Alabama is home to many fun attractions. Offering everything from drive-thru petting zoos to award-winning museums, the options are endless. Listed below are five popular tourist attractions, in addition to five alternative attractions in (or near) the same city that aren’t as popular but still worth experiencing.

  1. U.S. Space & Rocket Center - Huntsville

wikipedia/Ke4roh The U.S. Space & Rocket Center is located in Huntsville and is Alabama’s top paid tourist attraction. It’s home to Space Camp and is also referred to as “Earth’s largest space museum.” It’s an absolute must-visit for space enthusiasts of all ages. Click here for more information. U.S. Space & Rocket Center, 1 Tranquility Base, Huntsville, AL 35805, USA

Madison County Nature Trail

tripadvisor/ Management If you enjoy nature, Alabama’s Madison County Nature Trail (Green Mountain Nature Trail) is an alternative place to visit while in Huntsville. Covering 72 acres, it’s a family-friendly park that offers everything from a walking trail to an A-frame chapel. You’ll love spending an afternoon at this unique place, especially this time of year. Click here for more information. Madison County Nature Trail, 5000 Nature Trail Rd SE, Huntsville, AL 35803, USA

  1. Birmingham Zoo - Birmingham

google/Troy Perry The Birmingham Zoo is one of Alabama’s top animal attractions. Covering 122 acres, it’s home to approximately 550 animals of 180 species, including endangered species from six continents. Click here for more information. Birmingham Zoo, 2630 Cahaba Rd, Birmingham, AL 35223, USA

Red Mountain Park

google/Bryan Copeland Red Mountain Park is a different type of place to visit while in Birmingham. Located atop of Red Mountain, this 1,500-acre park offers a variety of activities for all ages, including hiking, mountain biking, ziplining, and more. Click here for more information. Red Mountain Park, 2011 Frankfurt Dr, Birmingham, AL 35211, USA

  1. USS Alabama - Mobile

wikipedia/Ben Jacobson (Kranar Drogin) The USS Alabama is one of America’s last remaining WWII battleships. Today, it’s operated as a museum that’s part of the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park. Click here for more information. USS Alabama, 2703 Battleship Pkwy, Mobile, AL 36603, USA

Mobile Botanical Gardens

google/Mrs. Denise Richard Lanclos If you’d much rather take a stroll through acres and acres of beautiful gardens, consider a visit to Mobile Botanical Gardens. Founded in 1974, this botanical garden, which covers 106 acres and is open year-round, is one of Mobile’s most beautiful outdoor attractions. It’s also the perfect spot for a picnic. Click here for more information. Mobile Botanical Gardens, 5151 Museum Dr, Mobile, AL 36608, USA

  1. Montgomery Zoo - Montgomery

tripadvisor/Jennifer Z The Montgomery Zoo covers 40 acres and is home to approximately 750 animals of 140 species. It’s an absolute must-visit for animal lovers of all ages. Click here for more information. Montgomery Zoo & Mann Wildlife Learning Museum, 2301 Coliseum Pkwy, Montgomery, AL 36110, USA

Alabama Safari Park

facebook/Alabama Safari Park If you’d rather have an animal experience without leaving your car, consider checking out Alabama Safari Park, which is located in nearby Hope Hull. This 350-acre, drive-thru animal attraction lets you feed animals from the comfort of your very own car. Click here for more information. Alabama Safari Park, 1664 Venable Rd, Hope Hull, AL 36043, USA

  1. Unclaimed Baggage - Scottsboro

facebook/Unclaimed Baggage Unclaimed Baggage is a unique 40,000-sq-ft store in Scottsboro, Alabama that sells unclaimed airline luggage from around the world. Founded in 1970, there’s no other store like it in the U.S. Click here for more information. Unclaimed Baggage, 509 W Willow St, Scottsboro, AL 35768, USA

Jackson County Park

google/Hank Allen Also in Scottsboro is Jackson County Park. This waterfront park is great for a day trip or weekend getaway. It offers guests a campground, a play area, and a walking trail, in addition to swimming, fishing, and boating opportunities. Click here for more information. Jackson County Park, 2302 County Park Rd, Scottsboro, AL 35769, USA

Have you ever visited any of these Alabama attractions? If so, please share your experience(s) with us in the comments below.

wikipedia/Ke4roh

The U.S. Space & Rocket Center is located in Huntsville and is Alabama’s top paid tourist attraction. It’s home to Space Camp and is also referred to as “Earth’s largest space museum.” It’s an absolute must-visit for space enthusiasts of all ages. Click here for more information.

