Favorite Alabama Attractions

Alabama Shakespeare Festival 1 Festival Drive, Montgomery, AL (334) 271-5353, (800) 841-4273 or www.asf.net. The Alabama Shakespeare Festival is the sixth largest Shakespeare festival in the world and attracts more than 300,000 annual visitors from all 50 states and over 60 countries. The $21.5 million Carolyn Blount Theatre, designed by Thomas Blount and Perry Pittman, is based on the theories of Andrea Palladio and houses two theatres (the 750-seat Festival Stage and the 225-seat Octagon), production shops, rehearsal halls, and administrative work spaces. The late Russell Page, famed landscape architect, planned the English-style grounds and lake. ASF operates year-round, producing 14 world-class productions annually, including three works of William Shakespeare. The remainder are classics of the stage along with musicals and new works commissioned by the Festival. Season subscription packages and group discounts are available. Seating for physically challenged patrons is available in both theatres.

Birmingham Zoo 2630 Cahaba Rd., Birmingham, AL (205) 879-0409 or www.birminghamzoo.com. The Birmingham Zoo is Alabama's most popular not-for-profit attraction, drawing more than 450,000 visitors annually. Approximately 750 animals of 250 species call the Birmingham Zoo home, including sea lions, cheetahs and endangered species from six continents. Also features the Junior League of Birmingham - Hugh Kaul Children's Zoo. Open year round from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday. Closed Christmas Day and Thanksgiving Day. Special group and school group rates are available.
Civil Rights Memorial 400 Washington Ave., Montgomery, AL (334) 956-8200 or www.splcenter.org. Water flows over table inscribed with names of those who died during the modern Civil Rights Movement. Wall inscribed with excerpt from Book of Amos quoted in historic speech by Martin Luther King, Jr.

Gulf Beaches 3150 Gulf Shores Parkway (Visitor Information Center) Gulf Shores, AL (251) 968-7511, (800) 745-SAND or www.gulfshores.com. Come enjoy 32 miles of emerald gulf water and sugar white beaches. Championship golf, fishing, dining and more. Beachfront accommodations and public beach access available.

McWane Science Center and IMAX Theater 200 19th St. N., Birmingham, AL (205) 714-8300, (877) 4-MCWANE or www.mcwane.org. Adventures in science surround you at McWane Science Center. Experience the wonders of our world in action through imaginative, hands-on activities. Explore interactive science exhibits, aquariums, laboratories, fossil and artifact collections and a 5-story tall IMAX Dome Theater. Open every day except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Day and Easter Sunday.

Rosa Parks Museum 252 Montgomery St., Montgomery, AL (334) 241-8615, (888) 357-8843 or www.tsum.edu/museum. New, state-of-the-art museum depicting events that started the bus boycott and early Civil Rights movement. Interactive, multi-media presentation. Affiliate of Troy State University. Open M–F 9–5, Sat. 9–3.

Sixteenth Street Baptist Church 1530 6th Ave N, Birmingham, AL (205) 251-9402. 128-year-old historic church is significant part of Birmingham’s Civil Rights District. Renovated structure is site of infamous 1963 bombing that killed 4 young girls and brought world condemnation of racial violence.
Talladega Superspeedway 3366 Speedway Blvd., Talledega, AL (256) 362-2261, (877) GO-2-DEGA or www.talladegasuperspeedway.com. Talladega Superspeedway is the biggest, fastest, most competitive motor sports facility in the world. Records for both speed and competition have been established at Talladega. Talladega Superspeedway can accommodate more than 143,000-seated guests and thousands more in the 212-acre infield. The track offers van tours to visitors daily during working hours except on weeks around events. Adjacent to the track is the International Motorsports Hall of Fame and Museum, which is also open daily.

U.S. Space & Rocket Center 1 Tranquility Base, Huntsville, AL (256) 837-3400, (800) 63-SPACE or www.spacecamp.com. Past, present and future of space exploration. Demonstrations, hands-on exhibits, and IMAX movie in Spacedome Theater. Watch future astronauts in Space Camp Training Center. Ride the Space Shot.

USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park 2703 Battleship Pkwy., Mobile, AL (251) 433-2703 or www.ussalabama.com. Explore the Mighty Battleship USS Alabama, winner of 9 battle stars in World War II. See Mach 3 A-12 Blackbird supersecret spy plane and B-52 Calamity Jane, submarine USS DRUM plus 22 other aircraft and weaponry from all branches of the military.

Sources:
www.touralabama.org
www.opentable.com