Movies on the mountain continues to be a fun time. Madagascar, popcorn, perfect weather. Funny…read moreenough, I still don't mind going to catch an animated movie by myself at my big age. lol Life is meant to be enjoyed and I'm taking advantage of doing so. Fun family, friend or solo event.

Vulcan Park and Museum is an excellent spot for panoramic views of Birmingham and an easy addition…read moreto any visit to the city. It's just a short drive from downtown, and one of the best perks is that parking is free and you can walk around the statue grounds without paying anything. Even if you don't go inside, the overlook alone is worth the trip for the skyline views and photo opportunities. If you're interested in the history behind the statue and its restoration, there's a museum on site that adds a lot of context. Admission is $8, and that ticket also lets you take the elevator up inside the statue to about three-quarters of the way to the top, which gives you even higher and more impressive views of the city. Overall, it's a great mix of scenery and local history. Whether you just want a quick stop for the views or a deeper dive into Birmingham's past, it's a worthwhile visit.

veterans not free anymore 25 bucks to get in that is why its not crowded this year!! no barbecue…read morefourt of july and no barbecue!! no body came to see your unknown bands they came for the fireworks the food and the patriots and you bathrooms are filthy this year . been here for the last ten years this is the worst one no doubt!!

This is a great educational place. Very well kept grounds and buildings. All the "actors" are…read moredressed in period costumes and also talk accordingly. Short educational talks are done in different areas throughout the day. They are done interactive so prepare to get involved. Different displays and museums in almost all of the buildings. Very surprised as to how few customers were here. I would highly recommend this place to all ages.

Attended a group's anniversary party at this location. It was my first time visiting this museum…read moreand it was interesting. There were different styles of planes and I saw at least 1 helicopter. The tables were spaced around the planes. I saw gift shops. Nice place to visit

Very very nice museum. We visit it with a friend who is in…read morethe Air Force so it was so nice to have our private guide who knows close to everything. Staff are very friendly. Very nice planes, nice setups.

Here we go! Review #300! And keeping with my centennial theme (#100 was Review of Georgia Tech -…read more#200 was Review of Bobby Dodd Stadium), you're probably wondering how this museum relates? And if you weren't, don't worry - I'll tell you below. The Birmingham Georgia Tech Alumni Association held their annual banquet at this museum last month. Not being from the Birmingham area, I had no idea that this place existed! What a great venue for events, while also showcasing Birmingham Water Works from its earliest days.Use of the museum is for business and civic orgs only.... so no wedding receptions or private parties. AV and other technologies are also available for use. Not sure on the cost to rent, but given that the Alumni Assc. has a limited budget, I'm sure we didn't spend too much on renting the space. Stop by and view this venue if you're looking for a unique spot to hold your next meeting or event!

This place gets 5 stars because there are no apparent downsides that I've ever noticed. Easy to…read morefind, just a few minutes of hwy 280. Truthfully speaking, I've never been inside the larger museum room and am not exactly sure what all it entails. This review is specific to this building being used as a party/event venue. I've been on 3 separate occasions now (2 holiday parties and a baby shower) and have always had a good time. You can setup the room however you'd like with tables, chairs, microphone, speakers etc. There's also kitchen space and easily accessible restrooms to take advantage of. On this same side of the building where parties can be hosted, there's also a little bit of interactive museum stuff... fun!! Some cool pictures and historical information displays can be found throughout this room as well! Brick walls, high open ceilings and all the rustic decor makes this place feel unique, authentic and like any other event venue that you'll find in Birmingham (that I know of).

