Spring Break doesn’t always mean traveling and if you’re planning on taking a Staycation right here in Birmingham, see if you can work your way through this list of local activities.
Spring Break Ideas for Birmingham
Join McWane Science Center for Spring Fever March 1st-April 15th! Symptoms include: science, wonder and fun!There is so much going on at McWane during Spring Fever! Special deals and awesome educational programming. Each Monday, enjoy $10 combo tickets! Be on the lookout for special discount days and free prizes on social media.
Don’t forget to check out the traveling exhibit, Going Places, on the third floor! Going Places is an interactive science exhibition that explores the technology humans have developed for travel. If you have ever wanted to pilot an airship, ride on a hovercraft, or control traffic in a city, now is your big chance!
You can also see the two newest IMAX movies, Dream Big and Extreme Weather in the John W. Woods IMAX® Dome Theater. Our 280 seats sit under a 5 story, 79ft. diameter tilted, domed screen fills your entire field of vision and the audio surrounds you to create a truly immersive sight and sound film experience.
There is no better place to spend your Spring Break than the Birmingham Zoo! Seasonal favorites such as Predator Zone, Children’s Zoo Splash Pads, Schaeffer Eye Center Wildlife Shows and more are back just in time for the warmer weather. Soak up the sun and pay a visit to your favorite Zoo animals this Spring Break at the Birmingham Zoo.
JUMP into some Fun!
There is no shortage of places to go in Birmingham if your kids like to bounce! Check out:
Urban Air in Homewood
800 Greensprings Hwy Suite 150
Homewood, AL 35209
Steel City Jump Park
7001 Crestwood Blvd #1100a
Birmingham, AL 35210
Sky Zone in Hoover
1694 Montgomery Highway
Hoover
Take a Hike!
Birmingham is full of great places to hike and walk. Our friend Rachel over at Grasping for Objectivity complied a great list of the best places around town to explore and hike. We love this list and think Spring Break is the perfect time to mark some of these off of your list if you’ve been meaning to check them out. See her list of the 10 Best Hikes and Runs in Birmingham.
Visit Vulcan:
Ok.. We know most of you have visited the bare bottomed statue at some point, but if you’ve never taken your kids, it’s time to go back. Check in at the ticket box and they’ll give you a Scavenger hunt the kids can do around the park. Mine absolutely loved it and it gave me the chance to learn some things I had never actually taken the time to pay attention to before. Bonus: Great view of the city and the kids will love running down the grassy hills.
Climb:
We’re all about activities that wear the kiddos out.. Try one of these 2 great climbing facilities, great for beginners and those with experience.. Parents too!
First Avenue Rocks is Birmingham’s premier rock climbing facility located in the heart of downtown. It’s a great indoor climbing facility that is fun for adults and kids. Check out their site for day rates and gear rental pricing.
Birmingham Boulders is the newest member of the Bouldering Authority family. Birmingham Boulders is big! Our 14,000 square foot facility is the largest bouldering gym east of the Mississippi.
Check out our Kid Reporters review about her first visit there.
Skate:
Whether you’re a fan of blades or wheels, you have options when it comes to skating in Birmingham!
Skates 280
Roller Skating – check their site for Spring Break hours.
Cool off with some Ice Skating at the Pelham Civic Complex. Times for public skate sessions vary by day, check their schedule before you go!
Pack a Picnic!
There are so many great parks in and around Birmingham you couldn’t possibly fit them all in in just a week, but weather permitting, you can get in a few. Our favorite spot for a picnic is Railroad Park. So much space for the kids to run and play, ride bikes or throw frisbees and footballs. Take a blanket and your cooler and spend the day. You can also buy a pretty inexpensive lunch from The Boxcar Cafe’. For other picnicking locations, check out Homewood Park or even Overton Park. Both have great open grassy areas and playgrounds for the kiddos.
Take a Day Trip!
If you’re looking to get away but can’t go for long, head over to Tuscaloosa to visit the Children’s Hands on Museum or the Anniston Museum of Natural History, try a day trip to Montevallo to American Village, you might even be able to catch the end of the Festival of Tulips.
If you’re looking for a camp for the week, make sure to check out our list of Spring Break Camps around Birmingham
I was recently invited to go to Birmingham Boulders with a friend. When we walked in the first thing I saw were the walls, they were so huge! I have always loved climbing at First Avenue Rocks but the walls at Birmingham Boulders seemed so much taller!
the kids toys/snacks separate. Each kiddo can pick their favorite animal like Otis the Owl (pictured) or Picasso the Penguin. It’s a win/win for putting the fun in functionality.
Bethany Beverly:
Marie Bateh:
Stephanie Jordan:
Taylor Wyatt:
Beth Hill:
Spring Break for Birmingham is just around the corner! Can you believe how quickly this year is going by? It’s Christmas one minute and then the next thing you know know its February and spring break planning is in full swing!
Join Railroad Park as they offer families the opportunity to pitch a tent and enjoy a night under the stars on Birmingham’s front lawn! This urban camping experience welcomes children and their families the chance to encounter nature through an interactive, educational setting. You’ll get to: sharpen your navigation skills with an orienteering lesson, discover birds native to Alabama, learn tips for town or open country camping, and as the city lights go down, you’ll learn how to locate The Big Dipper. Come make lasting memories that you can carry on to other camping and outdoor experiences.
Celebrating Mardi Gras is fun, even if you can’t road trip it down to New Orleans or Mobile! Here’s a way to celebrate with your own homemade King Cake that is super easy and super yummy too!
Join us for McWane After Dark: Speakeasy Science on March 10th! McWane After Dark is a new series of themed evenings exclusively for adults ages 21+. These events will be combining unique themes, live performances, activities and bar service—all with a splash of science.
This is a fun, quirky, outdoor party offering good food, drink and friends at a “come as you are” event. This event has developed a loyal following across a diverse audience base. There seems to be an engaging atmosphere that you can’t quite put your finger on — a unique camaraderie exists amid the tongue in cheek, yet somehow serious, competition between teams who vie for the judges’ and public’s approval in hopes of taking home a trophy for their particular chili recipe. While the sponsors and their teams focus on winning the chili contest, the more than 10,000 attendees from across the Birmingham area wander amid decorated booths enjoying Good People beer, tasting chili and listening to live music at one of the year’s first outdoor events.
