Welcome to Daleville, a friendly Wiregrass town best known as the civilian gateway to Fort Novosel (formerly Fort Rucker), home of U.S. Army aviation. Here, helicopter history hums in the piney breeze, local cafés know your coffee order by day two, and small-town Southern hospitality is the default setting.

Within 30–40 minutes you can sample Enterprise’s quirky Boll Weevil Monument, Dothan’s downtown murals, and a living-history farm at Landmark Park. A few hours farther, Alabama shifts gears: civil rights touchstones in Montgomery, ship-sized history in Mobile, and sugar-white beaches in Orange Beach where dolphins surf the boat wakes at sunset.

Plan to rent a car and savor the state’s greatest hits: meat-and-three lunches, Gulf seafood, and beach-town bakeries. Check attraction hours in advance (base facilities often require ID), carry sun protection for coastal days, and arrive hungry—the portions here are generous and the welcome even more so.

Daleville

Daleville is a compact, convenient base for exploring the Wiregrass region and Fort Novosel’s aviation heritage. The big-ticket attraction is the U.S. Army Aviation Museum, with rotorcraft and warbirds that trace the evolution of Army flying from biplanes to modern helicopters.

Thanks to decades of military ties, you’ll also find excellent Korean food, casual diners, and easy access to trails, lakes, and nearby Enterprise and Dothan. Evenings are mellow and starry—ideal after a day of museums or murals.

• Stay: Browse options on VRBO Daleville or compare hotels on Hotels.com Daleville.
• Getting here: Fly into Dothan (DHN, ~30 min), Montgomery (MGM, ~1h45), or Northwest Florida Beaches (ECP, ~1h40). Search fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com, then rent a car at the airport.
• Eat & drink: Try Daleville’s Korean standbys (think kimchi, bulgogi, and sizzling stone-pot bibimbap), then branch out around Enterprise and Dothan for barbecue, burgers, and chef-driven Southern plates.

Enterprise

Enterprise wears its agricultural past with a wink: the Boll Weevil Monument celebrates the pest that forced the town to diversify and ultimately prosper. Downtown is walkable, with independent restaurants, a craft-beer scene, and parks that make family time easy.

• Top sights: Boll Weevil Monument; Johnny Henderson Family Park for lakeside trails and playgrounds; Enterprise Depot Museum for local history.
• Stay nearby: VRBO Enterprise | Hotels.com Enterprise
• Food notes: Look for a classic meat-and-three at lunch, a burger-and-taps spot like a local ale house for dinner, and a scoop shop for dessert on Main Street.

Dothan

Dothan, “The Peanut Capital” and “Mural City,” is the Wiregrass hub. Its downtown murals tell regional stories; Landmark Park preserves a 19th-century farm and native habitats; and a growing culinary scene mixes comfort and creativity.

• Top sights: Landmark Park; Downtown mural walk; seasonal events and Saturday markets.
• Stay: VRBO Dothan | Hotels.com Dothan
• Eats: From a Top Chef winner’s downtown spot to beloved steakhouses, you’ll find standout Gulf shrimp, wood-fired pies, and peanut-butter sweets.

Montgomery

Montgomery is essential for understanding America’s civil rights story. Here, Rosa Parks took her stand by sitting; marchers crossed Edmund Pettus Bridge; and museums and memorials bring history into sharp focus.

• Travel: Drive Daleville→Montgomery ~95 miles/1h45 via US-231/AL-110 (fuel ~$12–18 per car each way).
• Stay: VRBO Montgomery | Hotels.com Montgomery

Mobile

One of the oldest cities on the Gulf Coast, Mobile blends French, Spanish, British, and American chapters with live oaks and ironwork balconies. The WWII-era USS Alabama is a floating time capsule, and downtown is tailor-made for a tasting tour.

• Travel: Montgomery→Mobile ~170 miles/2h35 via I-65 (fuel ~$20–28 per car).
• Stay: VRBO Mobile | Hotels.com Mobile

Orange Beach

Orange Beach delivers white sands, emerald water, and dolphin-filled bays. Boardwalk cafés, marinas, and Gulf State Park’s bike trails make it easy to switch between active and laid-back.

• Travel: Mobile→Orange Beach ~55 miles/1h via I-10/AL-59/AL-182 (fuel ~$6–9). Return to Daleville ~150 miles/3h via AL-59/US-84/US-231.
• Stay: VRBO Orange Beach | Hotels.com Orange Beach

Day 1: Arrive in Daleville (Wiregrass Welcome)

Afternoon: Arrive via DHN/MGM/ECP and pick up a rental car. Check in to your Daleville stay (VRBO Daleville or Hotels.com Daleville). Stretch your legs with a short stroll and stock up on snacks for day trips.

Evening: Lean into Daleville’s Korean culinary scene—order kimchi pancakes, bulgogi, and bibimbap at a local Korean restaurant where recipes often trace back to military families. If you’re up for a nightcap, head to a nearby Enterprise ale house for a regional pint and a jumbo soft pretzel.