The main point of our trip to Birmingham was to see an exhibit at the art museum. However, we are…read moreearly rises (especially with the 1-hour time difference from home), so we had some time in the morning to fill. My wife determined that the local botanical garden opened by 7 a.m. (!) and was also free, so we opted to stop here before the museum opened later at 10 a.m. We made it here by around 7:30 a.m. A word of caution - the highway interchange nearby was nightmarish. We missed 2 turns (even with a navigation app running). I don't think it was just me. So be careful and add a few extra minutes to get lost. Once finally off they highway and through the final roundabout, we proceeded along a road bordering the gardens. On the other side appeared to be an expensive hotel and an upscale shopping / dining plaza. The garden was having some sort of plant sale, and crowds were apparently expected. They had traffic control cones in place, but we arrived early enough so that parking was still plentiful. When we left, it seemed like the lot had mostly filled up. The gardens are quite large. They are divided up into sub-areas and there is a large map posted about 100 yards inside the main gate. No paper maps were on offer, so I guess you can take a photo of theirs and use that. We first strolled to the Japanese Garden. We had this to ourselves until almost when we left. This area is quite large by itself. They have koi ponds, a tea house, etc. It was nice. We took an alternate path back to the map pavilion. From there, we explored other areas (mostly dedicated to specific flowers). Some of the terrain is hilly. We routed through the vegetable garden and eventually ended up back at the central formal rose garden. This was being watered periodically that morning and some of the brick paths in it were flooded. They seemed to have some satellite restrooms in remote areas, in addition to the main set near the gate. We spent almost 2 hours here and probably could have spent even more time, but we wanted to drive to our prime stop. If you have any interest in botanical gardens, this is a very worthwhile stop.

One of the first things I appreciated was free parking and free entrance, which is always an…read moreattractive feature. From there, it just kept getting better. You can easily spend hours exploring the many trails that wind through beautiful flowers and plants, the serene Japanese Gardens, and even an active beehive community--which was my favorite part! We were on a bit of a time limit and didn't get to walk the entire property, but we still managed to spend about two hours covering roughly three miles, and it never felt rushed. While it's still a little early in spring for everything to be in full bloom, there were still plenty of gorgeous floral displays to enjoy. Some of the trail directions can be a bit confusing at times, and we did end up wandering off course once or twice. That said, it was never difficult to find our way back to the main trail and continue exploring. If you're looking for a place to meander, slow down, and truly enjoy nature, this is absolutely the place to do it. A peaceful and rewarding experience overall.

We decided to visit the museum to see their 'Monet to Matisse' exhibit. I checked occasionally in…read morethe week leading up to our visit. Their website displays how many tickets are remaining for the day. I wanted to ensure this wasn't selling out for our day, in which case I'd have bought tickets in advance online. However, they still showed over 1000 tickets available the day before, so I opted to just buy them at the museum. We had issues with navigation in Birmingham already, and those continued en route to the museum. For whatever reason, the app directed us over a mile beyond downtown and then had us get off the highway, cross the overpass, and double back (?). We actually switched apps a bit later as we were sure there was an issue. We eventually found the museum, though. It wasn't obvious from the front, but apparently the museum does have its own free parking lot behind the building. We ended up parking in a deck a few blocks away, but thankfully that only ended up costing us $3. The museum is normally free for entry, I believe. Donations are encouraged. However, for special travelling exhibits, there was a charge (about $25 per person). This was handled at a kiosk just outside the exhibit. We toured the exhibit and enjoyed it. Works were arranged in 3 large rooms. It was crowded, but manageable. After seeing that, we opted to check out some of the permanent collection before leaving. On the upper level (where we were) there are several rooms devoted to Asian arts (samurai armor from Japan, jade and buddha statues from China, etc.). Korea and India were also represented. If we'd had more time, we would have explored more on this floor. We descended to the first floor and checked out some of the European galleries as well as the end of the wing that is devoted to American art. They had interesting works on all these areas. If I lived in the area, I'd likely come here to check out the permanent collection. Maybe we'll be back at some point to see more of it. This was well worth stopping by if you like art. (I will limit my photos to the permanent collection.)

I finally made my way into the Birmingham Museum of Art after driving past it for years like,…read more"Yeah, I'll get to that one day..." Well, that day finally came--and turns out, I've been sleeping on a gem this whole time. First off, free admission? That'll get your attention quicker than a "buy one get one" sign. But seriously, this place is legit. It may not be on the scale of New York City or Chicago, but it absolutely punches above its weight. Birmingham quietly flexing, and I respect it. I started out in the sculpture garden, and with it being spring, the blooming dogwood trees added a layer of nostalgia that hit just right. Between the flowers, the fresh air, and the artwork, it was one of those "slow down and take it in" moments. Not bad for a place I used to ignore at red lights--or even flying past it doing 80 on 59/20. Inside, the collections are surprisingly deep and diverse. European, American, African, Asian--you name it. I spent a good bit of time in the African galleries, which meant a lot to me having traveled to Tanzania several times. It's one thing to read about cultures, but seeing the art up close brings a whole different level of appreciation. They also had a traveling exhibit featuring Claude Monet, and I'll just say--pictures don't do that justice. The way he plays with light and color is something you've got to see in person. The Renaissance pieces were another highlight, especially the Madonna and Child panels. You can actually see the craftsmanship in the materials--it makes you realize these artists weren't just talented, they were patient... like next-level patient. There's also a really cool mix of American artwork that captures early Alabama life. One painting in particular shows a whole social scene--different classes, different backgrounds--all in one place. It's like a historical snapshot, and honestly, probably more accurate than some of the stories we've all heard growing up. Now let's talk about the staff--because that matters. Every person I interacted with was friendly, welcoming, and actually knew their stuff. I asked a few questions, and instead of getting a quick "I think so," I got detailed answers that made the experience even better. That's the kind of thing you remember. Swing by the gift shop or grab a snack on the second floor--they're ready to welcome you. What I appreciated most was how the museum connects everything. You walk through different cultures, different time periods, and somehow it all ties back to the same themes--faith, identity, daily life, legacy. Makes you realize people haven't changed all that much... we've just gotten better at Wi-Fi. Walking out, I couldn't help but laugh a little--I've passed this place for years and had no idea what I was missing. Safe to say, I won't make that mistake again. In fact, this was my second visit in less than a month. If you're local or just passing through Birmingham, this place is absolutely worth your time. Take it from someone who learned the hard way--don't wait as long as I did. Well done, Birmingham!

The Father's Day weekend train ride for dads and father figures was an amazing experience. First of…read moreall, if you have reserved any train ride, please leave extra early. The I-65 traffic is intense. Our 1:00pm departure was delayed by ten minutes to allow extra time for guests to board. There are plenty of train cars to choose from - open air or air conditioned. We opted for the open air to get the full experience. It was about an hour and half ride RT. We got a great view of the neighboring golf course and a local vineyard. The gift shop carries awesome train themed gifts as well as local Alabama themed gifts. The train depot house a small exhibit about the history of rail. There is a neat video on the Louisville & Nashville lines that used to run through Birmingham. A must see in the area.

My husband and I attended the Mardi Gras Bourbon and Beignets event. While it was an enjoyable…read morenight out, it certainly did not exactly meet our expectations. We were under the impression this was a more formal event due to the advertising & description on the website. We felt very overdressed... We were about 15-20 minutes late boarding the train. The power then went out on the train, which really wasn't an issue considering it was cool outside thankfully. It was a very short ride to the winery. When we arrived at Ozan Winery, the tables were preset (picture attached) the food had been sitting there for only God knows how long... It was a small portion of crawfish etouffe, and a small slice of a muffuletta. the etouffe was so cold from sitting there so long it was like it had been refrigerated. that was so disappointing... the sandwich was fine. then there was a bag of chips.. The wine tasting in itself was nice, but it felt very rushed due to the train being late. We barely had finished the tasting by the time she was pouring the next one in our glass... The star of the show. the bourbon & beignets... the bourbon was.. well. bourbon. but the beignets looked and tasted as if they had been taken out of a little debbie package. so disappointing... it was not even comparable to a true beignet. tasted more like a twinkie with grape jelly in it... Overall the experience felt very cheap and thrown together. We expected a more sophisticated experience.