Things to do in Birmingham, Alabama

I can’t believe I am just now getting around to writing this travel guide of things to do in Birmingham, Alabama. As you know, back in April, we spent the entire month living in Birmingham, and to this day, I still can’t believe we actually lived in this city. It was such a surreal experience and while I feel like we got to experience everything that Birmingham had to offer, there were a few things we wish we would have known about sooner.

That’s why I am so excited to help you plan your trip to Birmingham! I want to make sure you have the absolute best time there. This travel guide for Birmingham, Alabama is geared towards family-friendly things to do, so you won’t find any bars or alcohol in this guide but the things you will find in this guide, are fun and exciting for the whole family. 

About Birmingham, Alabama

Known as the ‘Magic City’, Birmingham, Alabama is the largest city in the state of Alabama. Founded in 1871, after the Civil War, this city has a rich history in the Civil Rights Movement. And, was home to many of the violent attacks and examples of segregation and racial injustice in America.

Today, the city is home to over 200,000 residents and sees over 3.6 million visitors a year! 

Things to do in Birmingham, Alabama

Visit the Sloss Furnace

One of the very first places we visited when we were in Birmingham was the old Sloss Furnace. This National Landmark is a free attraction in Birmingham and it’s a great place to visit with the whole family.

While visiting the furnace, you can learn about the history of the Sloss Furnace and take a walking tour of the furnaces. Though you cannot climb up most of the structures, you can get a close-up view and see how the furnace once operated.

Visit the Sloss Furnace yourself: 📍20 32nd St N, Birmingham, AL 35222

See the Animals at Birmingham Zoo

Since we were in Birmingham for an entire month, we decided to invest in a membership pass so we could see the animals whenever we wanted to. Though small and not quite as clean as many other zoos, the Birmingham Zoo is a place you could easily spend 1-2 hours at.

The zoo is home to animals like; giraffes, elephants, rhinos, and more. 

Visit the Birmingham Zoo 📍 2630 Cahaba Rd, Birmingham, AL 35223

Smell the Flowers at Birmingham Botanical Gardens

The Birmingham Botanical Gardens is a free attraction in downtown Birmingham and it’s located directly across from the zoo. We visited the gardens quite a few times while we were in Birmingham and they were beautiful.

There’s quite a bit of walking and plants of all kinds there. 

See the Birmingham Botanical Gardens 📍 2612 Lane Park Rd, Birmingham, AL 35223

Enjoy Nature at Oak Mountain State Park

Oak Mountain State Park was our absolute favorite place that we visited while in Birmingham. The park itself is actually located in Pelham, Alabama but it’s such a short drive from downtown Birmingham, that I highly suggest visiting it.

We loved Oak Mountain State Park so much that we even wished we would have bought a membership pass for it instead of the zoo.

Oak Mountain State Park is home to Peavine Falls, a bird sanctuary, hiking trails, a farm, and much more! If you love nature and waterfalls, you have to visit it!

📍 200 Terrace Dr, Pelham, AL 35124

See the Largest Motorcycle Collection at Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum

Whether or not you are a motorcycle enthusiast, you will love visiting the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum. This museum is located in Leeds, Alabama, just a few miles from Birmingham and is home to the world’s largest motorcycle collection.

Inside the museum, there are over 1,600 vintage and contemporary motorcycles!

Visit the museum 📍6030 Barber Motorsports Pkwy, Leeds, AL 35094

Visit this insane gas station

I debated whether or not I should put this on this list, but I believe a visit to Buc-ee’s Gas Station is a must if you’ve never been to one! This gas station is located in Leeds, Alabama, near the Barber Motorsports Museum and it’s like a giant gas station on steroids! It’s huge! Every time we visited it, it was like Black Friday there.

Inside Buc-ee’s it’s more than just a normal gas station. They sell hunting/fishing gear, housewares, clothing, baby items, fudge, and much, much more. If you’ve never been to a Buc-ee’s before, you almost have to check it out.

Head there📍6900 Buc-ee’s Blvd, Leeds, AL 35094

See the aircraft at the Southern Museum of Flight

If you love aircrafts, you will love visiting the Southern Museum of Flight. This unique stop

This unique destination is located near Birmingham Airport and features over 100 aircraft, engines, models, artifacts, and paintings.  

Tour it yourself📍 4343 73rd St N, Birmingham, AL 35206

See a replica of the Statue of Liberty

Birmingham may be hundreds of miles away from the Statue of Liberty but that doesn’t mean you can’t visit a replica at Liberty Park in Vestavia Hills, AL.  

See it yourself 📍 Vestavia Hills, AL 35242

See the largest cast-iron statue at Vulcan Park

Vulcan Park and Museum is another cool place to see in Birmingham, Alabama. As the largest cast-iron statue, this statue can be seen from all over Birmingham and features a fantastic view of the city.

The park offers an observation tower, a museum and free parking.

Tour it 📍 1701 Valley View Dr, Birmingham, AL 35209

Hike at Red Mountain State Park

Red Mountain State Park is another great thing to do in Birmingham, Alabama. This state park features hiking trails, old mines, and other artifacts from Birmingham’s Industrial history.

Visit it 📍 2011 Frankfurt Dr, Birmingham, AL 35211

Some more great things to see and do in Birmingham include:

• Visit the city’s free art museum
• Learn about the city’s rich Civil Rights history at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institue

I hope this post helps you plan an amazing trip to Birmingham, Alabama! To see and do all that Birmingham has to offer, I would suggest planning your stay in Birmingham for at least 1 week. 

Looking for more things to do near Birmingham? Visit the Blue Bell Creamery in Sylacauga, Alabama for $1 ice cream!

Last Updated on 3 years ago by Crystal Carder