Seven delightful day trips to add extra sweetness to your Valentine’s fun, with this edition of Can’t Miss Alabama
Consider taking in some new sights together on Valentine's Day.
Whether yours is a new love, one that has stood the test of time or you’re forging a new friendship, this edition of Can’t Miss Alabama provides ideas for creating special memories.
An excursion to one of these seven vistas is a means to thoughtfully express your love and admiration … without breaking the bank. Check out some of Alabama’s gorgeous places to take your belle or beau for Valentine’s Day.
Spend the day at Alabama’s beautiful Cheaha Mountain
Cheaha Mountain, with lovely vistas and spectacular sunsets, makes a perfect weekend destination. A walk or hike along the mountain paths will cement fond Valentine’s Day memories, with High Falls and Cheaha Falls serving as backdrops to the picturesque and romantic setting. Add a delicious picnic lunch and you’re all set. There’s even a nice playground, making the venue fun for the entire family. Cheaha State Park is 12 miles south of Interstate 20, off State Highway 281 in east central Alabama.
Revel in the charm and beauty of Fairhope
Luxuriate in the quaint, small-town ambiance of Fairhope, called the “jewel on the Eastern shore of Mobile” for its lovely parks and sweeping views of the bay. With its own version of the French Quarter, Fairhope‘s many shops, boutiques, cafés and art galleries call one to stop and browse. See Fairhope Municipal Pier, which dates to 1894 and is considered the “town square,” complete with benches, covered areas, walking trails, restrooms, a marina, a restaurant and a duck pond.
Enjoy the Wharf at Orange Beach
Nothing says Valentine’s Day like a moonlit stroll on the beach. To up the ante, you and your sweetheart can enjoy a romantic horse-and-carriage ride at the Wharf. Feb. 12-14, starting at Palms Plaza at the Wharf, take a carriage ride down Main Street. The cost is $10 per person. Afterward, take in the Wharf’s other offerings: shopping, dining, movies, a marina, amphitheater and Ferris wheel.
Relax and enjoy all the amenities of Bridge Street Town Centre in Huntsville
Your sweetheart will bubble over with joy at the idea of a day of leisurely window shopping at the new Bridge Street mall in Huntsville. With lots of eateries, there’s cuisine to please almost everyone’s palate. After shopping, you and your loved one can relax by settling into a leather reclining chair at Monaco Pictures to watch one of the latest romantic comedies. Bridge Street Town Centre is located in Cummings Research Park at the intersection of Old Madison Pike, Interstate 565 and Research Park Boulevard (Alabama State Route 255).
Indulge in romantic city views from Vulcan in Birmingham 
Make Valentine’s Day even more romantic with an evening visit to Vulcan Park. Thousands of twinkling lights, seen from atop Red Mountain, add beauty to spectacular views of Birmingham. Vulcan’s observation tower is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. Evening admission is $4, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Get a hawk’s-eye view at Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve in Birmingham
In the winter, the walking trails at beautiful Ruffner Moutain Nature Preserve provide a peaceful experience – perfect for holding hands – and birding-watching opportunities are excellent. Trails are open daily from dawn to dusk. Ample, secure parking is available at the visitor center and mountainside pavilion area. A donation of $3 per person is appreciated.
See Horse Pens 40 in Steele
One of the South’s best kept secrets, Horse Pens 40 holds adventure for those who love getting back to nature. The 115-acre historic nature park offers great opportunities for hiking, rock climbing and exploring. Take a picnic and enjoy. Camping is $15 a person in winter. The park is open daily from 9 a.m. to sunset.
Have an event you want us to consider for Can’t Miss Alabama? Send us an email at alnewscenter@outlook.com with the details and, if you have one, a photo, logo or other image.
