Jubilee Festival in Daphne, Alabama

Held in Daphne on Alabama's Eastern Shores, the Jubilee Festival was named after a beachside pooling of flounder, crab or shrimp that happens on summer mornings in the state's Mobile Bay. Although the festival itself doesn't have a pooling of fish, it does draw a crowd of people -- tens of thousands each year to be exact. Held on Main Street in Daphne's Olde Towne in late September, the Jubilee Festival focuses on a judged art show, but also offers live entertainment, food booths and children's art tents as accompaniment.

History

• The festival was created to promote community in Daphne, as well as to raise money for the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce. Beginning in 1989, the festival has transformed from primarily featuring antique vendors to encouraging artists and craftspeople from around the region to display their own creations. In recent years, the festival has drawn more than 130 artists for the juried show, while the festival itself brings approximately 34,000 festival-goers to the small town.

Art Show

• Before the festival begins, artists bring their best work to Daphne for the art show. Awarding prizes totaling $4,400, the festival offers 55 unique awards, including the Best of Show Overall winner who takes home a $750 prize and the Road Runner Ribbon, given to the artist who traveled the longest distance to display her creations. If you're interested in participating in the Jubilee Festival art show, visit the Festival's official website (eschamber.com) to download an application form.

Other Activities

• For children, the popular "Kids Art in the Park" is set up in Centennial Park and lets children create art and play games. In past years, art booths have provided children with materials to make beaded necklaces, fans and fish prints and to paint a fence with their creations. Daphne City Hall also constructs an entertainment stage, which includes performances from students at local dance studios and live music from local bands. Further, City Hall sets up a TV for watching college football games.

Details

• The Jubilee Festival is typically held on a Saturday and Sunday in late September, with activities lasting from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission to the festival is free, but you'll likely want to bring cash to buy a snack or a meal from a food vendor. Posters with festival artwork are also for sale at the information booth.

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Alabama RV Parks Near Interstate-20

Interstate 20 runs across central Alabama from near York on the west side of Alabama to Heflin, which is near the Georgia state line. Alabama travelers can find an assortment of RV parks across the state on I-20 from Tuscaloosa, home to the University of Alabama, to Talladega. NASCAR enthusiasts will recognize the Talladega Superspeedway, home to the longest NASCAR track, from the interstate. RV parks are available all along the way to suit your interests.

Lake Lurleen State Park

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  Located near the University of Alabama, Lake Lurleen State Park has 91 campsites overlooking a 250-acre lake. Fishing and boating are available but require the purchase of an Alabama fishing license and a boater's license. Pets are welcome but must be on a leash when outside of the RV and cannot be in the swimming area, beach or any of the adjacent areas. During football season, the park recommends that you make reservations ahead of time and requires a two-night minimum stay.

  
  

  Lake Lurleen State Park
  13226 Lake Lurleen Road
  Coker, AL 35452
  205-339-1558
  alapark.com

Cheaha State Park

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  Cheaha State Park Cheaha State Park is home to two RV campgrounds. Mountain Top Campground has 43 campsites and is on top of Cheaha Mountain. Cheaha Lake Campground has 30 campsites and is near Cheaha Lake. While both campsites offer full-service bathhouses, Mountain Top Campground is within walking distance of most of the park's amenities, which include a restaurant, picnic areas and a country store. The lake campground, while not close enough to the facilities for an easy stroll, is a short 3-mile drive to the park's amenities.

  
  

  Cheaha State Park
  19644 Highway 281
  Delta, AL 36258
  800-ALA-PARK
  alapark.com

Wazoo Campground

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  The Wazoo Campground offers over 250 sites with power and water hook-ups. Primarily serving race fans of the Talladega Superspeedway, Wazoo Campground has level grass sites with gravel roadways. Camping is only available during Talladega race weeks, and sites must be reserved for the full week. There is a shower house available for RV campers and the campground allows the use of golf carts on the property. The Wazoo Campground allows alcohol in the camping area although it does not sell alcohol.

  
  

  Wazoo Campground
  160 Summerdale Lane
  Lincoln, AL. 35096
  888-892-4721
  wazoocampground.com

Paradise Island RV Park

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  With 70 campsites on a 5-acre peninsula on Lake Logan Martin, Paradise Island RV Park offers privacy and security other parks may lack. A gated entrance provides access to the park with each guest having his or her own key code. Pets are welcome at Paradise Island, and there is a playground for children. Thirty- and 50-amp electrical hook-ups and city water and sewage are additional benefits for the full-time residents. Nightly, monthly and yearly rates are available.

