There are a variety of tourist attractions and activities to do in Alabama for people of all ages and interests. Learn more about Alabama's history by visiting some of the most significant Civil Rights monuments, museums, and historical sites in a number of Alabama communities. This includes the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church and the Civil Rights Institute in Birmingham, the Civil Rights Monument and National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, and the Voting Rights Museum in Selma.

A region with a diverse culture is Alabama. You can visit the W.C. Handy birthplace and former studio, see the Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House Museum's architecture and design, and peruse the remarkable collections at significant art museums in both Montgomery and Birmingham.

Alabama is also home to several stunning natural landmarks, particularly around Mobile Bay near the gulf of Mexico, where visitors may enjoy state parks, wildlife preserves, and lovely sandy beaches. Those who are interested in science can visit the kid-friendly McWane Science Center in Huntsville or the U.S. Space and Rocket Center to see some of the most cutting-edge equipment in the world.

With our list of the top tourist destinations in Alabama, you can find the greatest locations to go.

1. The Civil Rights Historic District and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute offers a comprehensive look of the Civil Rights Movement's activities in Birmingham and around the US in the 1960s as well as current problems that African Americans have encountered ever since. The galleries host both ongoing and one-time exhibits on a range of subjects, including segregation and violent conflict.

The conflict that started in Birmingham was a part of a larger social movement that finally brought about changes, and the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church on September 15, 1963, was a turning point in that movement. The Klu Klux Klan planned this attack, which resulted in the deaths of four girls and added to the urgency of passing the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

The Birmingham Civil Rights District, which spans a six-block area, is anchored by the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, which is located at the intersection of Seventeenth Street and Sixth Avenue North. The Fourth Avenue Commercial District, Kelly Ingram Park, and Carver Theater are further points of interest.

2.Park honoring the USS Alabama battleship

The 1942 USS Alabama Battleship, which is moored alongside the shoreline in Mobile's Memorial Park, is the main draw there. After World War II, this BB-60 battleship, known as "the Mighty A," was decommissioned. The mess hall, bridge, captain's cabin, and turrets are just a few of the areas of the ship that can be toured.

The second World War submarine USS Drum, which is located in the park, is also accessible for tours.

A B-52 bomber and an A-12 Black Bird surveillance plane, as well as military hardware from various battles, including tanks and armaments, are also present. The park serves as a tribute to all those who participated in World War II and more subsequent conflicts.

3.Gulf State Park

With more than two miles of white, sandy beaches and a range of amenities, Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores is a favorite of both campers and day-trippers.

Free workshops and events are offered at the Nature Center, including ranger- and naturalist-led guided nature walks, wildlife encounters, fishing clinics, and other entertaining and instructive activities. A swimming pool with a splash pad, volleyball courts, tennis courts, horseshoe pits, and guided Segway tours are just a few of the recreational amenities available.

The park also has a championship golf course and 25 miles of paved walking trails that are accessible to bicycles. All of these attractions are available to visitors visiting Gulf State Park for the day for a negligibly modest vehicle entrance fee.

Due to its numerous amenities and activities, the campground, which offers almost 500 full-hookup RV sites, is a preferred family vacation destination.

If you don't want to camp, The Lodge at Gulf State Park, a Hilton Hotel, offers more opulent options. The building was just entirely rebuilt and enjoys a beautiful coastal location.

4. Montgomery's Civil Rights Memorials

An magnificent black granite sculpture honoring those died during the Civil Rights Movement's battles may be found at the Civil Rights Monument in Montgomery. The Civil Rights Memorial Center, where visitors can find educational exhibits and displays including the Wall of Tolerance, is situated next to the memorial in a square.

The National Monument for Peace and Justice, a six-acre area dedicated to African Americans who were victims of lynching and other types of racial injustice, is another Montgomery icon. The memorial features artwork, sculptures, and monuments that pay tribute to prominent Civil Rights movement leaders, as well as an 800-monument field that represents the counties where lynchings occurred.

5. The American Space and Rocket Center

An thrilling site for visitors of all ages, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville offers displays, hands-on activities, talks, and one of the greatest collections of spacecraft ever assembled. The center, a branch of the Smithsonian, offers visitors information on a variety of topics, from the history of the space race and NASA's development since then to the International Space Station and beyond.

Visitors can visit an International Space Station model and take in multimedia presentations at the National Geographic Theater or Spacedome IMAX. The enormous launch vehicles that carry the rockets into space as well as the 27 rockets and missiles that are on exhibit in Rocket Park are also accessible to visitors.

Turning in a simulator at the museum is arguably one of the Space Center's most well-liked activities. The astronaut-in-training can experience 4 Gs of force, a brief period of weightlessness, and then a free fall in one of the two launch simulators. The kid-friendly version of this introduces young astronauts to a less intense version before having them "land" on the moon's surface.

Visitors can enjoy a variety of rides on the Hyper Ship simulator, which employs motion and immersive media, and they can also get some exercise on the Mars Climbing Wall. Younger children can also visit interactive parts where they can crawl through the space station and the surface of Mars. The facility also provides youngsters with day camps and camps that last one week.

