Spotlight on Small Town Destinations: Fairhope, Ala.
When you think of Alabama’s Gulf coast, you automatically think beaches. With sand and sun on the mind, it’s easy to overlook the nearby small towns in the area. However, if you overlook Fairhope, the funky little town located on the bay, you’ll be missing out on someplace special.
The town has made a name for itself throughout the Southeast as a thriving art community. In fact, many around the area referred to the town as “Carmel-by-the-Bay” in reference to the popular artists retreat, Carmel-by-the Sea, California.
Shop: The converted historic storefronts are filled with gourmet food stores, upscale shops and artists’ galleries. You can spend all-day window shopping and going into place after place. While you might come out “cash poor,” the best part is that you would never get bored from meeting the locals. Be sure to visit is Page & Palette, a family owned/ran store for over 35 years. It has books, art supplies, stationery and a coffee shop.
Visit: Located about minutes from Fairhope is the even smaller town of Magnolia Springs. An interesting tidbit about the town: it is the only one left in the U.S. that has its mail delivered by boat.
While many of the historic buildings remain, a few have been modernized for visitors. Grab a quick bite at Jesse’s , the old-post-office-turned-restaurant. Stay the night at the Magnolia Springs Bed and Breakfast, a former hotel in the late ‘20s and ‘30s. The owner is more than happy to provide you with a quick oral history of the area.
Try: It’s all about the seafood on the Gulf, and that is true at Old Bay Steamer. However, you have to order a salad and try their homemade honey ranch vinaigrette dressing.
Sleep: Enjoy the breezes and scenery at one of the four villas at Away at the Bay . You also access to a private courtyard and a private beach. Fairhope’s Storybook Guesthouse is a work of art. An artist created it over 40 years ago, using much of recycled and discarded materials.
Did You Know: Fairhope was settled in the late 1800’s as a utopia of sorts. About 30 Midwesterners and followers of economist Henry George settled the town as a single-tax colony. Even today, the Fairhope Single-Tax Corporation still owns land in the area.
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POSTED IN: Alabama Gulf Coast, Small Towns to Visit, Southern Byways, Spotlight on Small Southern Towns, Things to See in Alabama
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