A snug mountain town on the northeastern corner of Alabama, Mentone is a city of waterfalls, wedding chapels and charming bed-and-breakfasts. There are fewer than 400 people who live there year-round, but they’re friendly and warm in typical Southern fashion.
The city is home to DeSoto State Park and just north of Little River Canyon National Preserve, where you can lose yourself on 14,000 acres of vistas, cliffs, cascades and rambling boardwalks. Don’t miss Mentone’s loveliest site: DeSoto Falls — a 100-foot sheer drop into a surprisingly still pool.
But the city’s most unique claim to fame is being the only place you can ski in Alabama. When temperatures drop below freezing, Cloudmont Ski and Golf Resort begins making snow. In season, they have two 1,000-foot slopes as well as lessons for beginners like me who are a little shaky in their ski shoes. It’s a great place to get your bearings before heading to more daunting ski trails.
If you want to take it slower, their “downtown strip” has a country store, nostalgia shops and restaurants serving up dishes like fried green tomatoes and whiskey ribeye steak, on the list of “100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama Before You Die.”
About the Author: Cheryl Rodewig is a storyteller living in Atlanta. By day, she works in marketing, telling stories through social media, infographics, blogging and more. When traveling, she always has a camera and a notepad, ready for the next freelance assignment. See where she’s been on her website, cherylrodewig.com, or follow her travels on Twitter @CherylRodewig.
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