Cardiff AlabamaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Cardiff, Alabama.
1. Sayre Speedway
THRILLING AUTO RACING
Sayre Speedway is a popular auto racing track in Cardiff that offers exciting races for motorsport enthusiasts. Visitors can enjoy various racing events and experience the thrill of competitive motorsports in a local setting. The venue has earned a solid reputation among racing fans, evident from its positive ratings.
2. Jeff Dennis Jewelers
SPECIALTY JEWELRY SHOP
Jeff Dennis Jewelers is a specialty and gift shop located in Cardiff that offers a variety of jewelry pieces and gift items. The store has garnered positive reviews from customers, making it a reliable destination for jewelry needs and gifts. It serves as one of the few retail establishments specifically mentioned in Cardiff.
3. Five Mile Creek
NATURAL WATERWAY BEAUTY
Five Mile Creek is a tributary of the Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River that runs through Cardiff. The creek provides natural scenery and outdoor recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike. Its waters have played a significant role in the geographical and historical development of the Cardiff area.
4. Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum
WORLD-CLASS MOTORCYCLE COLLECTION
The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum is a world-renowned museum located in Birmingham featuring an extensive collection of vintage and rare motorcycles. Founded by George Barber in 1994, the museum showcases the history of motorcycles and motorsports in an impressive facility. The museum is situated on the sprawling Barber Motorsports Park complex, which also includes a racetrack and other amenities.
5. Heart Of Dixie Railroad Museum
HISTORIC TRAIN EXPERIENCE
The Heart Of Dixie Railroad Museum features a wide range of locomotives, cars, and other railroad equipment dating from the 19th century to the 1950s. Located on a 65-acre site in Calera, the museum was founded in 1962 and is dedicated to preserving Alabama's railroad history. Visitors can take a ride on vintage trains that run on a 10-mile stretch of track between Calera and Shelby, passing through scenic countryside and over the Cahaba River.
6. Rhondda Heritage Park
WELSH COAL MINING HISTORY
Rhondda Heritage Park is a historical attraction that showcases Welsh coal mining history and its influence in the region. Visitors can explore exhibits that depict the lives and working conditions of miners from a bygone era. The park serves as an educational resource about the industrial heritage that shaped the development of the area.
7. Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
POWERFUL HISTORICAL MUSEUM
The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is a cultural and educational research center that promotes understanding of the civil rights movement. The museum features powerful exhibits documenting the struggle for civil rights in Birmingham and throughout the United States. Visitors gain insight into the pivotal events that occurred in Birmingham during the civil rights era of the 1950s and 1960s.
8. McWane Science Center
INTERACTIVE SCIENCE DISCOVERY
McWane Science Center is an interactive museum offering hands-on science exhibits for visitors of all ages. The center features an IMAX dome theater, multiple floors of interactive exhibits, and educational programs that make science accessible and fun. Located in downtown Birmingham, it serves as both an educational resource and an entertaining destination for families and school groups.
9. Rickwood Field
AMERICA'S OLDEST BALLPARK
Rickwood Field is America's oldest professional baseball park, having opened in 1910 and hosted legends like Babe Ruth and Willie Mays. The historic stadium has been preserved to maintain its early 20th-century charm while still hosting special baseball events and tours. Visitors can experience the nostalgia of vintage baseball in this living museum of America's pastime.
10. Vulcan Park and Museum
ICONIC CITY SYMBOL
Vulcan Park and Museum is home to the Vulcan statue, the world's largest cast iron statue and a symbol of Birmingham's industrial heritage. Standing atop Red Mountain, the park offers spectacular panoramic views of the Birmingham metropolitan area. The museum tells the story of Birmingham's history and the importance of the iron and steel industry to the region's development.
11. Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark
INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION RELIC
Sloss Furnaces is a National Historic Landmark that once served as a major iron-producing blast furnace from 1882 to 1971. The preserved industrial site now functions as a museum of industrial history, showcasing the technologies and processes used in iron production. Today, the site hosts metal arts programs, concerts, festivals, and is rumored to be one of the most haunted places in Alabama.
12. Birmingham Botanical Gardens
LUSH URBAN OASIS
The Birmingham Botanical Gardens spans 67 acres featuring over 30 thematic gardens, including the largest public horticulture library in the U.S. Visitors can explore diverse plant collections, including Japanese gardens, rose gardens, and southern living gardens that showcase regional flora. The gardens serve as both a serene retreat for nature lovers and an educational resource with classes and programs throughout the year.
13. Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
MUSICAL HERITAGE CELEBRATION
The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame honors great jazz artists with ties to the state of Alabama, including Nat King Cole and Duke Ellington. Located in the historic Carver Theatre in Birmingham's Civil Rights District, the museum preserves and displays memorabilia, personal effects, and instruments of jazz legends. Visitors can learn about the rich history of jazz in Alabama through interactive exhibits and occasional live performances.
14. Red Mountain Park
OUTDOOR ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND
Red Mountain Park spans 1,500 acres offering over 15 miles of hiking and biking trails built on former mining lands. Adventure-seekers can enjoy zip lines, rope courses, and the Hugh Kaul Beanstalk Forest, an aerial obstacle course suspended in the trees. The park preserves the industrial heritage of the area with mining artifacts while providing recreational opportunities and scenic views of Birmingham.
15. The Summit
UPSCALE SHOPPING DESTINATION
The Summit is an upscale outdoor shopping center featuring over 100 shops, restaurants, and entertainment options. The beautifully landscaped complex hosts a mix of national retailers and local boutiques in an open-air setting designed to enhance the shopping experience. Visitors can enjoy dining at various restaurants ranging from casual eateries to fine dining establishments while taking breaks from their shopping adventures.