Clopay Building Products

If the idea of going on an actual safari doesn't quite fit into your schedule or your budget, then a trip to the Birmingham Zoo is the next best thing. This incredible zoo features over 1,000 animals and birds all presented in their meticulously recreated habitats and attractions. In addition to giraffes, lions, monkeys and hippos, the facility features a variety of special exhibitions as well as special presentations designed especially for the kids.

Nature lovers are not the type of people who can just admire natural beauty from afar—they enjoy getting as close as possible to various sites and areas in the great outdoors that attract their interest. One such place is Ruffner Mountain. This is a 1,000-acre nature preserve that is located just five miles from the center of Birmingham. This unique urban forest features 10 miles of hiking trails over ridgetops and through valleys that provide for stellar views of nature all along the way. The trail ends at a point that offers a spectacular view of the city. The forest not only features native plants and animals but also a small nature center with exhibits and a gift shop.

Birmingham's natural beauty, as well as the natural beauty provided by some of the most beautiful plants and flowers, shines brightly at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. You will be breathlessly enchanted by the gardens of roses, camellias, wildflowers, ferns that flourish in this truly serene and calming setting. Other highlights include a Japanese garden and teahouse as well as the largest greenhouse in the Southeast. Forget the stress of your day and come and breathe in the beauty of the floral attractions in bloom at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

The stories, the struggles and the triumphs of the people who lived through the era of segregation in Birmingham are all respectfully remembered at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. The galleries in this impressive facility are filled with multimedia exhibits and attractions that vividly tell the story of the Civil Rights Movement both in Birmingham and other cities. This museum is also a research facility that focuses on human rights issues and presents various programs and seminars on a regular basis.