Holden Business Solutions

The grooves are still spinning at Charlemagne Record Exchange in Birmingham. The staff gets kudos for not only being extremely knowledgeable, but they are uproariously funny and always try to help you find what you're looking for. And there is plenty of vinyl through which you can rummage. Various LPs and 45s are stocked, and you will want to flip though them all—you never know what you will find. If you select a few discs that you would like to preview, the listening station complete with a turntable and headphones will allow you spin it before you take it home!

The many aspects of science come to life in a truly fun and interactive way at Birmingham's McWane Science Center. Plenty of interactive exhibits encourage visitors to reach out and touch while offering a close-up view of some of the world's most fascinating scientific principles. The museum houses an amazing collection of dinosaur fossils, an aquarium filled with colorful fish, and a multi-tiered playground. And don't forget to check out a science-themed or Hollywood hit feature at the center's IMAX theater.

While the name may echo the classic television show Star Trek, there's nothing otherworldly about the Vulcan, the world's largest cast-iron sculpture. This visually compelling structure was created to pay tribute to the city's early iron industry. It weighs over 60 tons, stands over 55-feet-tall and was originally constructed for the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. Today the attraction stands next to an observation tower in the center of Vulcan Park that allows a somewhat closer look at this fascinating piece of history.

Get ready for a wild time when you set out for Alabama's Sipsey Wilderness Area. This is the third largest wilderness area east of the Mississippi and is located in the Bankhead National Forest. Located just 90 miles northwest of Birmingham, the outdoor area offers camping, fishing, hunting, horseback riding as well as numerous streams that are perfect for a canoe ride. The amazing canyons and bluffs range from 50 to 200 feet high, and the trails were created by Native Americans and offer a unique way to view this rustic pocket of nature.