Location: Irondale
Top Things to do in Irondale
The 10 Best Things to Do in Irondale, United States
Irondale is a city in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. It is a suburb of Birmingham, northeast of Homewood and Mountain Brook. At the 2010 census the population was 12,349. The setting of the book (later a film) Fried Green Tomatoes, by Irondale native Fannie Flagg, is loosely based on the town and the landmark Irondale Cafe, known as The Whistle-Stop Cafe in the book & film. Irondale is also the location of Catholic radio/television broadcaster EWTN. The city's annual Whistle-Stop Festival attracts thousands to its eclectic mix of art, food and music.
Restaurants in Irondale
1. Train Watching Platform
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 21 reviews
Reviewed By LoveTravelingOn - BirminghamAL
Irondale was very smart to create this park for people who love an active train yard. Since this is a major yard to assemble, reassemble, and route trains to the different routes, it is seemingly always busy. As the pictures show, there are places to sit on one side of the tracks, and a restored caboose on the other. It is a wonderful place to take the kids so they can learn about trains. And, while you're there, you can eat at the original "Whistle Stop Cafe" (which is now called the Irondale Cafe that is across the street.
They were also nice enough to make the platform wheelchair accessible.
2. Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum
Overall Ratings
5 based on 988 reviews
A motorcyclist's dream, this museum has 750 vintage and modern motorcycles displayed on walls, two-tiered platforms and just about everywhere you look. The bikes are displayed randomly, rather than by date and year, adding an element of unpredictability to the viewer's experience.
Reviewed By Ryan G - Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
My family is unfamiliar with motorcycles aside from recognizing the Harley-Davidson and Honda logos, but this place gave us (ages 7 to 69) an appreciation for motorsports in general and motorcycles specifically that we weren’t expecting. Unmistakable as well was the art of the bikes. The displays were fantastic, and the employees who gave our tour were as patient as could be with our kids and as informative as could be for our entire family.
It’s clear that Mr. Barber wanted his museum to be the Augusta National of motorsports. The building and grounds are impeccably manicured and maintained.
If you can arrange a tour ahead of your visit, you just might make it down to the basement level to see the restoration garage. The whole operation is just first class, and to be in the presence of such art, class and success makes for a really cool day.
3. Breakout Games - Birmingham
Overall Ratings
5 based on 898 reviews
This isn’t your average outing or everyday experience—Breakout is for those who would rather solve mysteries than watch someone else have all the fun. With different rooms that follow unique story-lines, you and your friends will have 60 minutes to escape your adventure of choice by cracking codes, solving puzzles and following clues. Part problem solving, part adrenaline, end-to-end fun!
Reviewed By Donna U - Gardendale, Alabama
We did this for the first time with family members. We had 5 in our group and a young couple was added. So we had 7 people for Mystery Mansion, which had a max of 8.
Everyone worked well together and all contributed. We made it out with only a couple of minutes to spare.
An evening of fun!
4. Train Escape
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 31 reviews
Locked in a locomotive with no way out, you must search for hidden compartments, secret passageways, and decipher clues to plot your Great Train Escape. It is a hybrid of a scavenger hunt and a puzzle game. Teamwork, Creativity and resourcefulness is essential to get off this train. Success, failure and fun are inevitable – ESCAPE is not!
Reviewed By Rex M - Nashville, Tennessee
I have played escape rooms around the county but never before in a real train - very cool - just seeing the train and knowing it is the setting was fun. My expectations were that the rooms would be small given space on a train - and they were to some extent. However, the staff did a great job with creative puzzles and spaces to make the game live up to the "Wow" factor of the train.
I played both of their games and there were many unique elements that were fun and challenging.
Highly recommend these games - would suggest smaller team sizes versus normal rooms - the staff was very responsive and can guide you to make sure you have a great time with the right number of players.
Looking forward to their next games!
5. Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
Overall Ratings
5 based on 992 reviews
This historic museum traces the journey of the civil rights advocates of the 1950s and 60s, who changed the course of American history. The struggle for equality for Black Americans is chronicled here, from the Jim Crow laws in the 1800s to the freedom rides, sit-ins and demonstrations of the 1960s.
Reviewed By Joan P - Damariscotta, Maine
We spent the afternoon exploring the Birmingham Civil Right Institute and I found it a very moving and powerful experience. Being old enough to have lived through the 1950s and 1960s, I already knew the history, but the audio, video, and photographic displays brought it all to life again. It is our history.
