Places to Eat...Things to Do...in and around the area
Places to eat...
Mentone, AL
Mountain Market & Deli (formerly Helena's): Burgers, BBQ, pizza, daily specials and more! Located inside the gas station beside Town Hall, in downtown Mentone. Facebook
The Hatter Café: “The secret, Alice, is to surround yourself with people who make you smile. It is then, and only then, that you’ll find Wonderland.” The Hatter Café is a place where people can come together for comforting food! Open for breakfast and lunch and Friday/Saturday for dinner. Delightfully decorated with wonderful food, great tea and coffee.
4277 AL HWY 117, Mentone • (256) 634-2018 • thehattercafe.com
Wildflower Café: Wildflower is not just a cafe it is an experience. The ambiance, service and food is as unique as the beautiful mountain it sits upon. Hours may change with the season or holiday. Reservations are highly recommended for dinner on weekends.
6007 AL HWY 117, Mentone • (256) 634-0066 • www.mentonewildflower.com
Fontastic Foods: Unique food trailer serving specialty pizza, gourmet sandwiches and burgers with a wide variety of vegan options. Take out or dine under the covered outdoor pavilion. 6139 AL HWY 117, Mentone • (256) 634-2079 • www.facebook.com/fontasticfo
Seabolt’s: Street Tacos served out of a restored vintage Airstream! Fun atmosphere right next to Moon Lake Trading Co. 5172 AL HWY 117, Mentone • (256) 465-1807 • www.facebook.com/Seaboltstacos
Elevation Bistro: Intimate & inviting atmosphere offering menus of locally and regionally sourced ingredients.
(256) 634-3001 • www.facebook.com/elevationmentone
Mentone Market: Offering pizza, short order lunch, and unique gifts.
5872 AL HWY 117, Mentone • (256) 634-4686 • www.facebook.com/mentonemarket
Mountain Inn Restaurant (at DeSoto State Park): This unique restaurant is located in the original sandstone Lodge built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the mid 1930's and is nestled on a canyon-edge overlooking the West Fork of Little River. The restaurant is open year-around. Open for dinner on Friday and all day on Saturdays and Sundays.
(256)-845-5380 • Visit them on Facebook
Joey’s Hotdogs & Ice Cream: Located in the center of Mentone and directly across from Mentone Realty. Nathans hotdogs, scoop ice cream & the best banana splits! Open on weekends only, seasonally.
Fort Payne, AL (and surrounding areas)
The Spot: Serving Fair Trade Organic Coffee, frozen blended drinks, hot/cold sandwiches, Panini sandwiches, pastries and desserts, free WIFI. Located downtown Fort Payne on the corner of Gault and 1st Ave.
(256) 979-1287 • www.facebook.com/TheSpotCoffeeShop
The Bakehouse Downtown: Serving breakfast and lunch on 1st Street in downtown Fort Payne.
(256) 979-1481 • www.facebook.com/tbhdowntown
Little River Burgers and Brews: Located in downtown Fort Payne. Laid back atmosphere offering good food, drinks, karaoke and live music.
203 Gault Ave South, Fort Payne • Visit them on Facebook
Vintage 1889: Eclectic casual dining in historic W.B. Davis Hosiery mill, built in 1889 (The Big Mill). Enjoy unique outdoor patio/historic courtyard or indoor dining. Burgers, sandwiches, local craft beers. Located on 8th Street North, Fort Payne.
(256) 845-3380 • www.facebook.com/vintage1889
Mi Casita: A combination of the best Comida Tex-Mex and a selection of their favorite authentic and traditional dishes from their hometown. Family owned, in business for over 20 yrs.
3802 Gault Ave North, Fort Payne • (256) 845-2999
Taco’s Town (Food Truck): Variety of authentic Mexican food, snacks and desserts. Located across from the ALABAMA Walking Park on 5th Street North, Fort Payne.
(256) 516-0367 • Visit them on Facebook
The Bar-B-Que Place: Smoked pork and beef, fried chicken fingers and Jo-Jo's, (hand cut potato fries), handmade coleslaw, BBQ sauce, and chicken sauce. Their Jo-Jo’s are on the list of 100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama! Dine-in, carry out and catering. Check their hours before you go!
1502 Gault Ave South, Fort Payne • (256) 845-6155 • www.facebook.com/barbqplace
Lookout Mountain Creamery & Desserts: Desserts and Craft Ice Cream... Cakes, Cookies, Pies, Ice Cream and Ice Cream Sandwiches. Always Fresh, Always Made in House.
2612 Gault Ave North, Fort Payne • www.facebook.com/LookoutMountainCreamery
Lickin' Good Donuts: Delicious donuts made fresh every day as well as savory Kolaches and homemade breakfast burritos. Mon-Sat 5am-7pm
508 Suite A, Glenn Blvd, Fort Payne • Visit them on Facebook
Mater's Pizza and Pasta Emporium: A family favorite, pizza and pasta restaurant. They have two stages for live music performances, a spacious patio area, a full bar with a wide selection of liquor, beer, and wine. They even have a convenient pick-up window for online pickup orders.
