where he practiced the guitar. His teacher was Rufus (Tee-Tot) Payne, a black street musician.
As you walk through the rooms, taking in the collection of memorabilia and artifacts, Williams hits like “Hey, Good Looking” and “You’re Cheating Heart” play on a CD. The museum is about an hour from Montgomery and is worth the drive. Admission is $5.
I booked our room at Hotels.com. Currently, at WoodSpring Suites, rates on the website start at $91.96. This is a pet-friendly hotel and quite affordable. There is a $10 fee per pet.
Check rates online at Expedia, Booking.com, or Hotels.com.
