Best Places to Visit in Alabama
Sometimes you just want to get out and explore. We try to strike a good balance of places that you will really enjoy. Finding ideas for family friendly outings, or interesting places to go in Alabama with your friends, both are at your fingertips here with America Top 10. We aim to give you plenty of ideas without you having to do all the research. That way you can easily decide if you want to explore Alabama sites or check out the sites in another state.
You have also heard how it is becoming a lot more popular to have staycations (where you stay home instead of going to far off places) and discover new and interesting places in the near vicinity. We try to make that easier for you. Check out the sites in Alabama that have become local favorites easily with our site.
We hope that we have provided you plenty of choices in Alabama whether this is a new area for you or your own back yard. Something a little different from the typical amusement park. If you really loved somewhere but don’t see them on our list let us know, we are always looking to improve our lists and we can only do that with your help.
Battleship USS Alabama
Mobile, AL
Displacing more than 44,500 tons, the USS ALABAMA measures 680 feet from stem to stern, half as long as the Empire State Building is tall. Armed with nine, 16-inch guns in three turrets and 20, 5-inch, .38-caliber guns in 10 twin mounts, her main batteries could fire shells as heavy as a small car accurately for a distance of more than 20 miles. Her steel side armor was a foot thick above the waterline, tapering to one half inch at the bottom. Her four propellers, each weighing more than 18 tons, could drive her through the seas at up to 28 knots, more than 32 miles per hour. Loaded with 7,000 tons of fuel oil, her range was about 15,000 nautical miles.
Huntsville Botanical Garden
Huntsville, AL
Huntsville Botanical Garden, a valuable community resource for education, recreation and entertainment, is open to the public year-round and is enjoyed by more than 350,000 visitors annually. As a non-profit institution, they depend on the support of their community, visitors, volunteers and especially their members. From seasonal festivals to workshops and classes, they strive to give members countless reasons to return repeatedly.
Weeden House Museum and Garden
Huntsville, AL
Built in 1819,the same year Alabama became a state, the Weeden House is the oldest public house museum in Alabama. The house was home to several distinguished Huntsville owners before the Weeden family purchased it in 1845. Maria Howard Weeden was born in the house in 1846. The Weeden House is home to the artwork of Howard Weeden. She is credited as being one of the first Americans to paint African Americans true to life.
North Alabama Railroad Museum
Huntsville, AL
At the North Alabama Railroad Museum, you will find a facility reflecting a love of trains and a desire to preserve railroad history. The museum is also open by special appointment. Visitors may take a free self-guided tour and there are tour sheets and museum brochures in the waybill box. The centerpiece of the museum features the Chase depot, the smallest union depot in the country since it served more than one railroad when in service. If you visit the museum on a day when the train is running, you can ride a vintage train over the museum’s own Mercury & Chase Railroad. All aboard!
Jasmine Hill Gardens
Wetumpka, AL
Jasmine Hill Gardens and outdoor museum, is “Alabama’s little corner of Greece,” now features over 20 acres of year-round floral beauty and classical sculpture, including new statuary honoring Olympic heroes. The Olympian Centre welcomes visitors with a video presentation of jasmine hill’s history and a display of Olympic memorabilia from the games of past years. A tour of Jasmine Hill, now completely accessible to visitors with disabilities, offers spectacular and ever-changing views, including their full-scale replica of the temple of Hera ruins as found in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the Olympic flame.
Sloss Furnaces
Birmingham, AL
Sloss Furnaces produced iron for nearly 90 years, which gave rise to the city of Birmingham, AL. Now recognized as a National Historic Landmark, Sloss Furnaces with its web of pipes and tall smokestacks offers them a glimpse into the great industrial past of the South and the nation. Sloss Furnaces has a history that is steeped in a 100-year tradition of iron pouring. To preserve that history they are evaluating their Metal Arts Artists-in-Residence program to provide opportunities for artists around the world to share their talents with Birmingham. Metal Arts is important to many in the art community, and remains an important part of Sloss Furnaces.
First White House of the Confederacy
Montgomery, AL
The First White House of the Confederacy was the Executive Residence of President Jefferson Davis and family while the capitol of the Confederacy was in Montgomery, Alabama. The house served as the first White House of the Confederacy from February 1861 until late May 1861, when the Confederate capital moved to Richmond, Virginia. Completely furnished with original period pieces from the 1850’s and 1860’s, the 1835 Italianate style house is open to the public. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1974.
Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo
Gulf Shores, AL
The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo – opened in June 1989 as Zooland Animal Park. Joey Ward of Gulf Shores founded the zoo as a private enterprise. In 1991, the Ward family created the Zoo Foundation, Inc., a non-profit corporation, and donated the 17 acres of prime real estate that makes up the zoo today. Three years later, the Ward family and the Erie Meyer Foundation graciously donated an additional 13 acres, which are still undeveloped.
U.S. Space and Rocket Center
Huntsville, AL
Come to Space Camp and Aviation Challenge, The U.S. Space and Rocket Center is recognized as one of the most comprehensive U.S. manned space flight hardware museums in the world. Their facilities include Spacedome Theater, Rocket Park, the Education Training Center, which houses NASA’s Educator Resource Center, and more. The Archives of the U.S. Space and Rocket Center contains some of the most interesting information about space, on Earth
Chewacla State Park
Auburn, AL
Chewacla State Park’s 696 scenic acres offer plenty of rest, relaxation and recreation, just a short drive from the Auburn-Opelika area. Facilities include a 26-acre lake, swimming area, playground, a modern campground, picnic areas with tables, grills and shelters, cabins, hiking and mountain biking trails.