There's something special about being in a small town. You just somehow feel more secure, more welcome, and more like you belong there. That's the feeling you get in many of the small towns near Mobile, Alabama.
And it's why the Alabama Tourism Department named 2010 the Year of Small Towns and Downtowns.
Mobile
Not that there's anything wrong with the large town of Mobile itself. With a population of just over300,000, it still has a small town feel. Fine architecture and a sense of history can be found everywhere.
There is the Battle House Hotel, for instance. The original hotel was built in 1852 but burned down in 1905. The hotel is synonymous with Southern charm and was a gathering place for the high society of the day. It was here at Battle House on Oct. 27, 1913, that Woodrow Wilson said, just before World War I, that the United States would never again wage a war of aggression.
At this hotel, you can view the rich work of Alabama artists on display, all curated by the internationally famous artist Nall. Or how about telling a secret from 35 feet away along the Battle House's Whispering Arch? It gives new meaning to the expression "the walls have ears."
Spa treatments
To fully appreciate all the sightseeing you'll be doing in the area, get yourself prepared in advance with a spa treatment. The best places to check these out are the Battle House Hotel or the Grand Hotel. Either one will have you relaxing or snoozing within minutes.
Fairhope
Once you're relaxed, set out for the small town of Fairhope. This upscale community boasts a museum and several elegant small cottages and bungalows.
Here they use a system called the Single Tax, after the theories of Henry George, who advocated no taxes other than a single land tax. Not only is the town known for its monetary system, but it's also known for its romantic appeal. It was described as "one of the most romantic coastal towns in the South" by Coastal Living Magazine because this area of 4,500 acres offers inspiration to artists and romantics alike.
It's not surprising, then, to learn that Fannie Flagg, who is the author of "Fried Green Tomatoes," and Winston Groom, author of "Forrest Gump," both live here.
The name Fairhope itself is interesting— it comes from the fact that when the town was first established, it had a "fair hope" of being successful.
And success it has certainly had. Even today, locals don't feel any need to lock their cars or doors. So popular has it become as a tourist destination, that this town of 16,000 actually has 700 hotel rooms. But don't confuse upscale with prudish. The town has had its share of colourful characters and events—including three nudist colonies.
https://www.fairhopeal.gov/visiting
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101921/
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109830/
Eastern Shore Art Center
Check out the local art centre with its Dale Chihuly-style chandelier in the entrance, actually produced by Ed Pennebaker. If you have a spare $18,000 you can buy the twin towers sculpture that is on display there. While you're there, though, don't forget to stop by the French Quarter, where quaint village shops nestled in an alcove area invite you to check out their handicrafts and upscale wares.
Foley
Shopping is big in Fairhope, but it is also big in Foley. This little town of just 13,000 people has 5 million visitors per year. They come to see the outlets centre and the quaint cafes.
Lack of snow in this sunshine village brought about the idea of bringing in some of the frozen powder, and that's exactly what the locals do here every winter. Their "Let It Snow" campaign lets children experience snow when they normally wouldn't.
Train buffs shouldn't miss out on the Train Depot and Model Train Display. The whole display is 60 feet long and 22 feet wide and boasts tunnels, a miniature town, a plethora of freight trains, and lots of activities to keep you busy.
You'll see, for instance, that there's a drive-in movie where the model waitress roller-skates to the waiting car to deliver her drinks. And check out the model fire station that has the fireman sliding down the pole as the bell goes off.
The value of the layout alone is $300,000. The era depicted by the train museum is 1930–1960s and note there is no McDonalds! It took 14 months of hard work to put the train museum into this building.
In addition, check out Stacey's Old Time Soda Fountain and the Holmes Medical Museum. One of the docents at the museum was one of the babies born at the hospital. Take a look at the birthing chair and the forceps on display. If you are a mother, you'll be glad medicine has come a long way since then!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foley,_Alabama
Dolphin Cruise in Gulf Shores
But let's move from baby humans to baby dolphins. One of the best ways to see these beautiful ocean creatures frolicking in the wake of a boat is on a Dolphin Express Cruise.
As the boat speeds up on its 90- minute cruise, these beautiful sea mammals delight in showing off their jumping prowess, much to the delight of the boat's passengers. Dolphin sightings are guaranteed on this trip.
Monroeville
Guaranteed to be high on everyone's list is a visit to Monroeville, which is about two hours from Mobile. This is the home of Harper Lee, author of the much-loved "To Kill a Mockingbird," a book which has sold over 15 million copies worldwide.
