Birmingham is known for its abundant rainfall. The beautiful city is a year-round destination and it could be a great place to visit with whole family in your next getaway. The culturally and historically rich city offers all types of engaging activities that suit all interests. The best part when visiting this city is there are many free things to do in Birmingham, AL. From churches and parks to tours and museums all are available for your exploration. So, read on and explore all these free attractions and activities that you must visit in this beautiful city of Alabama.
1. Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Birmingham Botanical Gardens, a part of the American Public Gardens Association, is one of Alabama’s top free tourist attractions. The 67.5-acres of botanical gardens attracts more than 350,000 visitors annually.
The Botanical Gardens is located adjacent to Lane Park. It is impossible to explore the area in a single day. The entire land is made up with 25 unique gardens and miles of walking paths. Visitors can explore here over 12,000 types of plants. Try to find out your familiar plants.
The Gardens is home to the largest public horticulture library in the U.S. Don’t worry if you get hungry inside the area. A fine restaurant is available inside the attraction. Many popular houses visitors enjoy to explore are Linn-Henley Lecture Hall, Gerlach Plant Information Center, Blount Education Center and an auditorium. For kids, there’s also a designated place. Must visit Arrington Children’s Plant Adventure Zone with your kids.
Address: 2612 Lane Park Rd, Birmingham, AL 35223
Phone: (205) 414-3950
Hours: Open everyday from 7 am to 6 pm.
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2. 16th Street Baptist Church
16th Street Baptist Church exploration is some of the most popular free things to do in Birmingham, AL. The main attractions of the church include Jesus Christ and the church’s rich history. Organized in 1873, 16th Street Baptist Church is the first colored Baptist Church in the city.
This peaceful church is a perfect place for all age groups with different interests. During your visit to the church, enjoy the heartly welcome from the church’s members. Get ready to know about His Journey. The church members allow the visitors to get aware of the spiritual lessons along with unique history of the place that everyone should know.
You’ll be pleased after knowing that the mission of the church is to change the world through their messages. So, you should definitely hear some of these world-changing and life -changing messages.
Though visitors need to pay some charges for taking tours of the church, you can still enjoy it freely from the outside.
Address: 1530 6th Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203
Phone: (205) 251-9402
Hours: Monday to Friday 9 am through 5 pm, closed on Saturday and Sunday.
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3. Statue of Liberty Replica
The famous Statue of Liberty Replica is sitting beautifully inside Liberty Park in Birmingham. The Replica is made with bronze and it is 36-foot-tall. Entry to the park is free to the public. So, don’t miss the chance to explore one of the largest Liberty replicas in the world.
The 1/5th scale of the one in New York City, this Replica shoots real gas-fired flames from the torch around the clock. The statue was not initially placed inside the park, first, it was established atop the Liberty National Life Insurance building in 1958. And later in 1988, the statue was moved and installed in Liberty Park.
Address: Vestavia Hills, AL 35242
Hours: Open everyday, from 6 am to 9 pm.
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4. Birmingham Civil Rights District
Want to know more about the rich history of Birmingham? Visit the Civil Rights District, because here you can explore the most popular sites that played a crucial role in the Civil Rights Movement. The district is an area of downtown Birmingham and it covers a six-block area.
The most popular landmarks in the Civil Rights District that visitors must explore are Kelly Ingram Park, the Fourth Avenue Business District which was earlier the entertainment hub of the black community, 16th Street Baptist Church as mentioned earlier, Carver Theater which was a popular motion picture theatre for again the black community, and Birmingham Civil Rights Institute which is a great museum. So, must explore these amazing attractions Birmingham has to offer.
Address: 520 16th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203
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5. Railroad Park
Railroad Park, previously known as Railroad Reservation Park, is a beautiful downtown park that was opened to the public very recently in the year of 2010. The park is managed by the Railroad Park Foundation and is located close to Morris Avenue.