  
  

  Paradise Island RV Park
  735 Honda Drive
  Lincoln, Alabama 35096
  770-830-7532
  paradiseislandrv.com

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Golf Vacations Near Bremen, Alabama

Taking a golf-based vacation is a great way to relax. Alabama offers a number of golf courses. Sadly, the White Pines Golf Course, in Bremen, has closed for business. This was the only golf course within Bremen, although, there are a number of golf courses all within a 30-mile radius. Aside from booking your flight, making hotel arrangements and renting a car, you will also want to reserve tee times. You can book golf packages or you can create your own golf vacation. Three cities within a 30-mile radius of Bremen, offering numerous courses, are Hanceville, Cullman and Jasper.

Cullman Golf Course

• Located 15 miles northwest of Bremen, Alabama, in Hanceville is the Cullman Golf Course. This course was completed in 1956. At 6,350 yards, Cullman can be considered a short course, but there are plenty of obstacles to keep it challenging. The elevation is very dynamic, and both water hazards and bunkers challenge golfers daily. With a par of 72, this 18-hole course holds a 70.6 rating and a slope of 131.

Chesley Oaks Golf Course

• Fairview, Alabama, is located 17 miles northeast of Bremen. It is home to the public Chesley Oaks Golf Course. Built in 1996, Chesley Oaks is a public course offering 18 holes with a par of 71. At 6,738 yards, this course can also be considered small. The course is rated at 71.0 with a slope of 113. Chesley Oaks offers minimal hazards, containing no bunkers and only four water hazards, making Chesley Oaks a great course for beginners.

Terri Pines Country Club

• Located in Cullman, near Fairview, is the Terri Pines Country Club. Built in 1980, this private course boasts a par of 72 for 18 holes and a short yardage of 6,451. Rated at 70.2, a slope of 127 awaits golfers. The course contains a lot of elevation changes to increase difficulty. Further to the elevation changes, there are numerous bunkers and water hazards. Other amenities include a pro shop, bar and grill, driving range, putting green and a chipping green. The golf shop also offers club repair and cleaning. Terri Pines Country Club offers members a swimming pool and tennis courts.

Arrowhead Golf Course

• Twenty-five miles southwest of Bremen is the city of Jasper. The Arrowhead Country Club was built in 1970 and is a public course offering nine holes and a par of 36. At 3,095 yards, the course rating and slope are 35.0 and 113, respectively. The elevation is fairly static; there are only four water hazards, one crosses the fairway of the fourth hole. Arrowhead has a pro shop, but no food service nor practice areas.

Curry Golf Course

• Also in Jasper, the Curry Golf Course is a challenging nine-hole course boasting a par of 54. Curry Golf Course is public and was built in 1999. Only 2,434 yards in length, the course holds a rating of 54.0 and offers a slope of 100. Curry also offers golfers a driving range for practice.

Musgrove Country Club

• Another course in Jasper is the Musgrove Country Club. A private course, it was built in 1932 and is 6,594 yards long. The par 71, 18-hole course offers a rating of 70.5 and a slope of 122. The elevation is extremely dynamic and the Black Water Creek makes appearances through a couple of the holes. Aside from the hills and Black Water Creek, there are plenty of other hazards to challenge golfers. Other amenities include a pro shop, driving range, chipping green, practice bunker, restaurant, bar and snack bar; the club also offers tennis and swimming.

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Fun Things to Do in Gulf Shores, Alabama

Beach umbrellas, towels, snorkel gear and plenty of sunscreen. These are just a few of the things you'll need for a trip to Gulf Shores on the Alabama Gulf Coast. The state doesn't have a long stretch of coast, but its short strand compares easily with that of the Florida Panhandle next door to the east. And Gulf Shores is at the center of beach-related activities and other fun on the coastline of the Heart of Dixie.

Hit the Sands

• The main draw at Gulf Shores is the beach, flat and wide, with sugar-white sands and clear, emerald-hued waters. Generations of tourists from the South have come to Gulf Shores to bask in the sun and splash in the Gulf of Mexico. Rental cottages, hotels and condo highrises line the coast. The beach gets extra crowded between Memorial Day and Labor Day. In spring and fall, it's still warm enough for a beach vacation and much less crowded. Between late fall and early spring, the water may be too chilly for swimming and the crowds long gone, but the beachcombing is still enjoyable -- just bring layers of clothing to shed or put on as needed.

