Oh, Sweet Alabama! There is always so much fun and frolic here!
And the same can very well be said about the state’s largest city (by population), Birmingham.
Whether it is the arts, culture, entertainment, food or just generally having a good time, Birmingham clearly has it all!
With that thought in mind, we delve deeper in this article on fun things you can do and see while in Birmingham, Alabama. Alongside, if you happen to be an international traveler to the United States, you will find ESTA or Electronic System for Travel Authorization to be an amazing program that allows visa-free entry to the United States. Using this, you can easily visit Birmingham and many other places with absolute ease, as long as you are eligible for it.
Visiting the Birmingham Museum of Art
Sure, museums are not everyone’s cup of tea but if you are an art aficionado, then a trip to the Birmingham Museum of Art will certainly prove to be a whole lot of fun! After all, the art collection at this museum is one of the finest that you will find anywhere in Southeastern US.
Of special mention would be the vast Asian art collection – especially ceramics from Vietnam. Also, Baroque and Renaissance era artwork at this museum is one of the finest that you will find anywhere in the United States.
Spending a Day at Birmingham Botanical Gardens
If nature is where you feel most tranquil (who doesn’t?!) then spending a day at Birmingham Botanical Gardens is an experience you will definitely cherish. After all, this is a place where you will find more than 12,000 different kinds of plants.
Additionally, there are many unique gardens here (25 at last count), all of which have been tastefully done up. The walking paths here are also quite long (we are talking several miles here).
Overall, when it comes to a memorable romantic outing with a special someone which does not cost a fortune by any means, then a trip to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens is very highly recommended.
Enjoying the Company of Adorable Animals at Birmingham Zoo
Well, who doesn’t enjoy spending time with adorable animals? At the same time, we often have readers tell us that there are zoos practically all over the world, so what is really so special here?
Well, firstly it is the size of Birmingham Zoo – we are talking 49 hectares or 122 acres here. This, in turn, translates to a vast variety of animal species that are housed at this truly special zoo, managed with élan by a private, non-profit company.
Being the largest zoo of its kind anywhere in Alabama, we especially recommend visiting Birmingham Zoo for the exotic and endangered animals that have found safe shelter here. The ‘Trails of Africa’ exhibit, introduced in 2007, especially opened up the zoo to a wide variety of truly unique and captivating animals from Africa.
Are you Aware of Visa-Free Travel to the United States for Applicants from Select Countries?
Thanks to a unique program called ESTA,travelers from select countries can travel to the United States – and visit fascinating places like Birmingham, Alabama, without having to obtain a visa in advance.
There is a very small fee of $14 which is to be paid online at the time of applying for ESTA.
Once approved, your ESTA application status will remain valid for two years or till your passport expires, whichever is first.
For ESTA, remember that the duration of your trip to the United States has to be 90 days or less.
Vast majority of European countries are on the Visa Waiver Program list; so if you are from Europe, then you should specially opt for an ESTA application status check to confirm if you are eligible for the program.
Traveling to Oak Mountain State Park
While talking about fun things to do in Birmingham, Alabama, the list will simply be incomplete if we do not mention going to Oak Mountain State Park. Conveniently located just outside Birmingham, this is a large state park (in fact the largest in all of Alabama) spread out over nearly 10,000 acres.
The biggest attraction here is the wide variety of activities that you can easily indulge yourself in. For instance, you can go fishing here, you can hike for long hours, you can opt for horseback riding, you can go camping, and you can enjoy rounds of golf too!
This kind of variety in terms of the number of activities that one can indulge in – all at a single location is rarely seen at other places.
Conclusion
Clearly, there are a lot of fun-filled things to do and see in Birmingham, Alabama. Armed with an ESTA (if you are from one of the Visa Waiver Program countries), you can easily enjoy a visa-free trip to Birmingham and beyond!
Yes, make sure you do an ESTA application status check, prior to your departure!
