Manny, the 12-foot largemouth bass statue in downtown Eufaula, celebrates the city’s title as the “Big Bass Capital of the World.” (Audrey Kent / The Bama Buzz)

Alabama gets plenty of tourists every year but many travelers stick to the main interstates running through our state. And if you don’t veer far enough away from I-65 or I-20, you may miss some great destinations.

One of those spots is Eufaula, which was recently recognized by World Atlas as one of the 9 Most Overlooked Towns in the United States.

Keep reading to see why the Wiregrass town made the cut.

World Atlas highlights Eufaula’s natural beauty

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bama Buzz (@thebamabuzz)

To no surprise, the publication pointed to the town’s natural surroundings as a big reason to stop by. Some spots mentioned included:

Chattahoochee River
Lake Eufaula
Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge
Lakepoint State Park

World Atlas noted that the town’s wetlands and open water ecosystems are home to nearly 300 species of birds and 40 species of mammals.

But the town was also recognized for its dining options like The Water’s Edge Restaurant which serves Southern food like seafood gumbo and fried catfish.

World Atlas also highlighted some of the town’s history like Fendall Hall, which was built back in 1860.

Want to learn more about Eufaula? Check out some of our previous stories:

F42D1Da4 53Be 462E 9F92 4A3C0D480032 — “Lake Eufaula State Park Sign” by gmeador is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

Most Overlooked Towns in the United States

“Some American towns sit beyond the usual road-trip routes, between larger cities, or in landscapes that seem to stretch on without interruption. Ely, for example, a railroad town built around a vast rail yard, sits on the Loneliest Road in America. The Colorado Plateau town of Price has a museum loaded with dinosaur fossils and other prehistoric artifacts. Muscatine in Iowa preserves its unique history in the National Pearl Button Museum. These nine overlooked towns offer a chance to see a less familiar side of the United States, where local history and character have endured largely away from the spotlight.”
World Atlas

Here are the other eight cities that made the list from World Atlas: