7 Most Underrated Cities In Alabama

In the heart of the deep south, Alabama has carved out a name, complete with nearly 600 cities, that is both intriguing and interesting. Of course, Alabama’s place in the Civil Rights Movement is on public record.  It is in Alabama, for instance, where Rosa Parks, then a 42-year-old seamstress, took a seat in the front of the bus and refused to give it up for a white passenger. Needless to say, her arrest would inspire a movement that eventually culminated in three sets of amendments to the constitution of the United States, and that comprised the largest expansion of civil rights in the history of the country. With their rich history and stunning natural bounty, these towns are all a sight to behold.

Mentone

Mentone might be tiny, and a town one can miss with a blink, but it is anything but boring. “Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee,” Martin Luther King Jr once thundered. Well, Mentone is beautifully curled up at the top of Lookout Mountain, not on the Tennessee side, or even on the Georgia side, but in the northeastern part of Alabama. Famous as a summer camp destination, Mentone has a quaint, rustic look, comprising beautiful mountain cabins, some few but fine dining options, all set in the backdrop of wooded forests and a landscape that is among the most bucolic in the state. Also, the most elevated city in Alabama is not short of several outdoor activities one can lose himself in.

Dadeville

Dadevillle may look like any typical small town, of course, with all the attendant amenities. However, while Dadeville might be small; and may have all the necessary amenities a town of similar size should have, Dadeville is not just a typical town. Known by locals as the "Heart of Lake Martin," obviously in reference to one of the most beautiful man-made lakes in the United States, Dadeville is a quaint, laid-back town visitors will effortlessly fall in love with. Lake Martin, for instance, is clean, almost crystal clear, and amazingly pristine. It is a fine place to watch boats as they bob about on the rippling water, or to get into one — and enjoy the glides and the views.

Huntsville

When we talk of underrated cities, many are inclined to think of small towns. Yet a big city can also be underrated. Venice can be; Paris can be, and Huntsville can be. The first town to be incorporated in Alabama, Huntsville boasts several other state “firsts.” Still, the largest city in Alabama has other qualities that doubtless make it underrated. For instance, US News & World Report recently named Huntsville as the best US city to live in. Known today as a hub of aerospace science and information technology, Huntsville also boasts some of the lowest cost of living rates in the country. In the city’s backdrop, Monte Sano Mountain, translated “Mountain of Health” in Spanish, lends the town a regal ambience that is so cool and charming.

Monroeville

Reputed to be the literary capital of Alabama, Monroeville is the town that inspired Nelle Harper Lee to pen one of the most acclaimed works in literature: To Kill a Mockingbird. The book became an instant success and would win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1961 and sell more than 40 million copies across the globe. Today, visitors to the town can admire a bronze statue of a girl reading the famous classic on the Monroeville Courthouse Square. Of course, Monroeville is also the birthplace of another literary giant: Truman Capote. Those who want an interesting reenactment of “To Kill a Mocking Bird” should travel to Monroeville in spring when Lee’s story comes to life in a play that attracts hundreds to the town every year.

Fairhope

The list of underrated towns in Alabama cannot be complete without a mention of Fairhope. Established more than a century ago so inhabitants could have a "fair hope of success," Fairhope is today a gorgeous, little city with quite a number of attractions to take in. The town is famous for its eclectic art galleries, for instance, and exciting art festivals. All these are served in a package that is a dexterous mix of suburban facilities and access to the best of nature. Fairhope has impressive shopping and dining options, as well as a walkable downtown. And for those who may want to take a plunge, a gorgeous beach is an easy stroll away.

Dauphin Island

While it can be OK to roll with the crowds once in a while, some of the best experiences life will offer are often exclusive. These exclusive experiences entail being somewhere all alone, or with a special other, on some private island perhaps, listening to the singing of the ocean waves, the enraptured chirping of tree-hopping birds, or just the melodious noise of pin-drop silence. For those looking for nature at its pristine best, and in a conveniently uncrowded environment, few towns will check the right boxes like Dauphine Island. Aside from the town with its eclectic shops and galleries, visitors can enjoy some of the best sunset views in what has been described as “the Sunset Capital of Alabama.”

Childersburg

While beach lovers may choose Dauphine and book lovers may choose Monroeville, history buffs will find a lot of fascinating facts to savor about Childesburg. With a history that goes back nearly half a millennium, Childesburg has appropriately been proclaimed the Oldest Continually Occupied City in the United States. Of course, St Augustine, Florida will want to protest; it also lays claim to that title. Still, the facts seem to side with Childesburg. But the debate aside, Childesburg has several attractions many of which tell a story about its age. One of these attractions is the Desoto Caverns which is not only one of the earliest recorded cave systems in the US — but also one of the largest continuing accumulations of onyx-marble stalagmites and stalactites on the globe.

The Takeaway

There’s no denying Alabama's rich, if controversial history. What is certain is that Alabama’s history is so closely intertwined with the history of the country that to ignore one is to ignore the other. And while freedom may have rung from Lookout Mountain as Luther once thundered, today, Alabama rings with a number of unique towns some of which will leave visitors completely blown away. From dated towns such as Childersburg to technology hubs such as Huntsville, the Heart of Dixie has beautiful towns that travel the whole gamut.