Top Things to do in Alabama
Top Hotels in Alabama
- 1. Best Western Premier The Tides
- 2. The Lodge at Gulf State Park, a Hilton Hotel
- 3. Perdido Beach Resort
- 4. Drury Inn & Suites Huntsville at the Space & Rocket Center
- 5. Best Western On The Beach
- 6. Drury Inn & Suites Birmingham Grandview
- 7. Hotel Capstone
- 8. Hyatt Regency Birmingham - The Wynfrey Hotel
- 9. Hampton Inn & Suites Birmingham-Downtown-Tutwiler
- 10. Drury Inn Mobile
Top 7 Zoos & Aquariums in Alabama, United States
If you head for the hills in the state you’ll end up in the northern sector where the inspiring mountains and attractions like the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, the Blue & Gray Museum in Decatur and the Ave Maria Grotto in Cullman represent the diversity of experiences available in the area. In the middle of the state you’ll find Birmingham, an urban center with great attractions and museums, and Tuscaloosa, the quintessential college town and home to the University of Alabama. For beach lovers, sandy destinations like Dauphin Island near Mobile, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach offer beautiful beaches, superb golf, fantastic seafood restaurants and heaping helpings of Southern hospitality.
For those who love to chase the white dimpled ball, Alabama offers one of the best golf values anywhere. The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, a collection of 468 holes at 11 different sites across the state, features top-notch, championship style courses at affordable rates.
Restaurants in Alabama
1. Dauphin Island Sea Lab Estuarium
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 646 reviews
The Estuarium is an exciting educational public aquarium highlighting the four key habitats of coastal Alabama: the Mobile Tensaw River Delta, Mobile Bay, the Barrier Islands and the Northern Gulf of Mexico. It includes the 10,000 square foot Exhibit Hall, a 7,000-gallon stingray touch pool, and the Living Marsh Boardwalk. This facility has 31 aquariums totaling over 30,000 gallons with more than 100 species on display. The Estuarium showcases the plants, animals, and other natural resources found in the Estuary and its surrounding marine habitats. Through beautiful visual exhibits and engaging interactive exhibits, the Estuarium will leave you with a broader understanding of the interactions that take place in Mobile Bay, the fourth largest estuary system in the United States. Due to COVID-19 tickets are available online at: https://disl.yapsody.com/ All visitors are required to wear a mask when touring the Aquarium. The CDC recommendation is for 2 years old and up to wear a mask.
Reviewed By ChristmasYooper - Duluth, United States
We have visited the Estuarium for several years. We typically take the Mobile Ferry from Fort Morgan to Dauphin Island and back. The Estuarium is within walking distance of the Ferry landing. The Estuarium also has ample free parking. A boardwalk with information about area flowers, foliage, birds and sea life winds it’s way to the Estuarium from the parking lot and includes benches for those who like to take time to enjoy the outdoors. There is a reasonable entrance fee to enter. There is a small theater on the right with brief movies of the sea life of the area. A door to the left leads to a pool of rays that are both entertaining and open to letting people touch them. Back inside are several large rooms with well labeled aquariums displaying different types of sea life of the area. There are several areas specifically designed to interest children and to teach them about sea life at their level of understanding. There is a large, staffed display of bones, fossils, etc of creatures of the area. Staff are engaging and willing to answer questions about the display. Further on, there is a staffed display of a couple of living sea creatures such as a crab or turtle. Staff share information about the creatures and show how they are fed. The last aquarium includes large lion fish that are fascinating to watch. The final stop is the gift shop for a T-shirt or a sea related souvenir. The Estuarium is always one of our favorite vacation stops and we plan to visit again next year.
2. Montgomery Zoo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 474 reviews
This popular family destination, spread over 40 acres, is home to over 700 animals from five continents, including the famous Bengal tiger. A train ride around the park provides an overview of the site and a chance to determine where you want to go later for a closer look.
Reviewed By lexicsmith3 - Enterprise, United States
My family and I went while bringing along some of my younger cousins and they loved it! From the kangaroos to the buffalos, they loved it all! They also really loved getting to pick out a stuffed animal at the gift shop!
3. McWane Science Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 945 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 M8784FQannah - Canton, United States
On a little walk sightseeing around Birm, my family happened upon the science museum and got curious, so we stepped inside and inquired if it would be entertaining to our family (2 adults, our 20 year daughter and our 17 year old son) or was it geared more for children. We got kind of a mixed answer but from how it was described inside and the little we could see from the ticket purchase area, we decided to give it a shot. It was so entertaining, WE STAYED FOR ALMOST 3 HOURS! I guess I should say I have kids that love science. As parents, we found it just as cool as our kids because it had been a while since we had channeled our inner science child. There were 3 or 4 floors to the enormous building. One floor was basically an aquarium including a ray and shark petting tank. It also had a snack/vending area with tables. Another floor was full of fun science based activities, and the top floor included fun stuff about trains, outer space, and dinosaurs/fossils. There was a working train that gave train rides to the smaller kids, a fun little zip line, and a big slide. Every area was educational AND fun! Since it was right before Christmas, there were also Christmas related activities going on all around the building. When we finally left we laughed because we were so surprised at how entertaining it was for us, and we couldn't believe we were there for so long. Definitely an unexpected interactive, educational, and fun experience for our whole family!
4. Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,589 reviews
Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo has become 'The Little Zoo That Grew' when we move to our new 25-acre home! The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo is home to exotic animals including lions, tigers, giraffes, reptiles, kangaroos, lemurs, sloths to name just a few. The Zoo features a domestic barn along with seasonal animal encounters, a mining sluice and interactive animal shows during the spring and summer months. The mission of the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo is to create compelling experiences that connect people and community with wildlife and inspire personal responsibility for conservation of the natural world.
Reviewed By shelbyraye90 - East Troy, United States
A really nice zoo with lots of animals and plenty to do. Both of our kids loved the animals and getting to hold a baby kangaroo was so fun!!
5. University of North Alabama
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 151 reviews
Reviewed By patriciachandler2018 - Florence, United States
Whether you are looking at a college to attend or just to visit, the University of North Alabama is a great option. UNA is a beautiful campus and the city of Florence and surrounding cities of Sheffield, Tuscumbia, and Muscle Shoals offer great experiences, culture and food. The beautiful TN River gives exceptional views and great for fun activities.
6. Brantley Farms Petting Zoo
7. Birmingham Zoo
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1,132 reviews
Watch sea lions being trained and fed, zip around on the Zoo Train, hop on the carousel, check out the alligator swamp and tropical rain forest: all this and more are offered at this educational and entertaining zoo housing 170 animals from around the world, including endangered species.
Reviewed By wesleys316 - Birmingham, United States
After the recent facelift/renovations, the Birmingham Zoo offers an even more impressive family day of fun. Our favorites include feeding the giraffes and lorikeets as well as riding the camel! Whether you live in Alabama or are just passing through, the Birmingham Zoo is worth at least 2-3 hrs of your time.
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