Thankful for Mentone, Alabama

This post on Mentone, Alabama, contains VRBO and Trip Advisor affiliate links. If you click on the links, we may earn a fee. There is no additional cost to you. I received a complimentary tour from Mentone Scenic Boat Cruises in exchange for my fair and honest review; all opinions are my own.

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength – John Muir

As travel bloggers, Sean and I are very thankful that we can expose our children to different experiences and cultures. Throughout years of traveling, we have come to appreciate the identities and the draws of various towns and cities across America.

On a recent trip, we were reminded of why we are thankful for towns such as Mentone, Alabama. Nestled in northeast Alabama, the vibrant yet quaint Mentone is quite possibly the perfect small town. It lies within the Lookout Mountain Range that spans Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee.

Recently, Sean, Jackson, Lucy, and I visited Mentone for the first time. Mentone is filled with art and natural beauty. The town is easily comparable to Blue Ridge, Georgia, or the Gatlinburg, Tennessee, of yesteryear.

A Celebration of Mentone

As southerners, we are familiar with the draw of mountain towns with an artistic flair. However, Mentone is different. Twice a year, the town has festivals celebrating its natural beauty. The town and festivals make you want to disconnect from the rat-race of life and savor the beauty and experience.

In October, Mentone holds a Colorfest, and in May, it has a Rhododendron Festival. Both festivals are held on the town’s feature landmark, the “Brow.” The Brow is a beautiful overlook on Lookout Mountain, and the sunsets are breathtaking.

A Celebration of Beauty

On our arrival to Mentone, we took a scenic riverboat ride from De Soto Falls at De Soto State Park down the west fork of the Little River. No industry feeds the Little River, and you won’t find cleaner mountain water.

On our trip, the fall foliage was just turning colors due to our hot summer, but the beauty of the river and the views did not disappoint.

The riverboat ride is run by the Hendon family. The bigleaf magnolia trees are impressive, and in the summertime, mountain laurel covers the hills.

If you are interested in a Mentone scenic boat ride, either privately, for the upcoming Rhododendron Festival in May, or for next October’s Colorfest, I would encourage you to book now. Tours fill up fast, and so do lodging accommodations.

Private rides are $25 per person or during the Colorfest and Rhododendron festivals, it is $15 each!

If you are interested in a scenic riverboat cruise, email Tony at mentonescenicboatcruises@gmail.com  or check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mentonescenicboatcruise.

Speaking of accommodations, there are many spectacular places to stay while visiting Mentone. One house that I find to be so charming is located directly on the brow, named Moonflower Cottage. At the cottage, you have breathtaking views and a short walk to town. We definitely want to return and stay at the cottage.  

Check out Moonflower on VRBO by clicking HERE!

A Celebration of Culture

Both festivals draw arts, crafts, fantastic foods, and a great downhome experience. We loved learning about the history and culture of the town. We easily parked across from the Mentone Market and caught a shuttle to the Brow. Although it was raining, our family had the best time enjoying the views, speaking with locals, vendors, and sampling delicious food.  

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A few notable people and businesses we met who were set up at the Brow for the Colorfest include:

Roadside Recyclers– this husband and wife combo were fantastic, and so are their creations. I fell in love with their tailgate benches and the assortment of lamps and home goods made from everyday items.

Alabama’s Best Ice Cream– Many types of homemade ice cream were available at the Colorfest. Jackson said it was some of the best ice cream that he has ever eaten!

Sean had a great time talking to Holley, the local librarian. He led me to the new documentary on Mentone, Alabama, which I will include at the end of this article. The library was selling its used books for a fundraiser.

Dixon’s Custom Designs– My mind was blown at the fantastic outdoor signs and their cost. For $15, we purchased a fantastic outdoor sign that will never fade or weather!

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The Food Factory– Jackson said he’s waited 13 years to try a combination of his two favorite things, Oreos and deep-fried! These creations were out of this world!    

You can’t leave the Colorfest without a bag or three of freshly popped kettle corn from McIllwainn’s.

When we finished with our Colorfest activities, we walked down to the local fire station, where they were having a BBQ fundraiser. The BBQ was great, but more importantly, it was terrific seeing the locals of Mentone supporting each other.

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We recommend visiting Mentone, Alabama during Colorfest or the Rhododendron Festival, however, Mentone is also a great place to visit when you just want to getaway. There are numerous cabins to rent on the “Brow” or along the Little River Canyon. You can also camp at Desoto State Park.

We are thankful for the Mentones, those small mountain towns that allow us to lay down our phones, unplug, and enjoy God’s beauty. We hope you have the opportunity to visit soon; I know you will love Mentone as much as we do!  

A Celebration of Small Business

If you are interested in any of the businesses featured from Colorfest, their contact information is as follows:

Roadside Recyclers- rghjr@att.net

Dixon’s Custom Designs- 256-570-9574

Alabama’s Best Ice Cream- 334-467-4272

The Food Factory- jthenegar@yahoo.com

McIllwain’s Kettle Corn- 256-599-0568

Interested in visiting Mentone? Check out Trip Advisor for some fantastic lodging deals in the area!

Do you love to travel? Check out the amazing North Georgia Mountains and White Sands, New Mexico!

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