Birmingham Zoo

Visiting this zoo from North Carolina! While it was hard to not compare one of the largest zoos to this one. I did notice a lot of things that made this zoo feel very outdated.

The windows in almost all of the exhibits where nasty and dirty. It would have been nice to have them clean and be able to see through them (and yes that is possible). The seal tank looked like it was something out of the 80s that was abandoned. Traffic should have been re-routed around it due to its looks. Lots of the park just needs regular maintenance, lots of spider webs inside places or dark corners. Lots of closed exhibits as well.

I will say, being a small park, we were able to get very close to the elephants and that was very nice. We were also able to hear the lion roar which was really cool.

This zoo is a one and done type thing, unless you live local and do the events that they have (similar to how big museums do).

My middle daughter and I love the zoo.  I’ve been here three years and this was my first visit to the zoo.  It was great, even though it was mid week and cold outside.  So we got memberships and excited to go see the lights one evening.

This review is hard because I love the zoo. I look forward to the Boo at the zoo or now called Hoots and Howls. Last year was great, lots of decorations and time and effort went into this event. This year was very different. Hardly any decorations at all, only 4 spots for the kids to trick or treat, and they had some candy in the sun so it was melted. Where to start on the actual zoo, after paying a large price to get in and 4.00 for a candy ticket joke right. They emptied the seal tank and moved the seals to Boston, the train was not running which really disappointed alot of kids. There were hardly any monkeys and just one pitiful looking elephant. The cafe was closed to walk inside you had to order with your phone to get anything. Then the aquariums were empty dry. The carousel was bear only poles hanging down with no animals in sight to ride, which also disappointed the kiddos. The petting zoo was basically just a goat area. I never have been so disappointed in this place. So my advice don't waste your money on Hoots and Howls and maybe find a pumpkin patch. I gave two stars only because I do love our zoo and it was very clean.

Very underwhelmed. It seemed like half of what we came to was closed down for repair or remodel. Things were dirty that didn't have to be. Even in the bathroom, half of the sinks had signs on them.
We really enjoyed watching the flamingos, giraffes, and reptiles, but the gift shop can keep its $70 sweat shirt.

We had the best time here. We went to Glo Wild at the zoo. It was spectacular!! We loved it and will be back during the day to see the animals. What a beautiful zoo. Thank you for all you do for visitors and your animals.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Absolutely stunning place, of course we came in the Fall but there was a lot still blooming. I can only imagine what Spring time looks like up here!  It's huge! Could easily spend all day here if you're a nature lover like myself just taking in the wonderful sights and the magnificent smells. Ended up leaving with some plants and it's Free to walk in. Mobile and surrounding places need to take note. Will definitely be  back

Absolutely delightful place to visit. It is well organized, it has a nice mix of trail like hikes and flowery gardens, some of them consisting of fruits and vegetables. It’s even better when you consider it is entirely free, as all these cultural spaces should always be. They’ve done a great job at organizing the plant life in different sections. Wonderful destination to spend a few hours, and there’s an area with restaurants and shops just 2 minutes away by car. %100 recommended you visit these gardens, I will surely stop by every time I’m in town. A walk around here enjoying nature is good for your health and good for the soul.

Lovely place for a stroll and a quick activity for the whole family! The gardens are well take care of and there are numerous areas to explore, my favorite wad the rose gardens. My one issue was that there were no maps to keep track of where you were, or I just didn’t know where to look.

Beautiful garden to visit and explore for any occasion. It's free entry, full of gorgeous plants to take pictures of and with, and has plenty of swings, benches, and shaded areas to take a break by.
If you're passing through the area or need a break from traveling on a long road trip, definitely a good spot to stretch your legs.

Beautiful gardens, easy access, easy parking, great gift shop.
Perfect to hike, run, checking out the vegetation. Visited on a Monday had the place to ourselves. Grounds keepers super friendly and knowledgeable. Best part garden visit is free!

