The Wiregrass Region spans the southeastern part of Alabama, Georgia, and the panhandle of Florida. Named for the wiry, tall grass that is native to the region, this is a quiet area that one might not think to plan a vacation to. However, once you read this article of all the things there are to do in Dothan, Alabama, you might rethink visiting. Dothan is the heart of the Wiregrass and is a small city rich in culture and history. There are multiple museums that preserve the history of the area and parks that protect the region’s natural beauty. It is most famous for being the Peanut Capital of the World and even hosts a peanut festival there every year. Plan your trip now and book a stay at the best Airbnb vacation rentals in town. Whether you’ve never heard of the city or you’re simply looking for new activities in the area, check out our list of all the fun things to do in Dothan, Alabama.
1. Embrace the challenge at Dothan Survival Games
Don’t know what to do in Dothan? If you’ve ever wanted to try paintball, then this is your chance! Just east of Dothan city center, you’ll find Dothan Survival Games. Visitors appreciate the friendly staff, the cleanliness of the equipment, and the well-kept fields and courses where your survival skills will be put to the test. You will have to demonstrate a great shooting aim, a team-player attitude, and a strategic approach to the “battlefield.” Take your family and friends with you for a fun, adrenaline-fuelled day out.
Dothan Survival Games
Address: 386 Cowarts Rd, Dothan, AL 36303, United States
Website: Dothan Survival Games
Opening hours: Tue - Wed: 1pm - 5pm; Thu - Sat: 10am - 5pm; Sun: 1pm - 5pm (closed on Mon)
2. Learn to grow your own veggies at Aunt Katie's Community Garden
Situated in the heart of Dothan, this city garden has been serving fresh fruit and vegetables to the local population since 2010. Aunt Katie’s Community Garden provides an educational space where locals can learn more about gardening, self-sufficiency, and nutrition while catering to the needs of the underprivileged and most vulnerable within the community.
Aunt Katies Community Garden
Address: 602 Linden Street, Dothan, Alabama 36303
Website: Aunt Katies Community Garden
Opening hours: Tue - Fri: 9am - 4pm; Sat: 9am - 12pm (closed on Sun)
3. Appreciate the blooms at Dothan Area Botanical Gardens
Have a relaxing day out in nature by visiting the Dothan Area Botanical Gardens. It consists of cultivated gardens where you can see gorgeous flowers and plants, nature trails where you can take a peaceful walk, and undeveloped wooded areas that preserve local plants. You can also follow the birding trails to catch sight of native feathered friends. Whether you are a seasoned birder or a novice, keep your eyes peeled for varieties that frequently visit the gardens, like the Carolina Chickadee, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Eastern Screech Owl, and many others. The inexpensive admission to the gardens and designated picnic area make this a great choice for a low-key, affordable outing.
Dothan Area Botanical Gardens
Address: 5130 Headland Ave, Dothan, AL 36303
Website: Dothan Area Botanical Gardens
Opening hours: 7am - 5pm (daily)
Price: 5 USD
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4. Browse through the largest collection of helicopters at the U.S. Army Aviation Museum
Army aviation in the United States dates all the way back to the Civil War. This museum has the most comprehensive exhibits about the history of army aviation. You can see 50 aircraft on display, but there are over 160 airplanes, helicopters, and other aircraft in the collection, and that doesn’t even count the 3,000 artifacts detailing the history of army aviation in the museum! If you’re looking for things to do near Dothan, check out this museum!
U.S. Army Aviation Museum
Address: 6000 Novosel St, Fort Rucker, AL 36362
Website: U.S. Army Aviation Museum
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 9am - 4pm (closed on Sun)
Price: Free
5. Soak in some culture at Dothan Opera House
Enjoy a night out at a theatrical or musical performance at the Dothan Opera House! This institution is not only rich in culture, but it’s also a spot of historical significance that has been a part of Dothan since 1915. The interior has a beautiful Victorian design and surprises like a historic elevator. It also has such good acoustics that the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra has recorded performances there.
Dothan Opera House
Address: 115 N St Andrews St, Dothan, AL 36303
Website: Dothan Opera House
Price: Tickets start at 19 USD
6. Have a fun time at Adventureland Theme Park
The whole family will have a blast at Adventureland Theme Park! Whatever fun or games you want, they have it: mini-golf, batting cages, arcade games, bumper boats, and more. After hours of playing in the sun, you can recharge at the snack bar, which serves cold drinks, nachos, sandwiches, and Dippin Dots ice cream.
