Foley

Stroll down the street and Sweetie Pie’s serves the most delicious mile-high meringue and pecan pies in the southern counties, all in an atmosphere you’ve almost forgotten. Foley is the kind of town that would remind you of an Orange Crush (it was made here) on a hot summer day and miniature railroads are cool to watch. The town even has an Alabama Railroad Museum where visitors can plop down on a bench and become mesmerized by tiny towns with trains running past and fire engines racing to put out a house fire…all in miniature! But, that’s not all; there are some fine antique shops and beautiful hotels in this little hamlet, as well as the Medical Museum that will raise your eyebrow; electroshock therapy anyone?

Foley is utterly charming and the local residents are some of the finest and most interesting people you are likely to meet. Come and visit for Harbor Heritage days and ask to speak with 96-year-old Gus Sultz; he’ll tell you a tale of a little town that was quite cutting-edge and in the most important ways, still is.

Gulf Shores

Two words; amazing beaches! Gulf Shores’ white, sugar sand beaches are perfect for family vacations and couples who want to stroll for miles. You won’t see out-of-control spring break crowds here but a community that offers fun activities such as a wharf with big-name concerts, a giant Ferris wheel, boardwalk, waterpark, excellent restaurants and dolphin cruises. Take a two-hour tour on Captain Ritchie Russell’s Dolphin Express II for a close-up look at dolphins leaping and spinning behind the wake of the boat. The cruise is fun and watching the dolphin pods frolic on Alabama’s intracoastal waterways while learning about the playful mammals is fascinating. Bring your camera; you will see dolphin’s on this cruise.

Monroeville

In 1960, Harper Lee wrote To Kill A Mockingbird; the book went on to win a Pulitzer and was made into a famous Hollywood movie starring Gregory Peck. Lee grew up in Monroeville and lives reclusively there today. The courtroom where she watched her father practice law in Monroeville set the stage for lee’s incredible book. The Monroeville 1903 courthouse that lee’s book was based on has been restored and turned into a comprehensive heritage museum. Each year in May, the Mockingbird Players stage sell-out performances on the museum grounds with act II taking place in the actual courtroom.

Lee was also life-long friends with Truman Capote, who also grew up in this small Alabama town. The Courthouse Museum features detailed exhibits on Capote and Lee and there is even a walking tour that guides visitors around the town that Lee and Capote knew in their childhood.

Monroeville is Alabama’s literary capital. Many famous writers grew up in town, and this distinction shows in the many small shops, heritage museums and café bookstores that embellish the area. For additional information on Monroeville and the County Heritage Museums, visit MonroeCountyAL.com and ToKillAMockingBird.com

More of Alabama’s Enticing Small Towns And Downtowns Mobile Fairhope

For Gulf Shores Beach accommodations, visit Lighthouse Condominiums Great Restaurants to visit in Gulf Shores are LuLu’s at Homeport Marina (Jimmy Buffet’s sister) and the Cobalt Restaurant

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