U.S. Space & Rocket Center, 1 Tranquility Base, Huntsville, AL 35805, USA

tripadvisor/ Management

If you enjoy nature, Alabama’s Madison County Nature Trail (Green Mountain Nature Trail) is an alternative place to visit while in Huntsville. Covering 72 acres, it’s a family-friendly park that offers everything from a walking trail to an A-frame chapel. You’ll love spending an afternoon at this unique place, especially this time of year. Click here for more information.

Madison County Nature Trail, 5000 Nature Trail Rd SE, Huntsville, AL 35803, USA

google/Troy Perry

The Birmingham Zoo is one of Alabama’s top animal attractions. Covering 122 acres, it’s home to approximately 550 animals of 180 species, including endangered species from six continents. Click here for more information.

Birmingham Zoo, 2630 Cahaba Rd, Birmingham, AL 35223, USA

google/Bryan Copeland

Red Mountain Park is a different type of place to visit while in Birmingham. Located atop of Red Mountain, this 1,500-acre park offers a variety of activities for all ages, including hiking, mountain biking, ziplining, and more. Click here for more information.

Red Mountain Park, 2011 Frankfurt Dr, Birmingham, AL 35211, USA

wikipedia/Ben Jacobson (Kranar Drogin)

The USS Alabama is one of America’s last remaining WWII battleships. Today, it’s operated as a museum that’s part of the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park. Click here for more information.

USS Alabama, 2703 Battleship Pkwy, Mobile, AL 36603, USA

google/Mrs. Denise Richard Lanclos

If you’d much rather take a stroll through acres and acres of beautiful gardens, consider a visit to Mobile Botanical Gardens. Founded in 1974, this botanical garden, which covers 106 acres and is open year-round, is one of Mobile’s most beautiful outdoor attractions. It’s also the perfect spot for a picnic. Click here for more information.

Mobile Botanical Gardens, 5151 Museum Dr, Mobile, AL 36608, USA

tripadvisor/Jennifer Z

The Montgomery Zoo covers 40 acres and is home to approximately 750 animals of 140 species. It’s an absolute must-visit for animal lovers of all ages. Click here for more information.

Montgomery Zoo & Mann Wildlife Learning Museum, 2301 Coliseum Pkwy, Montgomery, AL 36110, USA

facebook/Alabama Safari Park

If you’d rather have an animal experience without leaving your car, consider checking out Alabama Safari Park, which is located in nearby Hope Hull. This 350-acre, drive-thru animal attraction lets you feed animals from the comfort of your very own car. Click here for more information.

Alabama Safari Park, 1664 Venable Rd, Hope Hull, AL 36043, USA

facebook/Unclaimed Baggage

Unclaimed Baggage is a unique 40,000-sq-ft store in Scottsboro, Alabama that sells unclaimed airline luggage from around the world. Founded in 1970, there’s no other store like it in the U.S. Click here for more information.

Unclaimed Baggage, 509 W Willow St, Scottsboro, AL 35768, USA

google/Hank Allen

Also in Scottsboro is Jackson County Park. This waterfront park is great for a day trip or weekend getaway. It offers guests a campground, a play area, and a walking trail, in addition to swimming, fishing, and boating opportunities. Click here for more information.

Jackson County Park, 2302 County Park Rd, Scottsboro, AL 35769, USA

If you happen to be feeling touristy and eager to learn more about the USS Alabama, be sure to take a look at the following article: One Of The Last WWII Battleships Is Right Here In Alabama And It’s So Worth A Visit.

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