Adventure
Alabama Scenic River Trail Kayak, canoe, or powerboat your way through Alabama's longest river trail, all 631 miles of it; camp along the way; snag some bass or catfish; take a break and explore cities, nine lakes, nature preserves, bayous, and historic forts. P.O. Box 182, Choccolocco, AL; +1 256 591 0437. Fee.
DeSoto Caverns Park Spelunk into the depths of the caverns; wander through the Lost Trail Maze; pan for gemstones; scramble up a rock wall. On-site camping available. 5181 DeSoto Caverns Pkwy, Childersburg, AL; +1 800 933 2283. Fee.
Oak Mountain State Park Trek through 9,940 acres in Alabama's largest public park; reel in bass, catfish, and rainbow trout from the lakes; careen down mountain bike trails; hike through ridges of pine-studded peaks; follow a treetop nature trail to glimpse hawks and owls. 200 Terrace Dr., Pelham, AL; +1 205 620 2520. Fee.
Animals
Alligator Alley See (and feed!) more than 150 rescued alligators; meet the world-record holder Captain Crunch, an 800-pound 'gator over 13 feet long and with a 2,982-pound bite; view owls, ospreys, and turtles. 19950 Hwy. 71, Summerdale, AL; +1 866 994 2867. Consult website for specific feeding times. Fee.
Audubon Bird Sanctuary Seek out the serenity of the Audubon Park; spy rare birds that shelter here; observe the migratory patterns of flocks that cross through the sanctuary. 109 Bienville Blvd., Dauphin Island, AL; +1 251 861 3607.
Birmingham Zoo Gaze at more than 750 animals, including over 30 endangered species; look eye-to-eye with giraffes through a periscope; try to stay dry during a sea lion show; take a ride on the carousel; schedule a twilight tour to see nocturnal creatures at play. 2630 Cahaba Road, Birmingham, AL; +1 205 879 0409. Fee.
Dauphin Island Sea Lab & Estuarium Ogle eels, sharks, jellyfish, and octopuses; visit the "Touch Tanks," an aquatic petting zoo; learn the science behind the formation of the Mobile Delta. 101 Bienville Blvd., Dauphin Island, AL; +1 251 861 7000. Fee.
Montgomery Zoo Treat yourself to a bird's eye view of the North American prairie, the Asian plains, and even the African savanna; take a train ride through the zoo's five represented continents. 2301 Coliseum Parkway, Montgomery, AL; +1 334 240 4588.
Culture
Arlington Antebellum Home & Gardens Wander through the Victorian-era home and gardens; schedule a visit to the beautifully restored Tea Room. 331 Cotton Ave. SW, Birmingham, AL; +1 205 780 5656. Fee.
Ave Maria Grotto Wonder at 125 replicas of the world's most famous buildings reproduced in miniature; wander past models of St. Peter's Basilica, the city of Jerusalem, and the Roman Coliseum, all built by a Benedictine monk who used photographs and postcards for reference. 1600 St. Bernard Dr. SE, Cullman, AL; +1 256 734 4110. Fee.
Bellingrath Home & Gardens Take a walking tour of the mansion and gardens; float on a paddleboat along the Fowl River to learn about the property's wildlife and Civil War history. 12401 Bellingrath Gardens Rd., Theodore, AL; +1 800 247 8420. Fee.
Birmingham Museum of Art Explore more than 21,000 artworks from five continents; amble through the multitiered sculpture garden; view Native American textiles and a brilliant collection of blown glass. 2000 Eighth Ave. North, Birmingham, AL; +1 205 254 2566.
Bragg-Mitchell Mansion Examine 18 rooms of antebellum-era furnishings; wander through the extensive grounds; watch out for spirits&8212;the mansion's tour guides tell tales of seeing ghosts. 1906 Springhill Ave., Mobile, AL; +1 251 471 6364. Fee.
Burritt on the Mountain—A Living Museum Tour the 1936 mansion on Round Top Mountain, overlooking Huntsville; check out exhibits on the history and environment of the region; explore the meticulously restored historic buildings; learn a new trade from a costumed interpreter; hike the trails past coalmines and limestone formations. 3101 Burritt Dr. Huntsville, AL; 256 536 2882. Fee.
Children's Hands-On Museum of Tuscaloosa Make shell necklaces in an Indian village; play dress-up in Grandmother's Attic; crawl through a beaver lodge or inside a kaleidoscope; steer a ship from the wheelhouse of a towboat. 2213 University Blvd., Tuscaloosa, AL; +1 205 349 4235. Fee.
Civil Rights Memorial Center Honor those lost in the struggle for Civil Rights at the Maya Lin-designed granite memorial; learn more about the Civil Rights movement; pledge your own commitment to social justice at the Center's interactive Wall of Justice. 400 Washington Ave., Montgomery, AL; +1 334 956 8439. Fee.
