Explore Things to do Today in Alabama
Throughout all the trials and tribulations. Alabama has always been known for infectious “Southern Hospitality,” So on a trip to Alabama, you’re bound to run into helpful and kind people who’ll go out of their way to help a stranger.
As one of the oldest states in the U.S., Alabama has seen a little of everything. Having a role in the Civil War, World War II, and later the Civil Rights Movement.
Alabama has always played been at the forefront of American politics. Today Alabama is even known for its little piece of the Space Race.
Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum
The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum has a collection vintage and modern motorcycles and a substantial collection of race cars. With over 1,400 motorcycles spanning over 100 years of production.
The Barber collection represents 200 different manufacturers from 20 countries. Showcasing the unique design of each individual piece, this epic display reveals the fine art of the motorcycle.
The museum also features the world’s most extensive collection of Lotus cars. There’s no denying that the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum is one of the Alabama’s things to see for motorcycle enthusiasts!
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
Visitors to Birmingham shouldn’t miss this famous museum which educates visitors about the history of civil rights in America. The extensive interpretive Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and research center is located in the Civil Rights District of Birmingham.
Near the 16th Street Baptist Church and Kelly Ingram Park. Birmingham’s unique role at the center of the Civil Rights Movement is showcased in this informative and engaging museum.
The permanent exhibitions are a self-directed journey through Birmingham’s contributions to the Civil Rights Movement and the pursuit of human rights across the globe. In the Barriers Gallery, 14 exhibits document everyday life in the early days of segregation in the city.
Huntsville Botanical Garden
The Huntsville Botanical Garden is 112 acres. One of the most beautiful places to visit in Alabama and also one of its top attractions. The gardens offer’s a nature path and collection of Flowering Dogwood trees. Annual’s plants such as the daylily, fern, herb, perennial’s, rose and wildflower.
Sections of the garden include Nature center which overlooks Little Smith Lake. Children’s Garden, which is the home of the biggest seasonal butterfly house in America.
Biblical garden featuring plants mentioned in the Bible. Central Corridor has a perennial garden, aquatic garden, and bulb and annual garden.
McWane Science Center
The McWane Science Center is an interactive museum and IMAX® Dome Theater. Four floors of interactive exhibits celebrate science and wonder.
The adventure intensifies in the IMAX® Dome Theater, where wide-eyed visitors experience the sights and sounds of breathtaking films on a 5-story-tall screen. McWane Science Center has a number of permanent exhibits that are a regular part of the science education experience.
Designed to inspire a life-long love of learning. McWane Science Center has welcomed millions of visitors.
Little River Canyon National Preserve
This beautiful area located atop Lookout Mountain near Fort Payne and DeSoto State Park. The Little River Canyon National Preserve created in 1992. The Little River flows for almost its entire length along the middle of Lookout Mountain in northeast Alabama. Over eons of geologic time, Little River has carved out one of the Southeast’s deepest canyons.
This long mountain top river considered one of the cleanest and wildest waterways in the South. Little River Canyon is also one of the deepest canyons east of the Mississippi. The entire region is a popular destination for hiking, camping, fishing, and hunting.
Southern Museum of Flight
The Southern Museum of Flight is a civilian aviation museum in Birmingham, Alabama. The museum features nearly 100 aircraft, as well as engines, models, artifacts, photographs, and paintings.
In addition, the Southern Museum of Flight is home to the Alabama Aviation Hall of Fame, which presents Alabama Aviation History through collective biography.
Among the top exhibits are the Korean War jets, the Tuskegee Airmen diorama, the Lake Murray B-25, and the Vietnam War helicopters.
U.S. Space and Rocket Center
One of the most visited and most entertaining spots in Alabama is the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, near Huntsville. The U.S. Space and Rocket Center is both educational and fun making it the perfect destination for children of all ages.
The museum features a full exhibit on the Apollo program as well as many other exhibits and unique artifacts. Take part in a 20-minute experience aboard the Discovery Shuttle simulator which includes launching from Kennedy Space Center.
Enjoy shows at the INTUITIVE Planetarium during your museum visit an 8K Digital Planetarium and Digital Dome Experience the only one of its kind in the Southeast.
USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park
One of the most exciting and educational tourist sites in Alabama used to be one of the most dangerous. The U.S.S. Alabama Battleship was first commissioned in 1942 and it served in World War II in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The ship was retired in 1962 and today it is a National Historic Landmark.
Visitors to the battleship can walk the decks of the ship, go below deck, tour a World War II submarine, and view cockpits of combat aircraft.
The Park serves as a memorial to all men and women, past and present, who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States.
The Birmingham Zoo
The Birmingham Zoo is home to approximately 550 animals at any time from many continents, including many endangered species nestled on 122 acres.
Take a ride around the Birmingham Zoo on the newest Red Diamond Express train. The new Red Diamond Express features an integrated audiovisual program that presents educational messages and animal facts for the duration of your ride.
Some of the most fun attractions around the Birmingham Zoo are the Kangaroo Kountry, Predator Building, Flamingo Lagoon, Primate Building, and Alligator Swamp.
Gulf State Park
Gulf State Park’s miles of beaches greet you with plenty of white sun-kissed sand. Twenty-eight miles of paved enhanced trails wind through the park. Gulf State Park has a multitude of activities to participate in that includes hiking, biking, fishing, exploring, paddling just to name of few.
The park has a fishing pier that is 20-feet wide and extends 1,512 feet into the Gulf. This and much more make Gulf State Park the perfect in-state vacation or out-of-state adventure.
There is something for everyone at Gulf State Park. The beach pavilion provides picnic tables as an escape from the beach, the nature center is a great place for the kids to learn.
Things to do in Alabama
Tourists in Alabama can enjoy a range of attractions of geologic, scientific, cultural, and historical importance. For a serene outdoor experience, head to one of the famous cave systems or the Little River National Canyon.
Explore the amazing historical and cultural significance of some major Alabama cities.