Summer stops for family fun
With the summer season upon us, don’t forget to think beyond the pool. To help with the days you are feeling adventurous, we have compiled a list of some things to do outdoors around Birmingham. From state parks to landmarks, baseball and more, there are plenty of activities close to home to keep you busy all summer long.
*All driving distances are calculated from Vestavia City Center.
Regions Field
7 miles, 12 minutes
2013 brought more than a Southern League Championship to the Birmingham Barons — it also brought a new home. Regions Field opened in the Parkside District downtown last spring and relieved the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium of its housing duties for the Barons, their home since 1988. Boasting 8,500 seats with multiple seating options, bars and food stands, this brand-new facility has been the talk of the town. It was named the 2013 Ballpark of the Year by baseballparks.com and will host games this season until Sept. 1.
1401 1st Avenue South, Birmingham 35233
988-3200. barons.com.
Sloss Furnaces
6.2 miles, 10 minutes
Sloss Furnaces made its first debut as a national landmark in 1981 and opened its doors to tours in 1983. Sloss, with furnaces and steam engines, played a major role in the Industrial Revolution, putting Birmingham on the map. Now a museum, on Saturdays and Sundays, tourists are guided through the grounds by museum staff, free of charge. Tuesday through Sunday, guests are also invited to tour the premises (self-guided) free of charge.
20 32nd Street North, Birmingham 35222
324-1911. slossfurnaces.com.
Railroad Park
6.8 miles, 11 minutes
Since its establishment in 2010, Railroad Park has become a central location connecting downtown Birmingham to its Southside neighbor and UAB’s campus. In addition to the lawns, sidewalks and central lake, the park boasts a covered central plaza, outdoor fitness equipment, play areas and free Wi-Fi. Free events at Railroad Park throughout the month of June include Get Healthy exercise classes sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, Relax by the Tracks live music series, and Symphony in the Summer featuring the Alabama Symphony Orchestra on June 6, 7 and 8. General park admission is always free.
1600 1st Avenue South, Birmingham 35233
521-9933. railroadpark.org.
Birmingham Zoo
4.3 miles, 7 minutes
The Birmingham Zoo has been the city’s destination for animal lovers since its establishment in 1999. The zoo currently houses approximately 950 animals and has been home to more 230 different animal species over the years. With daily activities, educational classes and camps for children and families, the zoo has 122 acres to spend the day exploring. The Birmingham Zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and admission prices vary from $10-$15.
2630 Cahaba Road, Birmingham 35223
879-0409. birminghamzoo.com.
Alabama Splash Adventure Waterpark
16.1 miles, 24 minutes
Alabama Splash Adventure is a family-friendly water park located in nearby Bessemer. With slides, an adventure course, bumper boats, wave pools and a water maze, guests can spend a whole day in the sun. This year brings five all-new rides to the water park: Wacky Worm Coaster, Junior Bumper Boats, Vintage Boats and Mini Helicopters. The child ticket price is $22 and the adult ticket price $29.
4599 Splash Adventure Parkway,
Bessemer 35022. 481-4750
Treetop Family Adventure
13.2 miles, 21 minutes
Treetop’s multi-facility entertainment center has something for everyone. Attractions include Go Karts, Water Wars, Bounce Pad, laser tag, mini golf, indoor playground, arcade, Treetop Café and Animaland. Open seven days a week, families are welcome every day except for select holidays. Prices vary depending on which areas are visited, as each are priced individually, but Treetop also offers several combination packages for convenience.
1012 Dunnavant Valley Road,
Birmingham 35242. 637-3780 treetopfamilyadventure.com.
Oak Mountain State Park
11.29 miles, 16 minutes
Spending the day in the great outdoors never got so close to home. Oak Mountain State Park is the best of both worlds — a quiet getaway, but also just a short distance from the community. Activities at Oak Mountain include hiking, biking, camping, fishing, golfing, dining, geocaching and horseback riding. There are 10 cabins available to rent for those who want to spend more than just the afternoon there. Tickets prices to enter the park vary from $1-$3.
200 Terrace Drive, Pelham 35124
620-2520. alapark.com/oakmountain.
Argo Drive-In
30.9 miles, 33 minutes
On a weekend night, take a step back in time by seeing a movie at the Argo Drive-In Theater. With family-friendly titles, the Argo Drive-In is the place to watch a movie and enjoy a summer evening at the same time. Showtime is 7:30 p.m., and the ticket price for children is $2 and $5 for adults.
100 Angus Street
Trussville 35173
(205) 467-3434.
Vulcan Park and Museum
4.1 miles, 8 minutes
One of Birmingham’s most recognizable landmarks is more than just the city’s watchman; it’s a museum and park area, too. Vulcan features an observation deck to view the city skyline, a museum to highlight Vulcan’s history as well as the Linn-Henley Gallery, a park ripe for a family picnic and a gift shop to pick up a souvenir of your day. The museum, gift shop and observation tower are open seven days a week. Ticket prices are $4 for children and $6 for adults.
1701 Valley View Drive, Birmingham 35209
933-1409. visitvulcan.com.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
4.2 miles, 7 minutes
The Gardens house more than 25 unique gardens and 12,000 different plants in the outdoor facility. The area includes conservatories, a wildflower garden, rose gardens, Japanese gardens and paths to walk the 67.5 acres of gardens. With numerous classes and children’s summer camps to choose from, time at the Gardens can be spent exploring, picnicking with the family or taking a yoga class. Admission is always free, and the hours are from dawn to dusk daily.
2612 Lane Park Road, Birmingham 35223
414-3950. bbgardens.org.