Hip, hip hooray, summer break is officially underway! What better way to celebrate the season than with a family vacation? Whether you prefer lounging on the beach, hiking in the mountains, or exploring a fun city, there’s a destination for your ideal vacation that can be visited with just a few hours of driving from Birmingham! It doesn’t matter if you have toddlers or teens—or a little bit of both—there is plenty of fun to be had in all of these places! So buckle up and get ready to only hear, “Are we there yet?” a few times before reaching one of these terrific travel spots.
Hit the Town in the City of Atlanta, GA
You can find almost endless things to do with kids of all ages in Georgia’s state capital, located just two hours away. If you’re looking for cool indoor adventures, you don’t want to miss the Georgia Aquarium—it’s one of the largest in the world, with touch tanks, whale sharks, sea otters, and more! The World of Coca-Cola is also a must-do with interactive exhibits where you can taste-test sodas from around the world while learning about the history of Coke. The Children’s Museum of Atlanta has hands-on play exhibits, STEM activities, and performances that are perfect for younger children, and if your kids like LEGOs… LEGOLAND Discover Center will be at the top of their list, with over two million bricks across indoor LEGO® play zones, rides, and a mini replica of Atlanta. Head outside to Zoo Atlanta for a wild time, home to pandas, elephants, gorillas, and more—and if your kids are acting like animals on the loose, feel free to send them to the play area and splash pad. Your family can also move your bodies on a hike at Stone Mountain Park, a stroll through the Atlanta Botanical Garden, or at Centennial Olympic Park. Located in the heart of the city, Centennial offers plenty of green space for running around with pretty views of the city and a giant Ferris wheel. Do you have little adventurers? Channel your inner Indiana Jones and discover dinosaur exhibits, science experiments, outdoor nature trails, and a giant playground at Fernbank Museum of Natural History. And we haven’t even mentioned the incredible food scene; needless to say, your little picky eaters will have plenty of choices.
Have a Super Summer at Gaylord Opryland
Nashville, Tennessee’s southern charm welcomes families to visit its many showstopping adventures. From the Nashville Zoo, the Adventure Science Center, The Country Music Hall of Fame to the Grand Ole Opry itself, there is so much to do. If your family finds yourselves in Nashville this summer, be sure to book a stay at Gaylord Opryland to see what’s new! This luxury hotel is so much more than just a place to sleep. The nine acres of glass atriums are home to immaculately cared-for tropical plants and flowers, wondrous waterfalls, and geysers that put on playful light and spray shows! Grown-ups can take turns relaxing at the world-class spa while the other adult takes the kids to the upscale water attraction, Soundwaves. New this summer, families will also love experiencing DC Summer. Awesome adventures range from a live DC Super Hero Academy show to a Super Hero pool celebration, movie nights with themed snacks, scavenger hunts, the Hall of Justice Character Dining experience, and of course, merch in case you forgot to pack your own cape! Visit gaylordhotels.com to book a “super” stay this summer.
Grab Your Beach Bag and Hit the Road to Gulf Shores
After growing up with the beach almost double-digit hours away, having a beach only four hours away is a dream. Gulf Shores is so much more than a beach town, though, with plenty of fun attractions and activities to do after or instead of the beach. Take the whole family to play themed mini golf at a place like Pirate’s Island Adventure Golf or race each other in go-karts at The Track Family Fun Park. Bring your curious nature-loving kids to The Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge to watch wildlife before tossing a line into the ocean to snag a fish. Have a splish-splashing adventure at Waterville USA.… Or rather, let the kids amuse themselves while you lounge in the lazy river. If your family likes interactive animal encounters, be sure to check out the new location of the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo—you might even feed a lemur or get kangaroo snuggles! Of course, if you want to have a wet encounter, you might consider a family-friendly afternoon dolphin sightseeing cruise. The Gulf State Park is beautiful with miles of beach to walk on; take it to the next level by biking one of the trails or renting a kayak. We don’t need to tell you that the beach is the best attraction of all: No matter their age, your kids are bound to love building sandcastles (or dripcastles), going on walks looking for seashells, swimming in the ocean (or the pool, if your rental has one!), and enjoying the sunshine.
Make Family History on this Family Vacation to Mobile
Did you know Mobile was the first city in the state of Alabama… and the birthplace of Mardi Gras? As such, it has something for everyone in your family, with a lot of cool experiences meant to inspire good, old-fashioned fun. Even if you aren’t a history buff, tour the Battleship USS Alabama—the World War II battleship is massive and very interactive. You’ll even see the oldest American submarine on public display, along with epic military tanks and aircrafts. You may not be there for Mardi Gras, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out! Head over to the Mobile Carnival Museum for a colorful, fun look at the festival’s history with costumes and floats. The city boasts a charming downtown and a beautiful cathedral built in 1850, perfect for walking around and admiring. Check the Mobile Museum of Art’s calendar before your trip to see when the monthly family art class will be held. Put your senses to the test with the immersive exhibit “Illusions” at the Exploreum Science Center, then explore the other STEM exhibits and hands-on fun before watching a feature film in their IMAX theatre. Adults and kids alike will enjoy a short adventure by boat if you take the Mobile Bay Ferry to Dauphin Island. While you’re there, become a marine biologist for the day as you explore the Dauphin Island Sea Lab & Estuarium, filled with marine touch tanks, sea life exhibits, and educational experiences on coastal ecology.
Adventure Has Your Family’s Name on It in Gatlinburg, TN
The mountains are calling! Explore this quaint Tennessee town, located only five hours away and nestled in the Smoky Mountains. It has all kinds of epic, family-friendly activity options, so you can tailor your trip according to your family’s preferences. If the adventure you’re looking for is a hike, there are plenty to choose from: The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is free to enter and perfect for hikes, nature walks, wildlife viewing, and scenic drives. Family favorites include Clingmans Dome, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, and Cades Cove loop. If you want the view without the hike, take a chairlift to the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America at Gatlinburg SkyPark to get panoramic Smoky Mountain views. There’s a glass floor section in the middle of the bridge for thrill seekers! There are also several adventure and amusement parks nearby, including Anakeesta, a mountaintop adventure park with scenic gondola rides, tree canopy walks, ziplines, gem mining, and a mountain coaster; Ober Mountain, a year-round mountain adventure with an aerial tramway and chairlift, ziplining, wildlife habitat, mountain coaster, summer tubing, and more; and Dollywood, TripAdvisor’s #1 theme park in the U.S. Through June 8th, families can check out the Flower & Food Festival at Dollywood to see more than half-a-million beautiful blooms and sample a taste of spring in the Smokies. Or plan a visit from June 14 through August 3 to experience Smoky Mountain Summer’s shows galore, extended hours of operation, and the 40th anniversary show, featuring the largest firework and drone show to date. Need a place to stay? Growing up, my family typically lodged at a cabin on our summer trips, but we did love the occasional stay at Wilderness at the Smokies, Tennessee’s largest indoor waterpark. If you want a quirky type of fun, don’t miss Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium or WonderWorks Pigeon Forge.
We’ve barely even scratched the surface of all the exciting, fun, and unique things your family can do in each of these vacation destinations, all located within a day’s drive of Birmingham. So what are you waiting for? Grab a suitcase (or four!) and start packing!
