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.
