Kelly

My dog loves walking at Cooper Creek. The trails are well-maintained and there are several routes you can take, including around the entire park. there are tons of trees and plants, making the park shady, cool, and beautiful. There are several pavilions and picnic areas, two playgrounds, tons of tennis courts (you do have to pay to use), and some open grassy areas for fetch or frisbee. There's also a duck pond where you can feed ducks and geese, see turtles and other birds, and go fishing.

There isn't a specific fenced area for dogs, so you'll need a leash.

This is a small fenced area at a nice gas station. The fence is sturdy and there are poo bags and a trash can. The gas station is really great -- it's basically a mini grocery store with 2 or 3 restaurants inside. The bathrooms were clean, staff were friendly, and gas prices were reasonable.

The dog park didn't have any shade, so my pup got hot pretty quickly. It would be nice if they added a sun shade.

Also, the fence is about 4.5' tall, which is fine for most dogs. However, if your dog can jump that, I'd keep them on a leash.

I'd stop here again. Nice little rest stop.

I booked this tour for 3 people and planned on taking my dog. I double-checked the website and the FAQs say, "Dogs are welcome on private tours." I emailed Captain Lorraine and she confirmed that dogs are only allowed on private tours because they've had issues in the past. The private tours start at $299.

However, if you just want to go on an awesome cruise to see dolphins, sea birds, deer, and Shell Island without your dog, it's 100% worth it. I paid $50/person for the Sunset Dolphin Tour and tipped our captain. And I honestly don't think my dog would have enjoyed it; I'd have been too focused on keeping her safe and she'd have been terrified of the sound and water.

TL;DR: HIGHLY RECOMMEND, BUT WITHOUT YOUR DOG 👍👍

On the way to the beach, we stopped in Dothan to stretch our legs. The staff was very friendly, there were clean restrooms and vending machines, and they provided poo bags and a trash can at the entrance. The entrance fee was $5/person for non-members.

The gardens were small but beautiful, and there were lots of grassy areas to run around or have a picnic. It was very shady, so the AL heat didn't kill us.

They didn't have water fountains through the gardens, so definitely take some for yourself and your dog.

Overall, great little rest stop. 👍👍