Small town Alabama: Wetumpka
When it comes to Alabama small towns that you need to visit at least once, the picturesque city of Wetumpka should be at the top of your list.
With its scenic location on the Coosa River, Wetumpka offers a diverse lineup of ways visitors can enjoy their stay. Whether you want to spend a day surrounded by nature, leisurely shopping or exploring history, Wetumpka has you covered.
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Not to mention, you likely won’t be the only one planning a visit. While it might be a hidden gem now, Wetumpka is set for a major boost in tourism thanks to its starring role in HGTV‘s “Home Town Takeover,” which premiered May 2 and has managed to make the quaint town even more charming.
There are so many reasons to plan a day trip or weekend to Wetumpka, but we’ve narrowed it down to the following three.
Wetumpka is full of natural beauty and ways to enjoy it
Wetumpka is known as The City of Natural Beauty, and there’s a good reason for that. It sits on both sides of the gorgeous Coosa River, creating plenty of opportunities for visitors to spend the perfect day outside.
If you enjoy hiking, biking or trail running, Swayback Bridge Trail is a great way to immerse yourself in the nature that surrounds Wetumpka. Swayback offers several trail options — ranging from a 1-mile loop to a 7-mile route — that take you through gorgeous forest scenery alongside Lake Jordan.
For those wanting a more casual experience in a scenic setting, Wetumpka’s Gold Star Park and Corn Creek Park offer water access, picnic spots and more. Gold Star Park is in Wetumpka’s downtown and includes a playground, a paved walking trail along the riverbank and more. Corn Creek Park is more secluded, and feels like it’s surrounded by nothing but nature.
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There are also plenty of kayaking opportunities in Wetumpka. If you have a kayak of your own, you can put it in the water at both parks listed above. If not, Coosa River Adventures offers rentals and transportation to a drop-off point so you can spend a day paddling at your own speed.
Wetumpka’s downtown area is all kinds of charming
When it comes to downtowns that are quaint and charming, Wetumpka certainly has that going for it, especially since it recently received a renovation as part of HGTV’s “Home Town Takeover.”
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Wetumpka’s downtown is positioned alongside the Coosa River. Visitors can stroll along its Riverwalk, which features art installations and picturesque views, between shopping at the many local businesses that fill its storefronts.
Among them are popular local restaurants, like Grumpy Dog, Our Place Café, Copper House Deli and Coaches Corner, which offers lovely views of the Coosa River. There are plenty of shops, like The Tapp18 and Sweet Home Books, as well as B&B’s Health Boutique and the Coosa River Craft House.
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Several of these businesses received a makeover by Erin and Ben Napier, of HGTV’s “Home Town,” for their new series. The couple renovated and created unique community spaces visitors can enjoy, like an alleyway mural and a farmers market.
Wetumpka has rich history to explore
For anyone interested in Alabama history, Wetumpka has several must-see stops, like Fort Toulouse in Jackson Park and the Wetumpka Impact Crater.
Jackson Park offers visitors the chance to step back in time and experience history through its recreations of 1751 Fort Toulouse and Creek Indian houses as well as a partially restored 1814 American Fort Jackson and a 1,000-year-old Indian Mound.
You can spend a day wandering through the forts and Indian Village or camp overnight and take a walk down the Bartram Nature Trail to do some birdwatching. This year, the park hopes to bring back its monthly living history reenactments.
Once you’re finished at Jackson Park, Wetumpka offers a self-guided driving tour so visitors can see and learn more about the impact crater left behind by an asteroid or comet that collided with the Earth around 83 million years ago. The city hosts special lectures and public tours throughout the year, if you’d like to get an even closer look.
Alabama NewsCenter and Red Clay Media are highlighting Alabama small towns in a continuing series.