Global Wildlife Center

This was really nice. I didn't know what to expect. It is about a 1:15 long ride around a nature preserve with hundreds/thousands of animals. We bought a family bucket of feed which worked well with the 2 kids we had with us. It was an enjoyable experience. Maybe this is appropriately priced, but I thought just a tad high - maybe I'm cheap.

Highly recommend! Family enjoyed this trip. We decided to do the private pinzer tour and it did not disappoint. We were able to go wherever the animals were as most of them were of the road a little bit. I would recommend buying 2 buckets of feed if you do the private tour. You will need it!

We had a fantastic time my daughter got the private tour for us and it was definitely worth the money. Our tour guide was one of a kind she was full of information and taught us a lot! You won't be disappointed it's a one of a kind experience

We absolutely loved this place! Best time to go is 9am! It's breakfast time. Even though it's hot in Louisiana, still the best time to go. My little girl loved being able to feed and pet the animals from the wagon!

A nice place to bring the kids. Not too far from New Orleans. Definitely bring water and a fan. The ride itself was not expensive but it doesn’t include the food. For a family of 7 we got the sack and it lasted the entire ride.

Oak Mountain State Park

We visited the park twice in October/2023. First time we hiked the Rattlesnake Ridge and we actually almost stepped in a rattlesnake in the trail. Second time, We did the Lake trail by bike and it was a great experience. That was a few Fall colors. It must be prettier by November.
The park is very well maintained, bathrooms were clean, there are showers and grills around. Great place to spend the day with family and kids too.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Oak Mountain State Park in Birmingham, and it was an unforgettable outdoor experience.

Scenic Beauty: Oak Mountain is a true gem nestled in the heart of Birmingham. The park boasts stunning natural beauty with its lush forests, picturesque lakes, and scenic hiking trails. The diverse landscapes offer something for everyone, whether you're into hiking, biking, or just appreciating nature.

Activities Galore: This park is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. I had a blast exploring the extensive trail system, from leisurely strolls to challenging hikes. The mountain biking trails are also fantastic, providing thrilling adventures for riders of all levels. Don't miss the opportunity to swim or paddle in the pristine lakes; it's a great way to cool off during the summer months.

Wildlife Encounters: Oak Mountain is teeming with wildlife. I spotted deer, various bird species, and even some playful squirrels during my visit. It's a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers alike.

Family-Friendly: What's impressive is that Oak Mountain is incredibly family-friendly. There are well-maintained picnic areas, a petting zoo, and even a BMX track for the kids to enjoy. It's the perfect place for a family day out.

Clean and Well-Maintained: The park is impressively clean and well-maintained, making the overall experience enjoyable and comfortable.

Accessibility: Located just a short drive from Birmingham, Oak Mountain is easily accessible, making it a convenient escape from city life.

Overall, Oak Mountain State Park offers a

A glorious place to hike. The park is dog friendly, and kid friendly. There was plenty of parking, and the restrooms were very clean. Stay the path and you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views like these.

The kings chair trail makes for a moderate hike.  Distance is about 7.89 km  with a detour @ the Overlook. It took us almost 3 hours. A swim at the lake And a picnic was the best way to conclude a successful day with family.
Good walking/ hiking shoes highly recommend.
The best way to get to the kings chair is to Start Blue trail at North Trailhead take to Kings Chair out and back continue on Blue trail to Red Blue connector. Then Red trail back to trailhead.

Beautiful park, great location near local shops. Many amenities were closed. Bird rescue exhibit was neat. Playground is nice.

The American Village

What a great place to learn about American History! Our group went for the Independence Tour.  We will be returning for the other tours that are offered.

Enjoyed American Village on Memorial Day. Many events scheduled for all ages. Museums open. Enactors knowledgeable & informative about life of the soldier, the patriotism displayed by Americans throughout history, early American family life, chores, games & museums focused on founding fathers. Well worth a visit! opportunity of educational resources for students ample.

A place with a lot of fun. Definitely love that movie—staff told us that they shot it during Covid 90% inside the Village!

