Featuring: 10Best, Southern Living, Sunset, Coastal Living, Cottage Living, Southern Accents and Cooking Light

 

Birmingham
  Best Attractions & Activities

Print this Page  Email this Page

More in Birmingham Attractions & Activities:

Museums
Spectator Sports
User Suggested
Advanced Search
 
Keyword: (4 or more characters)
Type
Neighborhood
[view all]

Your Favorite Birmingham Business not listed?
Click here to share it »

1. Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

520 16th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203 · 205-328-9696

User Rating:   (Rate It!)

My Suitcase:   (Add to My Suitcase)

CIVIL RIGHTS DISTRICT. This museum's galleries will lead you through the era of segregation and the Civil Rights Movement. Multimedia exhibitions depict dramatic events which took place in Birmingham and other cities. The museum also serves as a research facility on human rights issues and hosts many educational seminars.

2. Birmingham Botanical Gardens

2612 Lane Park Rd, Birmingham, AL 35223 · 205-414-3900

User Rating:   (Rate It!)

My Suitcase:   (Add to My Suitcase)

MOUNTAIN BROOK. Gardens of roses, camellias, wildflowers, ferns and irises flourish in this quiet, panoramic setting. A Japanese garden and teahouse, serene in their simplicity, are high points of your tour. You will also find the largest greenhouse in the Southeast.

3. Sixteenth Street Baptist Church

1530 6th Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203 · 205-251-9402

User Rating:   (Rate It!)

My Suitcase:   (Add to My Suitcase)

The site of one of the most horrific occurrences of the American Civil Rights Movement (a bomb shattered the quiet of a Sunday morning and took the lives of four young girls), the 16th Street Baptist Church is a landmark to both people's inhumanity and their capacity for love and forgiveness. The congregation is vibrant, and the sanctuary quite beautiful with its Wales stained glass window. Please make sure to call ahead to schedule a tour of the church.

4. Arlington Antebellum Home and Gardens

331 Cotton Ave SW, Birmingham, AL 35211 · 205-780-5656

User Rating:   (Rate It!)

My Suitcase:   (Add to My Suitcase)

Birmingham's only antebellum home pre-dated the city's founding in 1871. Arlington Antebellum Home is a fully restored Greek revival mansion built between 1845 and 1850 and set on beautifully-landscaped grounds. The mansion houses wonderful antiques and a collection of decorative arts from around the world. Truly a visit to a more genteel time. Two annual festivals, the Arlington Country Fair and Christmas at Arlington, are held here.

5. Civil Rights District

16th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203

User Rating:   (Rate It!)

My Suitcase:   (Add to My Suitcase)

This area features the Civil Rights Institute and Museum, Kelly Ingram Park and Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. Also nearby in the district is the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame and historic Carver Theater for the Performing Arts. Honoring Birmingham native and Temptations lead singer Eddie Kendrick, is the Eddie Kendrick Memorial Park, just down the block. The area is east of the downtown business district.

6. Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark

20 32nd St N, Birmingham, AL 35222 · 205-324-1911

User Rating:   (Rate It!)

My Suitcase:   (Add to My Suitcase)

A national monument that pays tribute to the steel industry for which Birmingham is famous. The Sloss furnaces were in operation from 1882 to 1971. The monument gives visitors a chance to see both an important piece of Birmingham's industrial history and innovative artwork by resident metal sculptors. Many concerts and special events are held here in the old steel shed that's since been converted to an amphitheatre. Guided tours are available and last two hours; be sure to call at least two weeks in advance to schedule one.

7. Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park

12632 Confederate Pkwy, McCalla, AL 35111 · 205-477-5711

User Rating:  Rating: 5 / 5   (Rate It)

My Suitcase:   (Add to My Suitcase)

This is the historic site where the Confederate Army replenished its iron supply during the Civil War. Quiet and peaceful, it belies the tragic events that took place on March 31, 1865, when Union forces arrived and set fire to the ironworks and workers' cabins. The site is now a state park with horseback riding, hiking trails, picnic and camping areas, an iron museum and log cabins.

8. Vulcan

1701 Valley View Dr, Vulcan Park, Birmingham, AL 35209 · 205-933-1409

User Rating:   (Rate It!)

My Suitcase:   (Add to My Suitcase)

No, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you; this is the world's largest cast-iron sculpture. A beautiful, massive sight, "Vulcan" pays tribute to Birmingham's early iron industry. Weighing over 60 tons and standing 55-feet tall, the statue was made in 1904 for the St. Louis World's Fair. It stands alongside an observation tower in the center of 10-acre Vulcan Park. Exhibits at the nearby Vulcan Center chronicle the rich history of Birmingham.

9. Alabama Adventure

4599 Alabama Adventure Pkwy, I-20/59 W at Exit 110, Bessemer, AL 35022 · 205-481-4750

User Rating:   (Rate It!)

My Suitcase:   (Add to My Suitcase)

This summer park has it all. Cool off while playing in the water in Splash City. Everyone enjoys the thrilling rides in the Magic City section, and Marvel City has rides geared towards the little ones. Eat and shop on Celebration Street. A summer concert series features former American Idol finalists. Fun for the entire family!

10. Birmingham Zoo

2630 Cahaba Rd, Birmingham, AL 35223 · 205-879-0458

User Rating:  Rating: 2 / 5   (Rate It)

My Suitcase:   (Add to My Suitcase)

MOUNTAIN BROOK. Take a meandering walk on the wild side, visiting over 1000 animals and birds housed in their natural habitats. The zoo features ongoing and constantly changing special exhibitions, as well as many "interactivities" for children.

Attractions & Activities

Your favorite business not listed?
Click here to recommend it!

You want only quality attractions and activities to occupy your leisure hours. To that end, we've researched a diverse list of options, ruled out the wastes of time, and delivered only the 10Best. We provide detailed information about historical sites, theme parks, sporting events, and city sights that you won't want to miss. Peruse our lists, see what grabs your fancy, and then head out for some personal time!

 

Attractions & Activities

Check out the great attractions & activities you can find in Birmingham.

Birmingham Museum of Art
A Birmingham 10Best Bet
Attractions & Activities - Museums

Read the 10Best Review: The museum boasts an... More

10Best Lists