15 Best Things to Do in Dothan, Alabama

© Courtesy of Nick Fox - Fotolia.com

Landmark Park is a 135-acre park that preserves the cultural and natural heritage of Alabama’s Wiregrass Region. Visitors of all ages love the exhibits and programs that the park offers, like in their 1890s living history farm. The farm comes complete with an old farmhouse, a cane mill, a smokehouse, a syrup shed, and a range of farm animals like cows and pigs. The Digitarium Planetarium is a wonderful place to learn about the night sky under their special 360-degree dome with real-time simulations of the sky. End your visit taking a walk in the park’s many nature trails or viewing their wildlife exhibits for an exciting end to the day.

430 Landmark Drive, Dothan, AL 36303, 334-794-3452

© Courtesy of Frans - Fotolia.com

The Dothan Area Botanical Gardens is a beautiful garden complex has invites people to enjoy the stunning beauty of their landscape. The magnificent garden started with the planting of roses in 1997. There are 15 specialty gardens that focus on azaleas, roses, and many other flowers. Visitors who are interested in Southern history and heritage will love exploring the Southern Heirloom Garden, which was created as a means of preserving plants from the past, such as Confederate jasmine, larkspur, and more. The grounds also have boardwalks, walking paths, statues, preserved wilderness areas, water fountains, and so much more to enjoy.

5130 Headland Ave, Dothan, AL 36303, Phone: 334-793-3224

© Adventureland

Adventureland is a place for friends and family to come together and have a safe and fun day filled with, well, adventure! There are so many exciting activities offered at the park, ensuring that visitors of all ages have a wonderful time. Thrill-seekers can head to the go-kart track, while there’s nothing better on a hot day than spending time out on the Bumper Floats. Other spaces include the batting cages as well as the 18-hole mini-golf course. Re-energize yourself with a delicious slice of pizza, a hot dog, or some nachos at their snack bar – you can also treat yourself to some cooling Dippin’ Dots.

3738 W Main St, Dothan, AL 36305, Phone: 334-793-9100

© Water World

Water World is every bit of fun and exciting as you would expect an aquatic adventure park to be. They have a 450,000-gallon rip tide wave pool with waves that can get to over 3 feet high, making it the perfect place to cool down on a hot summer day. Relax and sunbathe in the surrounding “beach area,” complete with lounges you can lay on while sipping a cool drink. Other attractions include the Great White, which is a four-story high slide, the 400-feet-long Bonsai Pipeline with three unique slides, and the Tadpole Hole with a separate kid-friendly swimming pool and slides.

401 Recreation Rd, Dothan, AL 36303, Phone: 334-615-3750

© Peanuts Around Town

Peanuts Around Town is something that many restaurants and shops in downtown Dothan take part in. The area is known for its booming peanut industry, so it only made sense for the Alabama Peanut Producers Association to start a project that involved various artists designing peanuts to place all around the town. The designs may include characters from Charles M. Schulz’s famed comic strip as well as statues, figures, and paintings. You can see them at the Southtrust Bank of Dothan, in front of the Dothan Fire Department, and at the Southeast Alabama Medical Center. The peanuts are often designed in fun and endearing costumes that reflect where they are located.

© Wiregrass Museum of Art

The Wiregrass Museum of Art is a must-visit for those who appreciate the visual arts. Their diverse range of exhibitions, permanent collections, and educational programs all work hand-in-hand to engage guests and preserve the arts in Dothan, Alabama. Audiences of all ages will love spending a day there as they explore pieces from the early 20th century to the present. There are over 1,100 objects in the permanent collection, including works by Frank Stella, John Kelly Fitzpatrick, and other state and national artists. There are several classes, workshops, and camps held throughout the year for adults and youth, which focus on various types of art whether it be drawing, painting, sculpting, or more.

126 Museum Ave, Dothan, AL 36303, Phone: 334-794-3871

© Murals of the Wiregrass

Over the years, Dothan has become famed for its murals, many of which portray the area’s rich history. You can see the stunning works of art on historic buildings in the downtown area, making them come to life with depth and color. Lovingly called Alabama’s Mural City, make your way through the downtown area on a self-guided tour to see various works of public art. Pieces include The Steamboat Era on N. Foster Street, Salute to the Peanut Industry on the side of the Liddon Furniture building, and Chief Eufaula: Creek Indian Removal on South Saint Andrews Street. There are many more, each of them reflecting an important part of the land’s rich past.

© George Washington Carver Interpretive Museum

The George Washington Carver Interpretive Museum is a creative cultural attraction that can be found in the heart of the city. The museum focuses on educating its visitors on the rich historical contributions that African Americans have made over time. The exhibits follow a timeline that showcases how America has become the place it is today because of the dedication of these individuals. The two permanent exhibitions are titled Black Scientists, Inventors, and Explorers and Designing the World We Live In. The Carver Room, dedicated to Dr. George Washington Carver, is also a wonderful place to explore his life and times. Visitors of all ages will love the interactive displays and all there is to see and do.

