While Alabama’s major cities have plenty to offer, sometimes it’s better to spend a weekend getaway getting to know one of its many charming small towns.
From fishing villages like Bayou La Batre to artsy mountain towns like Mentone and all the ones in-between, Alabama’s small towns are filled with character and rich history — not to mention some seriously good restaurants and a lot of one-of-a-kind attractions you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere else.
So next time you’re looking to spend a Saturday wandering, keep these 11 Alabama small towns in mind.
Mentone may be small, but art is everywhere. (Haley Laurence)Haley Laurence
If you have ever been to the charming mountain town of Mentone, you won’t be surprised to see it on this list. Located atop Lookout Mountain, Mentone offers visitors plenty of chances to take in the beauty of the great outdoors by visiting nearby Little River Canyon, DeSoto State Park and more. Plus, it offers unique dining, like the Wildflower Cafe, and shopping, like the Moon Lake Trading Company and Mentone Market — all in an artsy and quaint setting.
Read more: This Alabama dish is worth the drive to Mentone’s Wildflower Cafe
A statue inspired by “To Kill a Mockingbird” in front of the Monroe County Museum in author Harper Lee’s hometown of Monroeville, Ala. (Amber Sutton/AL.com)Amber Sutton
For lovers of classic literature, a visit to the small town of Monroeville is an absolute must considering it’s the home of author Harper Lee and inspiration for the setting of her iconic novel “To Kill a Mockingbird”. While there, fans of the book can visit the Monroe County Museum inside the historic Monroeville courthouse, which has exhibits dedicated to Lee as well as Truman Capote. You can also take a scenic, self-guided walking tour of noteworthy sites and murals throughout the town and even grab a “boo burger” at The Court House Cafe.
Read more: Scenes from Monroeville
The Magnolia Springs Bed & Breakfast adds to the charm of this small town in Baldwin County.(AL.com file photo/Kate Mercer)
With its massive live oaks and proximity to the Gulf, Magnolia Springs is the perfect small town to visit if you’d like to spend a relaxing weekend away from home. While there, you can book a room at the Magnolia Springs Bed and Breakfast, which offers a cozy and charming place to unwind, and grab a meal at Jesse’s Restaurant, where you can dine on crawfish mac and cheese, creole spiced redfish and other New Orleans-inspired dishes as well as steaks, oysters, salads and more.
Read more: One Alabama small town among nation’s most beautiful, says Architectural Digest
The Alabama Grill is at 109 West Commerce St. in downtown Greenville.(Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com)
Greenville is a small Alabama town that might be off the beaten path but is worth a visit thanks to its rich history and character. While visiting its historic downtown area, you can grab a meal at Alabama Grill, which serves pizzas, salads, pasta and more. You can also catch a seasonal show at the restored Ritz Theatre and browse a variety of shops selling antiques, handmade goods and more. Be sure to stop in Greenville Hardware, which has been in business since 1891 and is the oldest hardware store in the state.
Read more: Restoring history at the Alabama Grill
It’s not for nothing that Dauphin Island bills itself as the “Sunset Capital of Alabama.”Sharon Steinmann/AL.com
Known as the “Sunset Capital of Alabama,” Dauphin Island offers a beach getaway without the crowds. You can either spend your time listening to the waves crash with your toes in the sand at one of its pristine beaches or you can explore some of the island’s popular attractions, like Fort Gaines, the Dauphin Island Sea Lab and more. Just don’t forget to fill up on fresh catch at one of the popular local restaurants, like Dockside Seafood, Islander’s Restaurant and more.
Read more: 10 things to know about Dauphin Island
Charming downtown Eufaula is home to a variety of shoppes and restaurants.Amber Sutton
When it comes to gorgeous small towns in Alabama, Eufaula certainly makes the list. Its scenic downtown area, complete with fountains and lush parks, is a perfect place to spend an afternoon window shopping and trying local restaurants, like the Cajun Corner. Be sure to check out the views of Lake Eufaula while you’re there too from the Yoholo Micco Trail as well as take a tour of one of the many one-of-a-kind historic homes, like Fendall Hall and the Shorter Mansion, you can visit.
