Alabama is a great place to live… and a great place to play. This summer, your family can enjoy countless attractions across the state, just like these:
Birmingham Zoo
Jump on the Zoo Train, visit the tropical rainforest or watch the sea lions eat. Check out any of the 700 animals — including endangered species — from all over the world. The 122-acre Birmingham Zoo offers a wealth of education in the most entertaining ways.
The zoo is laid out conveniently to enable your family to hit a cafe or the restroom between stops and activities. Areas of the zoo include Fine Feathered Friends, Sensational Sea Lions, Gentle Giants, Savannah Safari, Cold-Hearted Snakes, Ferocious Felines, Monkey Business and more!
Enjoy a variety of activities (some at an extra charge), such as training a sea lion, riding a camel or feeding a pelican! Every day offers a delightful array of animal encounters. Visit the Birmingham Zoo website to plan your visit before arriving!
Location: 2630 Cahaba Road, Birmingham, Alabama
Rates: Adults $14, Children (2-12 years) $9, Seniors (65 and up) $9. Admission is half-price every Tuesday.
Contact: 205-879-0409
Website: http://www.birminghamzoo.com
DeSoto Caverns Family Fun Park
The Family Fun Park features a one-hour underground caverns tour featuring the Sound, Light and Water Show. DeSoto Caverns also boasts 25 “Wacky” attractions, including Wacky Water Golf, Happy’s Hoppin’ Carousel, Panning for Gemstones, Park Express Train, Fossil Find and so much more!
The gift shop offers scrumptious homemade fudge, refreshing hand-dipped ice cream and a variety of unique souvenirs. Check the Calendar of Events for extra-special activities such as Tiny Tots Day and the God and Country Light Show.
If you need more than one day to take it all in, consider spending the night just a short walk away at DeSoto Caverns Park Campground, which features a wood campsite, streams and shaded picnic areas — as well as full hookups and free wireless internet.
Location: 5181 DeSoto Caverns Parkway, Childersburg, Alabama
Contact: 800-933-2283 or [email protected]
Rates: Adult Tour $20, Child (3-11) Tour $18, Children 2 and under Free. Attraction Tickets $6 each, 5 for $21, 10 for $32.
Website: http://desotocavernspark.com/index.php
Alabama Constitution Village
Leave the textbooks behind… This is the way to learn American history. Prepare to be transported to 1819, the year Alabama was organized as the 22nd state. History comes to life with spinning wheels, bread baking over an open fire and “villagers” going about their daily tasks.
Alabama Constitution Village is one of three attractions in Huntsville’s EarlyWorks Museums Complex, along with the Historic Huntsville Depot and the Children’s History Museum. The Complex is the largest hands-on history in the South.
Make a weekend of your family’s visit with an overnight adventure. Adventure 1: Time Travelers, Adventure 2: Museum Camp-In or Adventure 3: The Great History Sleepover. Overnight packages include lodging, meals, snacks and more!
Location: 109 Gates Avenue, Huntsville, Alabama
Contact: 256-564-8100
Rates (per museum): Adult $12, Senior $10, Youth $10, Toddler $5
Website:http://www.earlyworks.com/the-museums/constitution-village
Point Mallard Waterpark
Point Mallard Waterpark is the home of American’s First Wave Pool, Towering Sky Pond and Speed Slide, Three Flume Tube Rides, Pro Bowl Slide and Olympic Pool, among other attractions. Sandy Beach is ideal for loungers, while Squirt Factory & Duck Pond keeps kids entertained for hours.
Visit the Gift Shop or visit Scenic Lagoon. Family-friendly fare is offered at the waterpark’s unique eateries: Hard Duck Cafe, Point Pizza and Icy Oasis. Venture outside the waterpark and check out the Point Mallard Ice Complex, Eagle Amphitheatre, Strike Zone batting cages and campground.
Location: 2901 Point Mallard Drive, Decatur, Alabama
Rates: Adults (12-61 years) $18, Seniors (62 and up) $13, Children (5-11 years) $13, Children under 4 Free. Half-price days are also offered.
Contact: 800-669-9283, 256-341-490
Website: http://www.pointmallardpark.com/index.php
The MOOseum
Located near the State Capitol, the MOOseum is sponsored by the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association and is free to the public. Fun, interactive exhibits helps visitors of all ages to learn about Alabama’s $2 billion beef cattle industry. Within a few hours, even very young children will gain a better understanding of cattle, cattlemen and life on a farm.
Kids can try on cowboy clothes in the dress-up room, pose for photos on low-mounted saddles and visit the kitchen to learn more about the nutritional value of beef and assemble the giant fabric hamburger! Sit back on a haystack and listen to a projected cowboy talk about cows and cow-raising. The MOOseum is a great way to spend an afternoon!
Location: 201 S. Bainbridge Street, Montgomery, Alabama
Rates: Free
Contact: Jessica Greene, The MOOseum Coordinator at 334-265-1867 or [email protected]
Website: http://www.bamabeef.org/about_the_mooseum.html
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