305 N Foster St, Dothan, AL 36303, Phone: 334-712-0933

© Dothan Civic Center

The Dothan Civic Center was constructed in 1975 and functions as a hub for business, culture, and leisure. Today, the 3,100-seat arena hosts a diverse range of events throughout the year. Depending on when you’re there, you’ll be able to catch sporting events, concerts, trade shows, and so much more. The center is such an integral part of Dothan’s history and has been the base for many of their community events over the years. If you’re looking to host a special event, you won’t regret hosting it at the Dothan Civic Center.

126 N St Andrews St, Dothan, AL 36303, Phone: 334-615-3000

© Taj Cafe and BBQ

Taj Cafe and BBQ is a lovely restaurant with an international menu comprising Indian, Greek, and Italian foods. It may sound like a lot for one place to take on, but their professional and knowledgeable kitchen staff will guide you to pick some of the most delicious food in Dothan to feast upon. The setting is contemporary and chic, while the menu includes appetizers, soups, salads, breads, mains, desserts, barbecue, and a separate section with meals that younger patrons will love. Their sizzling kabobs are a crowd favorite and are served fresh from being roasted in their clay tandoor oven.

3102 Ross Clark Circle, Dothan, AL 36303, Phone: 334-699-3200

© Escape Dothan

If you’re looking for an adrenaline-pumping, adventurous activity for you and your friends to enjoy while in Dothan, then head on over to Escape Dothan. The escape room resembles a live-action video game that demands teamwork, critical thinking, and performance under pressure. You and your friends will have one hour to identify clues, crack codes, and solve problems that will help you escape. There are four different room types to choose from: Bazaar Battle, the 13th Floor, Time Warp, and Murder at the Mansion, where you have to find out who murdered a wealthy businessman, with what weapon, and why they did it. Escape Dothan is excitement at its finest.

3759 Ross Clark Cir, Dothan, AL 36303, Phone: 334-446-7135

© Folklore Brewing & Meadery

Folklore Brewing & Meadery is a family-owned operation that is the first “packaging brewery” in the area since the Prohibition. The brewery creates delicious craft beers that reflect the passion and dedication of the Pate family while instilling the traditions and folklores of their Southern heritage. The brewery itself is housed in the family’s old barn, and visitors are welcome to go on a tour of the production facility and sample what they’re currently concocting. Their delicious ales and lagers, such as the Irish-style Green Eyed Monster and the Front Porch American pale ale, can be enjoyed at any time at the Fly By Night Grill adjacent to the property.

153 Mary Lou Ln, Dothan, AL 36301, Phone: 334-702-2337

© Hunt's Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar

Hunt’s Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar claims to serve the best steak, seafood, and oysters in Dothan, Alabama – they are so sure of how delicious their food is, that they guarantee that if you don’t love your meal, it’s free. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, serving favorites you can’t go wrong with such as burgers and sandwiches. Patron favorites from their dinner menu include blackened crab claws, Hunt’s Famous Oysters served with homemade cocktail sauce, their famed steak and shrimp, the seafood gumbo, and the shrimp pasta tossed in homemade alfredo sauce and served with garlic toast.

177 Campbellton Hwy, Dothan, AL 36301, Phone: 334-794-5193

© Conestoga Steak House

The Conestoga Steak House is a local favorite that has been serving Dothan with delicious food for over 30 years. The family-owned and operated restaurant guarantees fresh meals – so fresh, in fact, that they’ve never had a freezer on their premises and have never used frozen meat. They have a varied menu of steaks that keep customers coming back time and time again: These include the New York strip, filet mignon, T-bone, or rib eye, all of which can be served with your choice of home-cut fries, sweet potato, baked potato, daily-made yeast rolls, salad, or broccoli.

3549 Montgomery Hwy, Dothan, AL 36303, Phone: 334-794-4445

© Fire Stone Wood Fired Pizza and Grill

If you can’t go to Italy for authentic pizza, then head on over to Fire Stone Wood Fired Pizza and Grill. The locally owned pizzeria and grill is situated in downtown Dothan and focuses on creating delicious food with ingredients and methods that have been used for generations. All of their pizzas are made with fresh ingredients that are delivered daily and in wood-fired ovens that were imported from Tuscany. There is also a full array of soups, salads, appetizers, and sandwiches as well as a fully stocked bar with several choices of liquors, bottled beers, draft beers, and aged wine.

250 S Oates Street, Dothan, AL 36301, Phone: 334-446-1234