Birmingham's Top Area Attractions

Birmingham Zoo

Less than 15 minutes from The Outlet Shops of Grand River, the Birmingham Zoo is one of the state's most popular attractions. Visitors come from all around the Southeast to see shows such as the Rhino Encounter, the Giraffe Feedings, the Lorikeet Aviary, the Predator Zone and the Sea Lion Splash Show. The zoo is blazing new trails in elephant conservation with the opening of Trails of Africa. The initiative designates the Birmingham Zoo as a national leader in the care and conservation of threatened elephants. Trails of Africa is a mixed-species exhibit that includes a bull elephant herd, red river hogs, giraffes, wildebeest, zebras and more. Open daily 9am- 5pm. Located at 2630 Cahaba Road, Birmingham, AL 35223-1106. www.birminghamzoo.com

Vulcan Park and Museum

Less than 15 minutes from The Outlet Shops of Grand River, Vulcan is the largest cast iron statue in the world and Birmingham's unofficial city symbol. Standing high atop Red Mountain, the 56-foot-high statue has an observation balcony on its pedestal for a panoramic view of the city. Vulcan is patterned after the mythical Roman god of the forge, a nod to the city's powerful position in the iron and steel industry in the first part of the 20th century. The statue was created as Birmingham's exhibit in the 1903 World's Fair in St. Louis and won the exposition's grand prize. The museum at Vulcan has interactive exhibits and displays that portray the region's history and progress. Vulcan park grounds open daily, 7am- 10pm. Museum open Monday-Saturday, 10am-6pm; Sunday, 1pm-6pm. Observation balcony open Monday-Saturday, 10am-10pm; Sunday, 1pm-10pm. Located at 1701 Valley View Drive, Birmingham, AL 35209. www.vulcanpark.org

Alabama’s Splash Adventure Waterpark

Located about 30 minutes West of The Outlet Shops of Grand River, Alabama Adventure is part water playground, part amusement park and is the state's largest theme park. Roller coaster enthusiasts around the country hail the park's Rampage as one of the top wooden coaster rides anywhere. The Space Shot, the Zoomerang and the Giant Wheel are among the dozens of thrilling rides in the park. In the water park, visitors cool down in the Wave Pool and on daring water slides or relax on giant floats as they cruise the Lazy River. Portions of both parks are designed especially for younger children. Hours of operation vary according to season. Located at 4599 Alabama Adventure Parkway, Bessemer, AL 35022. www.alabamaadventure.com

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

Located less than 15 minutes from The Outlet Shops of Grand River. Richly detailed exhibits in the Civil Rights Institute reveal slices of black and white life in Alabama from the late 1800s to the present. A series of galleries tells the stories of daily life for African-Americans in the state and the nation and how dramatically different it was from the lives white people of that era took for granted. The powerful Movement Gallery presents the Civil Rights Movement for 1955 to 1963. Here a picture emerges of the bad old days of "Bombingham," a reference to the relentless violence that rocked the city in the late 1950s and early '60s. In the final exhibits, the Processional Gallery uses life-size figures representing all ages and races to portray the "walk to freedom." Open Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm; Sunday, 1pm-5pm. Located at 520 16th Street North, Birmingham, AL 35203. www.bcri.org

Birmingham Museum of Art

Less than 15 minutes from The Outlet Shops of Grand River, the Birmingham Museum of Art has one of the finest collections in the Southeast. More than 24,000 objects represent a rich panorama of cultures, including Asian, European, American, African, Pre-Columbian and Native American. Highlights include the museum's collection of Asian art, considered the finest and most comprehensive in the Southeast, and its collection of Vietnamese ceramics, one of the finest in the world; a remarkable Kress collection of Renaissance and Baroque paintings, sculpture, and decorative arts from the late 13th century to the 1750s; the collection of 18th century European decorative arts, which includes superior examples of English ceramics and French furniture; and the museum's world-renowned collection of Wedgwood, the largest outside of England. Open Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm; Sunday, noon-5pm. Located at 2000 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd. North, Birmingham, AL 35203-2205. www.artsbma.org

McWane Science Center

Less than 15 minutes from The Outlet Shops of Grand River are four floors of hands-on exhibits and an IMAX Dome Theatre that are all part of the fun of learning at McWane Science Center. Celebrating science and discovery, the exhibits include everything from dinosaurs to space travel. Play tunes with your feet on the Giant Piano, and learn about gravity with a daring ride on the High Cycle. Pet the sharks and stingrays in the Shark & Ray Touch Tank, and check out the Zoetrope for visual illusions of motion from still pictures. Open September-May, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm; Saturday, 10am-6pm; Sunday, noon-6pm. June-August, Monday-Saturday, 10am-6pm; Sunday, noon-6pm. Located at 200 19th Street N, Birmingham, AL 35203. www.mcwane.org

Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail

With golf friendly weather virtually year-round, Birmingham is home to some of the region's premiere public courses. Among the handsome courses in the greater Birmingham area are two that are part of the nationally-acclaimed Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, a collection of 468 holes of championship-caliber golf at 11 sites across Alabama. The Oxmoor Valley course, is a 54-hole facility sculpted from the peaks and valleys of the Appalachians, with creeks, scenic forests and challenging elevation changes. Located less than 30 minutes from The Outlet Shops of Grand River at 100 Sunbelt Parkway, Birmingham, AL 35211-5958. The 18-hole Ross Bridge course, the world's third longest golf course, is beautifully carved into the rolling terrain of Shannon Valley and challenges even the best golfers. The Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort and Spa is located at 4000 Grand Avenue, Hoover, AL 35226. www.rtjgolf.com

Barber Motorsports Park

Less than three miles from The Outlet Shops of Grand River, The Barber Motorsports Park is also the home of a World-Class 2.3 mile Road Course, which has been built to FIA and FIM standards. Find a new breed of racing here for both motorcycles and cars! Located at 6040 Barber Motorsports Parkway, Leeds, AL 35094. www.barbermotorsports.com

Talladega Superspeedway

Just 35 miles from The Outlet Shops of Grand River, Talladega Superspeedway is the biggest, fastest, most competitive motorsports facility in the world. Records for both speed and competition have been established at Talladega. The Superspeedway can accommodate more than 143,000-seated guests and thousands more in the 212-acre infield. The track offers van tours to visitors daily during working hours except on weeks around events. Adjacent to the track is the International Motorsports Hall of Fame and Museum, which is also open daily. Also, drive authentic Nextel Cup race cars at the Talladega Superspeedway with the Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure (1-888-GO-RACE-1). Reach speeds of 165+ mph while experiencing this once-in-a-lifetime adventure! Located at 3366 Speedway Boulevard, Talladega, AL 35161-0777. www.talladegasuperspeedway.com