Things to do in Alabama

Prepare to discover the wonders of space exploration at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, a Smithsonian Affiliate and the Official Visitor Center for NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. Begin your adventure by exploring the Saturn V Hall, where the awe-inspiring Saturn V Moon Rocket is displayed. Walk through the Moon Crater and experience the thrill of the Space Race. Visit the Military Park and Rocket Park to see an extensive collection of military and space hardware. Step into the ISS: Science on Orbit exhibit to get a true sense of life in space. Experience a model of NASA's Payload Operations Integration Center, where Earth-based scientists manage complex experiments conducted on the International Space Station. Relive NASA's monumental achievements and get a glimpse of future commercial space ventures. Don't miss the state-of-the-art INTUITIVE® Planetarium to enjoy immersive astronomy shows and live entertainment. Enjoy regular traveling exhibits from around the world. End your visit with a deeper appreciation for the past, present, and future of human spaceflight.

Get an up-close view of the resident dolphin pod in Orange Beach on this dolphin cruise. Find out about their behavior, habitat, and relationships within the pod from your onboard guide. Head to the marina to board The Explorer, an eco-friendly boat, then set off into the back bays of Orange Beach where between 50 and 70 dolphins reside. By paying close attention to them over the years, the activity provider has named many of them. When you find them, your guide will introduce you to the dolphins by using their unique dorsal fins as identification. Listen to fun facts about the pod and enjoy guaranteed sightings of the dolphins in their natural habitat; if you don't see them, you can go on another cruise free of charge. During the cruise, stay refreshed and comfortable with a full-service cocktail bar and restroom on board. Once you’ve said goodbye to your new water-loving friends, return to the marina where this cruise ends.

Cruise the pristine waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Intracoastal Waterway, and Perdido Bay on a dolphin cruise from Orange Beach. Enjoy a narrated tour of the area waterways and listen to beach music as you seek out the bottlenose dolphin. Board the boat at Happy Harbor Marina and set sail. Once you are onboard, enjoy a narrative tour of the area waterways and sit back listening to beach music as you seek out the bottlenose dolphin. For your convenience, there is a snack bar on the boat which serves sandwiches, soft drinks, candy, chips, ice cream, beer, wine, and mixed drinks. You can also bring your own coolers for nonalcoholic beverages. Although you can’t swim with the dolphins, the boat gets as close as possible in order to give you an experience with these beautiful animals that you’ll never forget.

Come to the meeting point and check-in at the ticket kiosk to retrieve your ticket. Then, board The Explorer and get ready to explore the bays and estuaries of Orange Beach. Listen to interesting commentary about the local wildlife and history of the area from the captain. Keep an eye out for wild birds, such as ospreys, herons, bald eagles, and red-tailed hawks. Get up close to the shoreline to observe the animals. Explore creeks and estuaries that other boats can't access. Marvel at the dolphins splashing in the water, and watch a beautiful sunset. Enjoy the music and upbeat atmospher with the crew, buy some drinks and snacks aboard the boat and enjoy as you take in the amazing view. Finally, return to the starting point at the end, and get off The Explorer to finish the activity.

Sail away on an Alabama sunset cruise in the back bays of the Intracoastal Waterway. Unwind aboard a two-hulled, 52-foot Hawaiian catamaran, ensuring a smooth, stable ride as you rock gently toward the golden sunset. Skim along the back bays of Orange Beach, Alabama, and Perdido Key, Florida. Besides watching the stunning sunset, keep a lookout for marine life and coastal wildlife, including bald eagles, seagulls, herons, and osprey flying. Catch a glimpse of the schools of fish swimming underneath the boat or even a sighting of some of the dolphins in the local pod. Capture breathtaking photos as the sun melts over the horizon and take advantage of the full-service bar serving up cocktails on board (available for purchase).

Choose a 1 or 2-day pass to see some of your favorites or opt for a 5-day option for more time to visit all attractions. Do more as you experience a selection of the best attractions in Southern Alabama, all on 1 money-saving ticket. This curated collection of attractions is your ticket to enjoying the area. Your passport will act as your admission ticket to all of the venues included. Hop on the Wharf’s Ferris Wheel, a landmark for every Gulf Coast beach vacation. Meet the 300 animals at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo as you explore its 25 acres, including a walkthrough aviary and sustainable garden. Discover the City of Foley Depot Museum and Model Train Exhibit and view photos, tools, freight cars, and memorabilia documenting Foley’s history. Get up close to the WWII battleship USS Alabama and submarine USS Drum at the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park. Explore one of the most diverse cultural and natural heritage tourism attractions of the Gulf Coast at Historic Blakeley State Park.

