Indoor Activities for Families in Birmingham, AL

Posted January 2, 2022

Happy 2022! It’s a brand new year, a perfect time to make some memories and have some new adventures! However, the cold winter weather can certainly put a damper on having fun. That’s why we’ve curated this list of local indoor activities for your family and friends to enjoy!

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) is a major interpretative museum and research center in Birmingham, Alabama. BCRI portrays the Civil Rights Movement’s struggles in the 1950s and 1960s. Located in The Civil Rights District, the district encompasses the historic 16th Street Baptist Church, Kelly Ingram Park, the Fourth Avenue Business District, and the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame (which is housed in the Carver Theatre.) The mission statement for the BCRI is “to enlighten each generation on civil and human rights by exploring our common past and working together in the present to build a better future. ”

The Institute officially opened its doors in November 1992, with over 25,000 visitors in its first week. The BCRI is a great engaging & educational experience for families and groups of all sizes. With many unique events throughout the year and seasonally changing exhibits, you’re sure to discover something new at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute!

When: Tuesday – Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. CST
Where: 520 16th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203
Cost: $13-15
Link: https://www.bcri.org/

McWane Science Center

The McWane Science Center is a hands-on science museum and research archive for kids of all ages. Grown-ups will also have fun exploring the multiple exhibits on all four levels of the McWane. On the lower level, there is the live Shark and Ray touch tank, where visitors can touch real life sea creatures! On the main floor there are countless interactive stations, where kids and grown ups can test their strength and smarts, and possibly learn something new while doing it!

The second floor is home to Alabama Dinosaurs, a fascinating exhibit where can learn not only about the dinosaurs that called Alabama home, but also about sea monsters and nature as well! The second floor also hosts the Itty Bitty Magic City, a magical and educational place for Kindergarteners and younger. The top floor hosts the museum’s traveling exhibits, along with a special events center and classrooms. Don’t forget to catch a movie in the 280-seat IMAX Dome Theater!

When: Wed-Fri 9:00 AM -5:00 PM | Sat 10:00 AM-5:00 PM | Sun 12:00 PM-5:00 PM
Where: 200 19th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203
Cost: $9-$20
Link: https://www.mcwane.org/

Surge Trampoline Park

Located just outside of Birmingham in Homewood, Surge Trampoline Park is the one-stop shop for your indoor entertainment needs! Surge Adventure Parks are “cutting-edge entertainment, fitness and sports facilities unlike anything you have ever experienced.” They have set up a venue for active social outings, intense workouts, and amazing birthday parties. Aside from the trampoline park, Surge boasts many attractions such as Dodgeball, Wipeout, Trapeze, Climbing Features, Basketball, Jousting, and Arcade if you feel like playing some video games!

Bring your own safety (grip) socks or buy a pair at Surge for just $3.25. Younger jumpers can participate safely in a designated Toddler Zone. Visit their website to plan your adventure before you leave home! You can select your time slot, sign your waiver, and read their FAQ to answer any questions you may have prior to your visit.

When: Sun 12pm-8pm | Mon Closed | Tues-Fri 11am-8pm | Sat 9am-11pm
Where: 120 Wildwood Pkwy, Homewood, AL 35126
Cost: $10-$30
Link: https://surgefun.com/locations/homewood/

Birmingham Museum of Art

The Birmingham Museum of Art, one of the best regional museums in the country, includes an unique collection of over 27,000 paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, and decorative arts spanning the centuries. The collection features the Museum’s extensive holdings of Asian, European, American, African, Pre-Columbian, and Native American art, presenting a diverse panorama of cultures. The three-story museum also contains Wedgewood pottery, impressionism art, contemporary art, American landscapes, and the largest collection of Asian art in the Southeast.

Kids will enjoy the scavenger hunt, available right outside Bart’s ArtVenture. Fun for kids and grown-ups, this scavenger hunt will have you exploring all the galleries that the museum has to offer! The Birmingham Museum of Art’s mission statement is “to spark the creativity, imagination, and liveliness of Birmingham by connecting all its citizens to the experience, meaning, and joy of art.” A perfect cold day activity, take your family to the Birmingham Museum of Art today!

When: 10am-5pm (Closed Mondays)
Where: 2000 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35203
Cost: Free (some limited-time exhibits may cost extra)
Link: https://www.artsbma.org/

Big Escape Rooms

Start the new year off by testing your problem solving skills at Big Escape Rooms! What exactly is an escape room? It’s a themed, interactive environment where your group will encounter brain teasers, ciphers, logic puzzles, and more while attempting to escape in the allotted time. Want to save humanity from a zombie apocalypse? Or help the archaeologists find the location of the legendary hidden treasure and artifacts? You can do that at Big Escape rooms! Your group will be stronger than ever after an experience at Big Escape Rooms!

When: Open every day (except Christmas day)
Where: 1210 20th Street South, Ste 250 Birmingham, AL 35205
Cost: $28-$33
Link: https://www.bigescaperooms.com/

So there you have it, five awesome ways to spend time indoors with your family! We hope this list helps you beat boredom and create happy, lasting memories with the ones you love.

Micah Saunders