Why Alabama is Great for Family Trips: Kid-Friendly Fun Across the State

One of the world's first and largest museums about the history of motorcycles, the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in Leeds, Alabama boasts an incredible collection of more than 1,600 vintage and modern motorcycles.

More than 900 of these bikes are on display at any given time, and approximately 200 manufacturers from 20 countries are represented, with the oldest bikes dating as far back as 1904.

There is also an extensive collection of Lotus race cars. Guided tours are available for an additional fee Friday through Sunday, and special museum talks are held on a regular basis throughout the year.

6030 Barber Motorsports Pkwy, Leeds, AL 35094, Phone: 205-699-7275, Map

Occupying 140 acres in the north of Alabama, Tigers for Tomorrow at Untamed Mountain is a wild animal preserve that was created to provide a forever home for unwanted predatory animals.

Although the preserve is best known for its tigers, it serves as a refuge for many other kinds of animals as well, including black leopards, mountain lions, and wolves.

Visitors are welcome to explore the park on their own and take photos of the animals at their leisure, and private tours are available for groups of four or more people if reservations are made in advance.

Tigers for Tomorrow at Untamed Mountain, 708 Co Rd 345, Attalla, AL 35954, Phone: 256-524-4150, Facebook

If your kids love animals, there are few better places to visit than the Alabama Safari Park. The highlight is the 350-acre safari park full of animals like zebras, camels, deer and more, which visitors are welcome to explore in their own vehicles.

Buckets of animal feed can be purchased at the admission desk if you'd like to feed the animals as you go through the park. Other attractions include a petting zoo where visitors can interact with small farm animals, a giraffe feeding area, and a spacious aviary filled with a colorful variety of free flying birds.

Alabama Safari Park , 1664 Venable Rd, Hope Hull, AL 36043, Phone: 334-288-2105, Facebook

Things to Do with Kids who Love Nature:

Formerly known as Bat Cave, Cathedral Caverns State Park is a spectacular natural attraction that welcomes visitors of all ages.

The cave's massive grand entrance is one of the largest commercial cave entrances in the world, and once you're inside, you'll find all sorts of beautiful stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstone formations.

Guided tours of the cave are offered several times a day, and younger visitors can also try mining for gemstones. The cave is the undisputed highlight of the park, but if you have some spare time after your tour, there is also a wonderful network of hiking trails to explore.

Cathedral Caverns State Park, 637 Cave Rd, Woodville, AL 35776, Phone: 256-728-8193, website, Map

Located on top of the 2,407-foot Cheaha Mountain, the highest point in the state, Cheaha State Park is a wonderful place to go for outdoor recreation.

Encompassing just under 2,800 acres of rugged forest, tumbling Alabama waterfalls, and granite boulders, the park is particularly well-suited to hiking, and several of the trails lead up to scenic overlooks of the surrounding area.

There are several convenient day-use areas by the lake for visitors who want to picnic, fish, or swim, and if you'd rather not pack a lunch, there's a beautiful cliffside restaurant in the park as well. The park is about an hour and 15 minute day trip from Birmingham.

Cheaha State Park, 19644 AL-281, Delta, AL 36258, Phone: 256-488-5111, Map

Museums to Visit with Kids in Alabama:

Located in Lagarde Park, the Anniston Museum of Natural History has been educating visitors about various aspect of the natural world since it was first established in 1930.

There are seven permanent exhibit halls to choose from, each of which covers a different aspect of natural history, with topics ranging from the animals that live in the African savanna to the dinosaurs that used to inhabit Alabama and the surrounding area.

Depending on when you visit, you might also be able to catch one of the museum's special events, which include everything from trivia programs to guided nature walks.

Anniston Museum of Natural History, 800 Museum Dr, Anniston, AL 36206, Phone: 256-237-6766

Part of the Fort Rucker Army Base, the Army Aviation Museum is the perfect place for the whole family to learn about the history of American military aviation.

The museum collection boasts more than 160 historic aircraft, approximately 50 of which are on display, including a replica Wright Model B, aircraft from World War I, and one of the biggest collections of military helicopters in the world. Other exhibits are full of photos and memorabilia that tell the story of the human side of aviation history.

The museum is open Monday through Saturday, and admission is by donation.

Army Aviation Museum, 6000 Novosel St, Fort Rucker, AL 36362, Phone: 334-598-2508

The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s was one of the most significant periods in American history, and the BBirmingham Civil Rights Institute is one of the best possible places for you and your kids to learn about this chapter in the country’s story.

The interactive exhibits trace the history of the civil rights movement through displays like a replica Freedom Riders bus, examples of segregated water fountains, and the door from the Birmingham jail cell where Martin Luther King Jr. was held.

King's famous 'I Have a Dream' speech is also projected onto a big screen.

520 16th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203, Phone: 205-328-9696, Map

For Animal Lovers:

Established in 1955, the Birmingham Zoo is home to an incredible variety of animals from six of the world's seven continents.

Spread out over more than 120 acres, it's the largest zoo in the state, and visitors will have the chance to see more than 700 animals representing approximately 230 species. Highlights include the African Savanna, the Sea Lion Show, and the Predator Zone, but there are rhinos, flamingos, and many more animals as well.

Behind the scenes tours of the animal enclosures are available for an additional fee, and there are also several restaurants and children's rides.

Birmingham Zoo, 2630 Cahaba Rd, Birmingham, AL 35223, Phone: 205-879-0409, Facebook

Conveniently located right in Florence's Deibert Park, the Children's Museum of the Shoals is a unique museum designed to foster childhood development and creativity through exciting interactive exhibits.

Many of the exhibits are proudly inspired by the region's heritage, and kids can try navigating the Tennessee River, imagine themselves exploring the Tribal Trails, or show off on the Shoals Sound stage. There are also two themed areas reserved specially for the youngest visitors: “Wee Explore” and "The Piggy Market". The museum is open Wednesday through Saturday, and a special outdoor gem mine is open on Saturdays as well.

Children's Museum of the Shoals, 2810 Darby Dr, Florence, AL 35630, Phone: 256-284-7107