Spread the love!

Opelika, Alabama: Where Fun Never Gets Old – Check Out Our List of Best Things to Do and Places to Visit!

Tuskegee National Forest out there runs over 11,000 whole acres of the trail right outside of Opelika. The Grand National Golf Course out there holds two of the 18-hole courses and a whole nine-hole course. The Salem-Shotwell Covered Bridge has stood right there since the whole of the early 1900s. Red Clay Brewing Company out there rotates the whole of its beer list. Sit awhile.

Opelika, Alabama runs history, thrill and entertainment in the same few blocks. Outdoor person, culture person, shopper or eater, this city has a room for you. Local or visitor, you will not run short of things to do in Opelika.

History people do well in Opelika. Walk the historic downtown district and look at the architecture on the old buildings while you pick up the city’s past. The Museum of East Alabama is the other one, with exhibits and artifacts that carry the story of the city.

For something with more edge, Opelika is covered. Ziplining and skydiving through to kayaking and hiking, the outdoor list runs long. For a slower day, the shopping and thrifting, the cultural rooms and the dining are all here. Whatever the interest, Opelika sends you home with something.

Key Takeaways

• Opelika, Alabama is a city with a rich history and plenty of exciting things to do.
• Whether you’re a history buff or an outdoor enthusiast, Opelika has something for everyone.
• From shopping and dining to cultural experiences and local events, Opelika is the perfect destination for a fun and memorable trip.

Historical Opelika

Opelika carries a long history worth the time. The Museum of East Alabama and the Historic District are the two places to start.

Museum of East Alabama

For the history of Opelika, the Museum of East Alabama is the room. The exhibits, artifacts and photographs carry the city’s past. You come away knowing about the settlers who first arrived here and about the Methodist church that shaped the city’s early development.

Downtown Opelika

Downtown Opelika is where the history is still standing. The area holds historic buildings and landmarks, the Salem-Shotwell Covered Bridge among them. The bridge has been a local landmark since it was first built in the early 1900s.

Historic District

The Historic District in Opelika is the other one for history people. The buildings from the city’s early days are well preserved. Walk the streets and the century falls away.

History or a plain good afternoon, Opelika has plenty of both. Take the walking shoes and get into the city.

The Thrill of Opelika

Looking for something that raises the pulse, Opelika has it. There is enough here to keep the heart going.

Laser Tag and Arcade Games

Opelika’s entertainment center is where the evening goes. Laser tag, arcade games and plenty else, and it works with friends or family. Strap on the vest, take the laser gun and start dodging.

For arcade people, the selection is deep. Classics like Pac-Man and Space Invaders sit alongside Mario Kart and Dance Dance Revolution. Cash the tickets in for the prizes on the way out.

Golfing Experience

Opelika holds the Grand National Golf Course, which is among the strongest golfing in the country. There are two 18-hole championship courses and a nine-hole course, so there is plenty of green.

Seasoned pro or beginner, Grand National has a round at your level. The lake and the rolling hills sit around the course the whole way. Lessons from experienced instructors are there if you need them.

So get out and take the harder half of Opelika.

Breweries and Distilleries

Opelika runs a good set of breweries and distilleries. Beer person or whiskey person, there is a glass here for you.

Red Clay Brewing Company

Red Clay Brewing Company is the local favorite, running craft beers across the range. The tasting room is where you sit with friends and let the hour go. The beers pouring there rotate, so there is always something new. Brewery tours run there too, for the process behind it.

John Emerald Distilling Company

Whiskey people should not skip John Emerald Distilling Company. They run whiskeys and other spirits made with serious ingredients. The tasting room is where you try them and pick up the distilling process. Tours of the distillery run there as well, start to finish.

A cold beer or a smooth whiskey, Opelika has it. Stop at Red Clay Brewing Company and John Emerald Distilling Company for the local version of both.

Outdoor Activities

For outdoor time in Opelika, there is plenty. Committed hiker or somebody who wants a park to sit in, both are covered. These are the outdoor options in Opelika.

Hiking Trails

Hikers do well in Opelika, on trails with real views off them. Tuskegee National Forest is the strongest of them, running over 11,000 acres with trails at every skill level. Chewacla State Park is the other, with trails through forest and along the creeks.

Parks and Recreation

Opelika Municipal Park works for a family day. There is a playground, picnic areas and a lake to fish in. Creek is the other one, a natural area good for hiking, fishing and birdwatching.

Outdoors in Opelika, you will not run out. A hike through the forest or an hour in a park, both are here. Take the boots and a picnic and go.

The Salem-Shotwell Covered Bridge has been a local landmark right since the early 1900s out there. The Museum of East Alabama out there carries the settlers and the whole of the Methodist church story. Side Track Coffee sits inside a whole renovated train depot right in the town. Everything here is somebody’s room.

Shopping and Thrifting

For shopping, Opelika is covered. Vintage finds or the current trends, there is a shop for it.

Downtown Shopping

Downtown Opelika is a historic area with shopping you will not get elsewhere. Southern Crossing is the one for home decor and gifts. This local favorite is known for its friendly staff and its eclectic shelves.

For thrifting, the Assistance League of Opelika Thrift Store. This nonprofit runs on volunteers and carries gently used clothing, furniture and household items. You do not know what is on the rail until you get there.

Tiger Town Shopping Center

For traditional shopping, Tiger Town Shopping Center. This outdoor mall runs popular retailers including Belk, Dillard’s and Best Buy.

