U-DRIFT's guide to
regional activities and the magic of Birmingham, Alabama. Do
it! Do the 'ham!
U-DRIFT's guide to
regional activities and the magic of Birmingham, Alabama. Do
it!
The "Must Do's"
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U-DRIFT Drifting, rent Ferraris and track cars,
ride go-carts (karting), and rock crawl in 4x4's. 2514 Moody Parkway. www.U-Drift.com
(205) 699-7275 www.barbermotorsports.com Talladega Superspeedway Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc. McWane Science Center 200 19th St. North 205-714-8300 www.mcwane.org |
ACTION
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Hot Air Ballooning and rides www.skydivingalabama.com www.skydivealabama.com www.SkydiveTheFarm.com www.alskydiving.com Alabama
Adventure CanoeingPaddle on the Cahaba River. Highway 52, Helena 205-424-3634 www.alsmallboats.com and Five Mile Creek Canoe and Company 100 Park Road, Brookside. 205-674-5550 Golfing (<-- click, then scroll down!) Robert Trent
Jones Golf Trail
Skeet and Trap Shooting Southern Skeet and Trap |
Trussville Playstation Putt Putt Skating Laser Tag Go Carts 
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Night Life! (<-- comprehensive list)
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Five Points South and Lakeview WorkPlay It's work. It's play. It's Birmingham's unique, hybrid, creative facility for day and night. 500 23rd Street South 205-879-4773 Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame Alabama Theatre 1817 3rd Ave. North 205-252-2262 www.alabamatheatre.com |
U.S.
Space and Rocket Center
The world's largest space park has a real SR-71, a full-scale Space
Shuttle mockup, IMAX, a Moon rock, g-forces/weightlessness rides like
the Space Shot, and a bus tour of NASA. Home of Space Camp 256-721-7155
The Alabama Princess Riverboat gives dinner cruises on the scenic Coosa River. Docked in the heart of historic Gadsden 256-549-1111
Tuscaloosa
Bama Belle Riverboat Tours and Dinner Cruises
SHOPPING
The Summit
is
upscale shopping, dining, and cinema at its finest with Saks 5th Avenue
and others in an architecturally amazing venue. I-459 at Hwy. 280
205-967-0111 www.thesummitonline.com/birmingham
Colonial Brookwood Village
The pleasing ambiance of village shopping and upscale dining
205-871-0406 colonialprop.com/property-info/shopping-info.php?cid=1245
Riverchase Galleria
Shop inside a nine-story glass atrium that features the world's largest
skylight and more than 200 shops, lodging, and dining.
Hwy. 31 South 205-985-3039 www.riverchasegalleria.com
Alabama Farmer's Market
Find the freshest in produce on Finley Avenue. 205-251-8737 www.fma.state.al.us
Peanut Depot
Enjoy the aroma emanating from Morris Avenue as the essence of roasting
peanuts fills the air. Tours and sampling available.
2016 Morris Avenue 205-251-3314
Pepper Place
Imaginative shopping and entertainment in a converted bottling plant.
3rd Avenue South 205-802-2100
Reed Books:The Museum of Fond
Memories book loft. 2021 Third Avenue North 205-326-4460 www.jimreedbooks.com
Watermark Place
More than 30 fashion stores near Alabama Adventure 205-425-4554 www.watermarkoutlets.com
RACING
Birmingham Race Course International Motorsports Hall
of Fame |
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SPORTS
Birmingham-Southern, MILES, UAB Blazers, SAMFORD College Football, Baseball, and Basketball
Rickwood Field The Birmingham Vulcans play regional rugby teams at Ramsay Park on Montclair Road 205-933-MAUL |
OUTDOOR
DeSoto Caverns Park
One of the first recorded caves in America! It's also the birthplace of
the Creek Indian Nation. Play its Water Dodge, climb the Cave Wall and
spelunk the Cave Crawl Box. DeSoto Caverns Pkwy, Childersburg.
256-378-7252 www.desotocavernspark.com
Moss Rock Preserve
This is a beautiful, 250 acre nature preserve of foliage, rock
outcroppings, streams, waterfalls, wildlife, and natural topography.
See rare plant species and go rock climbing. Accessed via Preserve
parkway in Hoover. 205-444-7866 www.ci.hoover.al.us
Oak Mountain State Park
Tour a demonstration farm, take horse trail rides, go golfing, picnic,
rent boats, swim, play tennis, hike, and ride on bicycle trails in
between fishing expeditions (cabin rentals and RV spots are available).
Oak Mountain State Park Road. 205-620-2524 www.dcnr.state.al.us
Rickwood Caverns State Park
More than a mile of tourable, underground caverns! See blind cave fish
in an underground pool. 370 Rickwood Park Road, Warrior. 205-647-9692
Ruffner Mountain
You just thought that Central Park was big! This is Birmingham's
pristine, 1,000+acre nature preserve inside the city limits. Go on
hikes, birdwatch, and enjoy the great outdoors. 1214 81st St. South
205-833-8264 www.ruffnermountain.org
HISTORY
Arlington Antebellum Mansion &
Garden
This Greek Revival home dates from 1845 and displays numerous period
antiques and local arts. 331 Cotton Ave. SW. 205-780-5656
http://www.birminghamal.org/ttd-attractions-detail.asp?ID=0200267
American Village
This is a recreated colonial village where you can experience life
before the American Revolution. Montevallo. 205-665-3535.
