In Alabama, there is no shortage of quaint small towns that are home to unique shops, scenic nature and tons of charm – and anyone who has been to Wedowee knows it’s one of ’em.
Located next to beautiful Lake Wedowee, it’s a town that offers its residents and visitors a little bit of everything – from outdoor activities on the water to distinctive stores and restaurants to a winery serving locally made vino – while still holding onto that relaxing, casual atmosphere of country living.
With that in mind, we decided to spotlight three reasons why your next day or weekend trip should be to see the gorgeous lake and one-of-a-kind shops and businesses that Wedowee has to offer.
Go to a wine tasting
When driving through a small town off the beaten path in Alabama, there are certain sights you’re likely to come across along the way, but a bustling winery isn’t usually one of them – unless that town is Wedowee.
Lake Wedowee Winery only opened its doors less than a year ago, but the charming venue has already become a focal point of the downtown area. Located inside a historic building, the winery and tasting room serves artisanal wines that are fermented and bottled in-house using fruits and other ingredients often purchased from local farmers.
Nestled in the heart of the growing downtown and less than a mile from Lake Wedowee, the winery offers a place to relax and enjoy any, or all, of their unique offerings, which range from traditional, like its “Lakeside Nights” Merlot and “Sittin’ On The Dock” Chardonnay to specialty wines made with kiwi, green apple, blackberry and more.
Among the winery’s most popular varieties, according to owner Scott Bayliss, is its “Fox Creek Fire,” which is a specialty mango-habanero wine that’s just the right blend of sweet and spicy. Guests are invited to order food from the area’s local restaurants for pairing with their wines, or customers can pick up a bottle to take home.
Explore the downtown area
While the winery is a must-stop when visiting Wedowee, it’s not the only notable business the community has to offer. The downtown and surrounding area serves up plenty of local restaurants, unique shopping and small-town charm worth checking out.
If you like to start your day off with a caffeine fix, First Light Coffee, a locally owned, organic coffee shop that features a variety of classic and specialty coffee drinks as well as breakfast foods, bubble tea, smoothies and more, can help you out.
For lunch, Miss Amber’s Cafe has a full menu that should satisfy any craving – from salads to hot dogs to burgers, Philly cheesesteaks, fried green tomatoes and more – you might have. There’s also Boondocks BBQ & Creamery, which will have you covered when it comes to dinner and dessert thanks to their delicious barbecue and homemade ice cream.
In-between meals, you can browse some of the town’s local shops that sell all kinds of handcrafted goods and antiques, like The Crow’s Nest, A Brand New Look and more. You can also pay a visit to Wedowee’s free little library and pick out a book to read by the lake or take home with you.
Spend some time on the water
Lake Wedowee, an Alabama Power lake also known as Harris Lake or R.L. Harris Reservoir, is made up of more than 9,000 acres and is perfect for spending a day on the water fishing, enjoying recreational sports or just relaxing in the boat.
For fishing enthusiasts, Lake Wedowee is known as one of the most pristine lakes in the Southeast, attracting folks from surrounding states, thanks to its sizeable bass population. In addition, the lake is also home to crappie, hybrid striper, channel catfish and flathead catfish and more.
If you want to spend some time on the lake but don’t have a boat of your own, Bass Monkey is a local business that offers a variety of boats, including pontoons, tritoons and bass camo fishing boats, for daily and overnight rentals through the Wedowee Marine North.
(Courtesy of Alabama NewsCenter)
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