Experience 10 of Huntsville's and North Alabama's top attractions including with this pass. Save money with this combined ticket that is delivered directly to your phone. Choose a 1 or 2-day pass to see some of your favorites, or select a 5-day option for more time to visit all attractions. Expereince the beauty of North Alabama's natural with a cave tour of the Cathedral Caverns State Park and the Rickwood Caverns State Park. Take a stroll thorugh the landscaped gardens at the Huntsville Botanical Garden and the Ave Maria Grotto. Meet the animals at the Tigers For Tomorrow Exotic Animal Preserve. Keep the kids happy with the interactive exhibits at the EarlyWorks Children's Museum. Expand your knowledge of the natural world at the Cook Museum of Natural Science. Reach the stars at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center and find out about the local legend at the Jesse Owens Museum. Discover the historic mansion and take in hilltop views at Burritt On The Mountain.

Explore the famous Muscle Shoals Studio Sound on this guided tour in Sheffield. Uncover the secrets of this space where legendary artists have recorded. Learn about past and present hits. Go behind the sound controls and pick up an instrument and play. Meet your guide at the studio and begin your adventure into music-making history. Begin in the basement where several hidden wonders await you, including the wall of albums. Make your way upstairs to stand in the main studio. Travel back in time as you listen to behind-the-scenes stories about the hundreds of hits that were recorded from 1969-1978. Discover how since the studio's restoration and reopening in 2017, it has revived its status as a hit-making machine. Learn about the recent hit record, "Cold" by Chris Stapleton. Chill out as you listen to records by artists like The Rolling Stones, Bob Seger, Cher, Rod Stewart, The Staple Singers, Millie Jackson, Boz Scaggs, Linda Ronstadt, Paul Simon, Leon Russell, and Willie Nelson . Play the piano if you are so inclined or pick up a bass that was played by David Hood. Sit behind the control board and enjoy the view. Finish your tour in the gift shop where you can find classic merchandise that was worn by Mick Jagger, Willie Nelson, and many other music icons.

Have you ever experienced a sailing adventure aboard a two-hull sailboat? Two hulls provide stability, ensuring a smooth, relaxing ride. Come enjoy a sailing experience in Orange Beach aboard the Cetacean, a 52-foot Hawaiian catamaran. With the wind in our sails, the Cetacean skims along the back bays of Orange Beach, Alabama and Perdido Key, Florida. While out sailing, watch the mesmerizing sight of wildlife in their natural habitat as schools of fish surround the boat, our playful dolphins come to say hello, and marine birds dive into the water for breakfast or lunch. We also often spot bald eagles, egrets, herons, osprey, and seagulls flying by! This relaxing Alabama cruise is perfect for couples, families, and groups of friends. We stay in the back bays of the Intracoastal Waterway to ensure a smooth boating experience!

Book your 3-day pass and get access to the following Mobile attractions: Bellingrath Gardens, Bragg-Mitchell Mansion, Conde Charlotte Museum, GulfQuest National Maritime Museum, History Museum of Mobile & Colonial Fort Conde, Oakleigh House Museum, Phoenix Fire Museum, and USS Alabama Memorial Park. Experience some of the best destinations in Southern Alabama with a money-saving pass that'll serve as your admission ticket to all of the venues included. Discover the rich history of the incredible city of Mobile over 3 activity-filled days. Enjoy 65 acres of floral wonder at Bellingrath Gardens and join a historical tour of Bragg-Mitchell Mansion, one of the Gulf Coast's most elegant homes. Explore how citizens lived throughout the last 300 years during each country’s reign over the bay area at Conde Charlotte Museum in Mobile. Visit the historic house museum of Oakleigh and experience Mobile's history through the eyes of Oakleigh’s residents. Explore the Gulf of Mexico through displays and exhibits at GulfQuest National Maritime Museum. Get access to USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, also home to the USS Drum. Enjoy the History Museum of Mobile to learn about local history from the pre-colonial past to the present, with special highlights of Mardi Gras, shipbuilding, and daily life along the Mobile Bay.