Day 2: Fort Novosel Aviation and Enterprise

Morning: Coffee and a Southern breakfast—think fluffy biscuits with sausage gravy. Then visit the U.S. Army Aviation Museum at Fort Novosel (public entrance outside the security gate; bring ID and check hours). The helicopter hall—from Hueys to Apaches—tells powerful stories of pilots and crews.

Afternoon: Drive 15 minutes to Enterprise for lunch at a classic meat-and-three (choose a blue-plate special with two sides like collards and mac and cheese). Snap a photo at the Boll Weevil Monument, then walk Main Street’s boutiques. If you need green space, Johnny Henderson Family Park has easy trails around the lake.

Evening: Settle into an easy dinner: craft-burger spot with house-cut fries, or a small-plate kitchen with a solid whiskey list. Dessert? A local ice-cream parlor downtown—ask for a peanut butter swirl as a nod to Wiregrass heritage.

Day 3: Dothan Murals, Landmark Park, and Local Flavors

Morning: Drive ~35 minutes to Dothan for espresso at a downtown roastery and a self-guided mural walk—more than two dozen large-scale works tell peanut, railroad, and civil rights stories across a few compact blocks.

Afternoon: Lunch at a chef-driven Southern bistro—seasonal vegetables, Gulf shrimp and grits, and house pickles are staples. Then head to Landmark Park, a living-history farm with heirloom crops, a syrup shed, and trails through longleaf pines and cypress swamps.

Evening: Choose between a beloved old-school steakhouse (hand-cut ribeyes, baked potatoes, buttered toast) or a local brewery’s beer garden with smash burgers and tacos. Keep it mellow—tomorrow you head to Montgomery.

Day 4: Montgomery Civil Rights Immersion

Depart Daleville in the morning (1h45). Today is dedicated to the pivotal places and people who bent history toward justice. A guided experience helps connect streets, statues, and stories.

• Private 6 Hour Tour of Selma and Montgomery Civil Rights Sites — retrace the 1965 march route and cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge with a historian-guide.

  

Dinner in Montgomery: opt for Alabama staples like catfish and cornbread at a downtown café, or book a contemporary Southern spot with wood-fired mains and craft cocktails. Overnight in Montgomery (VRBO | Hotels.com).

Day 5: Battleship to Bay: Mobile, then Orange Beach

Morning: Drive ~2h35 to Mobile. Step aboard living history with an all-access pass to decks, turrets, and tight quarters.

• USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park Admission Ticket — self-guided exploration of Battleship USS Alabama, Submarine USS Drum, and aircraft.

  

Afternoon: Eat downtown—think Gulf oysters (raw or chargrilled), fried crab claws, and seafood gumbo. Then let a local guide feed you the rest of Mobile’s story one bite at a time:

• Downtown Mobile Food Tour — sample iconic Gulf Coast dishes while you learn Mobile’s layered history.

  

Evening: Drive ~1 hour to Orange Beach. Check in (VRBO Orange Beach or Hotels.com Orange Beach) and stroll the sand at blue hour. Dinner at a marina-side spot—order blackened grouper, hushpuppies, and a key lime tart.

Day 6: Beach Day and Dolphin Sunset

Morning: Start with coastal coffee and a warm cinnamon roll at a local bakery-café. Claim your beach chairs, or rent bikes to explore Gulf State Park’s miles of flat boardwalk trails through pines and dunes.

Afternoon: Quick lunch: shrimp po’boy, coleslaw, and sweet tea. Relax by the pool or browse The Wharf’s boutiques and marina views. Save time for a nap—you’re chasing golden hour on the water.

Evening: Set sail for dolphins and a pastel sky:

• Sunny Lady Dolphin and Sunset Cruises (Orange Beach) — a family-run, 1.5‑hour cruise with guaranteed smiles and frequent dolphin sightings.

  

After docking, celebrate with Gulf oysters and a crisp coastal white, or hit a casual spot for fish tacos and live music.

Day 7: Easy Morning, Return to Daleville and Depart

Morning: One last beach walk. If you’re feeling active, paddle a calm bay or stroll the pier for pelican and heron spotting.

Afternoon: Drive ~3 hours back to Daleville. Fly home from Dothan (DHN) or your preferred airport—compare fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Grab a final plate of Southern comfort near Daleville—fried chicken, butter beans, and cornbread travel well as memories.

Optional Swap: Shorter Montgomery Tour

• 3hr Private Driving Civil Rights Tour — a concise, guided overview if you prefer a lighter day.

  

Practical notes: The U.S. Army Aviation Museum is accessible without base access; other Fort Novosel facilities may require ID and/or authorization—verify before you go. Summer is hot and humid statewide; hydrate, use sunscreen, and plan indoor/air‑conditioned breaks midday. For the best flexibility across this itinerary, a rental car is strongly recommended.

In one week you’ll trace rotorcraft history, taste the Wiregrass, stand where brave citizens changed a nation, climb through a battleship, and toast dolphins at sunset. From Daleville’s relaxed rhythm to the Gulf’s glow, Alabama rewards curiosity with unforgettable stories—and flavors—you’ll carry home.