Fairhope Honored by "Southern Living" Magazine

The city of Fairhope got an unexpected and welcome gift to start out 2009. The charming, Eastern Shore town has been named one of the best small towns in the South by Southern Living magazine. The announcement has made both locals and first-time visitors happy.

"It's definitely very unique, very beautiful," says Erica Mogle. Mogle lives in Florida and visited Fairhope for the first time this week. "We were coming here to explore and just seeing the bay and the little cottages and the house, they're gorgeous. They're not cookie-cutter condos like I see where I'm from."

Southern Living picked Fairhope and ranked them number two beacuse of its Southern charm, hospitality, beauty and recreational opportunities. The popular magazine also named Mariott's Grand Hotel in nearby Point Clear on the best hotels in the South.

"It's one of our top honors," says Grand Hotel General Manager David Clark. "If you look at the other resorts mentioned, those are heavy hitters. So it's nice to be mentioned with them."

The listings are published in this month's edition at bookstores and retail outlets now.

Other Gulf Coast destinations honored by Southern Living
Best Beach Destination
1. Destin
3. Gulf Shores/Orange Beach
4. Panama City Beach
6. Pensacola

Best Festival Or Fair
7. Annual National Shrimp Festival, Gulf Shores (October 8-11)

Best Public Gardens
2. Bellingrath Gardens

Best Southern City
9. Destin

Best Hotel
4. Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club, & Spa, Point Clear
7. Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Biloxi

Best Family Destination
3. Destin
4. Gulf Shores/Orange Beach