Factory Tours: Steel City Pops – See frozen treats made while you eat

  • steel city pops birmingham christie dedman
    Photo by Christie Dedman
  • steel city pops christie dedman
    Inside the Homewood location. Photo by Christie Dedman

Steel City Pops hit Birmingham in 2012 and they’ve been creating delicious frozen pops across the state and beyond ever since. The Homewood, AL location is one our favorites to hit just for the entertainment...

More

Factory Tours: Birmingham’s Golden Flake Factory Tour Tips & Review

  • golden flake tour christie dedman 1
    The free samples the kids received from the Golden Flake factory tour. Photo by Christie Dedman
  • golden flake tour christie dedman
    The Golden Flake factory tour. Photo by Christie Dedman

One of the first factory tours we hit when the kids were younger was the Golden Flake factory tour in the industrial area of downtown Birmingham.  I was new to touring factories with kids...

More

Tips for touring Russell Cave National Monument with kids

  • russell cave christie dedman
    Russell Cave National Monument - Photo by Christie Dedman
  • russell-cave
    Russell Cave National Monument - Photo by Christie Dedman
  • russell cave national monument christie dedman
    Russell Cave National Monument - Photo by Christie Dedman
  • Screen Shot 2017-01-19 at 10.14.36 PM
    Russell Cave National Monument - Photo by Christie Dedman

A few years back we headed up to Bridgeport, AL with the kids to take a gander at Russell Cave National Monument. The National Park Service site had a reptile program scheduled so we thought it...

More

Tips for visiting Jesse Owens Museum & Oakville Indian Mounds with kids

  • oakville indian mounds dedman
    Museum at Oakville Indian Mounds - Alabama Photo by Christie Dedman
  • Screen Shot 2017-01-19 at 9.55.14 PM
    Oakville Indian Mounds - Alabama Photo by Christie Dedman
  • Screen Shot 2017-01-19 at 9.55.46 PM
    Museum at Oakville Indian Mounds - Alabama Photo by Christie Dedman
  • Screen Shot 2017-01-19 at 9.55.57 PM
    Jesse Owens Museum Photo by Christie Dedman
  • Screen Shot 2017-01-19 at 9.56.12 PM
    Jesse Owens Museum Photo by Christie Dedman
  • Screen Shot 2017-01-19 at 9.56.31 PM
    Jesse Owens Museum Photo by Christie Dedman

If you’re passing through Alabama or you’ve lived hear all of your life, don’t miss one of the coolest things in our state – Jesse Owens Memorial Museum and across the street the Oakville Indian Mounds...

More

Factory Tours: Free behind-the-scenes Publix grocery store tour for families

  • factory-tour-publix-christie-dedman-1
    Publix behind the scenes tour. Photo by Christie Dedman
  • factory-tour-publix-christie-dedman-2
    Publix behind the scenes tour. Photo by Christie Dedman
  • factory-tour-publix-christie-dedman-3
    Publix behind the scenes tour. Photo by Christie Dedman

Did you know Publix will do educational store tours? They do and it’s an incredible tour for all ages. Actually I would say for ages 8 and up.  We recently got a behind-the-scenes tour that...

More

Factory Tours: Bud’s Best Cookies – Free cookies, giant ovens, train ride & more

  • buds-best-cookies-christie-dedman-tour
    Free, hot and fresh out of the oven -Bud's Best Cookies factory -Photo by Christie Dedman
  • buds-best-cookies-tour-christie-dedman
    The cookie cutter in action, during Bud's Best Cookies factory tour. Photo by Christie Dedman
  • buds-best-tour-christie-dedman
    Free vanilla wafer samples while touring Bud's Best Cookies factory -Photo by Christie Dedman
  • alabama-buds-best-tour-christie-dedman
    Inside Bud's Best Cookies factory -Photo by Christie Dedman

Factory tours can be so exciting for kids, but the Bud’s Best Cookies Tour in Hoover, AL will get adults excited too.  As soon as you get out of your car the sugar cookie...

More

Factory Tours: Bluebell Creamery overlook + Ice Cream Parlor (floor tours are closed)

  • bluebell christie dedman
    Photo by Christie Dedman

A few years ago we headed down US 280 to the Blue Bell Creamery in Sylacauga for tour. It was a short intro video and then you can overlook the factory from a large...

More

Winter Break Savings: Legoland, Chattanooga Zoo, Louisville Slugger & More

  • awf
  • legoland-discovery
  • vulcan-bowl

I’m always looking for things to do with my kids. But I hate to spend money.  Which means while I’m looking for interesting things to do and see I’m looking for ways to save...

More

National Park 2017 News: Free Parks Canada pass, US Senior Pass price increase & free admission dates

  • national-park-chattanooga
    Battle in the Clouds NPS - Tenn. Photo by Christie Dedman
  • nps-annual-pass
  • parks-canada
  • national-park-news-kids
    Scotts Bluff NPS Nebraska - Photo by Christie Dedman

National Parks are my family’s go-to destination spots – we plan all of our road trips around them so we can continue our Junior Ranger badge tradition with the kids.  Every year in January I...

More

Dec. 9 Savvy Shopper Segment: Free airplane rides + Santa at Southern Museum of Flight

  • southern-museum-of-flight
  • young-eagles

Here are the two items mentioned during the Good Day Alabama Savvy Shopper segment this morning: Young Eagles Day at Shelby County Airport is Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Flights are free...

More