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Tales of the Traveling Tote: Mentone, Alabama

Thursday, September 1, 2022

 


Happy September, My Lovelies!  

Welcome to the September 2022 edition of the Tales of the Traveling Tote!  I only have one short weekend getaway to share with y'all.  After chemo and before my surgery we decided to go to Mentone, Alabama.  Our trip was at the end of June, and it was nice to escape to a place slightly cooler than Birmingham.


La Countess de Monet at one of the Welcome to Mentone sites.


Mentone is a small town located in Northeast Alabama.  It boasts the highest elevation of all of Alabama's towns on the crest of Lookout Mountain (1,736 feet).  There are several private camps located in Mentone (Camp Alpine for boys is one), and it is close to the Little River Canyon and DeSoto Falls.  

DeSoto Falls is one of the tallest and most visited waterfalls in Alabama.  It is named for Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto, and the 107 foot waterfall and the picnic area is part of DeSoto State Park on Lookout Mountain.


Photo by Sam Dellaporta on Unsplash

Note:  The day we went to the park, it was a little rainy so I left my camera in the car.


Did you know that Alabama has a canyon?  Yes, we do!  AND it's on top of a mountain!

Little River Canyon National Preserve is a United States National Preserve located on top of Lookout Mountain near Fort Payne, Alabama, and DeSoto State Park.  The canyon is sometimes said to be the nation's longest mountaintop river.  Little River is unique because it flows for most of its length atop Lookout Mountain in northeast Alabama. Forested uplands, waterfalls, canyon rims and bluffs, pools, boulders, and sandstone cliffs offer settings for a variety of recreational activities. 

Here are some photos, also taken by Sam Dellaporta:


Little River Canyon



Little River


Most people visit Mentone to relax and enjoy nature by hiking.  Annually Mentone hosts several art festivals, but there was really nothing going on the weekend we went.  We walked, ate at one of my favorite restaurants, visited a lovely farmer's market, and enjoyed a few of Mentone's pretty gardens.

Below are some photos I took:





We are never disappointed with the Wildflower Cafe.



La Countess made a friend!








Raspberries were in season.

The photos below are a few from the gardens we visited.  I was just playing with my camera because the light kept changing that day.










I'm packing Miss Square Peggy, La Countess de Monet, and Miss Candy Max for an upcoming adventure for December's post!





Please visit the other ladies' posts to read about their adventures.  


Don't forget to enter the giveaway! 




Blog Hop Links:


Debbie with Miss Aurora @ Mountain Breaths 
Emily with Miss Courtney ChildsThe French Hutch
 Patti with Miss Kenzie @ Pandora's Box
Jenna with Miss Coquille @The Painted Apron
Linda P with Miss Lola @ Life and Linda
Rita with Miss Luna C Panoply 
Sarah with Miss Merri Mac @ Hyacinths for the Soul
Jackie and Miss Madi K @ Purple Chocolat Home
Ricki Jill and Countess De Monet @ The Sketchy Reader
Cherry Kay and Carrie Ann Hall @ Entertaining Women  





Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill





13 comments

  1. That looks like a perfect place for a relaxing getaway. I hope and pray you are doing well and feeling better every day! Hugs, Diane

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  2. I've been to Mentone once and I think we ate at the Wildflower Cafe, too. Your information about the area was interesting. We did some hiking there and saw the sights you photographed.
    I hope you are feeling well. Continued prayers for you.

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  3. Ricki Jill, so glad you got to get away. How beautiful everything looks. Love the falls. To Strolling gardens is always fun.The Wildflower cafe sounds lovely. So glad you are feeling better and enjoying life. Happy September.

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  4. Ricki Jill, glad you had a relaxing getaway. You certainly deserve it!!! Looking forward to your December post. Packing the bags and heading out!!! Have fun, dear friend.

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  5. I love little getaways like yours to Mentone. They refresh the soul so well, especially when there's not a lot of effort in planning and packing. DeSoto Falls look really nice. I feel like Alabama has so much in common with West Virginia insofar as its terrain (sans beach). I see fun in those bags waiting to be filled for the next adventure!

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  6. Mentone looks like a beautiful spot for relaxation, Ricki Jill. I did not know that Alabama had a canyon. All your nature photos are so beautiful. Prayers continue onward for you, my friend. ❤️🙏🏻

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  7. This looks like a fabulous place to visit - I don't know much about your state so this was a fun post for me to read! Hope you are feeling well. Looking forward to hearing about your next adventure!

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  8. Mentone is beautiful along with all of North Alabama. Driving through this area is a delight, a great place to plan for a getaway. I really enjoyed your photos, reminds me I need to plan a little trip there. I have not eaten at the Wildflower cafe but I've heard so much about it I know I want to. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers and hope you are gaining your strength back every day. Happy September RJ.........

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  9. I'm so glad you were able to join us today Ricki Jill! I know you have been homebound for so long bravely fighting your battle so it made me so happy that you did have a little getaway earlier this summer. I have never been to Mentone, the pictures you shared are stunning and it must have lifted your heart to be surrounded by nature's beauty. The Wildflower Cafe sounds wonderful! Please know you are in our hearts and prayers and I hope you will be able to travel again soon~Emily and I can't wait to resume our lunches! Take care~
    💕 Jenna

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  10. So glad to find you posting again! I love that all of the girls are ready to travel for your Christmas post. Sometimes when I fly, I carefully line my purses one inside the other with Miss Carrie Ann Hall always acting as the outside layer because she is so large. Then I carry them all on board the plane as one carry-on. Works every time. CherryKay

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  11. I'm so glad you were able to get away. This looks like the loveliest healing place for you. Beautiful in every way. Sending all good wishes and hoping treatments and all are going well.

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  12. What a beautiful place, Ricki Jill! I can see why it would be a relaxing place. I am very happy to read you were able to get away and enjoy.

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  13. So good to see your post! Sorry I am late, I forgot to include your link on my blog post but just added it. I’m glad you had this adventure and am looking forward to where you are traveling to next. xo

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I'm Ricki Jill. Welcome! I'm honored that you're reading my blog. I enjoy sharing my creative lifestyle @ The Bookish Dilettante. For more information about my blog, please read the Start Here page. Thank-you for stopping by, and I hope you'll consider following me via email.

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