Downtown Fairhope Alabama

If you ever find yourself in a small town in southern Alabama called Fairhope Alabama you might find that there really isnt' much to do. Its a quiet town with not many, if any, attractions that draw people to come and visit. There are some festivals and there are some historic places but in truth most people that come to visit go there for some quiet time. Its a good place to visit and then head downtown to just walk around and enjoy some time in a small town that isn't busy. In fact downtown is where you can find the pier, which also has beach access and a small duck pond, as well as a park for children. If you are looking for something different then the actual streets of downtown have small shops that very much remind you of an old time town. Parking is scarce and there are a lot of art galleries and places to just go and have a quiet bite to eat.

If you find that you are walking around downtown and want a treat then make sure that you visit the ice cream shop, its called the Muffin Man, and they have some of the best ice cream that I have even tasted. There is nothing quite like getting some ice cream and walking down the streets that are downtown Fairhope. If you are looking for a place to eat then your best bet is to try Papa's Pizza. They have New York style pizza as well as many other pasta dishes. If you want to go shopping then you should try and make sure that you visit many of the art galleries that are around downtown, they support local artists that get their inspiration from the surrounding areas. Other shops include the Private Gallery Jewelry, A Christmas Shop, The Book Worm (for used books), Fantasy Island Toys, and so many more.

If you are looking for more than just a quiet afternoon shopping then you might want to take a walk over to the playground that is built to look like a castle. This playground has tire swings and a castle, and a mini obstacle course that is great for children of all ages. Make sure that you take a stop and look at the wall of handprints. This wall has the handprints of all the people that helped to build this playground, in fact this playground was built by the people of Fairhope. If you come at the right time of year then you might even be lucky enough to catch the Art and Crafts Festival. This is a festival that features local craftsman and ones that travel into town to show their crafts. You can find everything from paintings, photographs, household items, and so much more. Its best to make sure that you check in advance to see when this event is taking place so that you can plan accordingly.

Tigers of Auburn - Auburn Alabama

 When I say the tigers of Auburn, most people will no doubt think of the Auburn tigers sports teams, this is not what I am talking about. What I'm talking about are the tigers of Auburn, that are statues. There was a local artist that created many different statues of tigers, and they are now scattered all around Auburn. I was never able to find out how many there were or where each one of them is located. I spend a couple months in Auburn a few years ago, and me and my brother in law took on the challenge to find as many of these as we could. There is one that is in the Auburn Athletic Museum, this one looks like a tiger with nothing special about it, there is another one that looks pretty much the same that is outside of a bank. A tiger sits on top of the Arbys, while there is blue one that is one the top of the high school. There is a silver one, as well as a tiger weather a suit, and even two that are made to look like superhereos, one is Batman. The superhero tigers are located at a golf course. There is my favorite which is a tiger that is painted with the all American theme, this one sits outside the fire house. If you happen to be in Auburn and you find another one, please let me know as I'm curious to know how many there are, and what they look like. There is no one place to find these as they happen to be all over the place. But they do make for a nice little treasure hunt.

Museum of Mobile - Mobile Alabama

The Museum of Mobile is located in downtown Mobile Alabama. While it may not be the biggest museum it still has a lot to offer. You can travel back in time and go through the history of Mobile and see what happened to shape Mobile into the city that it is today. You can see a canon that came from a real battleship and many artifacts that come from Mobile's past. This is actually a great museum if you want to learn more about the past of the this city but there are a few things to remember.

               While the museum is something that can be fun for all ages and has things that could entertain people of all ages there are some things that you should be aware of. There are some things such as photographs and exhibits that have warnings because they aren't suitable for everyone. Mobile's past includes things such as the building of the Bankhead tunnel where you can hear the sounds of the tunnel being built as you walk through a replica of the process. There are also tales of slavery, and the yellow fever outbreak. Make sure that you pay attention to what you child looks at as there are photos that are covered and have warnings before you lift it to see it. There aren't that many places that will have something like this but you don't want your child seeing that. There are many different things and most of which everyone can enjoy, it's a good idea for you to make sure that you stop by and visit this museum if you are in Mobile, you can also buy a special pass that will allow you to visit this museum as well as the Firehouse Museum and the Mardi Gras Museum, both of which are worth seeing.

The Museum of Mobile is located at

111 S. Royal Street

Mobile, Alabama 36602

Hours are:

Tuesdays through Saturdays - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sundays - 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission

$5.00 - Adult

$4.00 - Senior Citizen

$3.00 - Student

First Sunday of Each Month is Free

The Pier - Fairhope Alabama

Fairhope Pier Fountain

The pier in Fairhope Alabama may actually seem like something that would be fairly boring and not really all that exciting to see. Well you would be right, sorta. If you are looking for just a quiet and calm walk then walking down the pier can be exactly what you need. Or you can take a walk along the shore and enjoy the waves crashing aganist the wall. I personally prefer to walk along the shore, because if you choose to walk down the pier then you have to deal with people fishing and the smell that can come with it. If you don't mind the smell or simply just want to walk to end of the pier then it's actually quiet nice, and its not so long that you get tired. Also on the pier is the restuarant, its a very nice restaurant but is not open all year so make sure that you check the hours.



Baby Ducks Swim in the Duck Pond

 You will notice if you visit here that when you are driving in to the right there is a drive that leads somewhere else. This is my favorite part of the pier. This drive will lead to a picnic area and a park that is actually quite long and very peaceful, this is also the area in which you are allowed to swim. At the end of the road there is a pond that will have ducks and geese. If you head down here its work it to go and get a loaf of bread to feed to the ducks. They are actually friendly and many of them will actually come right up to you and take it out of your hand, but don't forget to feed the squirrels as well. There is only one thing that you need to remember about the duck pond, at certain times of the year the ducks will lay eggs so during this time be very careful of where you step and go. But once this time is over if you are lucky you will be able to see the baby ducks after they hatch. This area is free to everyone during the cooler months but once the summer hits then there is a small fee if you are not a Baldwin Country resident.

If you choose to visit this area at a busier timeframe, there are always different festivals and activites that go on down here. Every fourth of July the city holds a fireworks display and almost like a little carnival that is at the pier. Sometimes music festivals and even art festivals can be found by the pier. There is always something going on, so its a good to check in advance.