Popularly known as the Peanut Capital of the World, Dothan is slowly becoming one of Alabama’s most visited cities, with nearly $280 million flowing into the city’s economy through tourism alone.
Part of the charm is the small population.
It attracts many tourists from busy cities because Dothan is peaceful and quiet.
Only 70,000 people live in Dothan, and it’s a beautiful city where people have fully embraced the Peanuts aesthetic.
But don’t be fooled by the city’s simple facade. It’s a place full of fun with lots of work!
From beautiful parks to fascinating museums, Dothan is sure to keep you entertained.
Here in this article, we have put together a list of possible things to do in Dothan (AL) that could make your stay worthwhile.
Fun Things to Do in Dothan (AL)
1. Grab a Meal at Thirsty Pig BBQ
Appealing to both trendsetters and casual diners, the Thirsty Pig BBQ food truck looks like a tavern serving both BBEQ staples as well as craft beer.
It’s quite popular as one of the best restaurants in Dothan for creative Instagram shots and casual get-togethers with friends, thanks to outdoor dining and a graffiti-art facade.
Grab some BBQ Nachos, Cream Cheese Stuffed Chili, and Pulled Pork Fries to go with your ice-cold pints. Then order a Cheeseburger to fill your stomach.
2. Get to Worship at the Cherry Street AME Church
Being regarded as the oldest of its kind in the state of Alabama, the Cherry Street African Methodist Episcopal Church celebrated its 135th anniversary in 2012 and is still going strong year after year.
The church began with very humble beginnings in 1877 when it was just a wooden structure next to the existing cemetery.
As time went on, the children of the local school collected the bricks that the local brickyards no longer wanted and began to use them to build the church, giving the church a befitting structure.
Being at the very heart of everything this community does, the Cherry Street AME Church is dearly loved by the locals.
3. Feel the Heat at the United States Army Aviation Museum
The United State Aviation Museum houses the largest collection of helicopters and aircraft used by the military over the years.
The military would use these vehicles to move troops or cargo and to conduct surveillance in enemy territories.
The museum has various permanent and changing exhibitions, including a tribute to the 4,347 personnel who lost their lives in Vietnam.
The United State Aviation Museum also houses the Army Aviation Hall of Fame, which displays the most decorated soldiers and their heroic deeds.
Things to Do in Dothan (AL) at Night
1. Spend the Night at Folklore Brewing & Meadery
Folklore offers a taste of Dothan’s local brewing culture.
Grabbing a bottle at the Folklore Brewing & Meadery makes you feel like you’re in a friend’s garden. This is because of its outdoor architecture in the ancient farmhouse.
During the summer, the institution organizes outdoor activities and vocal jazz.
In the winter, they build fires outside to keep guests warm as they drink beer and mead in the cold air.
Grab one of the 18 draft beers and eight meads and take some home to enjoy on your lawn.
Wheat, porter, IPA, pale ale, and red rattles are used on the drink menu at Folklore Brewing and Meadery.
If you’re looking for a souvenir, the gift shop offers pints, t-shirts, caps, and badges.
2. Grab a Bite at Taj Café and BBQ
Taj Café and BBQ is a beautiful restaurant with an international menu including Indian, Greek, and Italian dishes.
That may sound like a lot for one place, but their professional and knowledgeable kitchen staff will guide you in choosing the tastiest food in Dothan for you to enjoy.
The setting is modern and chic, while the menu includes appetizers, soups, salads, bread, mains, desserts, grills, and a separate section with dishes that younger diners will love.
Their sizzling kabobs are a crowd favorite and are served fresh from roasting in their clay tandoor oven.
3. See a Movie at Continental Drive-In
What better way to evoke romantic feelings than to travel back in time to the days when drive-in movies were popular?
Just like you did in high school, you can watch a movie under the stars at the Continental Drive-In.
The Continental Drive-In offers many screens as well as a full concession area with a variety of snacks and beverages.
The ticket includes two films, each with a ten-minute intermission, as well as a radio to listen to your favorite film.
