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
What to do and see in Alabama, United States: The Best Museums
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. Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,251 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 vault101_overseer - Newark, United States
The museum had interesting content. The target market seemed to be families with young children or people with less understanding of Jim Crow or the Civil Rights era. It was worthwhile though and the highlight was touching the bars of the jail cell MLK Jr was in and seeing the effects that were donated by Denise McNair's family.
2. Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,251 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 jwtraveller2015
If you have a love of motorcycles do not miss this. 900 on display. Wonderful day. Norton’s! Vincent’s! Broughams! Ariels! And a plethora of the usual suspects. Several mint Goldstars and some awesome sidecar setups. Plus “The Porsche Experience “.
3. U.S. Veterans Memorial Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 341 reviews
Located in Huntsville Alabama, The U.S. Veterans Memorial Museum is one of the premier military museums in the world. The exhibits of memorabilia, artifacts, and military equipment range from the American Revolutionary War to present day. Included in the collection are many rare and important artifacts including the oldest surviving jeep: the Ford Pygmy.
Reviewed By N7085FQjohnm
This museum has so many artifacts from the Revelotionary War era to the modern-day. The volunteers at the museum were very helpful and clearly have a passion to see the history on display in the museum maintained and shared. My family of 5 with 3 kids under 7 thoroughly enjoyed it! The museum would very much benefit from a larger, updated space and some money to upgrade the exhibits. They clearly are doing the best with the money they have. I hope the city or some other group will help this museum, as they have plenty of artifacts to be a world-class museum; they just need some money to take the next steps.
4. Legacy Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 361 reviews
Reviewed By jillg272019 - Cambridge, United Kingdom
the museum and the memorial are stupendous testimonials to the history of African Americans in USA. a moving and memorable experience.
5. Dauphin Island Little Red School House Community Complex
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By rluther8 - Des Moines, United States
My wife and I are educators and loved the history of the schools on the island. There is also a wonderful little library to grab a beach book. And they have a gift shop with painted shells that make for a great souvenir of the island. Definitely worth the stop. The people working that day were awesome to visit with.
6. Alabama State Capitol
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 398 reviews
Built in 1851, the capitol building served as the first capitol for the Confederate States of America.
Reviewed By 199dannyc - Wetumpka, United States
The Alabama State Capital is a Beautiful building and well worth the time to tour it! Wen there a few weeks ago and it was awesome. The wood and marble have look as if they were brand new and of course they are over 150 years old. If you appreciate history and architecture, you will really enjoy your time there.
7. The F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 268 reviews
This historic house honors novelist F. Scott, best known for "The Great Gatsby," and his wife, Zelda, artist and author. The museum operates out of the last surviving home they lived in during their lives together. The structure was saved from demolition in 1986. It is the location where Scott worked on "Tender is the Night", and Zelda on "Save Me the Waltz". You can now stay in the house in either Scott or Zelda Suite. Please see the museum website for Airbnb details and availability.
Reviewed By 171judim - Philadelphia, United States
If you are in Montgomery and want a break from all of the Civil Rights venues, this museum is a good break and place to take your mind off of the horrors of slavery. The small museum is located in a home whee the couple briefly lived. It is filled with artifacts from Zeda, Scott and others. Most interesting to me were the actual letter they wrote to each other. I ws also amazed by the quality of elda's paintings. The museum is a work in progress. It is obvious they need money to restore and update the building. But if you follow F. Scott and love his books, this is a place to visit. And even if you aren't a Fitrzgerald expert it is a great example of what life was like in the early 20th century. Put it on your to do list in Montgomery
8. Birmingham Museum of Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 538 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 C_Athnos - Birmingham, United States
Very nice inside and provides a pretty large collection for viewing. Admission is free and it makes for a nice visit.
9. 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.
10. 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.
