11 Most Hospitable Towns In Alabama
Alabama's most hospitable towns reside in the state's most picturesque places. Swimmers can feel the warmth of the Gulf of Mexico in the beachside towns of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores and then try out the very best of southern seafood cooking during a seafood cookout contest in Orange Beach. They can also escape to Mentone, which sits atop a gorgeous mountain. Even in the smaller communities on this list, visitors can expect to meet new friends at charming town festivals, such as one celebrating the covered bridges within the rolling hills of Alabama. Read on to discover the 11 most hospitable towns in Alabama.
Fairhope
Located on the Mobile Bay, Fairhope has a striking art scene and a French Quarter. The quarter has 12 shops around a cobblestone courtyard, with a striking Alabama Champion Tree, the largest of its kind in the South. Its shops include the Page & Palette bookstore and its delightful Latte Da Coffee Shop, among many others. The town also has a small South Beach Park, which is next to the Fairhope Pier, a fishing pier known for pelican sightings.
Fairhope doesn't settle for a basic art museum; it instead maintains an artistic hub at the Eastern Shore Art Center. It hosts hundreds of art classes at its four instruction studios while displaying local artwork at five galleries. In March, the center hosts its Outdoor Art Show, which has been a town staple for more than 50 years.
Orange Beach
Just under 8,100 people live in Orange Beach on the Gulf Coast, although its temporary population can explode during the summer months, as families come to enjoy go-karts, mini golf, and games at Adventure Island, or to ride the Ferris wheel at The Wharf. The Wharf has an Amphitheatre, which hosts world-famous musicians like the Dave Matthews Band and Willie Nelson. Every May, the Wharf hosts the Alabama Seafood Cook-off, with the winner taking home $2,500 in prize money. For those who like to have a quieter trip, the Gulf State Park is the place to go. It's a diverse park with beaches, a butterfly garden, and the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail, which traverses through dunes and oak forests.
Florence
Located on the Northwestern border of Alabama, Florence has been called Alabama's Renaissance City as it has the oldest university in the state: the University of North Alabama, established in 1830. Another reason for that title is all the huge music acts who recorded albums in the Florence area, including Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones, Paul Simon, and many others. The most famous studio is the Fame Recording Studios in nearby Muscle Shoals.
Visitors can also explore Deibert Park on the grounds of an old antebellum plantation, which has interpretative trails explaining the history of the region and the Children's Museum of the Shoals, for families traveling through. The town has many high-class restaurants, such as Southern food from the Swampers Bar & Grille and fine dining at the 360 Grille.
Gulf Shores
Just over 15,000 people call this Gulf of Mexico town home. Through Gulf Shores, visitors can easily reach Orange Beach or see all the water activities that this community has to offer, such as the Gulf Shores Public Beach, a highly accessible beach with lifeguards and pavilions to ensure a safe trip. The Little Lagoon Pass Park is a narrow stretch of beaches going into the Gulf of Mexico, which is a popular family beach destination. Speaking of families, Gulf Shores is home to the Waterville USA Waterpark, a 20-acre facility that's been open since 1986, offering water slides, pools, and even aquatic-themed escape rooms.
Delta
About 250 people call the tiny community of Delta home. The community has a hot climate, but it's easy to escape the heat by going into the mountains, especially at Cheaha State Park. This park contains Cheaha Mountain, the highest peak in Alabama at 2,413 feet above sea level. On top of the peak is Bunker Tower, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. Travelers can spend a whole weekend at the park, enjoying its hiking trails, birdwatching, or staying at the 30-unit inn. The town is near Talladega National Forest, a 400,000-acre preserve in the Appalachian Mountains that will challenge any hiker.
Daphne
Nestled on the eastern shores of Mobile Bay, Daphne is just 11 miles east of Mobile itself, with a population of just under 31,000 people. The community has a fascinating story, as residents were blessed by a large number of fish that would wash ashore. This is why the city calls itself the Jubilee City. Visitors can tap into this spirit at the Jubilee Festival of Arts, where the entire eastern shore comes alive with arts, crafts, and food during October. From downtown Daphne, visitors can go to a quiet beach at May Day Park, which also includes a fishing pier, playground, and canoe access, or they can enjoy a scenic view of the area atop the McMillian Bluff.