Alongside the big names, Tiger Town runs smaller locally owned shops. The Mint Julep Boutique carries women’s clothing, and The Locker Room carries sports gear and apparel.

Whatever your shopping style, Opelika has options. Take the wallet and work through them.

Cultural Experiences

For cultural rooms in Opelika, you are well placed. The arts and entertainment scene runs deep, and there is a look inside the music industry too.

Arts and Entertainment

Opelika has a real arts community, with galleries and exhibits through it. The Opelika Center for the Performing Arts runs shows and performances through the year. For something hands-on, take a class at the Auburn/Opelika Arts Association, across painting through to pottery.

Recording Studio Tours

Music people should not miss Opelika’s recording studios. These studios have hosted up-and-coming artists alongside well-known musicians, and they give you the back end of the industry. FAME Recording Studios is the one to tour, where Aretha Franklin and Otis Redding recorded. The NuttHouse Recording Studio is the other, having worked with Taylor Swift and Tim McGraw.

Whatever the interest, Opelika has a cultural room for it. Entertainment, arts or music, something here will catch you. Plan the trip and see what the city does.

Unique Dining Experiences

For a meal you will remember in Opelika, you are well served. Local restaurants through to coffee shops and speakeasies, there is a room for it.

Local Restaurants

For a proper meal, Zazu Gastropub. The restaurant is known for its creative menu and the room it sits in. Take the mac and cheese or the fried chicken and waffles.

The Irish Bred Pub is the other local favorite. The kitchen runs classic Irish cooking including battered fish and shepherd’s pie, alongside American plates like burgers and wings. The beer selection is strong.

Coffee

For a cozy coffee, Side Track Coffee. The shop sits in a renovated train depot and runs good coffee and pastries. The room is the reason to stay.

For the upscale version, The Depot. This coffee shop and wine bar sits in a historic train station and runs coffee, wine and small plates. It works for a date night or an evening with friends.

Speakeasies

For a drink, John Emerald Distilling Company. This speakeasy-style distillery runs craft cocktails made with their own spirits. The room does the rest.

The Hound is the other speakeasy. This restaurant and bar sits in a historic building and runs cocktails and small plates. The room is dark and low-lit, which suits a night with friends.

Whatever kind of meal you want, Opelika has it. Creative local restaurants through to cozy coffee shops and speakeasies, the town covers all of it.

Local Events

Opelika runs events right through the year. Community gatherings through to college football games, there is always something on in this city.

Community Gatherings

Opelika is a tight-knit community and there are plenty of reasons to get together. A festival, a parade or a concert, something is usually happening. The Opelika Songwriters Festival, the Christmas Parade and the Summer Swing Concert Series are the three people name.

College Football Games

Opelika is home to Auburn University, so college football matters here. Auburn Tigers fans get plenty of home games through the season. Put on the orange and blue and get into it.

Local or visiting, something is always on in Opelika. Take the friends and family and go.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the most romantic spot in Opelika for a date?

Opelika has plenty of romantic ground. Walk the gardens of the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, or take a candlelit dinner at the cozy Cafe 123. For something further out, a hot air balloon ride with Magic Moments.

Where can I find the best Southern cuisine in Opelika?

Southern cuisine is the staple in Opelika and the options are good. For down-home cooking, Niffer’s Place, or Ma Fia’s Ristorante for Italy with a Southern accent. For BBQ, Mike & Ed’s Bar-B-Q or Byron’s Smokehouse. And for soul food, Mama Mocha’s Coffee Emporium & Roasters.

Any good shopping spots in Opelika for retail therapy?

Downtown Opelika is where the shopping is, across boutiques and antique shops. The Gnu’s Room carries books and coffee. The Opelika Trading Company carries the finds you did not expect. And for the full version, the Tiger Town shopping center runs the familiar stores.

Where’s the best place to snap a photo in Opelika?

Opelika photographs well. The murals around town are the first stop, the one on the side of the Irish Bred Pub among them. The Opelika Train Depot is the other, for the historic building and the architecture on it. And for a view, the Saugahatchee Creek Greenway.

What’s the most picturesque park in Lee County?

Lee County holds several good parks and Chewacla State Park takes it. The waterfalls and the hiking trails make it right for a picnic or a family day. Fishing and kayaking both run on the park’s lake.

Frequently asked questions about Opelika, Alabama

Which brewery or distillery in Opelika, Alabama is the real local favorite?

Red Clay Brewing Company out there runs the craft beers and it rotates the whole of its beer list. John Emerald Distilling Company is the whiskey one out there and it runs the whole of the distillery tours. Side Track Coffee sits inside a whole renovated train depot right there in the town itself. Stay.

How much trail does the Tuskegee National Forest near Opelika, Alabama actually run?

Tuskegee National Forest out there runs over 11,000 whole acres of the ground right outside of Opelika. The trails inside the whole of it out there suit the hikers at every single skill level. Chewacla State Park is the other one out there, with the creeks and the whole of the forest. Boots.

How old is the Salem-Shotwell Covered Bridge standing over in Opelika, Alabama?

The Salem-Shotwell Covered Bridge has stood right there since the whole of the early 1900s out there. It has been a local landmark in downtown Opelika right from the day that it was first built. The historic buildings all around it out there are all of them well preserved. Walk it.

Spread the love!