Here is the second installment of what to do in Alabama. Remember the other day I posted the first installment called: Where to go in North Alabama: U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Sci-Quest, Monte Sano, Jesse Owens, Oakville Indian Mounds & more
Remember these are places we have visited as a family. There are a number of spots we haven’t visited. The reviews are based on my personal experience with the facilities or locations.
Each of my travel posts will include an educational value star rating system. Below is an explanation:
★ – Very little educational value. No signage, museums, plaques, explanation of visual interests.
★★ – Some information is provided or readily available online. It could also mean the item or location has a deep history worth researching however information is not provided at the scene.
★★★ – The location or attraction offers educational talking points, signs, displays but is low on quantity of information provided.
★★★★ – Great quality of information, worth stopping by and offers informative and educational experiences throughout the facility.
★★★★★ – A must see attraction or experience with an abundance of resources, educational scavenger hunts, worksheets or books. Plaques, displays are interactive and thorough.
So here we go county by county:
CALHOUN COUNTY
Anniston Museum of Natural History/Berman Museum of World History
Educational value: ★★★★★
Description: These museums are worth checking out if you head over to Anniston. It’s been a while since we visited but there are some great exhibits the kids loved. They often have community events and educational programs. They also have free admission days throughout the year for special occasions.
Admission: Free if you’re an ASTC member. Adults $6, kids $5 for Natural History & Berman is $5 for adults and $4 for kids.
Go here for info about Anniston Natural History, go here for Berman.
CLEBURNE & CLAY COUNTY
Cheaha State Park (Highest point in Alabama)
Educational value: ★★★☆☆
Description: This is a beautiful state park. Hike Bald Rock to get to the edge of Mt. Cheaha. There are few educational spots along the way. Check out the ranger station. Go here to read my review previously posted on Bargain Mom. (the formatting is terrible, because it’s so old and al.com has updated their site too many times.)
Admission: It’s usually $3 each but sometimes you can get in free.
Go here for more info and directions.
JEFFERSON COUNTY
Aldridge Gardens (Hoover)
Educational value: ★★☆☆☆
Description: This is a beautiful park in Hoover that’s worth checking out, especially during hydrangea season. Take your camera. They do have frequent educational events for members and some are open to the public.
Admission: Free
Go here for information and directions.
Barber Motorsports Museum
Educational value: ★★☆☆☆
Description: This is not a kid friendly museum in my opinion. No hands-on activities, just a giant museum of motorcycles. However if you have a racing and motorsports fan in the family, I would stop by when you can. I also think this museum is overpriced and rarely do they offer admission discounts. There are a number of signs and historical tips throughout the facility. It’s not for younger children though, they will get bored quick. Make it interesting by asking them to find a favorite on each floor or look for models that are significant years, like birth years of family members etc.
Admission: $15 for adults. $10 for children ages 4-12 (Charging $10 for a 4 to 5 year old is absurd.) Also there are armed guards that will yell at the kids if they are even remotely walking fast.
Go here for more information and directions.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Educational value: ★★★☆☆
Description: This gem in the city is beautiful and includes some great hikes. The best part of the gardens is that most of it is in the shade. There are markers for all the plants, educational programs scheduled throughout the year and classes. FreshAirFamily.org often offers free educational plant identification hikes.
Admission: Free
Go here to learn more and get directions.
Birmingham Museum of Art
Educational value: ★★★★★
Description: This is a must stop. If you are new to Alabama, been here all of your life or just passing through – put the BMOA on your list. It is a spectacular collection of beautiful art, sculptures and the largest collection of Wedgwood pottery. Go here to learn more. However, the best thing about BMOA is the exceptional children’s educational programs they have on a regular basis. Free art projects every Saturday are held in the Bart’s Art room. There is free parking in the back.
Admission: Free
Go here to learn more.
Birmingham Zoo
Educational value: ★★★☆☆
Description: I have a love, hate relationship with the Birmingham Zoo. Sometimes I think it’s good and other times I’m really annoyed with it. The quality is ok but I think the Montgomery Zoo is better and much more reasonable. The price and lack of fresh signage, or more comprehensive signage I should say, is why I give this three stars. If you never go, you haven’t missed anything. But if you do go, bring lots of water and your own snacks. Zoo food and drinks are overpriced. Skip the souvenir shop. Trust me.
Admission: Adults – $15*
Children 2 – 12 years old – $10*
Senior Citizens 65 years+ – $10*
Military (Active duty only- must show military ID)- $12.75*
*Plus tax
Admission is half price every Tuesday. (Half price special applies only to individual admission. It does not apply to Group rates.)
Go here for directions.