Things to Do in Dothan (AL) For Couples
1. Make a Visit to Landmark Park
Dedicated to preserving the social and ecological history of the Wiregrass region of Alabama, Landmark Park is a 135-acre park.
It houses a historic 19th-century community farm, a school, a planetarium, and a pharmacy.
It also serves as the official museum of agriculture.
Exhibits and events in the parks, such as the 1890s living history farm, are popular with residents and visitors alike.
The farm includes a historic farmhouse, a smokehouse, a cane mill, a syrup shed, and a variety of domestic dairy cattle and pigs.
Under its signature 360-degree dome with real-time sky projections, the Digitarium Planetarium is a fantastic place to explore the night sky and learn a lot.
For a satisfying end to your trip, walk the park’s many nature trails or visit wildlife displays.
2. Test Your Skills at the Roundabout Plantation Golf Course
While in town, the Roundabout Plantation Golf Course is a great place to go for an afternoon of golf. It has about 6769 yards of land and has a total of 18 holes.
It is a championship course with beautiful tiff eagle greens.
There are five beautiful lakes to look at during your turn, and the entire course is full of vegetation and greenery.
It is available to the general public all year round and is very fun to play.
It is recommended to check with the course in advance for any special offers.
3. Eat Out at Hunt’s Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar
Hunt’s Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar claims to have the best steaks, seafood, and oysters in Dothan, Alabama – they are so confident in how delicious their food is that they guarantee that if you don’t love your food, it’s free.
The Hunt’s Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar is open all through the day and serves can’t-go-wrong favorites like burgers and sandwiches.
Patron favorites from their menu include blackened crab claws, Hunt’s Famous Oysters served with house cocktail sauce, their famous steak and shrimp, seafood gumbo, and shrimp pasta in house alfredo sauce and served with garlic toast.
Things to Do in Dothan (AL) For Kids
1. Take Them to the Adventureland Theme Park
Who doesn’t love an amusement park, right? Adventureland is an entertainment spot that has been operating for 20 years.
You’ll find everything from golf courses to bumper cars and other exciting sports that are sure to keep you entertained.
You can go karting with your friends and family or choose skeeball.
There is also a NASCAR game and several batting cages. The main attraction, however, is the golf course.
There are two mini-golf courses with eighteen holes to enjoy with the family, especially if you have children.
If you get tired, you can always have a pizza, Dippin Dots, or even a hotdog because they have a famous snack bar.
2. Let Them Play at Water World
Oh, it’s hot in Dothan in the summer!
Luckily, the city has the perfect haven for people who want to chill and have fun at the same time. Water World is just as fun and exciting as you would expect from an aqua theme park.
They feature a 450,000-gallon tidal wave pool with waves that can reach over 3 feet.
Relax and sunbathe on the nearby “beach,” which has sofas where you can lie down and enjoy a refreshing drink.
Other attractions include the Great White, a four-story water slide, the 400-foot-long Bonsai Pipeline with three distinct slides, and the Tadpole Hole with a special paddling pool and slides for children.
3. Visit the Fun Zone Skate Center
On top of the ice rink at this popular location, your family can enjoy bumper cars, a rock wall, laser tag, and a variety of other ticketed games that can be fun activities for guests of all ages.
Fun Zone Skate Center in Dothan boasts a total of 20,000 square feet of fun.
The biggest attraction of the center is, of course, the ice rink.
The skating area is huge, with plenty of skaters of all abilities as well as lessons for those looking to improve their techniques.
There are regular discos on wheels for the whole family accompanied by their own music.
Indoor Activities to Do in Dothan (AL) For Adults (Indoor Activities)
1. Appreciate Some Aesthetic at the Wiregrass Museum of Art
The museum is a pleasant and informative place to learn about the culture and history of the region.
For individuals who like fine arts, the museum is a must.
Dothan, Alabama’s wide selection of exhibits, permanent installations, and educational activities work together to engage visitors and preserve the arts.