Awesome history experience! I loved the reenactments and historic costumes.  Lots of buildings to visit which take you  to another time and place.  My favorites were the Gathering Tree and the Oval Office. The grounds are beautiful and were a nice walk.  There is a small fee, which Im sure supports the staff and upkeep. I wish i had arrived when they opened because we missed some of the reenactments. There are restrooms throughout the grounds.

Incredible atmosphere created by dedicated role players and top notch grounds. If your kids have an interest in history, or you want to ignite a spark, take them here.

Holidays are even better with a plethora of food trucks and programming.

A drive though the adjacent Alabama National Cemetery will add an even deeper narrative of patriotism.

Bearizona Wildlife Park

Amazing safari style animal park. Animals are well kept, and they have a big territory to roam around. We drove thru 2 times and got to see more animals than the first time. Take your time, and a lot to see there. There are restaurants, gift shops, clean restrooms, and walk through zoo as well. Definitely recommend it and will return.

This is a neat drive through animal adventure as well as a walk through animal adventure. I went on a Sunday. I feel $35 is a bit steep for an adult. It's kind of small and I expected more animals for the price. The drive section can be frustrating when it's busy as people just stop for a very long time to take photos. As well as the bear loops getting locked in from too much traffic and needing to merge back in just to get past. The exhibits were nice, and I enjoyed reading all the info. Only rating 4* because of the difficulties getting through the driving portion in a timely manner (they should limit the amount of cars going through at a time), the price, and the overall size. I enjoyed tossing a fish into the otters. They have a large gift shop as well as a restaurant and bar. They have a coffee stand outside as well. There was another shop near the entrance, but the music was so loud and overstimulating that I walked in and walked right back out. It's nice you can go through the drive multiple times.

What a wonderful place! My family and I visited after seeing the Grand Canyon and we just had the most wonderful time. We did the wildlife drive 3 times.. all of the animals are so healthy and curious! We saw so much. The gift shop is amazing and the food is great! One of the best experiences I’ve ever had traveling. All of the staff are so nice too!

Bearizona was AMAZING! It was so cool to drive through the park and have the animals come up to your car. Staff made sure that the areas you had to have your windows up, that windows were up and everyone was kept safe. I would highly recommend anyone of any age going here. They also have a nice walk through zoo that looks like they’re still working on adding exhibits to. Cost was $30/person and well worth it!

We loved visiting Bearizona. We were the first ones at the gate when they opened, got right behind the feeding truck which was Awesome! We were the first ones into the walk in park and all the animals were waking up for the day and ready to strut their stuff for us. They have a wonderful variety of animals from Arctic Fox to big healthy turkeys! All the animals seemed well taken care of and happy. There were plenty of spots to grab a bite to eat or shop for a souvenir. Great place. Highly recommend, especially if you have little ones.

Out of Africa Wildlife Park

Such a cool place! I don't know what I expected going in but it exceeded all of my expectations! In my opinion it's better than the zoo. All of the employees were kind, knowledgeable, and approachable. The animals are well-cared for and treated with love and respect. Lots of family memories made! Highly recommend the safari. Shout out to our bus driver Gary Montana for giving my son a wolf mask on our last bus ride, it made his day!

I wish we were able to stay longer! I've never been able to get this close to animals before. They seemed extremely healthy and well cared for. The tigers splash was an amazing show and it was all done with happy positive things for the tiger! We will definitely be coming back to do the zip line.

🦁We are an Annual Passholder Family🐅
(Just renewed!)

Aulani in the gift shop is always so super sweet. She welcomes us with Hello/Bye Family (AP)!

The entire staff is great and very knowledgeable about all the animals. It's a joy getting to know them all.  We love feeding time, and we love to visit "Apache" (a scarlet macaw). Come say hello! We were happy to get him a Xmas gift, and we can't wait until he gets it!

See you all soon, family! 🙋🏽‍♀️

Absolutely with the visit! Everything about this park is cool. People are friendly and informative. The animals are awesome! Tiger splash was with the ticket price all together. The gift shop is incredibly affordable and not overpriced at all. Amazing time with the family! Would love to visit again.