Visit the courthouse that features so prominently in the novel. Harper's father was a lawyer, and as a child, Harper spent many a day watching her father at work. It's likely that the character Atticus was modelled after her father and the town of Maycomb fashioned after Monroeville itself.
Once headed for demolition, the courthouse in the village was saved and restored by a determined group of local residents. Over $30 million was raised to renovate it. You can tour the museum, the exhibits, and the grounds. The town puts on a sold-out presentation of "Mockingbird" every April through May, with an all-local cast.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monroeville,_Alabama
Bellingrath Gardens
Another presentation worth seeing is that of beautiful Bellingrath Gardens in Theodore, on the outskirts of Mobile. Flowers are in bloom throughout the grounds, and a stroll here will restore your sanity (just in case you've managed to lose it in the rat race of life). This was the home of Walter D. Bellingrath who was Mobile's first Coca-Cola bottler and the gardens were originally called Belle Camp.
The gardens were intended as a fishing camp for Walter D. Bellingrath and his wife Bessie. (His doctor had told him to get some rest and enjoy life and stop working all the time—Bellingrath was the retreat that resulted from that advice).
Fashioned after the gardens and country estates in England, the Bellingrath gardens and 15-room home were opened to the public for the first time on April 7, 1932, to cheer up a Depression-weary public. It's been doing a good job of that ever since.
In fact, shortly after that, due to the place's popularity, admission was charged to help care for and maintain the gardens. The home has been featured on A& E's "America's Castles" series.
The USS Alabama
History also comes alive at the USS Alabama, which was originally destined for scrap. (It sat in Washington State for years before making its journey to Alabama.) Thanks to the schoolchildren of the 1960,s who donated their nickels and dimes to save the Alabama, the sum of $100,000 was raised. The ship was towed 5,600 miles through the Panama Canal to bring it to its current location.
This historic battleship, which became famous in Steven Segal's movie "Under Siege," is dedicated to all Alabamians who have served in the military. It served 37 months of active duty in its lifetime and was opened to the public in January 1965.
Explore its 12 decks for an understanding of what this ship and its crew were like.They earned 12 battle stars and shot down nine enemy planes (all while losing no lives). Not surprisingly, the boat and the submarine beside it have had over 13 million visitors since opening day. And did you know that these battleships are no longer made?
One thing that was made on the USS Alabama, however, unlike on any other warships, was ice cream. This was given out to delivery people when deliveries were made to the boat. It was also given out to the sailors on board the boat. Their average age was 21 and they were still young enough to appreciate the treat. (Note: the youngest sailor was actually 15 but he had lied and used his brother's information to sign up.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Alabama_(BB-60)
Jubilee
An interesting feature of living on the Gulf Coast is that the residents get to enjoy the benefits of Jubilee.
This is where the oxygen is so low in the water that the sea life (crabs, shrimp, fish, and eels) literally walks out onto the beach to get some air. When they do, they get picked up by the locals who take them home to fill their freezers and fridges.
"The creatures don't even resist," says Alex Robinson of the Convention and Visitors Bureau. This is only one of two places on earth with this natural phenomenon. The other is in Japan but the fish are not edible.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Bay_jubilee
Exploreum
Another great phenomenon to check out is the Exploreum. Is this for kids or is it really for kids of all ages? See into the inner workings of the human body and try your hand at performing an operation. Practice heart surgery or knee surgery, or how about testing your skill at how much you know about healthy shopping?
You've possibly played an "air guitar", but how about trying an "air harp?" It has no strings, but rather it works by laser. You will enjoy the music you can play on it! I
t's all here at the Exploreum where everything is state-of-the-art. For good reason, the Exploreum has been voted Mobile's No. 1 family attraction, with more than 100 hands-on exhibits. There's even a 12-foot "beating" heart model that shows what happens when a heart attack occurs and how medical attention can repair it.
Mardi Gras Carnival Museum
And hearts are certainly beating when it comes to Mardi Gras, when festival beads are being thrown out. You can relive the history and traditions of this event for two weeks in Alabama at the Mardi Gras museum. Mobile boasts over 30 Mardi Gras parades, and this city is the one that actually invented North American carnivals in 1703, years before New Orleans began its celebrations.
The carnival was actually brought to life in Mobile, Alabama, by a Mr. Joe Cain who wanted to cheer up his friends by creating a ruckus in the streets with pots and pans. These days the pots and pans have been replaced by colourful, lively floats.
Mardi Gras in Mobile has been called the largest street party in the country, and the coronations of the kings and queens rival those of European heads of state.
https://www.mobilecarnivalmuseum.com/
Alabama might well have a lot of small towns, but those small towns sure make a mighty big impact!
Don't miss them!