12 places to spend a beautiful day in Alabama

What’s your favorite place to go on a beautiful day in Alabama?

Our friends with This is Alabama recently asked their Facebook readers just that, and the responses they got pointed out idyllic spots all over the state. Ranging from the panoramic views found at Mt. Cheaha to the pristine waters of Smith Lake to the whimsical charm of downtown Eufaula and lots of places in-between, Alabama has plenty of sites that will a beautiful day even better.

You can see some of our favorite submissions below, and you can see all of the responses here.

Smith Lake

What better place to spend a beautiful day in Alabama than on the water? Lewis Smith Lake, or Smith Lake as it’s often called, in Cullman, Ala., is an ideal place to do just that given that it offers up more than 600 miles of shoreline and is one of the cleanest lakes in the state. Some of its popular attractions for lake-goers include Indian Head Rock, Rock Creek Marina, The Castle and Smith Lake Park.

Toomer's Corner, home of the new Toomer's Oaks, at the intersection of College Street and Magnolia Avenue at the edge of the Auburn University campus. (Ben Flanagan / AL.com)Ben Flanagan

Downtown Auburn

Home to a variety of charming shoppes, local restaurants and more, downtown Auburn is the perfect spot to enjoy a beautiful day. You can wander in and out through a variety of specialty stores before grabbing dinner and taking a leisurely stroll through Auburn University’s scenic campus. Just be sure to drop in at Toomer’s Drugs for one of their beloved lemonades before you head home.

Seagull at Gulf Shores — A seagull takes its chances on the beach at Gulf Shores, Alabama. (Photo by Greg Garrison/AL.com)

The Beach

Okay, who saw this one coming? As far as beautiful places to spend a day in Alabama, the white sand beaches of our state’s gorgeous coast are likely the first thing that come to mind for a lot of folks. Whether you prefer Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Dauphin Island, Fort Morgan or elsewhere, you’re bound to find a picturesque place to spend a day relaxing in the sunshine and listening to the waves crash.

Downtown Eufaula

When it comes to small towns in Alabama that are all kinds of charming, Eufaula certainly makes the list, and its downtown is proof of that. Between its tree-lined streets, gazebos, fountains and more, downtown Eufaula is an idyllic place to spend a day exploring local boutiques and restaurants. Plus, you can walk off your meal along the Yoholo Micco Rail Trail that starts nearby and offers views of lovely Lake Eufaula.

Alabama Color 2021 — Autumn color 2021. The beauty and splendor of autumn in Alabama. Beautiful tree at the boat ramp at Lake Guntersville State Park. (Joe Songer for AL.com).Joe Songer

Lake Guntersville State Park

By now, you’ve probably guessed that “on the water” is going to be a reoccurring theme here, and for good reason. At Lake Guntersville State Park, you can spend a day fishing in the state’s largest lake or enjoying the natural beauty of its coastlines by hiking, biking and more. If you’re brave enough, you can even get a bird’s eye view of scenic Lake Guntersville by having a high-speed go on the Screaming Eagle zipline.

DeSoto Falls and DeSoto State Park. One of 15 places to see autumn foliage in Alabama. (Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com).Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

DeSoto Falls

There’s something about a waterfall that makes a beautiful day that much better, so no one should be too surprised to see DeSoto Falls end up on this list. Whether you want to earn your view by taking the hiking trail or take it easy and enjoy a meal in the picnic area, getting a look at the 107-foot DeSoto Falls, Located within DeSoto State Park, will make any day a beautiful one.

Connye the giraffe — Connye (r.), shown here with her mother, Ashley, shortly after her birth at the Montgomery Zoo in 2015.

The Montgomery Zoo is home to more than 500 animals, ranging from massive elephants to tiny dart frogs, and you can see them all when you spend a day exploring its 40 acres. Whether you decide to walk, take the train or see it all from above on the Zoofari Skylift, you’ll be happy you spent a gorgeous day there among its many adorable inhabitants. Plus, if it gets too hot, you can take a break from the heat in the Mann Museum.

Bryant-Denny Stadium

It’s probably safe to assume the readers who suggested Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa as their favorite place to spend a beautiful day are 1. fans of the Crimson Tide and 2. envisioned that beautiful day taking place during football season. Regardless, we can’t argue with their point. A day at Bryant-Denny Stadium, or any of the many beautiful places on the University of Alabama’s campus, is a day well-spent.

Sept. 18, 2023 — A view of the area around the Fairhope Municipal Pier.Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com

Fairhope Pier

Another Alabama town perfect for exploring on a beautiful day. After all, the Fairhope Municipal Pier and Park, known as Fairhope’s town square, is a picturesque, quarter-mile pier where you can go fishing or for a relaxing stroll while looking out onto Mobile Bay. Plus, it’s surrounded by a park that includes a rose garden, walking trail and beach area to enjoy. You can also grab a meal at Sunset Pointe, a popular restaurant with good food and even better views, there.

Huntsville Botanical Gardens

Roaming through lush gardens and gorgeous natural settings at the Huntsville Botanical Gardens does sound like an ideal way to spend a beautiful day in Alabama. Filled with diverse exhibits, including “Glass in Flight,” which displays glass sculptures of butterflies, birds and more now through October, there’s plenty to see and do.

Noccalula Falls

Noccalula Falls, located inside Noccalula Falls Park in Gadsden, is an enchanting 90-foot waterfall that drops into a massive gorge, creating the perfect setting for a day spent enjoying the great outdoors in Alabama. While at the park, you can also take a walk through its gardens, ride one of its miniature trains, check out the caverns along the Gorge trail, learn about the history of the falls and more.

Ancient Alabama Part 1 — Overlook at Mt. CheahaDennis Pillion

Mt. Cheaha

If you’re going to enjoy a beautiful day in Alabama, you might as well do it with a great view, and you’d be hard-pressed to find one better than the view from Mt. Cheaha. Located inside Cheaha State Park and surrounded by more than 300,000 acres of wilderness, Mt. Cheaha is the highest point in Alabama and serves up an vista like no other.