Editor’s note: This is the first article in a series about summer activities in south Baldwin County (Summerdale, Foley, Magnolia Springs, Elberta and surrounding areas)

Surprise summer showers in south Alabama are no joke. They can spring up at any time without notice, and can be gone just as fast … or they can make a day full of outside activities forced to move inside. Either way, it’s important parents, babysitters or visitors to the area know the options of south Baldwin County when these pesky surprise showers pop up.
Libraries
Libraries are something every municipality has and are an endless source of fun and knowledge. Many libraries, in addition to weekly story time for children or monthly activities and meetings have summer programs for children of all ages. Many are week-long and hours vary. If you can’t commit to a certain time or activity, it’s free to go to the library and play with your child in the children’s section, read to them or use the computers to search what you need to. To check out books, all you need is a library card, and it can be used at any library in the county. If you want to try something different outside of checking out books, check out the Magnolia Springs Seed Lending Library. It’s the same process as checking out a book, you just check out seeds. Once you’ve grown your vegetables or other plants, bring your own seeds back to the library for others to check out. While you’re there, check out a book on gardening and planting.

The Foley Library has activities every week, like adult coloring nights, guest speakers and a weeklong summer program.
For the libraries in your city or town, visit your municipality’s website, or the Baldwin County Library Cooperative.
Foley Sports Tourism Complex
Though not due to open until the end of May, now’s the time to look at the event center on the Foley Sports Tourism website, foleysportstourism.com, and start planning a few days watching some indoor sports. Gymnastics and basketball are some of the sports anticipated to be played here. The calendar will be filling up as soon as this center is complete.
OWA
While you’re scoping out the sports at the Foley Sports Tourism Complex, mosey over to OWA, the new entertainment complex in Foley scheduled to open this summer as well. The theme park will have rides for all ages, but there will also be restaurants, retail shops and entertainment venues indoors. Then, you’ll be close to the theme park when the sun comes back out.
Museums
Baldwin County is swimming with history throughout the county, but there’s a lot right here in south Baldwin. All museums offer free admission. What could be better? Your family is occupied and learning and it’s free!
For 66 years, Baldwin County’s agriculture industry relied on a railroad system to transport goods from farms to the rest of the country. In 1971, the Louisville and Nashville Railroad ceased operations at its depot in Foley. Now, it houses the Foley Railroad Museum, offering exhibits about Baldwin County’s railroading and agricultural history.
A model railroad layout depicts the evolution of railroading in the 1950s, complete with three operating double track routes, 12 different railroads and several animated sites, along with representations of a fire station, church, bus station, city park, farm, sawmill, coal company and an oil refinery. The museum also has a train that carries children around Foley’s Heritage Park.
The Summerdale Museum and Archives features items donated by the community’s residents that depict the town’s history. It is housed in the Summerdale Community Center.
The Holmes Medical Museum in downtown Foley is located in Baldwin County’s first hospital, which served the community from 1936 to 1958. The interior of the museum is practically unchanged from its hospital days, and on self-guided tours, visitors can travel back in time to see how medicine has advanced in the past 50 years. Antique surgical instruments, operating room machinery and a human skeleton are on display. Featuring a “medical quackery” display, depicting some of the experimental medicine practiced in the early 20th century.
The Baldwin County Heritage Museum works to preserve the culture of the farm communities of early Baldwin County by creating a home for historically significant buildings, documents and artifacts. It is not filled with elaborate antiques or expensive collections, but rather bits and pieces of items used in the daily lives of men and women who lived in Baldwin County. Visiting exhibits and local family mementos are on display.
The Spear Hunting Museum in Summerdale profiles the hunting conquests of Gene Morris, considered the greatest spear hunter in modern history. At the time of his death in 2011, Morris had recorded 592 total big game kills with spears, the most among any human in recorded history. This museum informs the public about the world of spear hunting and life of Morris.
Historical Attractions
In addition to the many museums that call Baldwin County home, there are over 50 sites in Baldwin County that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. One large attraction is the Swift-Coles Historic Home in Bon Secour. The Swift-Coles Historic Home was originally built around 1882. In 1898, the Charles A. Swift family moved into the home, and as the Swift family grew in size, the home was expanded to its current 6,000 square feet, which includes 16 rooms, 10 fireplaces and 3,500 square feet of porches that look out onto the homes grounds. In the summer 2009, the home and grounds were opened to the public for tours.
As long as the weather isn’t too bad, a road trip around the county to visit the historic sites, from Fort Morgan to Fort Mims to Bicentennial Park and 5 Rivers Delta, would be a great way to spend the day and learn about the county you call home.
Live Music
In addition to the arts, the people of our area enjoy their music. Just about any restaurant now has live music on the weekends, and sometimes during the week. For schedules, call the restaurant first. Live music is nice outdoors, but many places have coverings where musicians can still perform indoors if that shower decides to start right before your meal.

Next week, we’ll take a look at the numerous outdoor activity options in south Baldwin County.