Timberland Motel

• The Timberland Motel (timberlandmotel.com) is in Chatom, Alabama, a 20-minute drive south of Healing Springs. This motel is in the town's downtown area, right off Jordan Street. All rooms have one or two full-size beds. Some of the rooms have kitchenettes. Two of the rooms are apartment-style units for weekly and monthly stays. Parking spaces are available for RVs and large trucks. Room rates start at $40 per night, as of May 2011.
  
  

Recreation

• Healing Springs is approximately 30 minutes away from two public recreation areas, Bladon Springs State Park and Choctaw National Wildlife Refuge. The closest of the two, Bladon Springs, was founded in the 1830s and was the resort for much of the 19th century. Locals believed the spring water at Bladon Springs had curative properties, making the resort the "Saratoga of the South." Currently, visitors come to Bladon Springs for its picnicking facilities, playgrounds and campground, which has 10 RV campsites. The 4,218-acre Choctaw National Wildlife Refuge presents opportunities for birdwatchers to see waterfowl during their wintering period in Alabama. The majority of Choctaw's bird species congregate in this wildlife refuge from November through February.
  
  

Dining Options

• Healing Springs and the Timberland Motel are within 30 minutes of dining options for travelers. Casanova Rendezvous Cafe (no website; 17257 Jordan St.; Chatom, AL 36518; 251-847-6090) is in downtown Chatom, five minutes from Timberland Motel. This restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner every day of the week. For breakfast, Casanova serves crepes, French toast, pancakes and omelets. The restaurant provides live music entertainment in the evening and offers entrees such as chicken marsala and chicken spaghetti. Visitors in Healing Springs are a 30-minute trip from catfish offerings at Bobby Dahlberg's Fish Camp (no website; 686 Bobby's Camp Road, Silas; 251-754-9225), located by Bladon Springs State Park. Other Southern-style cuisine items include hush puppies, fried chicken and cole slaw. The restaurant is on the banks of the Tombigbee River, allowing patrons to watch fishing boats on the river.
  
  

Fishing

• Timberland Motel is less than five minutes from the Chatom Community Center (no website; 105 Dixie Youth Drive; Chatom, AL 36518; 251-847-6045); the Community Center features the 22-acre Lake Ellis -- which offers fishing opportunities for bream and bass -- a one-mile hiking trail and picnic areas with barbecue grills. On the southern edge of Healing Springs, fishermen have access to Washington County Lake, or Emmit Wood Lake as it's known by the locals. This lake is open for fishing from February to November; fishermen may go to the lake on Tuesdays through Sundays. A bait-and-tackle shop is adjacent to the lake. For Lake Ellis and Washington County Lake, all fishermen must have a valid Alabama fishing license.
  
  

Jackson

• For travelers willing to travel more than 30 minutes to Healing Springs, the city of Jackson, Alabama, provides accommodation options. The Best Western Suites (bestwestern.com) in northern Jackson features an outdoor pool, fitness room and a free continental breakfast. Each room is on ground level and has a refrigerator. At the time of publication, Best Western rates start at $89 per night. North Jackson is also home to the Hampton Inn Jackson (hamptoninn.hilton.com), which provides 70 rooms with king-size or two double-size beds. Hampton Inn also has a swimming pool and fitness center. Nightly rates at Hampton Inn begin at $88.