Adventureland Theme Park
Address: 3738 W Main St, Dothan, AL 36305
Website: Adventureland Theme Park
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 10am - 9:30pm; Fri - Sat: 10am - 11:30pm; Sun: 12pm - 9:30pm
Price: From 17 USD
7. Learn local history at The George Washington Carver Interpretive Museum
This museum is the cultural and historical heart of Dothan. Named for George Washington Carver, an African American agricultural scientist and inventor, the museum celebrates his life and achievements. However, the museum is also dedicated to highlighting the contributions of other African American inventors, scientists, and explorers. The Social Progress Heroes Timeline walks visitors through American history to learn about the immeasurable impact that African Americans have had on this country. You will come away with a greater understanding and appreciation of the work these people did to design and shape the USA.
George Washington Carver Interpretive Museum
Address: 305 N Foster St, Dothan, AL 36303
Website: George Washington Carver Interpretive Museum
Opening hours: Wed - Sat: 10am - 4pm (closed from Sun - Tue)
Price: Free
8. Enjoy a bowling game at Dothan Lanes
Nothing brings a group together like bowling! It sure one of the best things to do in Dothan at night. The best place to knock down some pins is at Dothan Lanes. The bowling alley has 24 lanes all with automatic scoring, so you can concentrate on lining up your next shot instead of tallying your points. They have tons of specials nearly every day of the week so you don’t have to wait for a specific day to get a discount. If you’re looking for a family deal, Sunday is your best bet: up to six family members can bowl for two hours for just 27 USD, including shoe rentals. There is also an arcade, pool tables, and food!
Dothan Lanes
Address: 5727 Montgomery Hwy, Dothan, AL 36303
Website: Dothan Lanes
Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 2pm - 9pm; Fri: 2pm - 12am; Sat: 10am - 12am
Price: 5 USD
9. Attend the National Peanut Festival
Dothan is nicknamed the “Peanut Capital of the World”–it is the prime location for growing peanuts and all peanuts in the US are grown in a 100 mile (160 km) radius of the city. They even host the National Peanut Festival every year! The festival is a great place to learn about growing peanuts as well as other local agriculture. It’s not just about farming, though: you can also catch a musical performance, visit the petting zoo, watch a chainsaw artist at work, and dozens of other activities. The festival site is also home to a monument to Dr. George Washington Carver, who is famous for discovering more than 300 uses for the peanut and reinvigorating agriculture after cotton production declined. If you’re a peanut fan, take your picture with the 6 foot (1.8 meters) tall statue.
National Peanut Festival
Address: 5622 US-231, Dothan, AL 36301, USA
Website: National Peanut Festival
Dates: November each year
Price: Free
10. Buy local produce at Poplar Head Farmers Market
If you’re visiting Dothan during June or July, be sure to hit up the Poplar Head Farmers Market. The market features the freshest in summertime produce and you can bring home tomatoes, watermelon, okra, and lots of other fruits and veggies. Local artisans also set up stands at the farmers market, selling handmade goods like goat milk soap, ceramics, and jars of homemade jam. With lots of local flavors and live music, the Poplar Head Farmers Market is a fun atmosphere whether or not you need to stock up on produce.
Poplar Head Farmers Market
Address: 126 Museum Ave, Dothan, AL 36303
Website: Poplar Head Farmers Market
Opening hours: Sat - Sun: 8am - 12pm
Price: Free
11. Catch an outdoor movie at Continental Drive-In
There are few summertime activities that compare to a classic drive-in movie. Catch some cinema under the stars at the Continental Drive-In. The theater has several screens, each of which shows a double feature that is of the same genre–so kids, adults, and everyone can see something they enjoy. You can also grab snacks and drinks from the full concession stand.
Continental Drive-In
Address: 14200 US-84, Newton, AL 36352
Website: Continental Drive-In
Opening hours: Depends on showtimes
Price: 8 USD
12. Delve into the history of Wiregrass Museum of Art
The Wiregrass Museum of Art is an educational but fun place to learn about the history and culture of the area. Located in the century-old Water and Electric building, the museum features, primarily, artworks on paper. You will see a lot of art by Alabama artists like Dale Kennington and Beverly Erdreich, and the museum has the largest collection of Frank Stella pieces in the state. Rotating exhibits feature artists and cultural artifacts of the past as well as contemporary creators. This isn’t a stuffy artist that kids will be bored by. The Wiregrass Museum of Art offers child-friendly activities like art workshops on the first Saturday of every month. They also display artwork by local students, that rotates each month. The Wiregrass Museum also hosts Art After Hours, when the museum stays open late and offers drinks and snacks, Art of Yoga, where you can practice in the galleries, and Screen on the Green, a series of outdoor movie showings in the museum’s garden.