Golden Flake Factory Tour (Downtown Birmingham)
Educational value: ★★★☆☆
Description: This is a fun tour in the heart of Birmingham. Kids and adults can tour the factory and see where chips and more are made! It’s really a fantastic tour and depending on the tour guide’s mood it’s really educational. However I’ve been a few different times and had two different guides. One was great, the second not so much. You’ll need to wear closed toed shoes and shirts with sleeves. You’ll wear a hair net. If your husband has a beard, he’ll wear a beard-net. It’s funny. They are generous with full size bags or snack bags of chips too. Put this on your list for the summer.
Admission: Free
Go here to learn more and to call to make a reservation.
Lakeshore Rehab Center & Olympic Training Facility (Homewood)
Educational value: ★★★☆☆
Description: This center is doing amazing things with children and adults needing rehab, therapy and more. The training facility is open for tours. However you’ll need to call to confirm someone is available. You can also attend sporting events, wheelchair basketball, etc.
Admission: Free
Go here for more information.
McWane Science Center
Educational value: ★★★★★
Description: This is your standard science center. I personally stay away from McWane. I’ve been. The kids enjoy it. But I can’t stand all of the unsupervised kids that roam aimlessly around the center, while their parents chat with each other. Yes I sound bitter, but it’s ridiculous. If you go on an off time you will have a good time. They do have some great programs that are worth attending, like touring exhibits or educational events.
Admission: If you’re an ASTC member you could get in free, this does exclude Southern Museum of Flight members. Adults are $13, Kids $9 (ages 2-12) Kids under 2 are free.
Go here for more information.
Morris Avenue Peanut Depot
Educational value: ★★★☆☆
Description: This is a staple of Birmingham. Known for delicious roasted and boiled peanuts it’s a tradition you will need to check out one day. If you’re lucky you can ask for a demonstration of the roasting machines that are more than 100 years old. It’s fascinating how old the machines are and how well the workers know the machines and process.
Admission: Free, peanuts are for sale at various prices.
Railroad Park & Rainbow tunnels
Educational value: ★☆☆☆☆
Description: Railroad Park is an urban landscape that’s usually packed during warm days. It’s worth visiting at least once. There are frequent events there throughout the year. Check their calendar for details. If you go to the area look for the rainbow tunnels. Go here for more details.
Admission free.
Go here for park details.
Red Mountain Park
Educational value: ★★☆☆☆
Description: This is a cool park off Lakeshore Drive in Homewood. It’s not the best spot for education, but it’s a fantastic spot for hiking and adventure. Take water, lots of it. Tell someone you’re going and take snacks too. You can make it educational if you read the signs, learn about the site and tell the kids to actually look at the dirt and minerals along the paths. Go here to read tip post I did on Bargain Mom.
Admission: Free
There is a zipline park that is not free.
Go here for details and information.
Regions Field (Home of the Barons – Downtown Birmingham)
Educational value: ★☆☆☆☆
Description: Follow the Barons Facebook page for updates on free tour dates. A tour includes seeing the locker room, dugouts, press boxes and more. It’s worth a visit. Otherwise there’s nothing to do, unless you’re going to a game.
Admission: Tours are free on select dates. (Varies each year)
Go here for details and information.
Rickwood Field (West Birmingham)
Educational value: ★☆☆☆☆
Description: The website is your best bet for information to make this place more educational. The actual stadium isn’t that educational.
Admission: Free.
Go here for details.
Ruffner Mountain Nature Center
Educational value: ★★★☆☆
Description: The kids love this park for a number of reasons. One is the nature center. There is a free animal viewing area inside and outside of the center. They love to hike there as well. This center has a number of free educational activities throughout the year. You must keep up with them online for all kinds of great events your kids both young and older will love.
Admission: Free (However they do accept donations) Some events do have small supply fees.
Go here to learn more about the center and get directions. (Do not use Apple maps to get you there, use Google Maps)
Southern Museum of Flight
Educational value: ★★★★★
Description: I call this museum the underdog of Birmingham. It’s often overlooked but it shouldn’t be, because it’s packed with educational information on all periods of flight. There are static displays outside along the route to the museum and at the museum. They have a scavenger hunt available that will help get the kids involved in your self-guided tour. The kids will enjoy a play area and some simulators. They’ve also added a video game area.
Admission: This is the museum I joined to gain access to the ASTC passport program that allows me to get free access to more than 300 science and technology centers across the nation including the Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville.
Adults are $7, students are $6
Go here for details and information.
Sloss Furnace
Educational value: ★★★★★
Description: If you make it to Birmingham you need to do the self-guided tour of Sloss Furnace. It’s more than just a home to a Halloween event, it’s the heart of why Birmingham is Birmingham. The industrial skeleton is an educational goldmine about Birmingham’s past. Take your cell phone to use along with the signs. If you have little ones, you will need to pay close attention to what they’re doing and where they walk. Wear sneakers, not flip-flops or Crocs.