Housed in the thousand-year-old Water and Electric building, the museum focuses on paper-based artwork.
Many works by Native Alabama artists are on display, including Beverly Erdreich and Dale Kennington, and the museum contains the largest assortment of Frank Stella paintings in the state.
Artists and cultural monuments from the past as well as current manufacturers are displayed in rotating exhibitions.
They are not pompous artists who will bore the youth, so take it easy. Visitors will definitely find it very interesting.
2. Catch Some Fun at Dothan Lanes Bowling Alley
Dothan Lanes is considered one of the most popular bowling alleys in Dothan.
It has 24 lanes with automatic scoring and hosts both casual and competitive bowling tournaments.
Watch for their weekly specials; they generally have something to offer every day.
Weekends are usually ideal days for the whole family, as there are discounts for up to six people.
Dothan Lanes is a fantastic place to grab a few beers and hang out with friends bowling.
Other activities available on-site include a swimming pool and arcade machines!
3. Don’t Miss Escape Dothan
If you are looking for an exciting timeout with friends and family, the escape Dothan is the best place to go.
An escape room is similar to a real-time video game in that it requires cooperation, logical analysis, and forced execution.
You and your companions will have one hour to find clues, crack codes, and solve challenges to escape.
You can choose from the four different room types.
They are Bazaar Battle, 13th Floor, Time Warp, and Murder at the Mansion, in which you have to find out who killed the rich merchant, with what tools, and why. Escape Dothan is the pinnacle of adrenaline-pumping action.
Romantic Things to Do in Dothan (AL)
1. Take a Walk Around Dothan Area Botanical Gardens
Just minutes from downtown Dothan and spanning fifty beautiful acres, these gardens offer landscaped flower beds, tropical greenhouses, a wetland viewing platform, and nature trails for your family to enjoy.
You can also explore the bird trails to see some local songbirds.
Look out for species that visit the garden, such as the ruby hummingbird, Carolina barn owl, screech owl, and many more, whether you are a seasoned bird watcher or a novice.
The beautiful garden began in 1997 with the cultivation of roses.
Fifteen unique gardens are dedicated to roses, azaleas, and various other plants.
Established to preserve historic plants such as Larkspur, Confederate jasmine, and others, the Southern Heirloom Garden will delight tourists curious about Southern history and traditions.
The garden’s low-cost entry and designated picnic area make it an excellent alternative for a minimal, low-cost outing.
2. Grab Some Steak at Conestoga Steak House
Having been serving delicious food for over 30 years, the Conestoga Steak House is a local favorite in Dothan.
The family-owned and operated restaurant guarantees fresh food – so fresh, in fact, that they’ve never had a freezer on their premises and never used frozen meat.
They have a variety of steaks that customers return to again and again: these include New York strip, filet mignon, T-bone, or rib-eye served with your choice of home fries, sweet potatoes, baked potatoes, daily yeast, salad, or broccoli.
3. Go for Some Opera Time at Dothan Opera House
The Dothan Opera House has entertained millions of guests over the years with a variety of live theater and musical performances.
The opera house features stunning Victorian interior architecture and excellent acoustics, with symphony orchestras regularly recording their music here.
It is a small facility with a capacity of up to 590 people that hosts opera, theater, and beauty pageants.
Check the calendar for a schedule of shows during your trip to Dothan.
Free Things to Do in Dothan (AL)
1. See the Murals of the Wiregrass
The murals in Dothan are quite popular, many of which depict the region’s rich past.
The beautiful works of art which decorate the historic buildings in the city center bring them to life with dimension and color.
Make your way through downtown Alabama’s Mural City on a self-guided tour to explore the diverse works of public art.
On N. Foster Street is The Steamboat Era, on South Saint Andrews Street is Chief Eufaula: Creek Indian Removal, and also in front of Liddon Furniture is Salute to the Peanut Industry.
All of these highlight a significant aspect of the country’s rich history, and there are many more.
2. See the World’s Smallest City Block
The world’s smallest city block, according to Guinness World Record, is in Dothan.