107 Gault Ave N, Fort Payne • (256) 979-1012 • www.facebook.com/matersfortpayne
Wiess Lake Area:
Decks & Docks: Sandwiches, seafood, salads, burgers, wings and more. Family friendly dining, located just off of the Leesburg bridge.
165 Chambers Street, Leesburg • Visit them on Facebook
Jake's on the Lake: BBQ, Brews, and Views! Great food, family friendly restaurant with outdoor seating. Open seasonally from Memorial Day-Labor Day.
4293 County Road 63, Centre • (256) 333-3065 • www.facebook.com/jakesonthelake1
Things to do...
Mentone, AL
Moon Lake Library: From Scrabble to ukuleles, there's lots of fun going on at the library. Check out their calendar of events here: Events - MOON LAKE LIBRARY
The Shops at Moon Lake Village: Multiple artisan shops and businesses in what was formally the historic Moon Lake School. The Shops at MLV
DeSoto State Park: DSP offers lots of activities & events throughout the year as well as zip lines, hiking, biking, swimming pool (seasonal) playground, picnic areas, yoga, and also a country store. Visit their website for all info including trail maps, event calendars and info on camp gear rental. www.alapark.com/parks/desoto-state-park
SG Horse Ranch: Offering daily trail rides, weather permitting. Call ahead to make your reservation and check pricing. (256)-634-4027 • www.facebook.com/sghorseranch
Little Mole Run Golf Course: Peaceful, quite and relaxing. 18 hole, PAR 71 course. All gas carts, clubhouse, picnic pavilion. (256)-634-2104 • Visit their website
True Adventure Sports: A full scale outfitter offering: Adventures for you, your family, or your group. They do it all! (256) 997-9577 • www.facebook.com/TrueAdventureSports
CCC Museum: People of all ages can enjoy a truly unique experience by taking a step back in time to learn about this Depression-era program that developed DeSoto State Park and other parks all over the U.S.A. Admission is free, with donations accepted. Saturdays-12:00-4:00 March-November (256) 845-0051
Sallie Howard Chapel: Sallie Howard Memorial Chapel rests on top of Lookout Mountain in Mentone. It was built by Colonel Milford Howard as a memorial to his first wife. He’d secretly hoped to reproduce a church he and Sallie had visited on their trip to Europe and one of his last accomplishments was raising enough money and materials to build this memorial. Guests are encouraged to “come as you are”.
Discover Lookout Mountain Calendar of Events: Check out this online calendar for events happening in the area. visitlookoutmountain.com/event-calendar
Mentone Farmer’s Market: Every Saturday from 10am-1pm, in front of the Mentone Inn (the flashing light at the top of HWY 117). Fresh veggies, bread, eggs and meats.
Barnyard Antiques: Beautiful antiques and home decor. You never know what you will find!
4616 DeSoto Parkway, Fort Payne • (256) 635-8388 • Visit them on Facebook
Surrounding Areas
Third Saturday Sunset Cruise-In: Downtown is blocked off and features over 200+ classic cars and trucks on display, live music and food vendors. Downtown Fort Payne on Gault Ave, between 1st Street, and 5th Street. April-October.
The Alabama Fan Club & Museum: Visit the newly remodeled, state of the art museum, featuring over 50 years of music memorabilia. From the early days in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to the Country Music Hall of Fame, people of all ages enjoy this experience the story of ALABAMA's history. The museum includes many personal items, videos, pictures, awards and gifts from other artists, never before seen in public until now.
101 Glenn Boulevard SW, Fort Payne • (256)-845-1646
Boom Town Maker’s Market: Curated collection of beautifully crafted LOCAL jewelry, gourmet food, pottery, hand blown glass, sculpture, furniture, and clothing. Open Wednesday - Saturday, 10 am - 5 pm (CST).
324 Gault Avenue, Fort Payne • (256) 273-6929 • www.boomtownmakersmarket.org
Alice Circle: This adorable art bar offers unique gifts, art workshops, coffee/drinks, and snacks.
114 1st Street West, Fort Payne • (256) 979-1175 • www.facebook.com/AliceCircle
Myrtle Jane’s: Small town Vintage & Antique Marketplace featuring over 40 booths full of unique vintage and home decor items in an environment similar to your home.
1030 Grand Ave SW, Fort Payne • (256) 845-4830 • www.facebook.com/myrtlejanesantiques
Tigers for Tomorrow at Untamed Mountain: Non-profit 501-c-3 Wild Animal Preserve and Environmental Educational Center, home to over 160 animals including tigers, mountain lions, African lions, bears, wolves, black leopards and so many more wonderful animals. "As a last stop preserve, the animals that come to live with us remain here for the rest of their lives." Open to the public as a premier wild animal park and preserve, and family recreational destination, providing environmental educational programming to the community and tourists of North Alabama. Less than a 30 min drive from downtown Fort Payne, and well worth the drive!
