FLORENCE, AL–(Marketwire – October 5, 2010) –  It doesn’t get much better than the artistic culture and musical heritage of Florence, Ala., according to The Huffington Post. In an article titled “11 Great Small American Towns,” the web-based publication included Florence citing attractions such as the W.C. Handy Music Festival and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Rosenbaum House. The article defined a small town as having a population of 50,000 or less, and with approximately 38,170, Florence is the largest on the list that includes others like Marshall, Texas, and Hudson, N.Y.

Florence is famous for its musical and artistic heritage. The long list of artists and musicians who have recorded in and around Florence include Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett and Clarence Carter. Florence has also garnered a reputation for being the unofficial “fashion capital of the South” with famed hometown designers Billy Reid and Natalie Chanin. Style continues to be a trend in Florence throughout the elegant Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa, a AAA — Four Diamond resort with an award-winning spa and multiple restaurants. Only a few miles away from the Marriott, internationally-acclaimed golf courses invite players of all skill levels to the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at The Shoals.

Florence offers all the ingredients for visitors and residents alike. For more information or to plan your Muscle Shoals vacation, please visit www.visitflorenceal.com or www.marriottshoals.com.

About the Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa
The Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa offers gracious Southern hospitality and modern conveniences so guests can relax and indulge in a vacation or travel experience to be remembered. For those planning business or social events, the hotel offers 30,000 square feet of flexible event space including The Shoals Ballroom which has a seating capacity of 1,200 and for duffers the hotel’s Robert Trent Jones golf packages offer exceptional value. On-site exhibition space is available, as well as the services of professional event planners and full-service caterers.

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