It has a street sign, a yield sign, a gravel triangle jammed with a stop sign, and also a monument proclaiming it to be the world’s smallest city block.
The small triangle of lawn formed by the intersection of three streets was originally significantly larger with a unique two-story building and even a snack bar.
Watch out for it, but don’t blink, or you’ll miss it!
3. Take a Tour Around the Peanut Town
The tour is a crazy art show that involves decorating and painting different peanut sculptures in different styles and characters.
There are many to find, from one honoring Dothan’s famous peanut merchant to one resembling Elvis Presley. Make it a game and see how many you can discover and photograph.
Along the way, you will meet a number of funny and interesting characters.
Cheap Things to Do in Dothan (AL)
1. Visit Dothan Civic Center
The 3,100-seat arena hosts a diverse range of events throughout the year; it was initially built in 1975 and served as a center for commerce, culture, and leisure.
Depending on when you are there, you will be able to watch sporting events, concerts, fairs, and much more.
The center is an integral part of Dothan’s history and has been the base for many community events over the years.
2. Grab a Meal at La Parrilla Mexican
Popularly known for serving traditional Mexican cuisine and drinks, La Parrilla Mexican is locally known as a colorful, family-friendly restaurant.
The La Parrilla Mexican restaurant is one of the best in Dothan for its ambiance, and delectable cuisine served in generous portions.
This is an exceptional place for family dinners and gatherings with friends over delicious food.
For an appetizer, try the Queso Fundido with chorizo, followed by the La Seis combo, which includes an enchilada, taco, Mexican rice, and Mexican beans.
3. Check Out Metro Diner
Metro Restaurant is a popular neighborhood restaurant known for its traditional American breakfast and lunch menus.
Metro Restaurant is the place to go if you’re looking for a brunch spot in Dothan.
After lunch here, you’ll feel energized and happy to start the day thanks to the large portions, comforting options, and minimalist, retro-inspired decor.
When you order a Bissell breakfast with a hot cup of coffee, you get a little bit of everything.
Cool Places to Visit in Dothan (AL)
1. The George Washington Carver Interpretive Museum
Having been a cultural attraction over decades in the middle of the city, the George Washington Carver Interpretive Museum is the best.
The exhibit focuses on African American history and its significant contribution to American culture.
G.W. Housed in a historic Greyhound bus station, the Carver Interpretive Museum is right in the middle of downtown, at the forefront of innovation and culture.
The George Washington Carver Interpretive Museum is a cultural attraction in the middle of the city.
The exhibit focuses on African American history and its significant contribution to American culture.
G.W. Housed in a historic Greyhound bus station, the Carver Interpretive Museum is right in the middle of downtown, at the forefront of innovation and culture.
2. Farmers Market
Every Saturday morning during the summer months, Dothan locals head down to the Poplar Head Farmers Market, an open-air market that sells fresh vegetables, fruits, flowers, and local specialties.
Famer’s market is located in the historic part of the city and is very popular among the residents.
There are always activities for children to participate in, and sometimes a spot with live music.
3. Zack’s Family Restaurant
Locally known for its buffet and down-home southern cooking, Zack’s Family Restaurant is considered quite family-friendly.
This is one of those places to eat when you really want to feel full after your meal for the hungry foodie looking for the best restaurants Dothan has to offer.
When you pile all the items from the buffet on your plate, the basic indentations will make you feel right at home.
Eat as much as you can from the buffet, which includes items like Country Fried Steak, Hamburger Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Mac & Cheese, and more.
Conclusion
Dothan is a small town with lots of fun things to do while you’re there.
It is a city rich in historical art exhibits that preserve old historical items as you will find various museums to explore. It also has a wonderful setting and amazing landscape.
Here in Dothan, you can relax with your friends and families in parks and participate in a variety of activities both for the young and old, such as swimming and playing various games.
So if you’re still not sure, we invite you to take advantage of this guide showing you the best things to do in Dothan (AL) and come see for yourself!