Beyond the Beach

• Nature enthusiasts and hikers will want to explore the trails at Gulf State Park and the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge. The state park also has a golf course and allows RV and tent camping. Just north of the state park, the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo provides the opportunity for up-close and hands-on animal encounters. Featured in the Animal Planet TV series "The Little Zoo That Could," the zoo is known for its resiliency after surviving three hurricanes in the early 21st century. Waterville USA is a large water park featuring a variety of thrill slides, amusement park rides, a mini golf course and a large arcade.

Dining and Nightlife

• Most restaurants worth their salt in the Gulf Shores area feature two specialties on their menus: royal red shrimp and bread pudding. Royal reds are a pricier deep-water, jumbo type of shrimp, with meat that tastes more like lobster than regular Gulf Coast shrimp. Bread pudding is the most common dessert served in the area, usually topped with a whiskey sauce. Not all the best seafood joints are on the beach. King Neptune's and the Original Oyster House are two longstanding establishments a few blocks inland along Highway 59/Gulf Shores Parkway. For nightlife, the Hangout, on the beach, and LuLu's at Homeport Marina -- owned by Jimmy Buffett's baby sister -- both provide top-notch live musical entertainment on a regular basis.

Annual Events

• The Hangout Music Fest takes place directly on the beach in front of the Hangout restaurant that gives the festival its name. Each May, the top names from a variety of musical genres come to perform on large stages set up yards away from the waves. The event usually sells out early, so purchase your tickets and book accommodations well in advance. Other notable annual events are the National Shrimp Festival each October and the SEC Beach Fest in August. The latter allows football fans of the Southeastern Conference to intermingle with their favorite players and coaches in a relaxed coastal setting.

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Greek Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama

The spices of seasoned meat fill your nostrils, the tang of feta cheese dissolves on your tongue, and you can't believe your enjoyment donates to a good cause. The Greek Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama, has grown into a sensational hit that attracts visitors from all over the South. But many of them don't know the history of the festival or its benefits. Educate yourself. It might just make that food taste better.

Benevolent Women

• The Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society, a national organization, seeks to help those in need through fund-raising efforts. The Birmingham chapter of the ladies started the Greek Food Festival to promote these efforts in 1972, eventually handing over the reigns to the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. For decades, the festival has grown from humble roots to the popular attraction that it is today. The festival now takes a year to plan, with organizers cooking 37,000 pounds of ground beef and 3,000 pounds of rice in preparation. More than 20,000 meals were served in 2012, and all profits go to charitable ministries run by the church.

A Blast From the Byzantine Past

• The grounds of the Holy Trinity Church turn into a maze of tents and vendors. Each vendor sells a specific type of Greek food under a professionally made sign, so it's easy to get your favorite treats. Inside a wing of the church is a stage with live music where festival-goers can enjoy the occasional Greek dance put on by troupes from the Holy Trinity Sunday School. Ask a ranking member of the church for a tour of the cathedral, where you'll step back in time to enjoy ceiling art and iconography from the Byzantine era. Sometimes the entire festival comes to a grinding halt for charity. In 2012, 5-year-old sickle-cell patient Ceanna Ware became the star attraction when she was gifted her wish -- a playhouse.

A Delicious Education

• Greek food utilizes flavored meats. Souvlakia is marinated lamb on a skewer, gyros feature seasoned beef with tsaziki sauce on pita bread, and Greek chicken gets basted in olive oil, lemon juice and oregano. Feta cheese and spinach bring out the flavor in Greek salads and fried filo-dough pastry triangles, called pites. Pistacho -- the Greek dish, not the nut -- sits heavy with macaroni, seasoned beef and cream bechamel sauce. Honey, roasted pecans and cinnamon sweeten a variety of different Greek filo-dough dessert pastries, like baklava. Load up on your favorite dish, or sample an abundance of Greek fare.

Get the Most Greek

• The festival celebrates from the mid-morning to late at night for three days -- Thursday, Friday and Saturday -- at the end of September every year. The residential neighborhood jams up with traffic during the popular festival, and parking becomes very hard to find around dinner time. The old Liberty National parking deck, a block east on 20th Street, provides free parking. Go in the mid-afternoon on Thursday and Friday to avoid the crunch, and bring plenty of cash. Part of 19th Street is coned off to create a drive-through, where you can call ahead to promptly pick up your order. Expect temperatures in the mid-50s to mid-70s during Birmingham's driest month. Feel good about spending money at the event. It goes to activities for seniors in the area, daycare that provides nutrition, shelter for victims of abuse and much more.