Payne’s Soda Fountain & Sandwich Shop in Scottsboro, Ala., began as the W.H. Payne Drug Co. in 1869. (Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com)
Another scenic small town that’s home to an attraction that draws visitors from all over the state, and country for that matter, is Scottsboro. While Unclaimed Baggage, where the contents of unclaimed luggage from major airlines is sold, is often what brings tourists to Scottsboro, there’s plenty more to see. That includes a visit to the Scottsboro Depot Museum, Goose Pond Colony Resort and more. While you’re there, be sure to also take a walk around the downtown square and grab a sweet treat at Payne’s Sandwich Shop and Soda Fountain.
Read more: 150 years of memories at Alabama’s oldest soda fountain
Fishing is a huge part of the experience at Lake Guntersville State Park. The park hosts many bass tournaments and the lake offers world-class bass fishing as well as other sport fishing. (Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com). al.comal.com
Surrounded by gorgeous Lake Guntersville, it’s no surprise that the small Alabama town of Guntersville is a scenic place with picturesque views almost everywhere you look. While it’s a given that Guntersville offers plenty to do on the lake like fishing, boating and more, as well as lots of activities, like hiking and birding, within its state park, the small town also has an active art scene with shows performed at The Whole Backstage Theatre, local shoppes worth exploring and more.
Downtown Wetumpka is full of charm, local business and gorgeous views of the Coosa River.Amber Sutton
Located along the Coosa River and with a thriving downtown area filled with local shoppes and restaurants, Wetumpka is a charming small town perfect for leisurely exploring. While there, you can also take in all of the city’s natural beauty with a visit to Swayback Bridge Trail, grab lunch at Coaches Corner Bar and Grill, grab your favorite latte at Restoration Coffee House and learn more about Wetumpka’s unique history at Fort Toulouse in Jackson Park and the Wetumpka Impact Crater.
Read more: What to do in Wetumpka
Representatives of the Alabama shrimping fleet are seen at dock in 2014 in Bayou La Batre, Ala. (Mike Brantley)Mike Brantley/AL.com
Bayou La Batre is a quaint and charming fishing town located along the Mississippi Sound near the Gulf of Mexico and has garnered the title of “Seafood Capital of Alabama” for good reason. With streets lined by live oaks and boats almost everywhere you look on the water, it’s a scenic little town ready to be explored. Grab a meal at Catalina, which serves fresh seafood daily, then stroll through one of the city’s many parks or along a dock for the kind of relaxing day only a small town can offer.
Boom Town Makers Market in downtown Fort Payne. (Haley Laurence)Haley Laurence
Fort Payne is a quiet little town with plenty of natural beauty and interesting sights to see, making it a great place for a relaxing weekend getaway. You can spend some time enjoying the great outdoors at Desoto State Park or learn more about its role in musical history at the Alabama Fan Club and Museum. While in town, you can also spend a day antiquing at the Big Mill and other little shoppes as well as try the Cuban sandwich, named among the “100 Alabama dishes to eat before you die” at Vintage 1889 Cafe.
Read more: Why this Alabama town loves Pete the Cat
The Alabama Crimson Tide are headed back to the Rose Bowl for the College Football Playoff.
One hundred years after Alabama football’s first appearance in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, 1926, the Tide will face No. 1 Indiana (13-0) in the CFP quarterfinals in Pasadena on New Year’s Day.
Alabama (11-3) rallied from a 17-0 first-half deficit to win its first-round playoff game, 34-24, against the Oklahoma Sooners (10-3) Friday night at Memorial Stadium in Norman.
Ty Simpson threw two touchdown passes to freshman receiver Lotzeir Brooks, cornerback Zabien Brown had a 50-yard interception return for touchdown, and Daniel Hill capped the scoring with a 6-yard touchdown run as the Tide closed the game by out-scoring Oklahoma 34-7 over the final 36:52.
Conor Talty added two clutch field goals in Alabama’s win, its 10th victory overall in the College Football Playoff since 2014, and its first since the Crimson Tide defeated the Cincinnati Bearcats, 27-6, in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve 2021.
After Alabama’s rally, Tide players did some celebrating on the Sooners’ field.
Follow us at @RollTideWire on X and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Alabama Crimson Tide news, notes and opinions.
NORMAN, Oklahoma — The stage was set for Oklahoma. Heck, the Sooners earned the right to set it. This was supposed to be the ushering in of a new era of postseason football for the No. 8 team in the country that had won 10 games in what was one of the toughest schedules this year.
No. 9 Alabama was even one of those teams that Oklahoma beat on its way to earning this spot. And Saturday night, all was going well for the Sooners. It was going so well, in fact, that after the first quarter, some Oklahoma fans might’ve peeked at flights and hotel rates for the Rose Bowl from inside Memorial Stadium.
