FAMILY FUN

Blue Water Park

Water Park Invites divers of all ages and skill levels to visit for recreational and technical and diving closer to home in PELHAM. Mark DiGiorgio, owner of Scubaventures Inc., aims to make the park the premium inland diving experience for the Southeast, and there divers can practice diving skills, conduct trainings and enjoy a beautiful escape under the water. They also rent kayaks and paddleboards, or visitors can bring their own and pay an entrance fee. bluewaterparkal.com

High Point Climbing And Fitness

This climbing gym on HIGHWAY 280 offers membership, day passes, a kids zone, fitness classes, youth parties and more. Altogether it has 25,000 square feet of indoor climbing surface for beginners and seasoned pros alike, with a 52-foot climbing walls, 25 auto belays, more than 100 bouldering problems and a rappelling tower. highpointclimbing.com

Oak Mountain Amphitheatre

Since 1986, this PELHAM stage has welcomed an eclectic mix of world-renowned recording musicians. Today it is operated by LiveNation, which brings 1215 concerts to the he 10,200seat venue usually between April and October. And there are concession offerings like Bavarian-style soft pretzels, foot-long hot dogs, pizza, chicken tenders, cheeseburgers and fries too.

theoakmountainamphitheater.com

Alabama Wildlife Center

Located in the heart of PELHAM’S Oak Mountain State Park, this center rescues about 2,000 of Alabama’s native birds from more than 100 species each year. Visitors can see and interact with raptor species up close and personally, and they can get a behind-the-scenes look at their rehabilitated birds, baby bird nursery and exam area through digital video cameras and monitors. Its Wildlife Help Line also offers free advice and assistance for wildlife issues and emergencies. awrc.org

Shelby Iron Works Park

One of only two such mills existing in the South at the outbreak of the Civil War, this plant in SHELBY produced the armor that covered the hull of the famous Confederate gunboat “Tennessee.” The old Shelby Iron Company dates back to 1842 when Horace Ware built a cold blast furnace. Today, the park features living history and tours. shelbyironworks.com

Movie Theatres

Looking to watch a new release on the big screen with popcorn and candy? Take your pick of 15 theatres at AMC Lee Branch 15 off Highway 280, or, over in Alabaster, check out the go-to spot for movies and popcorn on that side of the county at AmStar Cinemas’s 14 theatres. amstarcinemas.com, amctheatres.com

Indoor Play Centers

On HIGHWAY 280, Let’s Play offers an indoor soft play center for kids ages 0-12 features play equipment designed to encourage sliding, crawling, balancing, swinging, bouncing, squeezing, hand-eye coordination and ball skills. Down the road, Defy features 50,000 square feet of connected trampolines in a 60,000-squarefoot facility, including the famous angled wall trampolines. Over in Pelham, Altitude Trampoline Park has a warped wall, dodgeball court, rock wall and more. letsplayparty. com, defy.com/locations/defy-birmingham, altitudebirmingham.com