Story By: Eliza Heiman
MONTEVALLO, Ala. — Now that finals are almost over, holiday cheer is in the air and there are plenty of ways to celebrate the season in Montevallo.
If you are looking for ways to go out with friends or enjoy some time by yourself, search no further. Courtney Bennett, executive director of Montevallo Main Street, has five fun suggestions to explore the city and spend your winter break in Montevallo
1. Grabbing a coffee and visiting Orr Park
Orr Park has been one of the main spots to visit in Montevallo for a while. Tim Tingle has been giving the park an artistic history since the 1990s by hand carving trees into creative faces, creatures and more.
Two carved trees in Orr Park Photo obtained from https://www.cityofmontevallo.com/OrrPark.aspx 
A carved tree in front of a creek at Orr Park Photo obtained from my camera roll 
A face carved into a tree Photo obtained from Orr Park Facebook
“He’s working on trying to get 100 trees carved before he’s done,” Bennett said.
Bennett recommends stopping by C’s Cake and Coffee House for one of their seasonal eggnog drinks and enjoying it while walking the trail of Orr Park.
The winding trail takes you through Orr Park and showcases the hand carved trees while you enjoy your holiday beverage.
2. Visiting local shops for Christmas gifts
Christmas shopping can sometimes feel like chore, but it doesn’t have to. Spend a day downtown visiting local shops to find a gift for friends, family, or maybe even yourself.
Blue Phrog Gallery is a good place to start. With art from multiple different local artists, there is almost something for everybody.
“They have a lot of unique art pieces,” said Bennett. “It would be fun to window shop or buy something from there for Christmas.”
3. Find the three photo spots downtown
The city of Montevallo has decorated for the holidays and in the process, they set up three photo spots that you can find with friends.
The first photo spot is in Owl’s Cove Park with lit ornaments that are sure to give an Instagram post some flare.
The second spot is a photo frame at the Montevallo Post Office. This photo frame has holiday decorations and is ready for the season!
A great spot to take a photo!
Courtney Bennett, Executive Director of Montevallo Main Street
The last photo spot is the Twisted Tower at the Village on Valley, located across from the Montevallo Fire Station
“Those will all be decorated very nicely for Christmas,” said Bennett. “A great spot to take a photo!”
4. Walk the new trails at Shoal Creek park
A recent addition to Montevallo are the trails that have been expanded at Shoal Creek Park. There are now trails for walking, hiking, and even biking.
When walking through the park, you are surrounded by a variety of trees and plants, as well as Shoal Creek, which runs through the entire park.
With all the free time during break, it is an adventurous idea to surround yourself with the nature that Shoal Creek Park can offer.
5. Try the new menu at Meri Moon
Montevallo has gained a new restaurant this year, Meri Moon!
Meri Moon offers a wide variety of menu items from soups to milkshakes, there is sure to be something for everyone in the friend group.
There is plenty of seating to gather with friends and catch up on all the semester gossip.
Don’t forget rest and relaxation
With all of these fun new things to try, you might not know where to start, but make sure that you take time for yourself and refresh.
No matter where you are, finals can be difficult for anyone, and the most important thing is your health. Take a day and watch your favorite show or make some brownies; even going on a walk can be relaxing.
Make sure to prioritize yourself and have fun this winter break!
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