Flea Market Mobile Visit the Gulf Coast's largest flea market, with over 800 vendors. 401 Schillinger Rd. North, Mobile, AL; +1 251 633 7533.
Ivy Green Discover Helen Keller's birthplace and childhood home; touch the well-pump that helped Keller learn to communicate; peruse her personal effects and complete Braille library. 300 West North Commons, Tuscumbia, AL; +1 256 383 4066. Fee.
Key Underwood Coon Dog Cemetery Pay your respects to beloved pets at the only coon dog cemetery in the world; reread Where the Red Fern Grows for a reminder of the affection hunters feel for their dogs. Seven miles west of Tuscumbia on U.S. Hwy 72, Colbert County, AL; +1 800 344 0783.
Mobile Carnival Museum Celebrate Mardi Gras year-round in the city that introduced the event to the U.S.; marvel at the ornate headdresses, costumes, and crowns that line the walls of the restored 1870s town house; cheer alongside a life-size parade float. 355 Government St., Mobile, AL; +1 251 432 3324. Fee.
Moundville Archaeological Park Discover prehistoric dwellings and traditional Native American burial grounds; hike a woodlands nature trail; explore the museum's artifacts excavated from the site. 1028 South Court St., Florence, AL; +1 205 371 2234. Fee.
Museum of Mobile "Try on" the past in the Discovery Room, where young children can wear period costumes; check out furniture, antiques, and artifacts from 300 years of Mobile's history. 111 South Royal St., Mobile, AL; +1 251 208 7569. Fee.
Oakleigh House Museum Visit the city's official antebellum property and see an impressive collection of portraits, toys, silver, china, and jewelry from the 19th century. 350 Oakleigh Place, Mobile, AL; +1 334 432 1281. Fee.
Old Alabama Town Roam six blocks of authentically restored 19th- and 20th-century structures; interact with interpreters in period costume practicing crafts typical of the period; explore the "smithy's" forge, the cotton gin, and the gristmill to get a taste of how Central Alabama worked 100 years ago. 301 Columbus St., Montgomery, AL; 334 240 4500. Fee.
Richards-DAR House Museum Tour the 1860 town house filled will antique furnishings and toys; sample cookies and tea courtesy of the Daughters of the American Revolution. 256 N. Joachim St., Mobile, AL; +1 251 208 7320. Fee.
Vulcan Park and Vulcan Center Museum Stand ankle-high alongside a replica of what is claimed to be the world's largest cast-iron statue in the park's museum; picnic on the hills overlooking Birmingham; snag a backpack filled with activities and scavenger hunt clues. 1701 Valley View Dr., Birmingham, AL; +1 205 933 1409. Fee.
Entertainment
Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame Enjoy paintings, instruments, and personal memorabilia from jazz luminaries like Nat King Cole, Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton, and Erskine Hawkins; tune in for monthly concerts hosted at the site. 1631 4th Ave. North, Birmingham, AL; +1 205 254 2731. Fee.
Alabama Music Hall of Fame Pass through a lighted fountain to the Walk of Fame; admire portraits of the Hall's 32 inductees, including Alabama, Lionel Richie, Nat King Cole, and Emmylou Harris; saunter through a 16-foot guitar; record your own hit or video in the Recording Studio. 617 Highway 72 West, Tuscumbia, AL; 800 239 2643. Fee.
Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Press your nose up to the glass to see the old uniforms, trophies and over 5,000 other pieces of memorabilia from Hank Aaron, Joe Louis, Willie Mays, Jessie Owens, Carl Lewis, and other Alabama sports heroes. 2150 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. North, Birmingham, AL; +1 205 323 6665. Fee.
Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum Glimpse five floors of motorcycles and vintage cars; get revved up for their annual motorcycle festival in the fall. 6030 Barber Motorsports Parkway, Birmingham, AL; +1 205 699 7275. Fee.
Moda Hop on the historic downtown trolley system every ten minutes; visit local highlights as it circles the city. Mobile, AL; +1 251 344 6600.
Point Mallard Park Ice-skate year-round in the indoor rink; ride swells in America's first wave pool; sharpen your swing in the batting cages. Located off I-65, midway between Nashville, TN, and Birmingham, AL, at Decatur Exit 340 from Tennessee or Decatur Exit 334 from Birmingham, AL; +1 256 341 4900.
History
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Visit a replica of the cell where Martin Luther King, Jr., wrote the "Letter from Birmingham Jail"; view a replica of a bombed-out bus used by Freedom Riders; contemplate racially divided deli counters, bathrooms, and water fountains. 520 Sixteenth St., North, Birmingham, AL; +1 205 328 9696. Fee.
Conde Charlotte Museum House Plan a visit to the city's original jail, now furnished with antique items from each of Mobile's five historical periods: French, British, Spanish, Confederate, and American. 104 Theater St., Mobile, AL; +1 251 432 4722. Fee.
