Planning a budget trip to Alabama need suggestions

[Maureenmouse]

We can't afford disney this year So my husband wants us to take a short 4 day trip to Alabama with a stop in Atlanta to the American Girl store on the way back to NC. It looks like we'll go to Mobile and Birmingham and possibly stay in Drury Inns. i'm not locating many family attractions in the area. any help would be great. My girls are 7 and 10. My husband loves anything historical and my girls enjoy museums. What is there that's reasonably priced and fun to do? We're AAA members and teachers if either of those help. Thanks in advance.

 

[leagirl12]

For Birmingham I would suggest the McWane Center...it is a hands on science center.

For Mobile I would suggest touring the USS Alabama.

 

[LMC]

Birmingham: McWane Center, Birmingham Museum of Art, Civil Rights Museum (or something like that)
Huntsville if you want to go farther north: Space and Rocket Center
Anniston: off I 20 between Atlanta and Birmingham, Anniston Museum of Natural History
Mobile: the ship like the previous poster said
Pensacola: Naval Air Base museum

 

[southernbelle69]

If you're traveling from Mobile to Birmingham, you can check out American Village. It's off Interstate 65 before you get to Birmingham. It's full of historical things.
There is also the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum in Calera which to can be accessed from Interstate 65.
There is also the Birmingham Zoo, Birmingham Museum of Art, the Vulcan statue in Vulcan park that you can walk up to the top.
There is also a theme/water park called Alabama Adventures located just outside of Birmingham.
Hope that helps!

 

[kissy]

We're planning a weekend in huntsville for easter. I've found the space center, (marshall) a railroad museum, constitution village, a safari.
In mobile there's the USS alabama, mardi gras museum, the exploreum. there's also a few home your like the bragg mitchell mansion which is an old antebellum home.
Here in Pascagoula there's an aligator farm too. (on Hwy 90 about 30 minutes west of Mobile.)

 

[AmyinKY]

Alabama Adventure outside of Birmingham, don't waste your time. It has gone down hill over the past few years.

I highly recommend the American Village. It is outside of Montevallo, down I65. http://americanvillage.org/ for directions and some history of the place.

Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville is also a great place. There is indoor and outdoor "stuff" to do. If you are an educator, public, homeschool or private, they will give you a huge bag full of teaching material, cd's and ilnfo sheets.

Amy

 

[eeyorefan74]

My DD8 loves the American Village, and DH and I do, too. They have costumed historical interpreters, like Ben Franklin, George Washington, etc., and replicas of various historical buildings, plus the Oval Office. Here's the website:

http://www.americanvillage.org/

She also likes the McWane Center and IMAX theater, and Vulcan Park, too. We live in the Birmingham area, so feel free to ask specific questions. The Birmingham zoo is okay, but they're undergoing a lot of work right now to prepare for a new Trails of Africa exhibit. We actually prefer the Montgomery Zoo.

 

[Trixiezzz]

If you've got the time to drive an extra hour, Gulf Shores, AL is about that far from Mobile and has beautiful sugar-white beaches. If you stay 10-15 minutes off the beach, hotels are pretty affordable.

Besides the water & beach, Gulf Shores also has a small zoo, a waterpark, and there's the factory outlet mall in Foley, AL which you'll pass on your way down from Mobile.

Have fun!

 

[cheerforchelsea]

I live in the Birmingham Metro area and there are not a lot of attractions here - most have already been mentioned.....American Village, McWane Science Center and IMax Theater, Vulcan, Birmingham Zoo, Birmingham Museum of Art. There is a large shopping mall (The Galleria) that is very nice. I would suggest a hotel near the Galleria or along the Highway 280 Corridor near "The Summit" shopping area. (The Galleria is right off of I-65 and the Highway 280 Corridor is right off of I-459....both on the way to Atlanta and very "safe" areas.) I will be happy to answer any questions that you may have. Have a fun trip!!

 

[KBazzel]

If you're heading to Huntsville you might also want to check out the botanical gardens. My girls love it there and they always have something special going on. There's also SciQuest - a hands on science museum and Constitution village - it's part of EarlyWorks (earlyworks.com) a group of musuems which includes the Huntsville Depot. Also, later in the year (starting in June I think but you might want to check into that) there's supposed to be a Star Wars exhibit at the Space and Rocket Center. The S&RC really is interesting and includes an IMAX theater. There are also a ton of parks - I've never been but I hear Desoto Caverns is nice.

