Our most recommended things to do in Birmingham, Alabama

Birmingham: Civil Rights Smartphone Audio Walking Tour

1. Birmingham: Civil Rights Smartphone Audio Walking Tour

Discover Birmingham's Civil Rights Story. The tour never expires. You can take it as many times as you want. And after taking the on-location tour, you'll unlock a virtual tour you can listen to anytime. Did you ever think, "What did the tour guide say?" With our Walking Tours app, you can listen anytime and keep the stories forever. You'll see the historic civil rights spots in Birmingham associated with Martin Luther King Jr., Fred Shuttlesworth, Project C, the Children's Crusades Marches, and much more. You will see the historic Kelly Ingram Park, the stop by the 16th street baptist church, the AG Gaston Motel, Lyric, Kendrick Memorial park and much more! You'll learn about Jim Crow laws and how people fought for civil rights in Montgomery.

Alabama: Birmingham Area Multi-Attraction Pass

2. Alabama: Birmingham Area Multi-Attraction Pass

Check out 14 of Birmingham's best attractions. Enjoy access to 12 ticketed attractions as well as several attractions that are free to the public. Choose a 1 or 2-day pass to see some of your favorites, or select a 5-day option for more time to visit all the attractions. Do more as you experience a selection of the best attractions in Birmingham, all on 1 money-saving ticket. This curated collection of attractions is your ticket to enjoying the city. Your passport will act as your admission ticket to all of the venues included. Included destinations include 16th Street Baptist Church and Museum, Alabama Sports Hall Of Fame, Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Birmingham Zoo, Historic Bethel Baptist Church, Heart Of Dixie Railroad Museum, McWane Science Center, and more.

Alabama: Birmingham Area Family Fun Multi-Attraction Pass

3. Alabama: Birmingham Area Family Fun Multi-Attraction Pass

Visit 7 of Birmingham's best family attractions with a 3-day all-in-one attraction pass, including Autobahn Indoor Speedway and Events, the Birmingham Zoo, Heart Of Dixie Railroad Museum, Lake Lurleen State Park, McWane Science Center, Oak Mountain State Park, and Rickwood Caverns State Park. Your passport will act as your admission ticket to all of the venues included. Race high-speed electric go-karts at speeds up to 50 mph indoors in air-conditioned comfort at Autobahn Indoor Speedway and Events. Get up close to approximately 700 animals of 230 species, including sea lions, rhinos, and endangered species from 6 continents at the Birmingham Zoo. Ride a full-size diesel-electric train and a narrow-gauge steam train at the Heart Of Dixie Railroad Museum. Explore 4 floors of interactive exhibits celebrating science and wonder McWane Science Center, from an amazing collection of dinosaurs to innovative environmental showcases, imaginative early childhood play areas, and an awe-inspiring aquarium. Come experience the thrill of Rickwood Cavern’s miracle mile of underground caverns. The 260-million-year-old limestone formations, blind cave fish, and underground pool are just a few of the natural wonders exhibited in the colorful cavern. Visit the 1,625-acre Lake Lurleen State Park, a scenic retreat set on the banks of Lake Lurleen which offers plenty of chances for recreation and relaxation. Explore Oak Mountain State Park with its variety of outdoor activities including hiking, camping, mountain biking, and boat rentals.

Birmingham: Self-Guided Smartphone Audio Tour

4. Birmingham: Self-Guided Smartphone Audio Tour

Find out how the Magic City got its name on this walking tour around Birmingham’s downtown core. You’ll start this walk at Rotary Trail Birmingham, which runs underneath the street grid. From there, you’ll learn about the explosive beginnings of this planned city, some quirky facts, and its rich and sometimes dark history, like the tragic children’s crusade that shifted the tide of the Civil Rights Movement. Throughout this circular tour, you’ll see skyscrapers including Thomas Jefferson Tower with its mooring mast for blimps to land on, Civil Rights memorials, haunted hotels, and the fan-favorite LED Rainbow tunnels. I’ll show you some unusual sites, including the heaviest corner on earth, Goodyear Shoe Hospital, and Jim Reed Books, the whimsical store that houses the Museum of Fond Memories. I’ll also point out the Redmont Hotel, which is famously haunted by the ghost of musician Hank Williams Sr. On this tour, you’ll hear about: • The best places to grab a bite to eat including the Pizitz Food Hall, and Paramount Bar which serves Alabama hummus • The Cochran Firm which has famously represented Michael Jackson, Tupac Shakur, P. Diddy, Snoop Dogg and OJ Simpson in various legal cases • Birmingham’s Cathedral of Saint Paul which, despite it’s beautiful appearance, is linked to a couple of tragic stories • The Ku Klux Klan and some of their activity within the city • Several impressive places to enjoy the city’s cultural highlights like the Birmingham Museum of Art, Lyric Theatre, Alabama Theatre, Carver Theatre & Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, Boutwell Auditorium, and the McWane Science Center • The backstory behind the monuments in Kelly Ingram Park Along the way, you’ll also hear the answers to questions like: • Where did the Veteran’s Day Parade begin? • Why did Birmingham make international news headlines during the Civil Rights Movement? • When did this city experience its largest economic boom? • How was the largest cast iron statue in the world constructed? • What are Steel City Pops and where can they be found? • Which is the most haunted hotel in Birmingham, Redmont Hotel or Tutwiler Hotel? By the time you reach Railway Park Playground at the end of our two-hour stroll, you’ll be more informed than the average Alabamian! Just kidding. While this tour covers most of downtown’s attractions, there are many other spots outside the urban core. I’ll make suggestions on where to go next, so your exploring, learning and walking doesn’t have to end with this tour. Join me on this tour to discover the true magic of B’ham city!

Birmingham: Private Scavenger Hunts

5. Birmingham: Private Scavenger Hunts

Gather your friends, family, colleagues, and kids, we’ve got an adventure in store for you. Feeling competitive? Divide into multiple teams and race against the clock to be crowned the winner. Or unite as one team to beat our leaderboard - the choice is yours! Select a game in your chosen city and we’ll add up to three personalized challenges as per your request. All you need is a charged smartphone with a camera, GPS, and internet access. Mind-boggling missions and creative clues will guide you through the city, taking you on a tour of hidden gems and bucket list locations. Online scavenger hunts are the ultimate team builder. Show off your artistic, communication and problem-solving skills with unlimited opportunities to break the ice. Your host will cheer you on as you go, awarding plenty of points before the highest scorers win.

Frequently asked questions about Birmingham, Alabama

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Other Sightseeing Options in Birmingham, Alabama

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