Do you guys want to know something? I did NOT want to go to Birmingham while on our road trip… I thought I would HATE Alabama. Mostly just because I despise Alabama football. This had left a sour taste in my mouth and I wanted to hate the whole state.
That being said, I hate that I fell in love with this city! Like part of me now wants to live in Birmingham. (Like what?! Who am I?!) But it’s true. The charm sucked me in and now I’m hooked. We will definitely be back for another visit asap!
These are the things we enjoyed the most during our weekend there but I can’t wait to go explore more!
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Botanical Gardens are like kind of our thing. We have spent hours of our lives walking around botanical gardens. If we go to a city that has one, we go there. Bored on the weekend at home? Let’s go walk around the botanical garden. We just love it!
This specific garden is hands down one of our favorites! It is huge and has different sections with plants from around the world! It also has a greenhouse and so many arbors and gazebos.
Everywhere you look there is something neat and gorgeous to look at! We saw a ton of people getting professional photos taken here and I can see why. It is amazing and I wish we had more time to explore every inch of it!
Railroad Park
If we lived in Birmingham I know we would spend a ton of time here. Right downtown this park gives me Central Park vibes and has an amazing walking trail. It is surrounded by restaurants and shops so you can definitely grab lunch after walking the trail!
It is also right next to the baseball stadium so you might even get to hear a game going on if you time it right! We saw the most amazing sunset from this park as we were walking and many people were setting up picnics to enjoy the sunset!
There were also many neat statues, wall murals, and playgrounds for some extra entertainment!
Sloss Furnaces
This is just a super neat historical feature of Birmingham. It is honestly one of the things that made the city what it is today. During the 1880s and iron production in Alabama grew it would be the Sloss furnaces that would employ thousands and turn Birmingham into an industrial power house!
I just really love learning about a cities history and the fact that these furnaces still stand today is awesome! I highly recommend taking a tour if you can. Even if you can’t get into a tour time, go explore the area and learn as much as you can just walking around!
Rotary Trail
Okay, Rotary Trail is actually a short .5 mile path in the middle of downtown between Railroad Park & Sloss Furnaces! BUT that isn’t what makes this a special thing to do in Birmingham.
Rotary Trail is actually a connector piece that brings together the much larger trail! The Red Rock Ridge & Valley Trial system will eventually connect 9,000 acres of land and parks! How awesome is that?!
This Rotary Trail in the middle is a big step in connecting this trail system and very important for the city. Even if you just walk the short half mile section mentioned you will get to see so much of the city!
Alabama Theatre
Almost 100 years old, the Alabama theatre also has so much history in the city! It also hosted the Mickey Mouse Club which like, awesome. I just find things like this so wonderful and awesome to check out!
If you can get tickets to a show while in Birmingham I highly recommend going to see anything. They do many shows and events and the chance to get to explore inside is so worth it! Also, if you are looking to do an event in Birmingham you can actually reserve the whole theater!!!!
Statue of Liberty Replica
Okay, we learned on our road trip that there are actually a ton of these around the states! But this one was definitely one of our favorites! Located in Liberty Park this statue was originally erected (lol) in 1958 atop the Liberty National Life Insurance Building! Then it was moved to the park 30 years later and remains there today.
It is so cool learning about the history of statues and monuments in every city. This is a special one because it is actually the largest replica in the world! Not Vegas? Nope! Birmingham, AL has the largest Statue of Liberty Replica!
There’s so much history in Birmingham. It sounds like a great place to visit.
For sure! So much history!
Looks like a great place to visit, I’d definitely start with the botanic gardens. I’m a sucker for checking out the local flora and fauna!
SAME! And this was for sure one of my all time favorite gardens!
Birmingham is such a great city with lots of history & lots of family-friendly activities.
Yes for sure! I just wish I would have visited sooner! We definitely cannot wait to go back.
The botanical gardens look so good! Would love to visit
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The botanical gardens were absolutely amazing!!!
You have a great list here. I have never been to Alabama before. I need to add it to my list of places I must visit.
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Yes! I was shocked by how much there was to do and see!