Super Summer Day Trips

Happy Fourth of July!  We've reached the halfway point of summer but there is still time to have fun.  Kids and parents alike have had a few weeks to relax after the end of school.  The swimming pool water is tepid and many organized sports are over for the summer.  The refain, "I'm bored"  resonates throughout  households across the state.  What to do?  Take the family on  a "day trip" to see what our great state of Alabama has to offer.  I've put together two fun, educational and inexpensive day trips that will break up the monotony of mid-summer.  I originally put these trips together as school field trips but have since included the family on these outings. Just last week I took my eight year old nephew on his first day trip and we are looking forward to the next one sometime this month.  You'll find a common theme to both trips: food.  Each trip includes a visit to an Alabama business that produces some of our favorite summer time foods and offers free samples as well.  On the other hand, each trip is balanced with a visit to a place of interest and/or history that every Alabamian should visit at least once.  Please keep in mind that these are only suggestions and you can add as much or as little to these trips as you like.  Please follow the links to find out more about those places you want to visit.

Day Trip One:  We All Scream for Ice Cream Meets the Need for Speed!

• Destination:  Talladega County

Talladega is a historic Alabama county and offers lots of options for those looking for something to do.  I've combined two site visists that can easily be done in one day.  Begin with  the Blue Bell Creamery in Sylacauga, AL.  Sylacauga is about 45 miles southeast of Birmingham and about 80 miles north of Montgomery. The manufacturing facility was opened there in 1996.  Tours are available Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm but you will need to make an appointment.  General admission is $3.00 but for children ages six to 14 the cost is only $2.00.  You get a free serving of ice cream at the end of the forty-five minute tour. Click the link for more information http://www.bluebell.com/
After enjoying your ice cream (you can choose your favorite flavor) drive the short distance north on Highway 21 to the city of Lincoln, Alabama to visit the Talladega SuperSpeedway.  Here, you can visit the Internationationl Motorsports Hall of Fame and Museum and get a tour of the Talladega SuperSpeedway Track.  The Hall of Fame tour is self guided but I would allot at least one hour.  You'll see lots of cars, boats and even an airplane and learn about race history and how racing benfits Alabama's economy.  After touring the museum, take the 20 minute track tour.  You will travel on the Talladega SuperSpeedway Track on an 18-seat van.  You may want to call in advance to find out if on-track testing is planned for the day you visit.  No track tours are given on those days although you may be allowed to watch the testing.  Here's the link you'll need for more information  http://www.talladegasuperspeedway.com/  Cost for the tour is $12.00 for adults and $5.00 for children ages 6-12.  Children under 5 are free!

Day Trip Two:  Iron Man Meets the Potato Chip!

• Destination:  Jefferson County

Head to Central Alabama for free food and spectacular views!  The Golden Flake Potato Chip Manufacturing Plant  in Birmingham will be your first stop on this day trip.  Tours are given Monday through Wednesday at 9:30 am, 11:00 am, and 12:30 pm.  You don't need an appointment but if your group is over 10 people you may want to call ahead.  This tour is FREE but that's not the best thing.  On this walking tour (be sure to wear flat, closed toe, rubber soled shoes and no tank tops) you get to sample the products right off the line.  These warm samples are the freshest chips you'll ever have!  Here's the link http://www.goldenflake.com/ .
If you are not too full from the samples, take a picnic lunch to enjoy at Vulcan Park and Musuem in Homewood, AL.   After eating, visit the Vulcan Museum and Observation Tower. The park is open daily from 7 am until 10 pm while the museum hours are 10 am to 6 pm Monday through Saturday and 1 pm to 6 pm on Sunday.  Admission to the park is another bargain.  Adults pay $6.00, seniors pay $5.00, children ages 5-12 pay $4.00 and children under 4 are FREE.  Tour the  interactive history musuem to learn about the history of iron and steel in Alabama.  You'll not only learn the story of the Vulcan statue (Did you know he weighs as much as 41 Honda Civics?) but you can also visit the exhibit,  "The Music Lives On:  Folk Song Traditions Told By Alabama Artists".  You'll see some really cool metalworks and other art here.  Be sure to go  up on the Vulcan's Observation Deck for great views of Birmingham.  Follow the link http://www.visitvulcan.com/ to find out more. 

I hope these ideas will help you plan some super summer day trips.