Wiregrass Museum of Art
Address: 126 Museum Ave, Dothan, AL 36303
Website: Wiregrass Museum of Art
Opening hours: Wed - Fri: 10am - 5pm; Sat: 10am - 3pm (closed from Sun - Tue)
Price: Free
13. Savor fresh catch at Hunt's Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar
Dothan is so close to the Gulf of Mexico that trying fresh seafood is a must. Head to Hunt’s Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar for the best steak, seafood, and oysters in town. Hunt’s has been an institution in Dothan for over 30 years and attracts everyone from average residents to local politicians and sports coaches.
Hunt's Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar
Address: 177 Campbellton Hwy, Dothan, AL 36301
Website: Hunt’s Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 11am - 9:30pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 10pm (closed on Sun)
14. Offer prayers at Cherry Street AME Church
Looking at the impressive towering structure of Cherry Street AME Church today, you would never guess its humble beginnings were as a wooden structure in the 1800s. Its current status as a historic landmark is thanks to the efforts of its second reverend, Rev. Hightower. In 1903, his African American congregation raised USD 8000 to buy bricks to build the new church, and they were denied by a racist brickyard owner. The congregation came together to liberate extra bricks from work sites and abandoned buildings and constructed today’s church from those efforts. It still stands proud and is now the Mother Church of the A.M.E. Denomination in Alabama.
Cherry Street AME Church
Address: 1900 Stringer St, Dothan, AL 36303, USA
Website: Cherry Street AME Church
Opening hours: Dependent on church service times
Price: Free
15. Enjoy a picnic at Landmark Park
Travel back in time at Dothan’s Landmark Park. This sprawling park preserves both the natural and cultural heritage of the Wiregrass region. It has an 1890’s living farm, where you can go inside historic buildings like a farmhouse, smokehouse, and sugar cane mill. No farm would be complete without animals, and you can see cows, sheep, chickens, and more! Aside from the farm, there are also an old schoolhouse, country store, and a drugstore with a soda fountain, so you can experience how people lived their everyday lives in the late 19th century. Landmark Park is more than the historic farm–experience the park’s natural beauty by walking the boardwalk trail through the woods where you will see local plants and maybe even wildlife.
Landmark Park
Address: 430 Landmark Dr, Dothan, AL 36302
Website: Landmark Park
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 9am - 5pm; Sun: 12pm - 5pm
Price: 4 USD
16. Play a round of golf at Dothan National Club
Dothan has a lot of historical sights, but if you’re a golfer, you can experience another place of significance by playing a round at the Dothan National Club! This 18-hole golf course was built in 1968 and designed by Robert Simmons, a well-known golf architect. Since then, it has hosted the SEC Collegiate Golf Championship, Nike Tour, and multiple Emerald Coast Golf Tour events. The Dothan National Club is also part of a beautiful hotel which features a natural hot spring where you can relax and rejuvenate after a day on the course.
Dothan National Club
Address: 7410 US Hwy 231 S Dothan, Al
Website: Dothan National Club
Opening hours: 7am - 5pm (daily)
Price: 25 USD
17. Tap into your adventurous side at Escape Dothan
Race against the clock to solve puzzles and escape the room at Escape Dothan! This fun activity combines problem solving and teamwork and it is a great way to get your adrenaline pumping without even exercising! Escape Dothan recommends leaving little kids at home, but older children and adults will love this interactive alternate to typical weekend activities.
Escape Dothan
Address: 3759 Ross Clark Cir, Dothan, AL 36303
Website: Escape Dothan
Opening hours: Fri - Sun: 10am - 12am (closed from Mon - Thu)
Price: 25 USD
18. Spend an eventful day with family at Water World
Dothan does get hot in the summertime! Beat the heat of the deep south by spending an afternoon at Water World. This affordable water park features slides, a wave pool, and a kiddie area for new swimmers. You can pack your own picnic or barbecue on the grills and eat in the pavilion. If you don’t have time to pack a picnic before you go, grab a bite from the prepared food options at Surf Side Grill.
Water World
Address: 401 Recreation Rd, Dothan, AL 36303
Website: Water World
Opening hours: Tue & Thu: 10am - 8pm; Wed & Fri - Sat: 10am - 5pm; Sun: 1pm - 5pm (closed on Mon)
Price: 10 USD
19. Check out the world’s smallest city block
You might not look twice at the small triangle of grass formed by the convergence of three streets in downtown Dothan except for the small granite marker that proclaims it the world’s smallest city block. At one point, this triangle was still small but large enough to hold a snack stand and even a two-story building. Today, the triangle is about the length of a car on each one of its sides, but it is still big enough to maintain its pride at being the world’s smallest city block. The block was given the marker in 1964 after Ripley’s Believe It or Not, which was a newspaper column at the time, named it as such.
