13 Fun Activities to Check out This Summer In Town, or a Short Drive

By Paige Townley

School is out (or almost!), summer is officially here and there’s ample time to get outdoors, explore, and enjoy all the season has to offer. There’s no better place to do it than in and nearby the Magic City. From historic hotspots and picturesque landscapes to hands-on fun and animal adventures, we’ve got 13 destinations the whole family will want to experience this summer whether it is in town or a short drive.

Vulcan Park & Museum

It’s impossible to miss the giant iron man looking out over the city each day. A classic Birmingham symbol, Vulcan is the world’s largest cast iron statue (topping out at 100,000 pounds and standing 56 feet tall) and has sat atop Red Mountain since the 1930s. The statue serves as the centerpiece of Vulcan Park & Museum, a must visit destination for anyone who calls the city home or is just passing through. Throughout the property, visitors can learn all about Birmingham’s unique history with a tour through the museum, enjoy the beautiful grounds and, of course, go up inside the Observation Tower to take in the best views the city has to offer. Tickets are required. To learn more, visit visitvulcan. com.

Barber Motorsports Park & Museum

Birmingham Zoo

All sorts of animals and adventure are awaiting at the Birmingham Zoo. Approximately 550 animals of 180 species live at the Birmingham Zoo, which encompasses 122 total acres. Shows and animal adventures are also available, including the Giraffe Encounters, Goat walks, Sea Lion Chat, Lorikeet Feeding and Elephant Chat. Visitors can go for a spin on the train and carousel or partake in the splash pad fun. Admission is required. To learn more, visit birminghamzoo.com.

McWane Science Center

Motor enthusiasts of all types will appreciate a day spent at the Barber Motorsports Park & Museum. The 880-acre park is home to 2.38-mile, 16-turn road course, the renowned museum, and the popular Porsche Track Experience, the only official Porsche driving school in North America. Inside the museum—which attracts more than a quarter million visitors every year—guests will find nearly 100 HarleyDavidsons and more than 900 total motorcycles, although the official collection is comprised of more than 1,600. Also on display are more than 50 Lotus racecars, the world’s largest Lotus collection. Admission is required. To learn more, visit barbermuseum.org.

A top destination for kids of any age, McWane offers all sorts of handson exhibits and activities that combine fun with learning. For the youngest of guests, ages six and below, there’s Itty Bitty Magic City, an early-learning exhibit full of multisensory experiences. Animal lovers will appreciate the facility’s four aquarium display tanks, including the opportunity to touch sharks and stingrays. The facility also features the IMAX Dome Theater, which daily features a variety of movies. Tickets are required. To learn more, visit mcwane.org.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens

There’s perhaps no better way to spend a warm summer day than with a stroll through the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Open to the public every day of the year, the gardens more than a dozen specific garden areas, including the Japanese Garden with the iconic red torii, the Formal Garden, Kaul Wildflower Garden (which has more than 200 different species of native plants), Dunn Formal Rose Garden and the Conservatory, a beautiful glass house with a variety of tropical plants that give the feel of a faraway adventure. Admission and parking are free. To learn more, visit bbgardens.org.

Alabama Adventure & Splash Adventure

Red Mountain Park

Outdoor adventure meets family fun at Red Mountain Park. The Park encompasses 1,500 forested acres and 16 miles of multi-use trails, and it’s all located just minutes from downtown Birmingham. Making a destination truly for the whole family, it even includes a six-acre offleash dog park. Admission and parking are free. To learn more, visit redmountaipark.org.

Birmingham Museum of Art

The Birmingham Museum of Art has had vibrant art and culture on display in the heart of Birmingham’s cultural district since 1951. The museum features a vast collection of more than 27,000 paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings and more, all ranging from ancient times to modern day. In addition to its permanent collection, the museum is frequently hosting a wide range of temporary exhibits. Admission is free. To learn more, visit artsbham.org.

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

Thrill seekers look no further than Alabama Adventure Amusement Park & Splash Adventure Water Park. In total, the parks boast more than 26 attractions, making it easy to please kids of all ages. For adrenaline junkies, there are rides like the Rampage, a wooden roller coaster with incredible turns and drops, and Drop Zone, which boasts a series of drops and bounces. The water park includes all sorts of unique rides and activities, including Aqua Maze, Kahuna Wave Pool and Twister. Admission is required. To learn more, visit alabamaadventure.com.

Expand your horizons and learn all about Birmingham’s past during the Civil Rights Era at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. The cultural and educational center houses a variety of permanent exhibits detailing Birmingham’s past, including actual 50s era items from Movement churches in Birmingham, the desk of Birmingham’s first black mayor, and the bars from the jail cell Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote “A Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” Admission is required. To learn more, visit bcri.org.