Alexander City
Alexander City, sometimes called Alex City by residents, is named after an important southern figure: Edward Porter Alexander. He commanded the Confederate artillery barrage on the third day at the Battle of Gettysburg and would later become president of the Savannah and Memphis Railroad. Today, the town's most popular attraction is Lake Martin, a 44,000-acre reservoir that was created through the damming of the Tallapoosa River. The best way to see the lake is at Wind Creek State Park, with 1,445 acres along the shores of the lake. Downtown Alexander City is a friendly place, as visitors can enjoy the Chilli and Gumbo Cook Off in March or have lunch at the classy Carlisle's Drug & Soda Fountain.
Oxford
Oxford is a major art hub in Alabama, with the 1921 Oxford Performing Arts Center, putting on shows that draw in guests from across eastern Alabama. This varies from a Summer Patriotic Concert in June to country music stars such as Lee Greenwood. For those who want to take home a charming artistic centerpiece for themselves, Oxford has the Timeless Treasures Antique Mall, with French and farmhouse paintings, furniture, antiques, and many other items. Oxford also maintains the Oxford Lake & Freedom Park, with a fishing pier, historic 1850 Coldwater Covered Bridge, and a splash pad. Just outside Oxford, hikers can access the Chief Ladiga Trail, a 30-plus-mile rail trail that runs from Anniston to the Georgia state line, connecting with trails in Georgia.
Oneonta
This southern town was named after the railroad community of Oneonta, New York, with roots going back to 1889 when a post office was established. It calls itself a Small City with Big Ideas, which certainly suits its penchant for preservation and beautiful vistas. One example of this is the town's well-preserved covered bridges, which are celebrated with the Covered Bridge Festival each October. Explorers can see them all year, such as the Easley Covered Bridge, a 95-foot-long structure built in 1930 that hikers can cross for a backwoods adventure. Another is the Horton Mill Covered Bridge, which stretches 70 feet above the Black Warrior River, making it one of the highest in the world. Hikers can also go searching for historic cabins, schoolhouses, and nature trails at the Palisades Park, which overlooks the wider St. Clair County.
Fort Payne
Fort Payne is a mountain town sitting at 1,079 feet above sea level, and at one time, it towered above every other community when it came to sock production. It was called the Sock Capital of the World; at one point, it produced about half of the socks in the US. Although overseas competition has cut down on its production, Fort Payne still honors its sock-making heritage through the Hosiery Museum, with displays and artifacts from the sock mills. This isn't the only offbeat museum to see in Fort Payne. Residents here are big fans of the country music act Alabama, which is why there's an Alabama Fan Club and Museum, which used to serve as the band's headquarters. History buffs can see Native American artifacts, farm equipment, and railroad artifacts at the Romanesque-style Fort Payne Depot Museum.
Mentone
Mentone doesn't just sit in the mountains; it is on top of Lookout Mountain at 1,686 feet. The community has often served as a summer camp retreat for its position in the Appalachian Mountains, but visitors can come at any time to see the breathtaking views, such as the 107-foot DeSoto Falls within the DeSoto State Park. At this 3,500-acre park, visitors can hike through 35 miles of trails in Lookout Mountain.
Visitors can also hike along the Little River in the Little River Canyon National Preserve. This river is mostly contained within Lookout Mountain and is a perfect place to go kayaking or wildlife viewing. Visitors can enjoy Appalachian hospitality while eating a meal at the Mentone Market or a cup of coffee from Wildflower Cafe.
These Alabama communities all have big ideas on how best to celebrate the food, people, and places of Alabama. Daphne celebrates the tight-knit southern spirit of Alabama through its Jubilee Festival of Art, while the Florence region and Fort Payne honor the contributions of southern musical artists ranging from Aretha Franklin to the Alabama band itself. Visitors can find picturesque vistas in Delta or Mentone, or a peaceful beachside escape in Daphne. What all of these towns hold in common is their welcoming nature, whether that's in a mountain top restaurant or going to a cafe just outside of Mobile Bay or the Gulf of Mexico.
