If you happen to visit Alabama, drop by Mentone, a small town located at the top of Lookout Mountain with an elevation of 529 meters (1735.56 feet). The rapid pace of city life has not yet reached this town, which time seems to have forgotten. Some of the buildings look untouched since their construction about a hundred years ago. Because of its natural beauty and its location on a mountaintop, it has become a popular vacation place. DeSoto Falls is one of its famous attractions. People who love the outdoors will find this location exciting. There are restaurants, shops, and a market. Refer to our list of things to do in Mentone, Alabama, to make the most of your stay in this lovely town on top of a mountain.
If you’re planning a trip here soon and you’re not sure where to stay, check out the amazing Airbnb vacation rentals for your accommodation needs.
1. Shop at Moon Lake Trading Company
Moon Lake Trading Company is a curated plant nursery and gift shop that ensures a pleasant shopping experience. There’s a wide variety of plants to choose from in the beautiful nursery. You will also find a great selection of locally sourced antiques and artwork, which you can pick up to gift loved ones at home. The shop has everything from t-shirts and toys to homemade soaps and candles.
In addition, there is a permanent taco stand with outdoor seating onsite for those looking for a bite.
Moon Lake Trading Company
Address: 5172 AL-117, Mentone, AL 35984, United States
Opening hours: Wed - Sun: 10am - 5pm (closed on Mon & Tue)
2. Nearby things to do
3. Explore the trails of Little River Canyon National Preserve
Enjoy a picnic in the Southern Appalachians and explore the scenic terrain of Little River Canyon National Preserve. It is only 18.1 miles (29.13 kilometers) from Mentone. You will come across wooded trails, waterfalls, canyons, and cliffs made of sandstone at this picturesque site that will surely thrill any adventurer. This magnificent natural wonder was turned into a national preserve in 1992.
Don’t forget to learn about the Cherokee community, the native people who used to live here before they were attacked by the United States government.
Little River Canyon National Preserve
Address: 4322 Little River Trail #100, Fort Payne, AL 35967, United States
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4. Participate in an art workshop at Mentone Arts Center
If you’re wondering what to do in Mentone, AL, and are interested to learn how to make works of art, Mentone Arts Center has you covered. With its mission to preserve and promote the artistic culture of the Appalachia region, this center sponsors several classes, workshops, lectures, events, and so much more that help in achieving the center’s goals as well as enriching the lives of locals and tourists alike.
The classes you can avail of range from drawing and Alabama pottery to black and white films and digital photography. The center also supports local and regional artists and has a gift shop and art gallery for visitors to enjoy.
Mentone Arts Center
Address: 5951 AL-117, Mentone, AL 35984, United States
Website: Mentone Arts Center
Opening hours: Thu - Mon: 10am - 4pm (closed on Tue & Wed)
5. Go shopping at Gourdie Shop
What started out as a small store that only sold gourds, Gourdie Shop evolved into one of the most unique Mentone attractions in Alabama. It proudly offers a collection of hand-painted, signed, and dated original gourds. It also offers uniquely designed clothes, jewelry, scarves, shawls, furniture, masks, decorations, glass bottle stoppers, and so much more.
The shop is located in the famous Hitching Post which was where the Crow’s Nest Antique Shop used to be. Previous visitors have praised the shop for its wonderful atmosphere and friendly staff.
Gourdie Shop
Address: 6081 AL-117, Mentone, AL 35984, United States
Website: Gourdie Shop
Opening hours: Sun - Wed: 11am - 5pm; Thu: 10am - 6pm; Fri: 11am - 5pm; Sat: 10am - 6pm
6. Have a picnic at DeSoto Falls and State Park
One of the many things to do in Mentone, Alabama, is packing a basket of food and drinks and heading to the picnic area at DeSoto Falls and State Park in Mentone, Alabama. Choose a table under the shade of trees that surround the park. Breathe in the fresh air and feel the cool breeze coming from the waterfall. Let your kids run and play around the spacious picnic area. Sit on one of the benches and relax, take a short walk and feast your eyes on the gorgeous scenery, or swim in the cool waters of the natural pool.