And then the Alabama Crimson Tide curled and rolled the Sooners, 34-24, and are headed to Pasadena. After opening with 17 unanswered points, Oklahoma collapsed under the weight of that wave, becoming the only team in College Football Playoff history to blow a 17-point lead. And now, the Sooners have done it twice — before Saturday, in 2018 against Georgia.
[Best Teams in the College Football Playoff Era: Creating the Ultimate 12-team CFP]
Here are my takeaways from Alabama’s College Football Playoff first-round victory against Oklahoma on Saturday:
NORMAN, OKLAHOMA: Zabien Brown #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide stiff-arms John Mateer #10 of the Oklahoma Sooners during the second quarter during the 2025 College Football Playoff first-round game on December 19, 2025. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson is an avid reader and listener of college football news. Following the largest comeback win in Alabama postseason history, Simpson took a moment to facetiously thank media members for choosing Oklahoma to win on Saturday night.
“I guess we can thank you guys for that,” an emboldened Simpson said. “You guys kind of wrote us off in a sort of way. So I appreciate that.”
After building a three-score lead, the Sooners watched the Crimson Tide recover a fumbled punt, pick off Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer and return it 50 yards to the end zone — all before their First Team All-American kicker Tate Sandell missed not one but two field goals in the final minutes to solidify the worst collapse in College Football Playoff history.
Meanwhile, the Alabama Crimson Tide will prepare to take on No. 1 Indiana in the Rose Bowl for the CFP quarterfinal game. This team that punches back and played its best football with its back against the wall is one that the Hoosiers must prepare for on New Year’s Day.
[College Football Playoff Predictions: First-Round Winners to The National Champion]
NORMAN, OKLAHOMA: John Mateer #10 of the Oklahoma Sooners is hit by Deontae Lawson #0 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the first quarter during the College Football Playoff first-round game on December 19, 2025. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
The Crimson Tide began down — just like they did against Georgia in the SEC championship game. But the last three quarters of Saturday’s game demonstrated Alabama to be just who it says it is: the kind of team that can open with a loss to a bad Florida State and also be the first team in six years to walk into Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia, and come out with a win.
DeBoer’s task now is to find a way to make certain that the team that showed up at Georgia earlier this season and at Oklahoma in the first round is the same one against the Hoosiers. Linebacker Deontae Lawson said that’s his job too. But Bama’s best trait isn’t one that shows itself until it’s in a fight for its life.
“Man, I just think we’re a resilient team,” Lawson said. “And even though we were down 17-0, we didn’t really look at the scoreboard. Coach DeBoer always says, ‘Keep playing the game. The game will come back to you.’ … We just keep fighting.”
NORMAN, OKLAHOMA: Head coach Brent Venables of the Oklahoma Sooners speaks to an official during the fourth quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide on December 19, 2025. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
Let’s look at the bigger ones:
These are blunders. Errors that aren’t forced but self-inflicted. It’s difficult to win any game with those kinds of mistakes on your drive chart. It’s nearly impossible in a game of this magnitude, against a team as talented and as resilient as the Crimson Tide.
NORMAN, OKLAHOMA: Keon Keeley #31 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates after defeating the Oklahoma Sooners in the College Football Playoff first-round game. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Oklahoma usually plays 50 Cent’s “Many Men” before the start of the fourth quarter. In an attempt to make a statement for its first CFP game at Owen Field, the Sooners brought the rapper himself out onto the field to perform the song for fans in a Hard to Kill Hoodie.
“I didn’t know it was live,” DeBoer said.
“I didn’t know who 50 Cent was,” Simpson said, “but I know that song.”
“We play that song at practice on Fridays,” Lawson said.
RJ Young is a national college football writer and analyst for FOX Sports. Follow him @RJ_Young.
Hello college football fans, and welcome to The Athletic’s live coverage of the 2025 College Football Playoff!
Yes, after a 2025 season full of an incredible amount of twists, turns, controversy and pure chaos, the second edition of the 12-team College Football Playoff gets underway tonight. Our opening matchup is a battle of blue-bloods whose first meeting this season contributed to that chaos, as No. 9 Alabama takes on No. 8 Oklahoma in Norman.
Follow along for live pregame build-up and the latest news, play-by-play updates and real-time analysis from The Athletic’s college football staff!
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