10 Most Beautiful Small Towns in Alabama You Must Explore

Fairhope was founded in 1894 and quickly became the spot where many artists and authors spent time during the winter months. Many people flock to the fountain at the Municipal Pier when they need some time to think or relax. It is the perfect place with the sound of water flowing in the background. The Weeks Bay Nature Reserve is another beautiful place and many people visit to catch a glimpse of the pitcher plants that grow there.

Monroeville is the hometown of two prominent authors, Harper Lee and Truman Capote. Harper Lee’s book, To Kill a Mockingbird, brings tourists into this quaint town by the hundreds. Everyone who visits this town should stop into the Old Courthouse Museum to look at exhibits and photos of both Lee and Capote as well as the courthouse that was made famous in both Lee’s book and the movie.

The Chattahoochee River is the backdrop for this city and the name of the city was chosen from one of the three tribes that lived along the river. The city is filled with historic buildings including entire historic districts. The Seth Lore and Irwinton Historic District alone has 667 historic properties. One of the best ways for visitors to see what life was like back in the late 1880s until the early 1900s is to visit Fendall Hall.

The outdoors and music are two items that make Fort Payne the wonderful town that it is. No one will be able to resist venturing into DeSoto State Park, the Little River Canyon National Preserve, or the Manitou Cave. Country music fans will want to visit the museum that honors the country music group Alabama and learn more about how their music began in this little town.

History may be in the past, but the town of Tuscumbia uses their past successes to continue to grow for the future. Helen Keller was born in Tuscumbia and her birthplace, Ivy Green, is now a museum. Every summer, local performers present the play, The Miracle Worker, which is based on Helen Keller’s life. The heart of the town is where the entire community can gather inside Spring Park. It is the perfect place to enjoy a picnic or make a purchase at one of the numerous arts and crafts shows that are held there.

It’s all about the sand and the water in Gulf Shores and many people visit to cruise the ocean by boat while fishing or swim in the warm waters of the Gulf. This town knows that the best time to be out on the water is at sunset and they have numerous fishing boats and cruise boats that take people out to watch for that perfect sunset. Every May, the town holds a three-day festival on the beach. The Hangout Music Festival is filled with music of different genres on two main stages as well as multiple smaller ones.

Mountain villages are filled with beautiful scenery and Mentone does not disappoint with their mountain top views and amazing waterfalls. The Desoto Falls are 104 feet high and the water cascades down into an emerald colored pool. The best shopping can be done at the Log Cabin Craft Village where everyone can purchase handmade items and souvenirs. The shops are in log cabins and the most popular items for sale are hand-carved cigar store wooden Indians, pottery, and jewelry. Everyone needs to experience a service at a church on a mountainside and St. Joseph’s on the Mountain with its stained-glass windows doesn’t disappoint.

Magnolia Springs is surrounded by the pure waters that make up the Magnolia River and many of the houses within the town have exquisite magnolia trees planted in the yards. Both St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and Moore’s Grocery are on the National Register of Historic Places, so they are both places that everyone needs to visit. The Alabama Historic Marker is a must read before eating lunch or dinner at Jesse’s Restaurant.

Orange Beach is as East as a person can go when on the Gulf of Mexico in Alabama. The miles of sand only add to the ambiance of this beautiful town. Many people will spend some time swimming in the water before taking a cruise to find some dolphins playing in the Gulf. The best entertainment can be found on the four islands that make up the Orange Beach Islands, and these islands can be reached by boat, kayak, or jet ski.

One of the most affluent places to live in Alabama is Mountain Brook and shopping seems to be a favorite local pastime. The five shopping districts include Cahaba Village, Crestline Village, English Village, Mountain Brook Village, and Overton Village. When people are not shopping, they can be found walking throughout the town on one of the many popular walkways.