708 County Road 345, Attalla • (256) 524 4150 • www.facebook.com/tftatuntamedmountain
Orbix Hot Glass: Blow your own glass ornament. Classes held regularly, call for class times and prices. Really cool place and a gorgeous drive there too!
3869 County Road 275, Fort Payne • (256) 523-3188 • www.facebook.com/orbixhotglass
Little River Canyon National Preserve: Forested uplands, waterfalls, canyon rims and bluffs, pools, boulders, and sandstone cliffs offer settings for a variety of recreational activities. Natural resources and cultural heritage come together to tell the story of the Preserve, a special place in the Southern Appalachians. You can view the falls from either the pedestrian walkway on the GE Hill Bridge or by walking down a board walk with minimal stairs. Great parking and picnic tables, too.
4322 Little River Trail NE, Fort Payne
Little Falls (formerly known as Martha's Falls): This mini-waterfall, formed by water cascading over a sandstone ledge the width of the river, is a favorite swimming spot in the summer. Access to Little Falls can be had from the paved Little River Falls parking lot on Highway 35. The Little Falls Trail is a .75 mile hike which leads to 137 stone stairs down into the canyon to the river.
Little River Canyon Center: A state-of-the-art education facility with free HD theater, info, gift shop, and trails. Please call ahead for hours and/or appointment: (256) 845-3548
Little River Canyon Rim Parkway (Scenic Drive): 23 miles, 8 overlooks, 4 trails, 1 unique rock formation, and a thousand memories ready to be made! Connecting Little River Falls and Canyon Mouth Park, the Little River Canyon Rim Parkway grants visitors the opportunity to take in the beauty of the canyon from the west rim, and the challenge of hiking down into the canyon to the river below. Travel time from the Little River Canyon Center to Canyon Mouth Park along the Little River Canyon Rim Parkway takes approximately 45 minutes (without stopping at overlooks) - the 11 miles from Eberhart Point to Canyon Mouth Park is steep and windy in areas and impassable to trailers and RVs.
Graces High Falls (seasonal waterfall): At 133' high, Graces High Falls is the tallest waterfall in Alabama. This waterfall is dependent on rainfall and does not flow year-round. Graces High Falls Overlook features a viewing platform on Little River Canyon Rim Parkway.
Blue Hole: A wonderful swimming hole located on AL Highway 35 just 1/4 mile east of Little River Falls. This spot is perfect for families with young children or new swimmers, featuring calm, easy flowing waters and is close to the parking lot. A small parking lot limits crowding at this location. Future improvements will include picnic benches and fixed-in-place charcoal grills for visitor use.* On late spring and summer weekends, the Blue Hole parking lot often is full by 11:00 AM (CST) and park staff will close the lot until spaces become available. Have a back-up plan in case this area is inaccessible due to a full parking lot.*
Wildlife Management Area: The backcountry of Little River Canyon National Preserve is a landscape of rolling hills and dense woodlands, where Little River runs calm and wildlife abounds. The 23 miles of road in the Wildlife Management Area are open to 4 wheel drive vehicles, horseback riders, bicyclist, and hikers, and is popular for kayaks and canoes during the wetter months. The backcountry is accessible by a series of numbered roads off Cherokee County Road 103, DeKalb County Road 295, Oakhill Road, and Dunn Road. 4 wheel drive vehicles are required to traverse many of the backcountry roads in the Wildlife Management Area.* Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs) such as ATVs, UTVs, and non-street legal dirt bikes are NOT allowed on any road at Little River Canyon National Preserve.
Discover Lookout Mountain Calendar of Events: Check out this online calendar for events happening in the area. visitlookoutmountain.com/event-calendar
Hiking in Little River Canyon: Little River Canyon features over 26 miles of trail, from serene river-side hikes to steep, strenuous trails leading down the canyon to the river below. Jacksonville State University also offers the Path To Learning Trail, a gentle stroll through the woods behind the Canyon Center. Stop by the information desk at the Little River Canyon Center for suggestions for your hike.
Cherokee Rock Village: From rock climbing to bird watching. There's something for everybody! www.cherokeerockvillage.com
Pirate's Bay Waterpark: Splish, splash, slip, slide-at Pirates Bay Waterpark, a sprawling aquatic playground located on a hilltop overlooking Weiss Lake. There’s fun for everyone with tube slides, body slides, multiple pools, waterfalls, splash playground, food, drinks, parties, and so much more! Plus, you can stay at nearby Chesnut Bay Resort or Great Escapes RV Resort Chesnut Bay and enjoy Pirates Bay Waterpark longer!