Early Works Museum Complex Tour three museums in one, featuring children's programs, local history, and 19th-century transportation respectively; see Civil War graffiti left by recovering soldiers; walk inside an original locomotive; see "villagers" making flame-toasted bread, building cabinets, or spinning thread. 404 Madison St., Huntsville, AL; +1 256 564 8100.
Fort Conde Museum Watch guides reenact 18th-century life at the fort; wander along the fortress walls, built by the French to defend against British and Spanish attack. 150 South Royal St., Mobile, AL; +1 251 208 7569.
Fort Gaines Tour the fort built by the French in the colony they once called "Massacre;" re-enact the 1711 pirate attack; imagine the clash between Confederate and Union troops during the Battle of Mobile Bay. 51 Bienville Blvd., Dauphin Island, AL; +1 251 861 6992. Fee.
Kelly Ingram Park Stroll through the site where African American protestors staged sit-ins and marches; grab an audio guide to explain the sculptures of snarling police dogs and incarcerated children. The park comprises a square block between 16th and 17th Sts. and 5th and 6th Avenues North, Birmingham, AL; +1 205 328 9696. Free, or fee with audio guide.
National Voting Rights Museum and Institute Hear the stories of Civil Rights activists; see footage from the beatings that took place right outside the museum on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in 1965. 1012 Water Ave., Selma, AL; +1 334 418 0800. Fee.
Phoenix Fire Museum Check out horse-drawn steam engines and fire department trucks from the early 1900s; learn how firefighting has changed during the last century. 203 South Claiborne St., Mobile, AL; +1 251 208 7569.
Rosa Parks Library and Museum Learn about the woman that started the Montgomery Bus Boycott; listen to stories from boycott participants; see sculptures and ongoing exhibits depicting the Civil Rights movement. 252 Montgomery St., Montgomery, AL; +1 334 241 8615. Fee.
Sixteenth Street Baptist Church Honor a landmark central to the Civil Rights movement, where a Ku Klux Klan bombing in 1963 killed four young girls, provoking a wave of protests critical to the successful passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. 16th St. and 6th Ave., Birmingham, AL; +1 205 251 9402. Donation.
Southern Museum of Flight Admire more than 40 vintage military and experimental aircraft; learn about outstanding flyers in the Alabama Aviation Hall of Fame; and practice piloting skills on flight simulators. 4343 73rd St. North, Birmingham, AL; +1 205 833 8226. Fee.
USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park Scout out spy planes, a submarine, and tanks that saw action from World War I through Desert Storm; pilot a flight simulator; watch war footage of soldiers in battle. 2703 Battleship Parkway, Mobile, AL; +1 251 433 2703; Fee.
Nature
Joe Wheeler State Park Fish for smallmouth bass; curl up under the stars; launch a boat out on Wheeler Lake. 201 McLean Dr., Rogersville, AL; +1 256 247 5466.
Lake Guntersville State Park Roam 6,000 acres of woodlands; catch some rays at the beach complex; volley on the tennis court; try your luck fishing; keep an eye out for deer, bald eagles, and the yellow-billed cuckoo; end the busy day with a picnic and a camp out. 7966 AL Hwy. 227, Guntersville, AL; 256 571 5440.
McFarland Park Clamber on the park's playground; jog along the marina's harbor trails; fish off the edge of the piers bordering Cypress Creek. 200 James M. Spain Dr., Florence, AL; +1 256 740 8817.
Monte Sano State Park Hike 20 miles of trails; enjoy a picnic lunch and the scenic views from the 1,600-foot lookout. 5105 Nolen Ave., Huntsville, AL; +1 256 534 3757. Fee.
Noccalula Falls Park Catch stunning views of the 90-foot falls; hike past heaps of blooming azaleas in springtime; visit a blacksmith shop and a country store at a pioneer village. 1500 Noccalula Rd., Gadsen, AL; +1 256 549 4663. Fee.
Science
Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center Try out life as a scientist for a day; design your own rollercoaster; become a broadcaster on a studio set; catch a flick in the only domed IMAX Theater on the Gulf Coast. 65 Government St., Mobile, AL; +1 251 208 6873. Fee.
McWane Science Center Design your own roller coaster; repair a damaged spaceship; investigate saltwater marshes; crawl under a huge milk carton at the "Just Mice Size" exhibit for kids five and under. 200 19th St. North, Birmingham, AL; 877 462 9263. Fee.
Sci-Quest Hands-On Science Center Interact with 125 inventive exhibits on all things science; learn about light and shadow at the PlayMotion experiment; catch one of the Center's many special events. 102-D Wynn Dr. Huntsville, AL; +1 256 837 0606. Fee.
U.S. Space & Rocket Center Launch a model rocket engine; steer a space shuttle; try out the "Space Shot" to experience four Gs of force and two to three seconds of weightlessness. One Tranquility Base, Huntsville, AL; 800 637 7223. Fee.