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Interesting Places in Coffee County, Alabama

Set amid a rolling agricultural landscape, Alabama’s rural Coffee County has a rich history in farming and a boll weevil to thank. Established in 1841, the county encompasses several small towns, each offering visitors a special brand of Southern hospitality that can only be found in the Heart of Dixie. While driving through the state, stop along the way to enjoy the history and natural beauty the county has to offer.

Gain Historical Insight

• In Enterprise, visit the only monument to an agricultural pest in the world -- the Boll Weevil Monument. In 1915, the pest destroyed nearly 60 percent of the cotton production in Coffee County, and farmers had to turn to peanut crops to overcome the hardship. Fast forward to 1917, when the county became the largest producer and harvester of peanuts in the entire country. The monument was erected in 1919 in the center of downtown, and pays tribute to the pest for the lessons the community learned from it -- and symbolizes the county’s ability to adjust to adversity. Stop by to see this interesting tribute at College and Main streets.

Root for Racers

• Hear the engines roar and smell burning tires at the South Alabama Speedway in Kinston. Opened in 1973, the track is a 4/10-mile oval and has 13-degree banked turns and 5-degree banked straights. Cheer on competitors as they race for first place in the Rattler, Alabama Pro 200 and Viper Series races. Pay an entrance fee to watch vehicles of all types take to the asphalt, including modified cars, stock cars and motorcycles. Get even closer to the action by purchasing a pit pass. General races are each Saturday, while Series races are throughout the year.

Reel 'Em In

• Pay a small permit fee and spend the day fishing along the banks or by boat at the 80-acre Coffee County Lake, 8 miles northwest of Elba. Bring your own boat or rent one from the on-site store, where you can also stock up on food, drinks and fishing supplies. If you prefer to stay on solid ground, walk out to the fishing pier to reach the deeper waters. Catch bluegull and redear sunfish in spring through summer. While you can catch bass and channel catfish year-round, the biggest bass tend to be caught from February through April, while the summer months are the best time to catch catfish. A fishing license is required, and can be obtained online or by calling the Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, or by visiting an area merchant.

Eat and Be Entertained

• The historic Hildreth Brothers Building in Enterprise sets the stage for the Southern Broadway Dinner Theater, which showcases local talent in several plays each year. Sit back and watch original productions written by the theater’s founder while dining on freshly prepared meals made from local ingredients. The intimate venue accommodates 48 people, offering you the chance to be close to the action. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling the theater.

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Visitor's Guide to Gulf Shores, Alabama

State Highway 59 runs through miles of rural farmland and small towns in southern Alabama to end at what seems an unlikely destination -- a beach with silky sand so fine it squeaks beneath your bare feet when you walk on it. This is Gulf Shores, the crown jewel of beach resort areas along Alabama's stretch of the Gulf Coast. It's a place where nature and development exist side by side. Whether you want a quiet seaside getaway or to immerse yourself into the heart of the action on a crowded beach, you can do both on this sandy strand in the Heart of Dixie.

Natural Treasures

• The sugar-white sand beach is the big draw to Gulf Shores, but there's much more to nature here than frolicking on the sand and in the surf. Birders will relish making stops along the Alabama Coastal Birding Trail -- this area is a stopover point for migrating birds and a permanent home to many species. Much of the land around Gulf Shores is protected as part of the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge and Gulf State Park have miles of backcountry trails for exploring the maritime forest and large dune areas. Animal lovers won't want to miss a visit to the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo for its up-close Animal Encounters program.

Culinary Delights

• Seafood, of course, is the main attraction in Alabama Gulf Coast restaurants. And any seafood restaurant worth its salt in Gulf Shores should have fresh Royal Red shrimp on the menu. Royal Reds, found in the deepest, darkest waters of the Gulf of Mexico, are a tad more expensive than other kinds of shrimp and have a buttery, lobster-like taste. Another specialty of the area doesn't come from the sea but from the dessert pantry: bread pudding served with whiskey sauce. Bread pudding can be found all over Alabama, but it's especially popular in the coastal region. Other items you'll find on most menus in Gulf Shores are shrimp 'n' grits and po-boy sandwiches, evidence that the influence from nearby New Orleans weighs heavily on local cuisine.
• Just Hanging Out

