Parks & Outdoor Recreation

If you long to stretch your legs and let the kids run and explore, there's no better tourist attraction than Vulcan Park, 1701 Valley View Dr. (tel. 205/933-1409), site of the largest cast iron statue in the world. Created for the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, the imposing male statue depicts Vulcan, the god of forge. After a recent restoration, the statue once again dominates a 10-acre park atop Red Mountain. The grounds offer unparalleled views of the pretty Birmingham skyline -- not to mention free Wi-Fi. A visitor center includes interactive exhibits and interpretive displays showcasing the city's rise to prominence as an iron-producing center at the turn of the 20th century, and traces the decline of industry during the Great Depression of the 1930s and beyond.

Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park, 12632 Confederate Pkwy., McCalla (tel. 205/477-5711), is a 1,500-acre haven for hiking, camping, horseback riding, and other outdoor recreation. Artisans such as a blacksmith and miller ply their trades outside restored, 19th-century pioneer cabins to create a vision of a village from long ago. The ironworks give visitors a glimpse into life in the 1800s. The festive Tannehill Trade Days take place every third Saturday March through November. To reach the park from Birmingham, take I-59 south to Exit 100 and follow the signs.

Among other family-friendly recreation options are spectator sports, including minor league baseball's Birmingham Barons, 100 Ben Chapman Dr. (tel. 205/988-3200). The team, an AA Southern Class affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, plays at Hoover Metro Stadium, located about a mile off I-459 at Exit 10. Tickets are inexpensive, ranging from $6 to $10.

Swinging into Birmingham

Alabama has been called a golfer's paradise, and the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail that spans the state has become one of its top tourist attractions. When visiting the Birmingham area, golfers will find a challenging and scenic course at the Oxmoor Valley Golf Club, 100 Sunbelt Pkwy. (tel. 800/949-4444 or 205/942-1177). The public, 54-hole course (greens fees $35-$57) is one of the trail's 11 courses and is only a few miles from downtown.