6.Landmarks in Montgomery's Civil Rights Movement

Many significant Civil Rights landmarks that honor locations and occasions pivotal to the struggle can be found in Montgomery. The most well-known of these is the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church, which served as a gathering place for early Civil Rights activists and as the parish where a young Martin Luther King, Jr. worshiped before moving into the parsonage in 1954 to raise his family for a brief period of time. It has been repaired and is now used as the Dexter Parsonage Museum, displaying many of their original possessions.

Downtown Montgomery is home to the Rosa Parks Library and Museum, which is close to the location of Parks' arrest. It has exhibits that relate her tale and describe the boycott of public transportation that followed her courageous act of defiance. Her actual fingerprints from her arrest papers, court records, photographs, a 1955 Montgomery City Bus, and one of the station wagons used to carry demonstrators during the boycott are among the artifacts on display.

The Freedom Rides Museum, which is housed in the former Montgomery Greyhound station where the Freedom Riders, who were carrying on the struggle that Parks started, were attacked in 1961, is another significant historic location.

7.McWane Science Center

The McWane Science Center in Birmingham is home to a range of displays and interactive activities that inspire both children and adults to learn through doing. This well-liked family vacation spot investigates subjects ranging from the natural sciences to cutting-edge technology and lets guests take part in their own experiments.

The museum's aquarium, which is home to several kinds of ocean and freshwater life, especially those local to the area, is one of its most well-liked sections. The significance of water and water-related research, such as erosion, is also covered in this section.

A look at how art and technology interact, as well as a number of changing and mobile exhibits, are included in the museum's other exhibits. Moreover, the museum contains an IMAX theater, which screens a variety of movies every day.

8.Mobile Bay
 

Mobile Bay is a beautiful section of Alabama's coastline, located along the Gulf of Mexico. Beaches and historical sites are year-round draws for locals and visitors alike in the area.

The barrier island of Dauphin Island, which lies in the Bay, has a tiny settlement with the same name. The historic Fort Gaines, which was built in the early 1800s and developed into a significant garrison during the Battle of Mobile Bay, is just one of the sights and activities on this island. The island also has an Audubon bird sanctuary and a freshwater lake that is well-liked by swimmers.

Another tourist hotspot along Mobile Bay's eastern side is the town of Fairhope. In addition to the town's various outdoor recreational opportunities, like as golf, tennis, and bicycling, Fairhope Pier is also known for its fishing.

Amateur naturalists can explore several environments close by at the Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. You can explore elevated boardwalks and pathways on your own or with a guide.

Orange Beach and Gulf Shores are located on Mobile Bay's southeasterly shore. One of the best resort areas in Alabama is Gulf Shores, which offers a wide variety of activities for solo, couple, and family vacationers.

9. Rosenbaum House Museum by Frank Lloyd Wright

Frank Lloyd Wright constructed the Rosenbaum House in 1939 for newlyweds Stanley and Mildred Rosenbaum. The house, which located in Florence, is the sole Wright-designed building in the state of Alabama. Brick, glass, and cypress are used in its construction. Board and batten walls and a flat, multi-level roof are characteristics of the Usonian style.

Thank you for making us Alabama's #1 paid tourist attraction in 2019 with more than one million visitors! See what other attractions made the top 10: https://t.co/IC4YPjdoXY pic.twitter.com/HzOAVY7Hv1

— Space & Rocket Ctr (@RocketCenterUSA) March 3, 2020

The home is furnished with genuine Wright pieces. Before 1999, when the City of Florence bought it and repaired it, the Rosenbaum House had only ever been owned by and occupied by the Rosenbaum family. It is the only Wright residence in the Southeast that is accessible to the general public.

10. The W.C. Handy Museum and Home

The W.C. Handy House and Museum, situated in Florence, is housed in the log cabin where this well-known musician was born and raised. Handy, regarded as the "founder of the blues," created several of his most well-known tunes while residing in this area, including Beale Street Blues and Memphis Blues.

The artist's original sheet music, as well as other personal documents and artifacts, are available for viewing by visitors. Many musical instruments, like his trumpet and piano that he used to compose these tunes, are also among the collections that are on show.

11. National Museum and Institute for Voting Rights

The National Voting Rights Museum and Institute, which is situated in Selma, examines the fight for American citizens' right to vote, particularly for women and African-Americans. The museum is situated where protestors were tragically attacked on "Bloody Sunday" in 1965 while they were marching from Selma to Montgomery.

The museum includes displays that focus on the lives and contributions of significant African-American political and social icons, such as President Barack Obama, Reverend Jesse Jackson, and Martin Luther King Jr. Other exhibits highlight particular sites where significant Civil Rights-related voting-related incidents took place, including Albany, GA; Greenwood, MS; and Selma.

There are additional exhibits that focus on broader topics and occasions, such as women's suffrage, nonviolent protest, and extreme groups like the KKK.

12. Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum,

More than 1,400 motorbikes, ranging from some of the earliest and rarest models to contemporary vehicles, are housed in the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum. Although the collection is displayed in the museum for about half of the time and is frequently changed, true enthusiasts should think about returning.

