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
Countries
8 Science Museums in Alabama That You Shouldn't Miss
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. Alabama Historical Radio Society Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
2. U.S. Space and Rocket Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,098 reviews
Home to Space Camp, Aviation Challenge and NASA's Official Visitor Information Center for Marshall Space Flight Center; The U.S. Space & Rocket Center is recognized as one of the most comprehensive U.S. manned space flight hardware museums in the world.
Reviewed By RichardF215 - Greenville, United States
While on a road trip my wife and I stopped in here to how we the USA put a man on the moon. The museum it'self offers a lot of great information and many different displays some very exciting and some in need of a good facelift. But most important is realizing what it took to put together this space program and the people that we're able to accomplish the task. This was a challenge that had nothing to do with politics this was a program from people from every walk of life. Some who used their brains and some who used their hands. Some were men and some were women and there was a mix of gays and brown people. We were a Unites States of American that came together with a common cause and mastered the challenge. I saw people here the day we toured the museum that didn't speak English and I didn't speak their language but we were here to honor all the people who made this task a win-win for the whole world. There is a lot to see for all ages, movies, attractions like wall climbing for kids, old newspaper headlines, videos, many presentations, rockets and engines and lots of memorabilia. Parking is easy, food is available, and there is something for everyone. Extremely easy to get to off the interstate.
3. Cook Museum of Natural Science
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 109 reviews
The Cook Museum of Natural Science is a 501c3, nonprofit foundation with a mission to engage, excite and educate visitors of all ages about the natural world around them. Located in Downtown, Decatur, AL, the museum will serve as an educational destination and cultural venue for various programs and meetings across North Alabama. The museum will offer multiple interactive exhibits, immersive educational experiences inside and outside of a classroom setting, STEAM programs, event space rentals, and the first Natures Table restaurant in Alabama!
Reviewed By alwildflower3 - Huntsville, United States
I went to the original Cooks museum in the 80s. This multi-million dollar museum is a hidden gem in North Alabama! It’s fun for groups, children of all ages, and solo adults or couples. This is the ONLY museum I’ve been to that has a cave. The cave is the most realistic of any actual cave I’ve ever been too. The taxidermy is beautiful. I know, I’m not really into dead animals, but when they represent a biome of species it’s a different thing. The sand table showing biomes is wonderful. I’ve been here about a dozen times and I still see new things each time. Well worth the visit.
4. 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.
5. 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!
6. Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 231 reviews
The Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center is a not-for-profit, mission-based, science center that promotes science learning through a variety of inquiry-based educational and entertaining activities, including exhibits, IMAX films, demonstrations, workshops and teacher professional development. Located in downtown Mobile, Exploreum visitors can experience more than 150 hands-on science adventures in three permanent galleries: Hands On Hall, the Wharf of Wonder and My BodyWorks, the most advanced health exhibit in the nation. The Exploreum also features large-scale, family friendly, interactive traveling exhibits, year-round with broad science content and supplementary, themed educational programming. Guests can also enjoy demonstrations or workshops in the ChemLab, BioLab or new ExploreTEC lab and see a film in the J.L. Bedsole IMAX Theater.
Reviewed By chloetynerinfo - Mobile, United States
Wonderful outing for grandparents and kids. So many things to do in safe surroundings. Different play areas, many opportunities to learn new things. We are always finding something new to test and try and do. My four-year-old loves it, especially the body exhibit (sponsored by Mobile Infirmary) and the Dinosaurs. We generally spend four hours here and both look forward to return visits.
7. W.A. Gayle Planetarium
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 33 reviews
The W.A. Gayle Planetarium is the region’s premier astronomy education facility, as well as a multimedia theater for films, lectures, live music and digital art performances. Public shows: Mon - Thurs @ 4 pm Sun @ 2 pm General Admission is $7.50 per person for ages 5 and above. Shows start promptly.
8. Alabama Historical Radio Society Don Kresge Memorial Radio Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