DeSoto Falls Picnic Area-State Park
Address: Mentone, AL 35984, United States
Website: DeSoto Falls Picnic Area-State Park
7. Say your wedding vows at Mentone Wedding Chapel
Have an intimate and memorable wedding at Mentone Wedding Chapel, which is designed after a traditional Appalachian church. This is every girl’s dream of a perfect wedding venue. Couples love the charm of this chapel, with its stained glass door and windows. It is even fitted with carriage lamps, flowers, and bows. The steeple has a bell that rings to announce the union of two hearts. Soft light from a candelabra with 50 candles wraps the wedding party in a golden halo. They offer several wedding packages that include a honeymoon in Mentone. With the gorgeous scenery, a wedding here is sure to be an unforgettable event.
Mentone Wedding Chapel
Address: Mentone, AL 35984, United States
Website: Mentone Wedding Chapel
Opening hours: Mon - Fri (by appointment)
8. Watch the sunset at Brow Park
Watch the sunset from Brow Park, a place that sits on Lookout Mountain. People who want to escape from the noise and pressure of city life should hole up in this place. This is one of the few public places where one can enjoy a view from the mountain. Many families stay in the pavilion to have a picnic, enjoy the grandeur of their surroundings, and wait to see the incredible beauty of the sunset.
Brow Park
Address: D200-286 N Cool St, Mentone, AL 35984, United States
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
9. Enjoy excellent food at Wildflower Cafe
Dine at Wildflower Cafe to complete your visit. This is located at the center of Mentone and has been recognized as the best cafe in Alabama. The restaurant offers a wide selection of dishes that will delight your palate. The menu is extensive, both for those who enjoy food without counting calories and those who are on a particularly strict diet. All ingredients are fresh and you can enjoy organic, vegan, and gluten-free dishes. The live music lends a festive ambiance to the cafe. Try several kinds of salads and soups here, and buy souvenirs and gift items at the cafe store. They also provide catering services to Mentone and the neighboring areas.
Wildflower Cafe
Address: 6007 AL-117, Mentone, AL 35984, United States
Website: Wildflower Cafe
Opening hours: Mon - Wed: 11am - 2pm; Thu - Sat: 11am - 3pm and 4pm - 8pm; Sun: 11am - 3pm
10. Go boating at A.A. Miller Dam
A. A. Miller Dam is part of the history of Mentone. In 1925, an electrical engineer named Arthur Abernathy Miller constructed a dam above the DeSoto Waterfalls for a hydroelectric generator that supplied electricity to Mentone and the neighboring areas. Today, one can still see the square concrete blocks that held the generators for many years. Boating has been a popular activity here, and there are boats for rent in the vicinity. It is also a nice picnic site and people come here to enjoy the peaceful surroundings and the beautiful scenery. Visitors can buy snacks and ice cream in a store at the dam site. The DeSoto Falls is just a short distance away.
A.A. Miller Dam
Address: Co Rd 613, Mentone, AL 35984, United States
11. Ski and play golf at Cloudmont Ski and Golf Resort
Cloudmont Ski & Golf Resort is a vast playground for both beginners and experienced skiers, located at the top of Lookout Mountain. Skiing is seasonal but a snowmaker machine is used to keep the slopes snowy. When skiing is off-season, the golf course welcomes all kinds of players. Equipment is available at the resort, and there are ski and golf instructors for people who are starting to learn. You can even rent one of the chalets or cabins on the property.
