Visit our beautiful & historic downtowns

Both Alexander City and Dadeville have beautiful and memorable downtown areas, both ready for visitors to explore.

Alexander City has a proud heritage, which dates back more than 160 years - making the city a fun place to visit and a great place to live. With so much to do and enjoy, everyone feels at home in Downtown Alexander City.

Main Street creates shopping and dining experiences, all unique to Alexander City. Spend a day on Main Street perusing the shops at The Square, Cloud Nine or Half Moon Market, or visit Carlisle’s for a taste of southern soda shop cuisine. Right down the way, Castelluccio’s offers fine italian cuisine, Alana’s has a delicious breakfast and lunch menu, and right behind Main Street, is JR’s, where the beer is cold and the wings are hot.

In addition to shopping, delicious food and rockin’ events, the Main Street Alabama designated community also works to preserve the historic buildings that add to the charm and character of the town.

Alexander City is jam packed with both fun and relaxing things to do all year round. The organization hosts events to keep residents happy and visitors coming back for more.

Summer events include Third Thursday, Bingo Under the Stars and the Farmers Market, which takes place every Saturday beginning June 5 through the end of September. For more information about events happening around downtown

Alexander City, visit the Main Street Alexander City website https://mainstreetalexandercity.org/. Just down the road from Alexander City and right off U.S. Highway 280, the town of Dadeville is a bustling and beautiful city that’s centered on a busy county courthouse. Cafés, boutiques and restaurants line the Downtown Square, where live music fills the air on Thursdays during the summer. The town is also home to several parks and event venues.

Both the Dadeville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Dadeville Beautification Board actively work to keep the community vibrant and lively by hosting community events and implementing beautification projects.

Just south of Dadeville, the wildly popular Blue Creek recreation area stretches a cool 2-miles along state Route 49 and is home to many restaurants and shops, such as Lake Martin Pizza Company, Lakeside Mercantile and 34 Market.

Fill your belly and tank at the one-stop-shop on the corner of state Route 49 and 34, buy fresh flowers across the street or grab a homemade waffle cone filled with custard ice cream topped with treats at Lake Martin Creamery.

Then not quite a mile down the road at StillWaters Resort, Coppers Grill offers casual dining with weekly specials and live music on the weekends. StillWaters is the home of one of only two public golf facilities on the lake, Harbor Pointe Marina and a yacht club.

CHEROKEE RIDGE ALPINE TRAIL @ OVERLOOK PARK

3 conjoined trails totaling 7.2 miles provide several combinations of hiking experiences with a picnic area and scenic overlook of Lake Martin, mountain longleaf pine, native azaleas and mountain laurel.

Russell Forest Trails

Weaving through the lush pines and hardwoods surrounding Lake Martin, trail association members enjoy more than 100 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails inside the 25,000-acre living Russell Forest.

Smith Mountain Fire Tower Trails

The tallest elevation and most spectacular panoramic view on Lake Martin complete with a 90-foot lookout tower, picnic area and other inspiring amenities. WALKER BYNUM

SMITH MOUNTAIN TOWER

TRAIL is a steep 0.4 mile climb to the base of the tower. THE LAKESHORE TRAIL is 2.4 miles. From near the top of the mountain, the Lakeshore Trail makes a steep descent before winding along Lake Martin undeveloped shores. THE

DAVID M. FORKER ISLAND

HOP TRAIL stretches 1.4 miles to the boat dock. When Lake Martin is lowered to winter pool levels, it is possible to walk another quarter mile crossing a series of islands inaccessible at full pool. LITTLE SMITH MOUNTAIN LOOP TRAIL is a 2.6 mile difficult and potentially dangerous trail. It boasts spectacular views and rock formations. Do not attempt this trail unless you are sure-footed and in better than average physical condition. This is NOT a trail for small or unruly kids.

THE JAMES M. SCOTT DEADENING ALPINE TRAIL

The most challenging and rewarding CRATA trail with a 4.2 mile loop with unique rock formations and spectacular vistas of Lake Martin, thickets of mountain laurel and rhododendron. You can take the crossover route and hike only 3.1 miles. There is also an emergency trail to the parking lot at this location.

NATURE’S WAY PRESERVE TRAIL

Free to the public, this 74-acre park features nature trails, lake overlooks and interpretive signs to assist in learning more about the lake’s natural environment.