www.americanvillage.org
Pioneer Homes
Three original pioneer homes in nearby Bessemer showcase early life in
Alabama. See the Sadler Plantation, one of Alabama's finest examples of
antebellum architecture. Take Highway 150 to Eastern Valley Road,
Bessemer. 205-491-5543
INDUSTRY
Sloss Furnaces
This National Historic Landmark began iron-making in 1882 and did not stop for another ninety years. Tour the massive furnaces, webs of pipes, and see its towering smokestacks alongside artwork by resident metal sculptors. 20 32nd St. North 205-324-1911 www.slossfurnaces.com
Brierfield Ironworks and Historical
Park
Experience Alabama's iron era through historic furnaces and pioneer
homes. 240 Furnace Parkway, Brierfield 205-665-1856
Tannehill Ironworks
Tourable 19th century cabins show life as lived in the 19th Century. Go
horseback riding, attend Tannehill Trade Days (each third Saturday of
the month, Spring through Fall), and see the site of a Civil War battle
(with
occasional reenactments!). 12632
Confederate Pkwy., McCalla 205-477-5711
www.tannehill.org
CULTURAL OUTDOORS
Aldridge Botanical Gardens
A beautiful 30-acre site of hydrangeas and garden favorites. 3530 Lorna
Road, Hoover 205-682-8019
www.aldridgegardens.com
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
67 acres of flowers, decorative trees, sculptures, and world-wide
species. 2612 Lane Park Road 205-414-3900
www.bbgardens.org
Birmingham Zoo
Across the street from the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, the
Birmingham Zoo has over 700 animals from most continents. Ride its
train and Zoo carousel. It also has a petting zoo and play area for
kids. 2630 Cahaba Road 205-879-0458
www.birminghamzoo.com
The Alabama Wildlife Center
Alabama's largest wildlife rehabilitation center provides for over 100
species of native birds, mammals, and reptiles. At Oak Mountain State
Park.
www.dcnr.state.al.us 205-620-2520.
CIVIL RIGHTS
The Birmingham
Civil Rights Institute encourages communication and reconciliation of human
rights issues worldwide. 520 16th St. North 205-328-9696
www.bcri.org
The Sixteenth Street Baptist
Church is
a landmark to both man's inhumanity and his capacity for love and
forgiveness. Tours available.1530 6th Ave. North 205-251-9402 www.4littlegirls.com
Kelly Ingram Park held
Civil Rights rallies, demonstrations, and marches during the heart of
the Civil Rights Movement. Today, its garden sculptures chronicle the
American civil rights movement. AKA "West Park."
ART
Birmingham Museum of Art
The Birmingham Museum of Art is the largest regional art museum (over
21,000 diverse works of art).
2000 8th Ave. North 205-254-2566 www.artsbma.org
Branko Medenica sculptor
Museum of American Art (Jack Warner Collection)
Southern Environmental Center
Interactive exhibits, trash art, and informational environmental
displays 205-226-4934 www.myecoscapes.org
Temple of Sibyl
This replica Roman temple offers pleasing views of Shades Valley and
Samford University. Hwy. 31 near Brookwood Medical Center
205-967-0338 www.sibyltemple.com
RELIGIOUS
Eternal Word Television Network
EWTN studios broadcast daily Mass, documentaries, music, prayers,
interviews, and devotionals 24 hours per day. This is the original
broadcast home of Mother Angelica. Tour the facilities and monastery by
appointment. 205-271-2900 www.ewtn.com
Ave Maria Grotto
A beautifully landscaped, four-acre park of 125 scale reproductions of
famous historic buildings and shrines. Cullman.
Caritas
Where Marija Lunetti experienced apparitions of the Virgin Mary. 100
Our Lady Queen of Peace Drive, Sterrett.
205-672-2000 www.caritasofbirmingham.org
Samuel Ullman Museum
This religious leader authored "Youth" and other poetry 205-934-3328 www.main.uab.edu/sites/ullmanmuseum
ALTERNATIVE MUSEUMS
Alabama Historical Radio Society
Museum
Located in the Alabama Power Building at 600 North 18th Street.
Alabama Mining Museum
Based inside a 1935 gym built by the WPA. 120 East Street, Dora
205-648-2442
Alabama Museum of the Health Sciences/ Reynolds
Historical Library
Trace the evolution of health-care through 700 years of innovation (on
the third floor of the Lister Hill Library) at 1530 3rd Avenue South
205-934-4475
Alabama Veterans Memorial
Foundation
Information about each of the 20th century's five major wars
205-298-0045 www.alabamaveterans.com
Aldrich Coal Mining Museum
Vintage photographs, equipment, memorabilia, and tourable (replica)
coal mine.
Hwy. 203 west of Montevallo 205-665-2886 www.cityofmontevallo.com
Bessemer Hall of History
A renovated Southern Railway Depot chronicles the history of Bessemer,
Jefferson County, and Alabama.
1905 Alabama Ave., Bessemer. 205-426-1633
Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum
The official railroad museum for Alabama. Ride a real steam locomotive.
Calera 205-668-3435 www.heartofdixierrmuseum.org
Southern Museum of Flight
Artifacts from the Red Baron and Tuskegee Airmen, as well as
historically significant aircraft on display (and two U.S. Air Force
fighter jet simulators for visitors). Near U-DRIFT by the
Airport 205-833-8226 www.southernmuseumofflight.org
LEARNING FUN
Birmingham Public Library
Be dazzled by two architecturally-amazing buildings and the great
Southern history and map collection. 2100 Park Place 205-226-3600
Meyer Planetarium
On the campus of Birmingham-Southern College. 900 Arkadelphia Road
205-226-4771
Educational entertainment for kids 800-280-4442
Vulcan Park
Barber Motorsports
Park 
Date Places and Ideas: 
Alabama Sports Hall of Fame