Admission: Free, although donations are accepted.
Go here for details and information.
Turkey Creek Nature Preserve
Educational value: ★☆☆☆☆
Description: This is a favorite water hole in Pinson, Alabama. Known by the locals for swimming and hiking, I would just stick with hiking. The water is pretty but full of junk. You can wade in the water and be fine, but I wouldn’t swim. They do have events in the park, including reenactments.
Admission: Free
Go here for directions and more.
Vulcan Park
Educational value: ★★★☆☆
Description: Have you visited Vulcan? No? Then you should. There is a museum (that’s entirely too short for the cost of admission) but it’s worth checking out, especially if you use the scavenger hunt feature with your kids. Admission includes the observation deck. You can access the observation deck after hours for $4 through 10 p.m.
Admission: Adults are $6, kids are $4
Go here for more information and directions.
SHELBY COUNTY
(There are a number of things we haven’t done in Shelby County. Go here to see a full list of stops.)
Alabama Wildlife Center (Oak Mountain State Park)
Educational value: ★★★☆☆
Description: This center is free with paid admission to Oak Mountain State Park. The kids can see baby birds being nursed back to health, rescued birds and more. There are outdoor and indoor exhibits.
Admission: Adults $3
Go here for more information.
American Village
Educational value: ★★★★★
Description: This amazing campus in Montevallo will transport you back to colonial times. You can tour the facility by yourself or with a guide. They have exceptional programs throughout the year. Actors portray historical figures throughout the park. There is a presidential wax doll museum to visit and sometimes you can see reenactments.
Admission: Price can vary.
Go here for more information.
Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum & Train Rides
Educational value: ★★★☆☆
Description: If you head down for a train ride, don’t miss the museum inside the depot. There are some cool things inside the kids will find interesting and so will adults. Go here to see my 12 tips for visiting the museum.
Admission: Train rides vary. You can purchase tickets up to an hour before the train ride to save on fees.
Go here for details and directions.
TALLADEGA COUNTY
Blue Bell Factory Tour (Sylacauga)
Educational value: ★★☆☆☆
Description: Make sure you plan ahead to secure a spot on the Blue Bell Factory Tour. It’s fun, tasty and easy for the kids to enjoy especially since they get cute ice cream parlor hats.
Admission: $3
Go here for details and directions.
Comer Museum & Imerys-Gantt’s Marble Quarry observation area
Educational value: ★★★★☆
Description: This free museum and observation area are a few miles apart but worth visiting if you’re in Sylacauga. The museum is full of interesting facts and artifacts. The observation area is open to the public during the day. Sylacauga marble was used to make the Lincoln Memorial. NOTE: The Hodges meteorite exhibit is here. You can see the radio it hit before hitting Ann Hodges in 1952. The real meteorite is at the Alabama Museum of Natural History in Tuscaloosa. See their info below.
Admission: Free
Go here for details and more from the Comer Museum. Go here for quarry details.
TUSCALOOSA COUNTY
Alabama Museum of Natural History (University of Alabama campus)
Educational value: ★★★★☆
Description: This museum is packed with cool exhibits from dinosaurs to minerals. It is an evolution based museum so be prepared if you’re a Creationist. There are several hands-on areas for kids.
Admission: $2 for adults, kids are $1
Go here for info and directions.
Moundville Archaeological Park
Educational value: ★★★★☆
Description: This is a well known spot in Alabama and worth visiting. However it’s expensive and overpriced in my opinion. There is a cool museum/center but there’s not much to it. The mounds are accessible, however you’ll need to do some leg work at home to make it a full educational experience. They do have Knap-in events and festivals throughout the year that can enhance the park experience. I’ve been to a few and some of the exhibitors are terrible and some are great. It’s a hit or miss.
Admission: $8 for adults, $6 for kids
Go here for directions and information.
Tannehill State Park & Iron and Steel Museum of Alabama
Educational value: ★★★★★
Description: The park itself is beautiful and full of hiking trails. However the real gem is the Iron & Steel Museum. There are some fantastic artifacts of history in this museum. Ask for a scavenger hunt sheet to help the kids enjoy and embrace the history. There is a short film at the beginning to explain the history of the park.
Admission: $4 for adults (museum price is $2 additional)
Go here for directions and information.
HAVE YOU DONE SOMETHING COOL IN NORTH ALABAMA THAT’S NOT ON THIS LIST? THEN SEND ME INFO AND YOUR STAR RATING AND IT COULD BE ADDED TO THIS LIST.
There is a groupon for Vulcan right now, and you can use the 20% off on top of it.
Excellent tip Amy! Thanks so much!