8 things to do this summer

1. Go Wild At The Zoo.

One of the Magic City’s most popular attractions is about to be even more popular. The Birmingham Zoo’s new Arrival Experience, featuring an entry plaza and green space park area, opens to visitors for the first time this summer. Development is also underway on a new entrance and Asian Passage exhibit, which will house endangered species, such as the Sumatran orangutans, Komodo dragon, Malayan tiger, red pandas, white-handed gibbons and more.

2. Revel In Southern Culture.

In its fifth year, GMC is partnering with Southern Makers to design a unique event space underneath the viaduct at Birmingham’s Historic Sloss Furnaces for a two-day event that brings together hand-picked southern talent to one lively place. On Aug. 12 + 13, come eat, drink, shop, listen and learn from more than 100 of the South’s finest.

3. Hit The Trails.

Ranked one of the “50 Best Bike Trails in America,” the Chief Ladiga Trail stretches 33 miles from the Alabama-Georgia line to Michael Tucker Park in Anniston, Alabama. The trail was Alabama’s premiere rails-to-trails project and is the second-largest, non-motorized paved trail in the country.

4. Stimulate Your Brain.

The WonderWorks indoor amusement park in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, features more than 100 interactive exhibits to challenge the mind and spark the imagination. Explore the six WonderZones, including Natural Disasters, Physical Challenge, Light & Sound, Space Discovery, Imagination Lab and Far Out Gallery, plus the an indoor ropes challenge, 6D extreme motion ride theater and laser tag.

5. Visit A Museum.

The Civil Rights Memorial Center in Montgomery, Alabama, honors those who fought and sacrificed for justice, equality and human rights through state-of-the-art exhibits. The adjacent Civil Rights Memorial created by Vietnam Veterans Memorial designer Maya Lin features a black granite fountain wall inspired by Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream Speech” and pays homage to those who lost their lives during the struggle.

6. Catch A Game.

More than 7,000 fans fill the seats at Fluor Field, home of the Greenville Drive minor league baseball team. Recent enhancements at the ballpark added new amenities and seating opportunities, including the addition of 100 seats above the iconic Green Monster, enhancing the in-stadium experience.

7. Celebrate History.

Inspired by some of America’s most historic places, the American Village comprises more than 20 buildings on 183 acres in Montevallo, Alabama. The National Veterans Shrine, inspired by Philadelphia’s Carpenters Hall; Washington Hall, replicating Mount Vernon; a full-sized replica of the White House Oval Office; Colonial Chapel, modeled after Bruton Parish Church; and a replica of Concord Bridge are among the campus attractions, all designed to bring American history and civics to life.

8. Explore Nature.

The Graham Creek Nature Preserve in Foley, Alabama, encompasses nearly 500 acres of natural habitats, biking and hiking trails, disc golf course, kayak launch and an interpretive center featuring indigenous wildlife and plant life exhibits.