Cloudmont Ski and Golf Resort
Address: 721 Co Rd 614, Mentone, AL 35984, United States
Website: Cloudmont Ski and Golf Resort
Opening hours: 9am - 5pm (daily)
12. Shop for fresh products at Mentone Farmers' Market
Shop for fresh products at Mentone Farmers’ Market every Saturday. Residents of Mentone, as well as visitors staying in town for a few days, gather here on Saturdays to buy their week’s supply of fresh vegetables, fruits, meat, poultry, and fish. You can find home-grown and organic products in the market. This market also serves as a meeting place for the residents of Mentone.
Mentone Farmers' Market
Address: Mentone, AL 35984, United States
Website: Mentone Farmers’ Market
Opening hours: Sat: 10am - 1pm (closed from Sun - Fri)
13. Visit Camp Skyline Ranch
If you have a daughter who’s 6 to 16 years old and you are staying in Mentone for a few weeks, why not enroll her at Camp Skyline Ranch? This site is privately owned and is dedicated to giving girls a chance to become closer to God through the beauty of His creations. At camp, girls will meet new people, make friends, and establish relationships. These experiences will help them grow into well-adjusted people. Aside from lectures, the girls will have a lot of fun as they are given the chance to go sailing, hiking, swimming, horseback riding, canoeing, and even ziplining. They will emerge from this camp with more self-confidence and courage to face the challenges of life.
Camp Skyline Ranch
Address: 4888 AL-117, Mentone, AL 35984, United States
Website: Camp Skyline Ranch
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 7:30am - 4:30pm (closed on Sat & Sun)
14. Join a Mentone Scenic Boat Cruise
Join the Mentone Scenic Boat Cruises and see the grandeur of this town regardless of the season. Your journey will start from DeSoto Falls and will last for 45 minutes to one hour. The ride is comfortable since the pontoon is a flatboat with cushioned seats. During the fall season, the thick foliage on the bank displays lively colors from the lightest to the brightest shade of yellow, pink, orange, and brown. Springtime and summer will present you with the most glorious sights. This boat cruise is something you must experience during your visit to Mentone, Alabama.
Mentone Scenic Boat Cruises
Address: 128 Berry St, Mentone, AL 35984, United States
Website: Mentone Scenic Boat Cruises
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
15. See the Sally Howard Memorial Baptist Church
One church that is worth a visit if you are in Mentone is Sallie Howard Memorial Baptist Church. Built by Col. Milton Howard in memory of his late wife Sallie, it was inspired by the chapel in the cemetery where his wife is buried. Col. Howard bought the property on Lookout Mountain when he searched for and found a huge boulder on the land. Around it, the church was built, with the rock serving as the pulpit.
Sally Howard Memorial Baptist Church
Address: Mentone, AL 35984, United States
16. Visit St. Joseph's On the Mountain
Don’t know what to do in Mentone, Alabama? Come visit St. Joseph’s On the Mountain! It is a small Episcopalian church on Lookout Mountain. The original members of the congregation that built this church used dried logs that were lying around. Everything inside was donated, from the gold chandelier with dim bulbs to one stained glass that was given by someone from France. Because of the growing number of members, the church underwent expansion. The log cabin church now serves as a sanctuary. One ministry of St. Joseph’s On the Mountain is the food bank where those who are hungry are fed and given food packs. The door is never locked, and cans of soup and boxes of pasta are left outside for those without food.
St. Joseph's on the Mountain
Address: 21145 Scenic Hwy, Mentone, AL 35984, United States
Website: St. Joseph’s on the Mountain
Discover lots of fun things to do in Mentone, Alabama
Mentone is a town at the top of Lookout Mountain and its location offers an array of things to do. Gifted with great natural splendor, you will find yourself surrounded by nature wherever you go. Take a boat cruise and feast your eyes on foliage that changes color every season, or ski and play golf at the mountain slopes and golf course. Have a picnic in a park at the top of a mountain, dine on fresh and healthy dishes at a local restaurant, or visit historical churches. With our list of things to do, you will surely have an exciting time in Mentone. To make the most of your vacation, don’t forget to check out pet-friendly cabins and cabins with hot tubs available in the area.