Promises kept. Curiosities followed. Hearts lightened.
Day Two of our first Alabama road trip was a careful balance of wandering and personal business. Day Three leaned into that rhythm even harder—finishing what needed to be done first, so the rest of the day could belong to curiosity, color, and the open road.
We had two more cemeteries with confirmed ancestors waiting on us, and a third we hoped might hold more family ties—or at the very least, a little mystery. There were rumors of hauntings. A letterbox. The possibility of discovery.
I wanted the promises handled early, the emotional weight set gently down. No one wants to carry unfinished business all the way home. Especially not Dusty. So I mapped the morning for closure—and left the rest of the day wide open for wandering.
And oh, did we wander.
Stop #15: Selma Baptist Church Cemetery
This was a quick, purposeful stop. Dusty had one known ancestor here, and she knew exactly where to go—no wandering required.
Church was in session when we arrived, the parking lot full and buzzing with Sunday life. We slipped in quietly, paid our respects, and slipped back out just as quickly. Business handled. Promise kept.
Stop #16: Memory Hill Cemetery
Another short but meaningful stop. One ancestor. One known location. We drove straight to the spot, took our moment, and moved on.
Sometimes closure doesn’t need ceremony. Sometimes it just needs presence.
Stop #17: Dothan City Cemetery
This one was supposed to be a little adventure. We’d heard there was a letterbox hidden somewhere among the paths and headstones in Dothan City Cemetery, and we fully intended to find it.
My friend, we did not.
The letterbox remained elusive—cleverly hidden or quietly laughing at us. Either way, we eventually conceded defeat and pointed the car back toward the highway.
- Address: 901 Columbia Highway, Dothan, AL
- Pro Tip: Know who you’re visiting and where they’re located—this cemetery is big, and it does not play hide-and-seek gently.
Stop #18: Kolomoki Mounds State Park
I’ve visited sites with Native American mounds before—but Kolomoki? Kolomoki impressed me.
More mounds. Bigger mounds. A sense of ancient permanence you can feel in your bones.
We climbed the stairs to the largest mound, visited the nearby cemetery, explored the museum mound, and let ourselves slow down long enough to really take it all in.
- Address: 205, Indian Mounds Rd, Blakely, GA
- Pro Tip: Give yourself a couple of hours. Wear comfy shoes. Ancient history doesn’t rush.
Stop #19: Pasaquan
This stop was… a lot.
I suspected it might be “meh.” But we love weird, so we went anyway.
Pasaquan is a color-soaked, fever-dream vision brought to life—an untamed mind splashed across walls, buildings, and space itself. It was fascinating to see restoration in progress, paint and brushes still sitting out like the artist had just stepped away.
We weren’t thrilled about that part—but the outbuildings? Incredible. Dusty fell hard for the tin work and immediately added “learn how to do this” to her ever-growing list of creative ambitions.
- Address: 238 Eddie Martin Rd, Buena Vista, GA
- Pro Tip: Bring an open mind. Leave expectations at the gate.
Stop #20: Little Nadine’s Playhouse Mausoleum
This stop was added for the story.
Dusty and I both love cemeteries and unique graves, and this one certainly checked that box—but it landed heavier than I expected. Quietly. Permanently.
Some stories don’t just stay with you.
They move in.
- Address: Oakwood Cemetery, 1st Street, Lanett, Alabama
- Pro Tip: Watch your head. The roof is lower than your thoughts expect.
Stop #21: Museum of Wonder Drive Thru
A drive-thru museum.
Because of course.
I added this stop purely because I’d never seen anything like it—and it absolutely delivered. Quirky, delightful, and packed with surprises, we ended up spending nearly an hour exploring everything.
Weird wins again.
- Address: 970 Alabama 169, Seale, Alabama
- Pro Tip: Don’t rush it. The wonder is in the details.
Stop #22: Back to Dothan (and bed)
Our final stop brought us back to the hotel in Dothan for the last night of the trip. We rolled in late, tired in that good, road-worn way.
But really—how often do you get a road trip inside a road trip?
It was a good day.
- Pro Tip: Long drives go easier with road trip games, deep conversations, or wildly speculative “what if” scenarios. Choose your own adventure.
Road Notes and Lessons Learned
- Long stretches get harder when the conversation runs dry
- Sprinkle in short stops to stretch, reset, and stay human
- Never skip the weird places—those are usually the ones you remember
Day Three Reflections
Day Two had been heavy—emotionally rich, but weighty. The wandering on Day Three was exactly what we needed. It lightened the mood, reset our spirits, and reminded us why we travel in the first place.
The variety was perfect: weird, unique, ancient, heartfelt. A reminder that you don’t have to end a journey heavy just because it mattered.
Sometimes, the road gives you exactly what you need—if you let it.
Ready to Plan Your Own Route?
- Download Roadtrippers (or grab a paper map if you’re old school like me).
- Pin these stops—or follow a few side roads instead.
- Don’t rush. The best moments live between destinations.
With a little planning, this drive becomes less of a long haul and more of a Southern adventure—full of small-town stories, unexpected art, ancient earthworks, and roadside wonder.
Happy travels, friend.
And if Murph tags along? Well… at least you’ll have a story.
We kept promises to the past…
Then chased wonder the rest of the day.
Ancestors, ancient mounds, outsider art, and a drive-thru museum (because of course). Day Three was where the heaviness lifted and wanderlust took the wheel.
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