Pell City, AL

Pell City started as a railroad stop in the 1880s and nearly collapsed during the Panic of 1893 when the Pell City Iron and Land Company went bankrupt. In 1956, four nearby towns merged with Pell City and the population grew. From 2000 to 2010, the city added more than 3,000 people thanks in part to a nearby Honda Motors manufacturing plant that opened in Lincoln in 2001.

Nearby museums include the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in Leeds and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in Talladega.

The Pell City Center represents the major focus of the arts scene in town thanks to its plays and musical acts. The annual Lights Out on the Runway 5K run occurs every July at the town's airport when the runway's night lights guide runners up and down the tarmac.

Typical cuisines pervade the foodie scene in Pell City, including Southern, barbecue, steak, Mexican and Asian choices. Several national chains mix with dozens of locally owned favorites in this neighborhood to give residents a wide variety of options. Most restaurants sit near the intersection of U.S. Highway 78 and Martin Street South at the center of town.

Fat Man's Bar-B-Que, on the southern edge of Pell City, serves sliced meats by the sandwich or by the pound. Choose from barbecued pork, beef, chicken or ribs along with two sides to make a barbecue plate dinner. Sides range from baked beans and potato salad to fried okra and green beans. If you don't want any barbecued meats, go for the deep-fried catfish fillets or standard burger fare. Take home a pound of your favorite meat, or try the whole Boston butt. Seven pies represent your dessert choices, including the sweet potato pie. Fat Man's Bar-B-Que remains an area tradition, as the son of the original owner rebuilt the place in 2010 after a 15-year hiatus due to a fire that burned down the old restaurant.

The Ark in Riverside sits just east of Pell City near Interstate 20 along a prominent bend in the Coosa River. Huge portions of fried catfish arrive at your table after an appetizer of deep-fried chicken livers. Order the grilled or fried shrimp if you prefer a different flavor of seafood, and try the coleslaw as a side dish.

Butts To Go in downtown Pell City has a unique name to go along with great food. Sample pulled pork, ribs, ribeye steak, chicken, turkey and ham on a sandwich. Order a party's worth of seasoned or lemon pepper chicken wings to take on the lake for your fishing trip. Clearly, the owners know what people want since Butts To Go sells pulled pork and whole Boston butt by the pound for all-day excursions or camping trips. Don't forget sides to go, including baked beans, potato salad and coleslaw.

Head east toward Talladega to find the best bars in the area, including Montana Saloon & Grill in Lincoln. Take part in regular margarita specials every Thursday, or indulge in the Ultimate Mudslide that contains Kahlua, vanilla rum and Bailey's. The grill portion of the establishment serves standard American fare. Stop in for theme days such as Terrific Tuesday or Wild Wing Wednesday. Killin' Time, just south of Pell City on the way to the dam, features ladies' night specials and karaoke.

The Brook Besor has several purposes, including a live music venue with a 200-seat event center. This Christian ministry contains a coffeehouse, book store and several ministry outreach programs.

Definitely bring four-wheeled or motorized transportation to this neighborhood to navigate the winding roads and spread-out city. Restaurants and public spaces have plenty of free parking. Major roads include U.S. 78, I-20 and U.S. Highway 231. Several feeders connect to these main roads, so you can easily access Birmingham. Call a taxi based in Birmingham, or book a ride with Uber, if your car breaks down.

Streets near the center of town have sidewalks for evening strolls with the family. Most residential houses have driveways, so feel free to pedal along on your bicycle. Major thoroughfares may have too much traffic for cyclists.

Residents call St. Clair Area Transportation, or S.C.A.T., for public transportation. These shuttles operate from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and transport people point to point for a small fee.

The entire Logan Martin Lake area creates one large playground with several fishing spots, marinas and campgrounds for outdoor enthusiasts. Lakeside Park contains walking trails, the civic center, boat launching points, pavilions for gatherings and a community playground for kids. The city charges a small fee to reserve pavilions and a $5 fee to launch a boat into the lake. Feel free to bring your leashed pooch and some pooper-scooper equipment.

Several fishing tournaments occur at Lakeside Park throughout the summer months. The Majestic Outdoors Bass Fishing Tournament supports several ministries run by Majestic Outdoors. Anglers fish for prizes in late September each year. The McSweeney Foundation Fishing Tournament occurs in early October each year to raise money for its programs that include business ownership and higher education initiatives.

Living costs slightly more in Pell City than in Birmingham, mostly due to higher housing costs. A one-bedroom apartment runs about $690 per month in Pell City.

The price of a pint of beer at a local pub goes for around $3. Round-trip transportation within St. Clair County costs $4 on S.C.A.T. shuttles, although this service does not connect to public transportation for Birmingham. Gas prices typically stay 14 percent lower than the national average.

The major shopping of area of Pell City focuses on the crossroads of Cogswell Avenue and the Heart of Dixie Highway, also known as U.S. 78 and U.S. 231, respectively. Several high-value stores dot the landscape in this central portion of town.

A Wal-Mart Supercenter serves as a grocery store on the north side of Pell City by I-20, while a Winn-Dixie and Publix round out your choices for basic weekly groceries toward the south. B J Produce represents the closest farmers market in town. Check out the store's selections of fresh fruits and vegetables any time of year.

The Pink Daisy Boutique carries clothes, jewelry and shoes for any casual occasion. The store carries Christian-based designers such as Artwear and Whispering Prayer. Jewelry comes from local designer J. Cobb Designs. New items arrive regularly, so keep an eye out for that new sweater or summer dress, depending on the season.

U.G. Clothing Boutique sells trendy women's clothing at discount prices. Every outfit makes you look like an uptown girl, hence the name U.G. Check the store's Facebook page for daily updates and photos of what's on sale.