A Darling Day Trip to Mentone, AL

A piece of Heaven right over the state line

Dear Darling, 

Have you been craving a break from the hustle and bustle? Do you want to go somewhere life moves a little slower, and you can get out in nature? Do you want to go somewhere bear and deer roam the beautiful forests and waterfalls? Then the small town of Mentone, Alabama is perfect. Mentone is 52 minutes from Rome, and the drive is very picturesque. You drive through the towns of Summerville and Menlo, and see miles of lush countryside and mountains. Mentone is nestled in the woods atop the Western brow of Lookout Mountain, and has beautiful views of the valley below. It is a historic town with many antique stores, arts and crafts shops, as well as galleries and restaurants. However, it is most famous for it's state park and waterfall that nature lovers from all over the country drive to see. I live just ten minutes from the town of Mentone, and I spend a good bit of time there. In my opinion, it is a very beautiful, serene place. 

Brunch 

After driving an hour, your stomach has probably begun to growl. The Hatter Cafe is the perfect place to gather with friends and eat some unique southern comfort food. The entire restaurant is Alice in Wonderland themed, and from the antique, mismatched chairs you're sitting in, to the details on the tables and hanging from the ceilings, it feels as though you have stepped into a magical storybook. The decorations are breathtaking. I recommend getting their creamy avocado egg toast, but it is also very popular for visitors to go for tea and finger foods. This place is as out of the box as it gets. The cafe also doubles as a bed and breakfast, with each of their rooms continuing the Alice in Wonderland theme, and is a great place to stay for an overnight trip to Mentone. Reservations are encouraged during popular hours of the day. 

Desoto State Parks and Falls 

You simply cannot come to Mentone without checking out Desoto State Park. There are hundreds of miles of trails to go for a hike, with their welcome center being more than prepared to point you in the right direction. This summer, some friends and I went for a hike through the park and to the bottom of the 104 foot Desoto Falls, which this picture does not begin to do justice. You are free to swim in the huge body of water under the waterfall, as well as check out the man-made sandy beach up at the top. If you don't want to swim - don't worry! This waterfall is beautiful year round, especially when it gets all icy during the winter months, or when the leaves begin to turn vibrant hues during the fall. If you are feeling even more outdoorsy, you can drive 30 minutes to Little River Canyon, which has a scenic drive and places to look out at those waterfalls as well. The possibilities for getting in the great outdoors are numerous. 

The best way to spend your afternoon 

Next, I would recommend driving to the main part of town, where everything is close together. You can park and get out and walk from place to place. You should stop by Mentone Market and Grocery, a gas station that has been renovated, and has fresh pizzas, sandwiches, and more. It is a really great place to grab a snack and a drink, and they have the cutest Mentone souvenirs. Then, you should walk to see the Mentone art gallery, as well as the Log Cabin Village Shops, where ten unique stores are clustered into one cohesive village perfect for exploring. Here, you will find a large selection of antiques, decorations, pottery, gourmet coffee and foods, and much more. The shops include: Artistic Creations, AJ’s Trading Post, Happy Art, Cherokee Legends, Village Ice Cream Shoppe, Fancy Me Fashions, Other World’s Gifts, Kudzu Korner, and Southern Style Log Furniture Creation. Everywhere you go in Mentone, you will see how artsy the people are, as there are artisan goods for sale in just about every shop. Right across the street from The Log Cabin Village Shops, there is Tip Top Bake Shop, where you can bring some banana bread back for that drive home. 

Dinner 

After shopping around, you are right at the Windflower Cafe, an eclectic restaurant with high quality food. At dinner, reservations are preferred, as it is very popular with locals and tourists. Self described as "hippie chic" the restaurant has received awards like "Best Cafe in Alabama" in 2015 and "Best Restaurant in Dekalb County" in 2017. They sell locally made jewelry, pottery, clothing, art works, candles, body products, and more. It is fresh, incredibly local, and a little kooky, with live music taking place every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night. They are famous for their tomato pie, but I recommend trying their loaded shrimp grits or the smothered chicken. They also have a killer dessert menu. It is a great place to get a full belly while listening to some local music, and getting off your feet for the first time on your busy Saturday. 

More Ideas

While the schedule above would make for a great Saturday atop Lookout Mountain, the possibilities do not end there. In the winter months, you can go skiing at Cloudmont Ski and Golf Resort. There are multiple farms where you can go horse riding! At Desota Falls, you can go kayaking or canoeing or even jet skiing down the river. It is incredibly popular to go camping in Mentone to do all that is listed, and the town has a large number of rental cabins built just for this purpose. Many locals like to say that it is the perfect mountain town to spend a day, or a lifetime. Happy traveling, darling!

Sincerely, 

Abby Grace Shrader