Some motorcycles from the collection, which was started by former race car driver George Barber, were loaned to the Guggenheim Museum in New York for their display, "Art of the Motorcycle," not long after the museum's 1995 debut.

Barber, a car enthusiast, has a collection of desirable and rare cars, including various Lotus models. In addition to the museum, the grounds also contain a 930-acre park with a public 2.38-mile racetrack and proving facility. Visitors may see top automakers test out brand-new cars here or even record a product reveal video.

13. Birmingham Museum of Art 

The Birmingham Museum of Art, often regarded as Alabama's best art gallery, houses a sizable permanent collection in addition to rotating exhibitions. Examples of fine art, including ornamental arts, from ancient and contemporary cultures can be found in the permanent collection.

The African exhibit features a wide range of ancient and modern artwork, including traditional figures, ceremonial headdresses, exquisite beadwork, and batik. Some of the museum's oldest objects, such as bronzes and antiquated ceramics, may be found in the Asian gallery.

The majority of the permanent collection is made up of European works of art, including ornamental arts like silverwork, furniture, and porcelain as well as fine art by masters like Pissarro and van Rijn.

The museum also offers a number of transient displays, which frequently vary and present various themes, media, or artists. The Charles W. Ireland Sculpture Garden and botanical displays can be found on the grounds' tiers.

14. Montgomery Museum of Fine Art

A sizable permanent collection with an emphasis on American art may be found in the Montgomery Museum of Fine Art. Etchings, watercolors, sketches, engravings, and woodcuts are some of its most cherished creations; they are notable for their preservation, which is difficult for paper-based media.

There is a sizable display devoted to regional art and folk artists, with examples ranging from crafts to paintings, and prominent American artists like John Marin and Winslow Homer are included.

The collection of African art, the decorative arts gallery's displays of beautiful porcelain, and a showcase of pieces made of glass by master craftsmen are further noteworthy features. As well as hosting visiting exhibits from other museums, the museum also offers educational activities for both adults and children.

15. College of Alabama 

Beginning in 1827, the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa had seven structures on its campus by 1831. A 50-acre arboretum, a classroom from before the Civil War, two museums, and the Gorgas Mansion, which is also a museum, may all be found on the campus today.

The first building finished on the campus by renowned architect William Nichols was the Gorgas House, which bears the name of a former university president, General Josiah Gorgas, and was constructed in 1829. It is also one of just four buildings that escaped damage when the university was burned down during the American Civil War. The home now houses a museum with exhibits of antiques and items related to the Gorgas family.

On the campus, in Smith Hall, is where you'll find the Alabama Museum of Natural History. Displays from the Ice Age, Coal Age, and Age of Dinosaurs are among the exhibits. The Hodges meteorite, the only one known to have impacted a person, is also on display for visitors.

According to the Paul W. Bryant Museum, the University of Alabama football heritage dates all the way back to 1892. The collections also feature other sports that university athletes have participated in.

16. Cheaha State Park 

When people think of Alabama's recreational opportunities, they typically picture the beaches and the Gulf of Mexico, but the inland regions and their distinct ecosystems are also worth exploring. Alabama's oldest park, Cheaha State Park, is a great spot to go if you want to experience the state's hill region.

Cheaha Mountain, the highest point in the state at 2,407 feet, is located here, along with many other recreational options. The most popular activities in the park are camping, RVing, hiking, biking, and ATVing.

A sweltering summer afternoon would be the perfect time to explore the waterfalls in Cheaha State Park. Numerous significant trails pass through both the park and the 392,567-acre Talladega National Forest, which are both close to it.

The park is a wonderful weekend retreat from Atlanta or Birmingham. Historic lodges, A-frame chalets, and cabins provide options for individuals who don't want to camp.

17. zoo on the Alabama Gulf Coast

This tiny zoo is a respected safe haven for rare and threatened species and is home to more than a hundred different species. A startling variety of mammals, birds, and reptiles call this place home; many of them were formerly abandoned animals in need of a second chance.

More than 50 creatures, including spider, squirrel, and Capuchin monkeys, as well as Hamadryas baboons and marmosets, are displayed in the popular primate exhibit. In addition, there are a number of large cats, including two Bengal tigers, a black leopard, and an African lion. Additional mammals include camels, a Eurasian lynx, an American alligator, and a black bear from the United States.

The zoo is also home to a variety of birds, including colorful peacocks and species like the umbrella cockatoo and Australian kookaburra. Tortoises, snakes, lizards, and iguanas are examples of reptiles.

The zoo's Animal Adventure experiences, which allow guests to up-close with some of the zoo's most popular residents, are among its most well-liked programs. To schedule a meeting with kangaroos, lemurs, or two-toed sloths, you must be at least three years old. If they aren't using you as a jungle gym, visitors who choose the lemur excursion can even cuddle with the loving animals.

Also, there is a petting zoo where even the youngest guests can interact with and feed the friendliest creatures, such as lambs, deer, and goats.