The Alabama State Parks are celebrating the system’s 70th birthday this fall, and a party was held at Oak Mountain State Park on Thursday as the fourth stop on the seven-park tour.

Dozens of visitors turned out Thursday and enjoyed snacks, refreshments and birthday cake.

Randy Jinks, the State Parks Promotions Director, said with the economy being down this year, the birthday celebrations are a great way of showing the parks off to the public.

And with Oak Mountain being the second-most visited state park, Jinks said it offers a little bit of everything, just like the entire park system.

“We live in a beautiful state,” Jinks said. “We’re the only state in the Southeast that has mountains and Gulf coast beaches.”

With the promotion coinciding with the fall, Jinks said it is a perfect time for people to get out and vacation closer to home in beautiful atmosphere.

And with Oak Mountain offering golf, fishing, hiking, biking, lodges and other recreational activities, Jinks said Oak Mountain is a perfect spot for that vacation.

“Webster’s Dictionary defines vacation as time set aside for rest and relaxation,” Jinks said. “The parks are a great place to go and relax. The value we offer the people of Alabama in lodges and recreational activities is second to none.”