The building itself is organized in a circular fashion which progresses chronologically from the 1950s to the present time. There is enough variety in the exhibits to keep you interested. Lots to read, lots to learn. Lots to watch.
I would recommend that all Americans go to this Museum. And probably non-American visitors should go there to get some understanding of the Civil Rights movement in America.
6. Adventure Park at Grants Mill
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 7 reviews
Adventure Park at Grants Mill was built to the standards of the Association of Challenge Course Technology (ACCT). Our ropes course consists of platforms and elements that range from 9 to over 20 feet off the ground. Adventure Park has two courses with different levels of difficulty for every member of the family. Test your balance and agility by working your way from platform to platform high in the sky crossing bridges, climbing ladders, conquering obstacles, and zooming across zip lines. Activities include: High ropes course, Lower ropes course, Zipline, Rock climbing wall, Spiderweb slide, Bungy Dome trampoline, High performance trampoline, putt putt golf course as well as pedal carts. Come join us for a quick trip down the Zipline or spend the day on the ropes course and the memories you make here really do last forever!
Reviewed By UberUbu - Sarasota, Florida
Heard about this place since it was one of the few mini golf places in the Birmingham area, so we thought we'd try it. Very flat, no hole markers aside from so faint stripes of paint from hole to hole, and poor maintenence of rhe course itself. Still, we had fun playing. The place was also supposed to have a rock climbing wall (stored away), a ropes course (operational), a bung zone, a water ball pool (gone), and a huge water slide (also gone). Given 2 of the 5 activities listed on their website are gone, I wonder how much longer the other 3 will last considering what we saw.
7. McWane Science Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 820 reviews
Fun and learning never end at McWane Science Center, a nonprofit, hands-on museum and IMAX(R) Dome Theater. Four floors of interactive exhibits celebrate science and wonder - from an amazing collection of dinosaurs to innovative environmental showcases, imaginative early childhood playgrounds, and an awe-inspiring aquarium. The energy and excitement of discovery spring to life through an extensive lineup of science demonstrations performed daily by talented educators. The adventure intensifies in the IMAX(R) Dome Theater, where wide-eyed visitors experience the sights and sounds of breathtaking films on a 5-story-tall screen surrounded by 3 tons of high-intensity speakers.
Reviewed By ekkerb - Franklin, Tennessee
Good science center experience. Nice compact museum with something for everyone. Kind of a combination children's museum with a traditional science museum. Our kids had a fun time. Takes a few hours to see everything. It was helpful we were able to use our reciprocal benefits with the Adventure Science Center in Nashville.
8. Porsche Sport Driving School - Day Classes
Overall Ratings
5 based on 17 reviews
Reviewed By SoozieKabloozie - Baltimore, Maryland
Taking the 2-day performance driving course was a bucket list item that I checked off for my 50th birthday. This program is run very professionally and we were driving almost immediately. The instructors are lots of fun, highly skilled and excellent teachers. After only about 30 minutes in the classroom, I was on the track driving a GT4!! We were busy busy busy with our teams trying out 8 different Porsche vehicles driving autocross, using the skidpad, offroading with the Cayenne and driving as fast as we dared on a the closed track. We were fed 3 delicious meals the first day and two meals the second day. I will definitely repeat this. My husband joined me but we couldn't afford the fee for both of us to drive, so he attended as a guest. He wasn't able to drive the cars but rode along with the instructor whenever there was a demo ride and on all the track rides. His meals were included in the small guest fee we paid. Now it's on OUR bucket list to go back so both of us can drive!! Highly recommend. Worth every penny!!
9. Birmingham Museum of Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 456 reviews
This three-story museum houses an eclectic selection of art, including Wedgewood pottery, the largest collection of Asian art in the Southeast, Native American and African art, impressionism, contemporary art and American landscapes.
Reviewed By moviegeekjn - Phoenix, Arizona
This museum is essentially free (donations of $3 are suggested) and more than worthwhile. The biggest surprise is the diversity of its collection; not only does it offer a sampling of American and European art, but it also contains a large collection of Asian art and a nice presentation of African art to illustrate cultural aspects.
10. Regions Field
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 347 reviews
Reviewed By Kayla N - Birmingham, Alabama
Parking isn't great, but what do you expect when the field is downtown. The field and the park itself are beautiful, lots of food options, lots of drink options--including alcohol. Lots of picnic tables in the outfield, and a lot of space for kids to play/things to play on. Truly a family experience. They also love getting the crowd involved in between innings. A lot of fun for the whole family.
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