Proudly calling itself "The Heart of the Heart of Dixie," the city of Calera has managed to preserve its small-town flavor and friendliness in the face of unprecedented growth and development.  The harmony of yesterday's charm with progressive amenities and conveniences give Calera a unique appeal.  Popular restaurants, quaint antique shops, first-rate services, and a growing commercial base combine with an expanding industrial sector to create a balanced community.  Calera's large city park offers lighted facilities for football, baseball, softball, tennis, and basketball as well as playground equipment, picnic pavilions, and hiking paths.  The city is home to the regional attraction known as the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum, a three-block complex that showcases antique locomotives and railcars, the actual railroad museum, and a train that offers excursion rides. "Thomas the Tank Engine" is an annual attraction that draws as many as 20,000 visitors to Calera each year.  The housing selection in Calera mixes charming older properties with brisk new-home construction, supporting every imaginable lifestyle choice.