• Most people who come to Gulf Shores are interested in one thing: hanging out by the water. One of the more popular spots to hang out in Gulf Shores is called, well, the Hangout. This open-air establishment adjacent to the beach is a bar, restaurant, nightspot and mini amusement park in one, with the motto "Where 59 ends and the fun begins." It's also home to the Hangout Music Festival each May. Lulu's at Homeport Marina on the Intracoastal Waterway is owned by Jimmy Buffett's sister and features live music every day; it also has a giant sandbox of a playground for the kids. For old-school beach town ambiance head to the Pink Pony Pub, in business since the 1950s and located directly on the sands next to the Gulf.

Staying the Night

• An array of beachfront accommodations are found in Gulf Shores, from condo high-rises and chain hotel properties to mom-and-pop motels and beach houses. A handful of campgrounds for RVs and tent camping are in the area but not directly on the beach. Gulf State Park has cabins for rent and two campgrounds a short distance away from its own pristine stretch of undeveloped beachfront. Spring break in Alabama is mid-March. If you plan to visit during this time or during peak season between Memorial Day and Labor Day, book as far in advance as possible; accommodations go fast and early for these periods.

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Activities in Fort Morgan, Alabama

Standing sentinel over Mobile Bay, Fort Morgan played a major role in American history, including the Aug. 5, 1861, Battle of Mobile Bay. The fort is now a historic spot with a tour, museum and reenactors, drawing Gulf Coast tourists to the Alabama locale. The peninsula between Fort Morgan and Gulf Shores offers several other activities while you're touring the old Naval guard post.

Touring the Fort

• The fort, dating to 1834, was active during not only the Civil War, but also the Spanish-American War and World Wars I and II. It was here that Admiral David Farragut told his sailors to "damn the torpedoes" and go "full speed ahead." The fort features an active living history program with reenactors interpreting the various military periods here, and holds an annual event that commemorates the Battle of Mobile Bay. Before wandering the grounds, orient yourself with a visit to the fort's museum, which includes weapons, letters, photographs, uniforms and other relics from the active era of the facility from 1814 to 1945.

Hikes at Bon Secour

• Just outside Fort Morgan, the 7,000-acre Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge protects hundreds of species, including migratory birds, the endangered Alabama beach mouse and sea turtles. It also protects the coastal dune ecosystem. You may also spot mammals such as coyote or red fox if you hike the refuge's trail system, made up of a number of easy to moderate hikes from 1 mile to more than 4 miles in length. There you can view the refuge's habitats, from the dunes to the wetlands. Some paths are wheelchair accessible, and pets are not allowed.
• Secluded Beaches

• While you're visiting Fort Morgan, enjoy the beach in relative peace -- quite a contrast to the sands of Gulf Shores just 20 miles away. You can access the seashore here via Fort Morgan Road near the Bon Secour refuge office or just by stepping outside the fort's grounds. Make sure to bring any needed supplies for your beach trip, as this undeveloped area has no nearby services or stores.

To the Sea

• Cap your trip with a ride on the Mobile Bay Ferry to nearby Dauphin Island. Head to the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, a marine laboratory helping protect the coastal habitats and educating the populace. College students from across Alabama come here in the summer to study, but you don't have to pursue a degree to visit the facilities. Here you can tour the Estuarium, which provides an aquarium stocked with local marine life, the Living Marsh Boardwalk and a 10,000-square-foot exhibit hall detailing the local estuary system -- the fourth largest in the United States.

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Visitor's Guide to Orange Beach, Alabama

You won't find any orange groves in Orange Beach anymore. The citrus fruit that gave the town its name hasn't been grown there since the winter freezes of the 1920s wiped out the crop. The orange industry was slowly replaced by one with a healthier outlook in the region: tourism. Today, Orange Beach is a haven for beachcombers, boaters, anglers and naturalists alike, all of whom come to vacation along this short stretch of the Alabama Gulf Coast, mostly in the non-winter months.

Lay of the Land

• You can't talk about Orange Beach without mentioning Gulf Shores. These side-by-side beach resort towns share a convention and visitor's bureau and are alike in all ways except for one: Orange Beach has a lot more shoreline because it sits on a large peninsula. Along with miles of Gulf-front property like Gulf Shores, Orange Beach also faces the bayous and back bays and has boat access to the Gulf through Perdido Pass. Accommodations are similar in both places -- lots of vacation rental houses, chain hotels and high-rise condo buildings. The restaurant scene focuses heavily on fresh, local seafood at places ranging in ambiance from "swimsuits welcome" to more upscale casual dining.

