Birmingham is far from boring. With its up-and-coming quality, its clean and put-together suburbs, and its tucked away outdoor activities, it's almost impossible not to fall in love with the town and all its working parts. For all you Netflixers and party poopers that don't give Birmingham the credit it deserves, I'm here to make your summer a little less pathetic. For all you adventure-seekers, this ought to be exciting. Let's get out our pens and pencils, and start crossing off the "must-do's" of Birmingham!
1. Zyp bikes.
With over 400 bikes placed around Magic City, Zyp bikes are the most high-tech bike share systems in the U.S.
So how does this magnificent invention work? It's easy! First, you download the Zyp app and choose whether you're going to be an annual member ($75) or an occasional member ($6 for 24 hours, $20 for one week). Then, you go to one of the stations that your app points out and unlock the bike using the information found on your screen. It's simple, easy and the coolest way to explore the Magic City on a sunny day.
2. Birmingham Museum of Art.
I'm a fan of being outside in the summertime, but sometimes, with the southern heat, it just isn't really an option.
On the days where the rain just won't stop or the heat is too much to bear, go check out the Birmingham Museum of Art! The museum houses 26,000 paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings and decorative arts dating from ancient to modern times.
So how much is it to get into this museum? Glad you asked. It's free. So, you really have no excuse.
3. Hiking.
Just in case you wake up one morning and think "Hmm, I should probably stop contributing to America's obesity problem."
Birmingham truly has the best of both worlds. There are plenty of activities to do in the city and, equally if not more, activities to do outside. If you're looking for a hike with a view, check out Ruffner Mountain's hike to the overlook or Oak Mountain's hike to King's Chair. If you're looking for more of a flat hike, try Red Mountain. They have a tree house and everything!
4. Park hopping.
Birmingham's own Railroad Park is a 19-acre green space located between the city of Birmingham and the Railroad Park Foundation. This park is near perfect for playing frisbee with friends, picnicking, or just relaxing on a blanket. There is a great pond in the middle of the park and year-round events taking place.
Birmingham also has a "Jazz in the Park" series that takes place in parks all around town from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays.
Other great parks? Try Homewood Park, Linn Park, or Avondale Park!
5. Kayaking at Oak Mountain.
In addition to Oak Mountain's great hikes, they also have canoe, kayak and boat rentals available to finish off a hot hike!
Pedal boats, kayaks, and canoes are $14 per hour for a boat, while stand up paddle boards are $22 per hour. Rentals are available on the marina located on Terrance Drive or are available at the Back Gate.
6. Red Mountain adventures.
In addition to Red Mountain being a great place to take an easy hike, there are also adventures put on throughout the year to make for a fun, exhilarating and unforgettable day.
Red Mountain's four unique courses include:
Vulcan Materials Zip Trip: "For approximately one hour, you will be transported 40 feet above Red Mountain, traveling from one tree house to the next by a series of seven exciting zip lines, sky bridge and cable swing. The Vulcan Materials Zip Trip also includes a rope swing and rappel."
Beanstalk Forest: "The Hugh Kaul Beanstalk Forest is a one-hour treetop challenge course with 20 unique rope and cable obstacles. The aerial elements include swaying bridges, tight ropes, a zip line and much more."
Adventure Tower: "With its eight lanes of rappelling, traditional rock climbing with hand-holds and vine climbs, the 80-foot-tall Kaul Adventure Tower is unlike anything else in the world. Designed especially for Red Mountain Park, this one-hour adventure is truly one of a kind."
Mega Zip: " The Mega Zip at the Kaul Adventure Tower is a 1,000-foot zip thrill ride. Participants start from 80 feet in the air and reach speeds up to 30 mph. This adventure can be done on your own, or you can race side-by-side with another adventure seeker. The adventure includes two rides down the Mega Zip."
For more information, visit http://redmountainpark.org/adventure/
7. Saturn concerts and events.
One of the best decisions I have made while living in Birmingham was following "saturnbham" on Instagram. Not kidding.
For all you outsiders, Saturn is a coffee shop/bar/game room/entertainment venue located on 41st Street South. Not only does this place serve great coffee, it is also a place that embraces community. With that being said, they hold the most unique events like video game tournaments on their old fashioned devices, karaoke nights, cereal mornings and trivia. In addition, Saturn holds comedy shows and concerts every week. It's impossible to hate Birmingham when you have Saturn right around the corner!
8. Pepper Place farmer's market.
Every Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon, Pepper Place puts on a great farmer's market full of flowers, teas, food and more!
This market takes place from April to December, so make sure to cross this off your bucket list before it gets cold!
9. Botanical gardens.
A dream Saturday morning would be going to Another Broken Egg for breakfast, and then heading on over to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens for a nice walk through the many plants, greenhouses and flowers.
Admission is free (every college student's favorite thing). Whether it's watching the bees, finding small waterfalls, or admiring the scenery of grasses and flowers, the Botanical Gardens is a great place to go and decompress on a summer afternoon.
10. Birmingham Zoo.
Last, but certainly not least, is the Birmingham Zoo.
This zoo is a must-see attraction, holding approximately 950 animals and 230 different species. This zoo includes giraffe feedings, sea lion shows, camel rides and even alligator feedings. Well, I'm a college student and I don't have any money! No fear! Every Tuesday, admission to the zoo is half off ($7 per person).
Lets give the Magic City the credit it deserves. Better yet, lets make this summer the best one yet!
