Take a Road Trip to Birmingham, Alabama

Dec 19, 2024

Today is National Alabama Day, and we thought we’d celebrate by highlighting some spectacular places to visit on your next road trip. We’ll be stopping off in Birmingham, Alabama a bright shining star in this southern state, a hotbed of museums, arts, culture, science, and of course, American History. The city has an incredibly vibrant arts scene, with beautiful museums full of handcrafted artwork and sculptures, as well as hosting the Sidewalk Film Festival and Magic City Art Connection events. It’s also the home of legendary music artists such as Nat King Cole, Wayne Perkins, and more; stop by the infamous Iron City music venue and celebrate musical history while catching show from the latest and greatest in recording artists. There’s also no shortage of culinary delights, with some of the hottest new restaurants and trending cuisine, you’ll find everything from southern staples like soul food to barbecue to New American and Chinese and Thai. So hop on in your new car from Classic Auto Group and let’s hit the road to fun and adventure with today’s road trip guide!

A Primer of Places to See and Visit While in Birmingham

Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum can easily be an all day affair for the motorsports enthusiast! The facility houses more than 1,000 vintage and modern motorcycles and race cars for your viewing pleasure, part of the personal collection of race driver and industrialist George Barber. It also houses the Barber Advanced Design Center, an 11,000 square foot hub dedicated to creativity, innovation, and design. While you’re there, you should also pay a visit to the 880 acre multi-purpose racing facility on the same grounds, The Barber Motorsports Park; check the calendar to catch a special event or track day for maximum excitement.

Vulcan Park and Museum offers a special look into Birmingham’s history and its roots in the iron and steel industry. The park is marked by a 56-foot cast iron statue featuring the Roman god of fire and forge, Vulcan. The statue is the largest of its kind in the nation, and made an appearance at the 1904 World’s Fair.

McWane Science Center is located in downtown Birmingham and focuses on research and archives, with plenty of hands-on exhibits to put you front and center with incredible inventions and discoveries. If you’re traveling with the family, this is the perfect venue to stop at, as the museum has an all-ages policy, because you’re never too young to ignite the spark of passion for Science and Technology! Explore the aquariums and touch tanks, get up close and personal with a Tesla Coil, jump into the Bubble Room with larger than life bubblemaking, and more than 15 other incredible interactive exhibits with science in action. And that’s not all there is to offer – a specialized selection of exhibits and guest presentations are also in rotation throughout the year. Plus, there’s a 250 seat dome IMAX theatre, for larger than life experiences with prehistoric creatures, climate and weather presentations, historic concert experiences, and even limited engagements like Disney’s Mufasa.

Sloss Furnaces National Historic Site is like nothing else you’ve ever seen when it comes to historic landmarks. This incredible historic site chronicles the iron and steel industry in Birmingham as you tour its 15 acre campus. Sign up for one of the immersive guided tours and get an in-depth look at this unique structure and industrial facility. Learn more about the stories of the people who worked here and operated it for an impressive 90 year run. Now, this historic landmark is not only a piece of our past but also our present – it’s home to a wide array of live concert performances, cultural celebrations, and special events, so make sure you’ve got your eye on the calendar to catch one of these events.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens has been a fixture in the city since 1962, and has grown to be a local favorite destination for all ages. The facility aims to reconnect visitors with the beautiful intricacies of our environment biology, gardens and humans connection to the natural world. The grounds have 26 distinct gardens, installations, and displays for you to walk through and observe, each with their own unique characteristics and curated plant and flower gardens. If you’d like to learn more about things in a hands-on way, you can sign up for one of the amazing workshops, classes, and lectures hosted by the garden; each of these programs allows you to explore your creative side, discover how to care for plants in your home gardens, learn more about native plants, and more. There’s even a specialty library on site offering gardening resources for both adults and children. It’s a must-see destination, and best of all it’s open year-round so you can experience it during each seasonal change.

Birmingham Zoo fosters a thriving relationship between humans and animals through its passionate conservation efforts and educational programming and ever evolving exhibits. You’ll have the opportunity to observe creatures such as lions, giraffes, orangutans, elephants, bears, zebras, large cats, and more. This not-for-profit organization is working tirelessly to preserve our environment and ensure the safety and conservation of endangered and dwindling wildlife species. The Birmingham Zoo is now one of the nation’s leading voices in care and conservation of the majestic elephant, proudly setting the bar high for breeding and care of elephants here in the US. The zoo also offers numerous sensory and disability friendly areas, making it a fully accessible trip for everyone in your family. If you’d like to meet some incredible wildlife up close, you’ll have the opportunity to attend several different demonstrations and feeding sessions that allow you to help and view animals first hand. As for exhibits, there’s a multitude to choose from: Reptiles, Birds/Aviary, Primates/South America, Trails of Africa, Predators, and more. It’s an extensive facility with state of the art exhibits and habitats, and definitely tops our list of places to see when we’re in the area.

Birmingham Museum of Art was founded in 1951, and now has more than 29,000 curated pieces on view at any given time in its 180,000 square foot facility, plus numerous traveling and limited time exhibits throughout the year. The museum pays special focus to various cultures including Asian, European, American, African, Pre-Columbian, and Native American decorative and fine arts. Admission to this venue is free for all to attend, but donations are welcomed. In addition to an immeasurably diverse permanent collection of artifacts and art, you’ll have the opportunity to view limited time exhibitions, which include “Hayward Oubre: Structural Integrity” running through early February 2025; “Determined to Be: The Sculpture of John Rhoden” running through April 2025; Illuminated Threats: Contemporary and Traditional Rugs” running through April 2025; the upcoming “Silver & Ceremony from Southern Asia 1830-1930” opening in June of 2025. And make sure you stop by the stunning outdoor sculpture garden while you’re there!

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is a comprehensive modern museum aimed at preserving the history of the civil rights movement in America, specifically the 1963 Birmingham Campaign and the historic chronicles of the movement in the 1950s and 1960s. Through photographs, displays, and documents, this cultural and educational research center offers an intimate look into the significance of the Civil Rights Movement. Your visit will begin with a short film educating you on the history of Birmingham post-Civil War through to the 1920s, then you’ll move on to the curated galleries: the Barriers Gallery, Confrontation Gallery, Movement Gallery, Processional Gallery, Milestones Gallery, Office of the Mayor, Human Rights Gallery, Resource Gallery, and Odessa Woolfolk Gallery; each of these stations chronicles a unique perspective and component to the history of the movement. The institute aims to preserve the history and legacy of Birmingham, be host to both archival and financial resources, create programs that promote cultural awareness, and to champion the importance of civil and human rights. It’s an integral part of the significance of the city, and a must-view for visitors of all ages.