All the featuring amenities inside the 19-acre green area include restrooms, a concession stand, offices and catering kitchen. Railroad Park also won the “Urban Open Space Award” in October 2012.
There are several events conducted for year-round, and film screening is a great initiation of the park. Inside the park visitors can enjoy a series of film screenings specially during summer seasons. If you like cooking, you might participate in multiple cooking programs. There are also many fine attractions available here that you’ll definitely enjoy with your family or with friends.
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6. Red Mountain Park
Red Mountain Park is a 1,500-acre green urban space located minutes from downtown Birmingham. The park is famous for offering some of the unique and breathtaking exploration opportunities. It is a great family-friendly area.
If you are a dog owner, you may also bring it to the park as Red Mountain Park offers 6-acre off-leash Remy’s Dog Park, the park is open to the public from 7 AM to 6 PM.
The park is going to be your kids’ most favourite spot after you take them to the magical tree houses. Get ready to spend some extreme fun moments in one of the three tree houses. Though you as parents are going to have same fun when exploring these tree houses.
Visitors also enjoy the 16 miles of long trails that feature two city overlooks. So, don’t skip this adventurous activity, either. The trails are well-maintained and well-marked. Multiple aerial adventures are going to give you some incredible memories!
Address: 2011 Frankfurt Drive, Birmingham, AL 35211, USA Birmingham, AL 35211
Phone: (205) 202-6043
Hours: Opens everyday for year-round at 7 am.
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7. Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark
Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark is another popular one of the free things to do in Birmingham, AL. You just need to pop into the land and then start your exploration through self-guided tours. Visitors who are eager to explore each and everything inside Sloss, they might opt for guided tours.
Earlier the 32-acre land was used for iron-making purposes for nearly 100 years. And later it was turned into a museum of history and industry. You can see here gigantic sized machineries, buildings and industrial structures. Photographing in some parts are also allowed inside the Sloss.
Address: 20 32nd St N, Birmingham, AL 35222
Phone: (205) 254-2025
Hours: The museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday, from 10 AM to 4 PM. On Sunday, the museum is open from noon to 4 PM.
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8. Aldridge Gardens
Aldridge Gardens is another free and fun place to visit with your family in Birmingham. The garden is open daily form 8 AM to 7 PM. The inside lake is popular for fishing, and it is allowed on Mondays through Thursdays. The remaining days are not allowed for catching any fish.
You may have a nice stroll with your leashed dog on the allowed days only and it is from Monday to Thursday. The lake is large and very clean. Sightseeing is very popular around the place.
Address: 3530 Lorna Rd, Hoover, AL 35216
Phone: (205) 739-6558
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9. Moss Rock Preserve
Moss Rock Preserve is packed with unique natural features. For nature lovers, this is one of the best spots to explore in the city. This beautiful as well as unique preserve belongs to the Hoover community. The 349-acre preserve offers visitors to witness wildlife, breathtaking waterfalls and large rock outcroppings.
For rock climbers, Boulder Field is a favourite spot, and if you are a hiking trail explorer, must complete the 12-mile-long hiking trails that also allows visitors to experience the beauty of the surrounding area. All the trails are well-maintained.
Address: 617 Preserve Way, Hoover, AL 35226
Phone: (205) 739-7141
Hours: Open everyday from sunrise to sunset.
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10. Negro Southern League Museum
Negro Southern League Museum is a great tourist spot. Must visit the site with your family. For baseball lovers and history diggers, this museum exploration is going to be a fantastic experience. While visiting the museum, you’ll get to know more about breathtaking stories.
When you decide to explore the site, have minimum one hour in your hand. Be little more enthusiastic to explore the largest collection of Negro League baseball artifacts in the nation inside the museum. There is no guided tour available. And the self-guided tour will take more than one hour to explore each spot personally.
Address: 120 16th St S, Birmingham, AL 35233
Phone: (205) 581-3040
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm; closed on Sunday and Monday.
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