Eco-Exploring

• Not everyone comes to Orange Beach strictly for fun on the sand. Nature beyond the beach is a big draw to the area. Gulf State Park has spring-fed lakes and miles of backcountry trails through secondary dune fields and a maritime scrub forest. The state park has cabins for rent and two campgrounds. The bayous and back bays are prime dolphin-watching, birding and paddling spots. Many companies in the area provide guided nature tours for eco-exploring adventures on the water; two such providers are Sailaway Charters and Cetacean Cruises.

Boating and Fishing

• When anglers come to the Alabama Gulf Coast, Orange Beach is a common embarkation point because of the number of marinas with charters on the bay providing easy access to the Gulf of Mexico. Even boaters who aren't interested in fishing come for the same reason. Orange Beach is also where you'll find uninhabited Robinson Island and Bird Island in the bay near the top of Perdido Pass. Both islands are protected bird habitats where boaters are allowed to gather offshore and anchor down in the clear, shallow waters to relax in a pristine setting.

From East to West

• In the early 1960s the Alabama state line was extended east a couple of miles onto Perdido Key. A divided Perdido Key led to the creation of the Flora-Bama Lounge, Package & Oyster Bar. The blue laws that created the need for a state line bar and liquor store in the 1960s are now obsolete, but the Flora-Bama lives on. No visit to the area is complete without a visit to this roadside beach bar, honored in song by native son Jimmy Buffett. If legendary dive bars don't do it for you, head to the western edge of the city limits to the Wharf, a much larger, modern family-friendly complex on the Intracoastal Waterway with a huge marina and plenty of shopping, dining and entertainment options.

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Things to Do Near Smiths Station, AL

Before it was established as a city in 2001, Smiths Station was a crossroads community with a rail line running through it. The rail line was built in 1845 to connect Columbus, Georgia, to Opelika, Alabama. Smiths Station isn't a tourist destination by any means; it's a suburban city of the Columbus area -- a place of gently rolling plains, lakes and one major river serving as the state line. If you find yourself in Smiths Station, a few worthwhile destinations are close by, especially if you want to go golfing, get on the water or visit a historic college town.

The Loveliest Village on the Plains

• A half-hour northwest of Smiths Station, Auburn is a small town with a large university that lives up to its nickname, "The Loveliest Village on the Plains." Toomer's Corner is in the heart of downtown right across from the older section of campus. Take a stroll to see the historic buildings and bucolic grounds, and choose from multiple shopping and dining options. Stop in at Toomer's Drugstore -- in business since 1896 -- for a glass of their famous homemade lemonade. If you're visiting on a game day during football season, you may witness the traditional "rolling" of Toomer's Corner, where the intersection is besieged by happy fans who blanket it with toilet paper when Auburn wins.

World-Class Golf

• A few miles down the road, Opelika is like Auburn minus the university. One thing Opelika has that can't be found anywhere else in the area is an award-winning public golf facility. The Grand National is part of the famed Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail that snakes throughout the state. You'll find three courses at this location -- two 18-hole championship courses and one 18-hole short course. The rolling plains, expert design and top-notch facilities combine to make the links at Grand National a go-to place for golfers of every skill level.
• Down By the Riverside

• The Chattahoochee River dividing Phenix City and Columbus also serves as the Georgia-Alabama borderline. On the Columbus side, the city has taken great strides to bring tourism to town by developing its downtown riverfront. This includes the 15-mile long Chattahoochee RiverWalk and restoring the river to its natural state for guided whitewater rafting excursions. It's said to be the longest whitewater course in an urban setting in the world. Dams upstream control the flow of water through the rapids, so there are points of low water for casual river runs and high water for thrill-seekers looking for a more extreme whitewater experience.

Lakeside State Parks

• Lake Eufaula, just under an hour south of Smiths Station, is home to two state parks on either side of the lake. On the Georgia side, Florence Marina State Park is much more than a marina, with a lakeside campground and cottages on-site. Across the water on the Alabama side, Lakepoint Resort State Park is much larger with a full-service lodge, campground, marina, golf course, hiking trails, restaurant and lounge. Both parks are visited by anglers, water sports enthusiasts, birders and those looking for a relaxing sojourn by peaceful waters.

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