Known as the Peanut Capital of the World, Dothan is located in the southeast corner of Alabama. One fourth of the United States peanut crop is grown nearby, with much of it being processed in the town of Dothan. These free things to do will help you have a cheap family vacation.

Dothan’s climate is typical of the Deep South – hot, humid summers and mild winners. The area is also prone to tornadoes.

The free events listed below range from landmarks to museums to community festivals.

1) Porter Hardware  The oldest operating hardware store in Alabama, this shop has remained virtually unaltered since its start in 1889. Learn about the history of this family business and find a collection of hardware from the late nineteenth century. 112 E. Main Street in Dothan.

2) Peanuts Around Town  A dizzying array of theatrically attired 4-foot-tall fiberglass peanuts. As an ongoing fundraiser for the Downtown Group, businesses all over Dothan purchase the fiberglass shell and decorate it however they choose.

3) The Wiregrass Festival of Murals  An ongoing project of historic murals by nationally and internationally acclaimed muralists on the walls of buildings in the downtown historic district.

4) Azalea-Dogwood Trail  The trail runs through Dothan's Garden District beginning in mid-March. Streets and homes are decorated with flowers and trees. Seasonal.

5) A Downtown Christmas  Downtown Dothan celebrates Christmas during the first week of December. Activities include a tree-lighting ceremony, live music, and an appearance by Santa Claus on the back of a Dothan fire truck.

6) Army Aviation Museum  The U.S. Army Aviation Museum maintains a collection of more than 160 military aircraft, including one of the largest collections of military helicopters in the world. The collection also contains many examples of early research efforts and developments in rotor wing technology and the evolution of the helicopter. The 45 aircraft on display in the public galleries represent the Army's involvement in military aviation from the beginning days with the Wright Brothers and the early combat aircraft of World War I, up to highly technological machines such as today’s AH-64 Apache and the UH-60 Blackhawk. Film kiosks are placed throughout the gallery. The museum also houses an extensive research library.

7) Wiregrass Museum of Art The WMA is home to seven galleries exhibiting works from its more than 500 piece collection alongside the works of local, state and national artists.

8) Dothan Area Botanical Gardens  This site has 50 acres of cultivated gardens, nature trails and undeveloped, wooded landscape in southeast Alabama. The botanical gardens seeks to preserve the native plants of the area in an attractive balance with traditional botanical garden elements. The Garden is committed to the conservation of natural resources for future generations by providing opportunities to the public for beauty, education and research.

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