Foley, Alabama: A Charming Town Near the Gulf Coast
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
Foley, a small town in Alabama, is located just a half hour away from the white sand beaches of Gulf Shores. Despite the proximity to a popular beach vacation, this tiny town keeps true to its’ southern roots. Mike and I recently stopped by for a few nights on a lengthy road trip from Tampa to northern Arizona.
We love checking out small towns which have not been completely overrun by chains yet; it’s like taking a step back in time. Pretty soon every town will likely look the same, so we like to explore as much as we can. What stood out to us was the charming downtown, beautiful parks and winding country roads, and great Southern hospitality. Southern charm is alive and well and we experienced nothing but great service all over.
If you find yourself planning a trip to the Gulf Coast, this is the perfect little town to base your vacation. It’s close enough to the beaches to enjoy a few hours of fun-in-the-sun, yet far enough away to enjoy the quiet when you tire of crowds. Hotel rates are affordable, plenty of local restaurants and shops can be enjoyed, and the scenery is beautiful.
We didn’t have too much time, but we did a little bit of exploring. We enjoyed the pretty beaches some quirky roadside attractions, and a beautiful bike path.
The beaches of Gulf Shores
Gulf Shores is a lively touristy beach area located on Alabama’s beautiful Gulf Coast. The wide sandy beaches offer plenty of room to spread out. The quartz sand is very soft to the touch. I am used to the white quartz sand beaches of Florida’s Gulf coast, so this was nothing new to me.
The water is clear and perfect for swimming. Gulf Shores is just a half hour drive from Foley, so an easy daytrip for any tourist seeking a laid-back day of sunbathing and swimming. We enjoyed a beautiful sunset, but would love to come back to explore some more.
Other activities in Gulf Shores include: dolphin and sunset cruises, the Gulf Coast Zoo, zip lining, mini golf, water activities such as para-sailing and paddle-boarding, seafood waterfront restaurants, and much more! I would love to return and enjoy some parasailing (I’ve always wanted to try this!) or a dolphin cruise. You can learn more about the Gulf Shore beach options as well as things to do and dining options.
Stonehenge Replica (Bamahenge)
We love checking out oddball roadside attractions wherever we travel. We have a big list accumulated of some of the sites we have seen so far. Just outside of town lies a really cool Fiberglass Stonehenge replica (known as Bamahenge). This work of art was sculpted by artist Mark Cline who is known for his roadside attractions. The artistic creation is hidden away in the forest and a bit hard to get to, although worth a quick visit if you are staying or traveling in the vicinity.
At 21 feet tall and 104 feet wide, this full size replica mimics the actual structure found in Wiltshire, England. This unique attraction is located about 8 miles from the city near the entrance to Barber Marina. You will need to park on the roadside and walk about 200 yards into the woods. As you are driving, you will notice a few cool Dinosaur sculptures by the same artist. Look closely until you see the Stonehenge sculptures popping out from the pines.
Update: If you are into the supernatural or New Age, you will notice an orange orb in my second photo. Some skeptics think this orb is from the lens being dirty, while others think it signifies spiritual presence.
I always thought it had something to do with the camera lens being dirty until I noticed a similar orange orb showing up only in photos of places with high spiritual presence i.e. Sedona. Orange is said to represent forgiveness or a spirit guide presence. I have seen this orange orb pop up in numerous Sedona and Tucson photos.
Look in the woods are you are driving. There are some really cool artistic dinosaur attractions. A bit odd, but a nice roadside attraction to add to our ever growing “seen that” list. I actually love exploring these quirky attractions. A lot of towns today all look the same with the same McDonalds, Walmart, and Chilis, so it is always interesting to see something different than the normal.
Local dining
We took a walk around the historic downtown which is home to a number of local restaurants, unique shops, and attractions. Foley Coffee House is a popular local choice for breakfast and lunch. We came across the cutest little tea shop called the Copper Kettle Tea bar. As a big tea drinker, we decided to check it out.
This charming tea house offers a beautiful setting for enjoying an afternoon cup of coffee or tea. The owners are extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the different flavors and health benefits of tea. At Copper Kettle, Southern hospitality is alive and well – this is the friendliest service we have encountered in a long time. We loved that the staff talked to us about the different varieties and even gave us a few recommendations on area activities.
I love the quirky decor and all the weird knick knacks around. It appears that the owners are really passionate about tea and put a lot of effort into the design. As you wait for your delicious loose leaf tea to be brewed, you can enjoy all the unique teapots and accessories on the walls.
If you prefer to sit outside and enjoy the Southern sunshine, there is plenty of cozy seating available. This is such a lovely seating area. I love the big trees and the relaxed ambiance.
On the menu, you will find dozens of varieties of black, green, white, and herbal loose leaf tea blends. The White Peony and Rooibos Chai we tested are both delicious! I also loved the presentation in colorful teapots. We enjoyed the shop so much, that we decided to visit again before leaving.
Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail
Per the recommendation of the staff at Copper Kettle, we checked out this beautiful paved trail which runs through Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Gulf State Park. The trail is about 15 miles long, so you can plan an easy ride for just a few miles or a longer exercise excursion depending on your current fitness level and available time. We decided to bike about 6 miles so we didn’t wear ourselves out too much for our long drive.
The trail is tree-lined and mostly shady, allowing you to get in a few miles even on hot, sunny days. Along the way, you will pass many beautiful natural landscapes such as marshes and swamps. You may even see an alligator if you plan your ride at the right time. We didn’t see any, but we got our fill of gator sightings while living in Florida. Check out the park website to plan your route.
Scenic drives
Smalltown Alabama is a great place to get back to nature with a leisurely drive through the countryside. There are many charming back roads to enjoy the lush green scenery. Hwy 98 leading to Bamahenge is also very scenic with peaceful views of the forests and virtually no traffic.