World's Smallest City Block
Address: 201-209 N College St, Dothan, AL 36303
Website: World’s Smallest City Block
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Price: Free
20. Grab a bite at Basketcase Cafe & Catering
Fuel up for your sightseeing in Dothan by grabbing lunch at Basketcase Cafe. This charming eatery has a large menu including sandwiches, soups, salad, and pasta. They also have daily specials so you can try something not usually on the menu.
Basketcase Cafe & Catering
Address: 228 S Oates St, Dothan, AL 36301
Website: Basketcase Cafe & Catering
Opening hours: 11am - 2:30pm (daily)
21. Enjoy yourself at the Fun Zone Center
The Fun Zone Center is the ultimate place for kids to play in Dothan. This indoor entertainment center is perfect for rainy days or winter weekends when it’s not nice to be outside at a park, but the kids just have to burn off some energy. Whether they want to glide on roller skates, drive bumper cars, or climb the rock wall, this place has it all. There is also a classic arcade and a pizza cafe. You can either pay for admission and then rent skates and buy ride tickets and arcade tokens separately, or get packs that combine everything you need for a full day of fun.
Fun Zone Center
Address: 465 Westgate Pkwy, Dothan, AL 36303
Website: Fun Zone Center
Opening hours: Thu: 2pm - 6pm; Fri: 1pm - 10pm; Sat: 10am - 10pm; Sun: 1pm - 6pm (closed from Mon - Wed)
Price: 7 USD
22. Head to Wiregrass Commons Mall for a spot of souvenir shopping
Whether you’re searching for souvenirs or you forgot to pack something in your suitcase, Wiregrass Commons Mall is the perfect spot to buy what you need. This large mall has department stores like Belk and Dillards alongside specialty shops like the Hallmark store and Bama Fever/Tiger Pride, which has all the gear to support local sports teams. Teens can get their fashion fix at American Eagle or Aeropostale, and gamers of any variety can get what they need from Gamestop for video games or Hibbett Sports for sporting goods. If you need a break, head to the food court for your pick of cuisine. They have everything from pretzels to fried chicken to sub sandwiches.
Wiregrass Commons Mall
Address: 900 Commons Dr, Dothan, AL 36303
Website: Wiregrass Commons Mall
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am - 9pm; Sun: 12pm - 6pm
23. Enjoy live country music at Cowboys
You wouldn’t be getting a true Alabama experience if you didn’t take in some live country music. Cowboys is a nightclub that has been voted one of the best places for live country music in the country. They have performances nearly every night of the week and a lively honky-tonk atmosphere you won’t find anywhere else. At Cowboys, you don’t just sit and listen to the music: get up and do your best two-step on the dance floor that holds nearly 300 people! There are also five pool tables if you need a break from the dance floor, as well as four bars and a snack bar for drinks and food.
Cowboys
Address: 4657 S Oates St, Dothan, AL 36301
Website: Cowboys
Opening hours: Wed, Fri & Sat: 7pm - 2am; Thu: 6pm - 2am (closed from Sun - Tue)
24. Go hiking or biking along the Forever Wild Trails
Even though it is within the city limits of Dothan, you’ll feel like your out in the wilderness at the Forever Wild Trails. This wooded preserve contains 10 miles (16 km) of secluded trails used by bikers, joggers, and walkers. You can either do the entire trail system if you’re up for a challenge or take one of the shorter loops for a more easygoing workout. The trails wind around the pretty wetlands of Beaver Creek and offer scenic views of this peaceful area.
Forever Wild Trails
Address: 384 Narcisse Dr, Dothan, AL 36305
Website: Forever Wild Trails
Opening hours: 6:30am - 7:30pm (daily)
Price: Free
25. Sample local beers at Folklore Brewing & Meadery
Get a taste of Dothan’s local brewing scene at Folklore. The brewery is located on the grounds of an old farm, and its outdoor-focused design makes it feel like you’re sipping beers in a friend’s backyard. In the summer months, you will find outdoor games and bluegrass music, plus lots of cute dogs because the establishment is pet-friendly. In the winter, they build fires to keep patrons warm outside as you sip brews and meads in the crisp air. Try one of the 18 beers and 8 meads on tap and bring some home so you can relive the experience in your own backyard.
Folklore Brewing & Meadery
Address: 153 Mary Lou Ln, Dothan, AL 36301
Website: Folklore Brewing & Meadery
Opening hours: Mon - Wed: 11am - 5pm; Thu: 11am - 9pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 12pm
Plan a visit to Dothan
Dothan has everything you would find in a big city, just in a smaller and more laid-back package. There are cultural attractions like museums, monuments, and historic sites. You can get out in nature by visiting the botanic gardens or one of the nature preserves. Multiple amusement parks and fun activities make it a great pick for a family with kids. Whether you are planning to stay in Dothan specifically, or just passing through on a road trip, consult this list and pick out a few options for your visit!