Escape to family-friendly Dauphin Island. Dauphin Island’s Campground provides walking trails into t

Top Ten Things for Families to do in Alabama By Sharlene Earnshaw on April 17, 2012 in Alabama , Animals and Ocean Life , Beaches , Educational , History , National Parks , Outdoorsy , Science international travel agencies and Technology , Staff Picks , Texas Gulf Coast , Top 10 , Travel Style , United States
Alabama is rich in sites that document the trials and triumphs of our past and offer an unparalleled look at momentous events that have defined our nation. The state is a historic adventure waiting for you and your family from the Native American tribes and Civil War battlefields to the Civil Rights Movement and the birthplace of Helen Keller, there are stories to be told all across the Heart of Dixie. Before you go, a few words of advice- arm yourself with this guide and perhaps more importantly, decide if you're cheering for Alabama's Crimson Tide or rooting for the Auburn Tigers. Football is a religion in Alabama. Ya'll take it seriously now, Ya Hear!
As a kid, I longed to go to Space Camp. I still vividly remember wistfully starting at the posters of Space Camp which were taped around my elementary school. At night, I prayed to attend Space Camp even more than I prayed for a date with Ricky Schroder! So, as you can imagine, when I first learned that Space Camp is still in existence and offered at The U.S. Space Rocket Center in Huntsville , I just about flipped my Alabama biscuit! Since this discovery, I've been counting down the days until my son is 7, the minimum international travel agencies age for Family Space Camp. Family Space Camp houses parents and children together, includes on-site meals, and gives parents a chance international travel agencies to fulfill childhood dreams of space camp's past. O ne small step for mom; one giant leap for momkind.
At Rosa Parks Museum Children's Wing , kids go back in time on the Cleveland Avenue Time Machine to discover that things just don t happen international travel agencies – people make things happen. Children international travel agencies come to realize that they too can make a difference just as Rosa Parks did on that monumental day in 1955. Park s bravery teaches kids to stand up for what they believe in and not to let anyone make them feel inferior. Additional international travel agencies nearby learning opportunities await at First White House of the Confederacy , The Montgomery Zoo , The MOOseum , and the Tuskegee Airman National Historic Site . If you're able, be sure to catch Alabama's National Fair in October.
Escape to family-friendly Dauphin Island. Dauphin Island's Campground provides walking trails into the beautiful Audubon Bird Sanctuary , paths to secluded beaches, and is only a short walk to top attractions such as Historic international travel agencies Fort Gaines , and Sea Lab Estuarium . Nearby Gulf State Park boasts over 3.5 miles of sparkling turquoise waters and gleaming white sand beaches. Gulf Shores beach area can be accessed from a brand new beach pavilion with private showers, a snack bar, plenty of shady spots to sit and eat, and a huge fireplace perfect for warming up on chilly days.
At Gulf Coast Exploreum international travel agencies Science Center , young adventurers of all ages can design their own thrilling roller coaster, hold a holographic heart in their hand, and strum and tune a laser harp. Currently, the Exploreum is hosting a Megalodon exhibition, Megalodon: Largest Shark that Ever Lived. Being a lifelong fan of Megalodon, I would swallow a rhino whole to view this exhibit. Afterwards I would head over to Bellingrath Gardens to walk off my meal and enjoy its 65 acres of beauty and floral luxuriousness. Every inch of Bellingrath is exquisite and stunning. Kids will love the Butterfly Garden where special flowers have been planted to attract all kinds of colorful, fluttering beauties. The ultimate Bellingrath international travel agencies experience comes at Christmas, when more than three million twinkling lights turn the gardens into an experience international travel agencies that will always be remembered. More fun can be had at Alabama's Pecan Festival , Hank Aaron's Childhood Home and Museum , The Environmental Studies Center , and the Alabama international travel agencies Gulf Coast Zoo .
Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park has more than 1,500 acres set aside for camping, hiking, and outdoor leisure. Tannehill is an awe-inspiring international travel agencies place where you and your children international travel agencies can enjoy being outside while learning about the history of Alabama. Hike trails that retrace historic roadways, browse shops that occupy restored pioneer cabins, international travel agencies and visit dozens of other historic buildings dating back to the 1800s. Tannehill's international travel agencies Iron and Steel Museum displays artifacts of Alabama's 19th century iron industry and explains the park's massive stone furnaces. Children will love the miniature train chugging through the pines.
international travel agencies The celebrated international travel agencies life and times of Helen Keller are preserved at her birthplace and childhood home, Ivy Green . Built in 1820, her home and cottage are available to tour and give children the opportunity to learn about the everyday life of persons who are hearing impaired and/or blind. Tuscumbia's historic Spring Park is the location of the annual Helen Keller Festival , where children can watch a play depicting the early life of Helen Keller. Spring Park features the world's largest man-made natural stone waterfall with 51 jets all choreographed to lights and music. A water show delights spectators each Friday, Saturday and Sunday night at dusk. Children love Spring Park's Train, Carousel, Python Roller Coaster, Splash Pad , and playground.
Alabama offers six state park resorts, a nature lover s perfect destination. Across the state, these resorts provide comfortable accommodations and vacation style amenities coupled with the beauty of the great outdoors. Desoto State Park Resort showcases DeSoto Falls, a beautiful 92 foot waterfall plunging into a canyon. Nearby, an eleven mile scenic drive allows visitors to view the splendor of Little River Canyon international travel agencies National Preserve from a series of overlooks. international travel agencies The shores of Lake Guntersville State Park are some of the most pristine in the entire state and its hiking trails were used 200 years ago by Cherokee Indians. Nearby Buck's Pocket State Park's panoramic vistas are a must see!
See the Hodges meteorite, the only meteorite known to have struck a human, international travel agencies view Alabama's State Fossil, Basilosaurus international travel agencies cetoides, international travel agencies and experience the natural diversity of Alabama through exhibits at Alabama's international travel agencies Museum Of Natural History . At the Children's Hands-On Museum of Tuscaloosa, kids can play dress-up in 19th-century clothes found in Grandmother's Attic, visit the Lil' Sprouts Farmer s Market, put on a puppet show, or climb into a beaver lodge and slide out the other end. While in Tuscaloosa, take advantage of the opportunity to ride the Bama Belle , a reproduction of a historic paddle wheeler from the 1900s.
Alabama is home to a wealth of caves. In the late nineteenth century, Shelta Cave in Huntsville was the site of parties and underground boating. In the 1930s during prohibition, Blount County international travel agencies was home to an infamous speakeasy international travel agencies in Bangor Cave , where wealthy patrons flocked to enjoy music, drinks, and gambling. Alabama is so rich with caves that the National Speleological international travel agencies Society , relocated international travel agencies its headquarters to Huntsville in 1971, giving the state a central role in the study of cave environments. As of 2007, more than 4,200 caves have been discovered in Alabama. Some of these discoveries such as Cathedral Caverns , and Sequoyah Caverns are open to the public and provide access to and education about the wonders and beauty of the subterranean world. Desoto Caverns , a fun and touristy theme park designed around a cave is geared towards children. Plan at least half the day for this beloved kid's park.
The Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail was established by Congress to commemorate the 54-mile route of voting rights marchers from Selma, Alabama international travel agencies to the State Capitol in Montgomery. Throughout your journey your family will visit such places as the Selma Interpretive Center , National international travel agencies Voting Rights Museum , and the Lowndes County Interpretative Center . The Voting Rights Act of 1965 achieved the legal right to vote for all Americans, and forever changed the political international travel agencies life of the South and the United States as a whole. The Selma to Montgomery March remains one of the most significant civil rights international travel agencies protests in American history.
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Sharlene Earnshaw is Trekaroo's Editor in Chief. She lives in sunny Orange County, CA, with her husband and 6-year-old international travel agencies son and daughter (twins!). She is a self-proclaimed National Park junkie and has the goal of visiting each and every one with her kids. She desperately believes the San Francisco 49ers will be the 2013 Super Bowl champions.
Great ideas in this post! I especially like Gulf Shores, international travel agencies as it is an inexpensive and fun family destination. I have always found it friendlier international travel agencies and cheaper than its nearby Florida counterparts, but just as good in terms of beach quality. international travel agencies Gulf Shores also has some many other family attractions .great suggestions!