Out of Africa? Out of this world! Definitely a must-do if you have a car full of bored kids needing an adventurous stop to burn off energy and see some animals. And yes, you really should kiss a Giraffe while there. ;)

Montana Wild - FWP

What an awesome education center! Because it is a place that seeks to educate the public, you are able to touch bones, antlers, and fur. Lots of Montana fish are present in the tanks. So much to see and do! A brisk walk around the fishing lake was so nice. We did not go with school aged children, but it seemed there was a scavenger hunt available to them.

I don't know why this is marked as a hiking area, it's a visitor center... Amazing exhibits for all ages, loved the fish tanks. There are lots of things you can touch, like bones and antlers, and also more detailed informational reading for adults. Spent a long time looking through the bird field guide that goes along with the pictures.

I took an injured fledgling here and the staff was so kind, helpful and passionate. I brought my young kids with me to drop the bird off and we were there for another hour just looking/playing and learning. (Bonus: they happened to be hosting a bird expo and we got to see some incredible ones up close.) I am so impressed with this organization for their caretaking and conservation efforts.

This place is outstanding , great place to see all the wild animals in Montana.

The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center

Arguably the best part of this museum is the staff (the same does not apply to the gift shop staff … that was a bad experience) they were knowledgeable, fun, and really seemed to enjoy their jobs. Aside from the staff, the museum itself was well done. The exhibits were well explained and told the story of Lewis and Clark with clarity. One item of note, at the end of exhibits are a few cases of guns, go to that case and look at the top most gun at the front. That’s a replica of the repeating air rifle, a true marvel of engineering and what the Indians were shown as Lewis and Clark traveled. Imagine seeing a rifle that didn’t need gunpowder, was quiet when shot, and didn’t create muzzle flash. That’d be fairly amazing to see in a world of muzzle loaded weapons. Anyway, highly recommend place to visit.

Amazing place! It is full of history and great for all ages! Butler the Newfoundland dog makes it even better! He’s same breed of dog that Lewis and Clark took with them. We highly recommend it

Clean and nice center with lot of informations. Very friendly staff. I spent a few hours here with my kids and they loved the photo hunt a lot. The exposition is well made and full of interesting things. It gives you a good feeling how that all was. Even for me and I’m from Germany. Nice place.

Nice center with pleasant staff. Clean place, clean bathrooms. The various displays appeared to display more of the positive side of the Lewis and Clark expedition(s), but kind of glossed over some of the "not great" aspects. I think it would have been beneficial to give more of an explanation of the not great aspects of the journey, the explorers' encounters with various Indian tribes, and treatment of women.

Separately, there are nice walking paths outside, with nice views of the river. The cost I think is $8pp, unless you have a national parks pass (in which case, you'd get in for free). Military also get in for free.

The Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center is an amazing star in the crown of Great Falls.  With so much information about this incredible journey, it is all put together in a highly comprehensive, and wonderfully interactive manner.  Kids love all of the hands-on exhibits.

Campus Martius Park

Campus Martius Park

Every year we come to this park to enjoy the Christmas Tree. Huge tree. Every year it happens.

We enjoy the atmosphere, lights, and activities. It's different every year. Never disappointed.

The parking could use some work.

Highly Recommended

Very small area to fit all of the holiday season activities. Always busy and full of people. You need to watch your kids very carefully.
They had nice Christmas tree, and tiny skating ring, with long lane to rent equipment.
My kids wanted to get in, but was too cold and long to wait.
Overall experience is acceptable.

Such a fun place for the whole family. Beautifully decorated with lots of places to take photos.
My daughter LOVED the hockey stick putt putt (she plays hockey)

Beautiful space in downtown Detroit. We were there in December to see the large Christmas tree, the area lit up, ice skating, and for dinner at Parc overlooking all the festivities.

Campus Martius is always fun, any season of the year. More in summer and during Christmas. The rink is busy, lots of the other related things around. Good food options around. Parking is not that easy to find during the peak season and times of the day.
Detroit downtown has got back it's lost charm and beauty.

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