If you go to Gulf Shores be sure to visit Lambert's Cafe - home of the throwed rolls. And, yes, they do throw rolls at you. My girls loved seeing their dad smacked in the head with one. So funny. The food's pretty good too. And there's always the beach. I think that might be my girls favorite vacation...just sitting on the beach. Easy on mom and dad too. Have a great trip!

 

[nancydrew79]

There are also tons of museums in Mobile, as well as Fort Conde. Dauphin Island is short drive from Mobile and its home to Fort Gains and other historical sites. Depending on when you are coming, we also have Mardi Gras here as well.

 

[Scurvy]

Also, later in the year (starting in June I think but you might want to check into that) there's supposed to be a Star Wars exhibit at the Space and Rocket Center.

It opens June 25, though I'm hoping there will be some sort of gala or grand opening event before that.

 

[Kat77]

I am not a museum person and need activities on trips to keep ME sane. Most kids need this as well so here is what I've found for my family in that area (DH's family ranges from Atlanta and Anniston):

This is something we will do there eventually. Maybe rent a cabin instead for staying at a hotel along I-20?:
http://www.georgiajellystone.com/

My other suggestion is not exactly on the way to Alabama but it's my absolute fave place to spend time when we are in Atlanta so I HAVE to mention it. It needs an entire day, minimum. The Sky Hike is awesome!!! Laser light show is great. The rest is fun to do as a family.
http://www.stonemountainpark.com/

 

[Maureenmouse]

Thanks for all the ideas. They sound great. We will be going most likely in June right after school is out. We actually don't like the heat very much(Yes I know we live in NC and travel in the summer, but we're teachers, so that's when we're off.) Does the American Village have an admission charge? I couldn't get that part of the web page to Work. The Space center sounds really neat and I know that my girls will love it. Too bad the StarWars exhibit doesn't open earlier in the month. My husband would love that.
Are there beaches in mobile? We won't spend too much time on the beach, but my girls will want to go for a little while. I want to take some photos of them in white sun dresses splashing in the water. I think that would look really neat!
Has anybody stayed in the Drury Inns in Mobile or Birmingham? What about Atlanta?
Thanks again for all the great info!

 

[finz2left]

Alabama Adventure outside of Birmingham, don't waste your time. It has gone down hill over the past few years.

I actually thought the water park was wonderful this summer....though I agree 100% about the amusement side!

My kids are 7,8,9 and find McWane a bit boring, but they have been many many many times over, LOL. The Civil Rights Museum and the Vulcan are must do stops, and I think the Birmingham Zoo is far nicer than Zoo Atlanta (even though they have the Giant Pandas). My kids loved the Hunstville Space and Rocket Center and this summer, there is a big Star Wars Theme, I think. Very cool place and you can kill 3/4 of a day, easily there! Montgomery (on the way between Bham and Mobile), there is a wonderful Art Museum, and of course, the Capitol building! If you like baseball, Birmingham and Montgomery both have minor league teams (Mobile might, as well?). And, Birmingham also has an old field in a rundown part of town that is called Rickwood. It was used for the Negro League Baseball Association and an important place for sports history buffs .

If you really want a true Alabama experience, head over to Tuscaloosa (1 hour west tops!) and hit the Paul Bear Bryant museum on the University of Alabama campus -- and if they win the National Title, it will be a great time to visit this year.

* Edited to add, if you have been to the Chicago or NY AG store, the Atlanta/Northpoint one is a HUGE disappointment. It is a little mall store .. not the gorgeous dedicated building with theater you might be expecting. If you've never been to anyone, it's okay, but more "build a bear" like, to me. I don't know, we found it disappointing, and lunch for just 3 of us was 75.00 -- and the food was mediocre at best.

 

[finz2left]

oh, and the 16th Street Baptist Church is not far from downtown. It is still a place or worship, but just seeing the outside moved me to tears. Before we visited, we listed to the audio book of The Watson Go to Birmingham in 1963 read by Lavar Burton. That would be a great audio book for the trip! And, you can even visit Selma, AL ;-)

 

[swissfamilyrobinson]

Thanks for all the ideas. They sound great. We will be going most likely in June right after school is out. We actually don't like the heat very much(Yes I know we live in NC and travel in the summer, but we're teachers, so that's when we're off.) Does the American Village have an admission charge? I couldn't get that part of the web page to Work. The Space center sounds really neat and I know that my girls will love it. Too bad the StarWars exhibit doesn't open earlier in the month. My husband would love that.
Are there beaches in mobile? We won't spend too much time on the beach, but my girls will want to go for a little while. I want to take some photos of them in white sun dresses splashing in the water. I think that would look really neat!
Has anybody stayed in the Drury Inns in Mobile or Birmingham? What about Atlanta?
Thanks again for all the great info!

