Next Saturday will be a great chance to learn about Alabama’s first state capital while getting some exercise during the Bring Your Own Bicycle Tour at Old Cahawba Archaeological Park.

Assistant Site Director Jonathan Matthews said the park has been offering the tour for the past six years. He said it is a good way for people to get a full experience of what the park has to offer.

“We do it twice a year. This will be the first one of 2016. It’s a family-friendly event. Unlike other tours that focus on a limited area in the park, this one will cover a lot more and will last about two hours,” Matthews said.

He said he believes the tour is good to have because of the many facts that people can learn about Old Cahawba.

“Sitting in this visiting center, I see people drive by or come to the park and they don’t seem to spend a lot of time,” Matthews said. “The history here can be sometime be subtle with the landscape telling the story, and I don’t think people can fully appreciate that just by driving by,” Matthews said.

The tour is $15 per person. The fee covers admission into the park and a guide. Matthews said there are a limited number of bicycles available at the park for those who call and request them ahead of time.

BYOB tour participation has varied over the years, but Matthews said people of all ages have shown interest.

“I think a lot of people are looking for activities and ways to get their kids out of the house. This is a perfect fit because you learn some interesting facts about historic Alabama and get a little exercise at the same time,” Matthews said.

Matthews said he has had a lot of fun as the tour guide at Old Cahawba.

“I have been able to meet a lot of new visitors to the park who might not otherwise come. We’ve seen all types of people. This year I will be stopping at many different places in the park and explaining the importance of Old Cahawba,” Matthews said.

Those who miss this tour can catch the next one in October.

For more information about the tour, call Matthews at (334) 872-8058.