Westmont Baptist Church

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!

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 Birmingham Festival Theatre has become synonymous with unforgettable performances. And that reputation has been duly earned, as the entertainment venue has hosted well over 200 productions that have involved more than 50 directors and nearly 1,000 actors and 500 crew people. Staggering numbers to be sure, but even more impressive is that an estimated 100,000 people have watched these various performances. If you are looking for something truly memorable, then make plans to take in a show at the Festival Theatre, where excellence is the only tradition that matters!