As far as beaches in Mobile, technically, no. There is Dauphin Island and Gulf Shores. I, personally, would go the hour drive (like a pp said) and go to Gulf Shores. There is plenty to do there for the day, and your girls could play in the water and you could get your pictures. Lamberts (like the pp said) is a neat place to eat and your girls would probably get a kick out of it. Not only do they "throw" rolls, but before and during your meal, they come around with "pass arounds" of fried okra, potatoes, etc. You will leave stuffed!

Another suggestion - when you are traveling down I-65, be sure and make a stop at Priesters. It is in Fort Deposit at mile marker 142 and is a great "pit stop" - very clean restrooms, and all kinds of samples of candy - pecans, peanut brittle, divinity, etc. Some really neat shopping, too!

Don't know if y'all are into this kind of thing, but there is a newly opened (a year ago) Bass Pro Shop in Spanish Fort, Alabama, which is across the bay from Mobile (about a 20 minute drive).

Most of all - have fun!

 

[KBazzel]

Yep, there's a charge for Constitution Village. However, if you get admission to all 3 (the village, the depot and the EarlyWorks museum) there's a discount. Here's a link that should take you to the cost for all three individually and the combined discount. http://www.earlyworks.com/the-museums/admission-rates

I've actually never been (but my mother used to teach 4th grade and has gone on field trips there). It's the you-never-do-the-things-in-your-own-backyard syndrome. I mean to take my girls every summer and somehow we never make it. I've heard good things about it though.

Something else you might want to look into if you're gonna be in this area is Point Mallard (in Decatur - about 30 minutes away from Hunstville and right off of I-65). It's a water park that boasts the first ever wave pool, water slides, an olympic pool and lots of kiddie areas. They also have a year round ice skating rink. If you could get there on Memorial Day weekend there's a huge hot air balloon rally. 40 to 50 hot air balloons all take off (and/or come into) the park as they race for points and prizes all weekend. It really is amazing to watch. I've crewed for pilots off and on since I was 16. My girls have even gotten involved. They look forward to that weekend all year. Usually one night during the weekend (weather permitting) several of the balloons will inflate and offer tether rides for free. You might have to stand in line for a little while but it's well worth it for the experience. They have an arts and crafts fair, inflatables and activities for the kids and lots of food. At night they always have a concert of some sort. Great way to kick off the summer.

 

[Maureenmouse]

Thanks so much for all the great info. It doesn't look like we'll be able to hit all of these spots in 4 nights 5 days, so we'll have to try to figure out what we want to do.
Does Huntsville have any nice family hotels at reasonable prices?
We can stay in the Drury Inn in Birmingham and Atlanta. When I map quested the trip, it took us to huntsville via I 40 and then to Birmingham , then Mobile, back through Birmingham and to Atlanta and back I 85 and I 77 to Statesville.
We might just have to cancel mobile due to time and money restraints. I didn't know about Huntsville until you all told me. I think my girls and husband will love the Space center and the constitution Village and museums. We could easily spend 2 days with just those things. I'm getting excited now.
I don't ever see us making it to American Girl Place in NY or chicago within the next few years, so atlanta will have to do. My girls will enjoy eating with their dolls and getting their dolls hair done, so it is a must see stop for us.

 

[finz2left]

Thanks so much for all the great info. It doesn't look like we'll be able to hit all of these spots in 4 nights 5 days, so we'll have to try to figure out what we want to do.
Does Huntsville have any nice family hotels at reasonable prices?
We can stay in the Drury Inn in Birmingham and Atlanta. When I map quested the trip, it took us to huntsville via I 40 and then to Birmingham , then Mobile, back through Birmingham and to Atlanta and back I 85 and I 77 to Statesville.
We might just have to cancel mobile due to time and money restraints. I didn't know about Huntsville until you all told me. I think my girls and husband will love the Space center and the constitution Village and museums. We could easily spend 2 days with just those things. I'm getting excited now.
I don't ever see us making it to American Girl Place in NY or chicago within the next few years, so atlanta will have to do. My girls will enjoy eating with their dolls and getting their dolls hair done, so it is a must see stop for us.

The two times we went last year, we did Priceline for Huntsville West with 4* (I think, you'd need to check bidding for travel) and we have gotten the Marriott that is attached to the Space Center. It was great...we could walk to the rockets, and they have a movie theater, so at night last June, we watched Star Trek in IMAX. I don't know of other hotels, sorry! Also, if you belong to any other science center, it may be part of their PASSPORT exchange , so admission would be free.