Food & DrinkBirmingham
Pepper Place Saturday Market
Pepper Place Saturday Market in Birmingham runs 7 a.m. to noon, rain or shine, through Dec. 12 with Alabama-grown produce, meats and baked goods.
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Things to do by activity
Plan your Alabama trip
Alabama runs from the foothills of the Appalachians in the northeast to the white sand beaches of the Gulf Coast, and there is more to do between them than most visitors expect. Spend a morning at a waterfall or a mountain overlook, an afternoon in a museum that tells the story of the space program or the civil rights movement, and an evening at a barbecue joint, a brewery or a small music venue.
Everything here comes from locally owned, independent businesses: the tour guides, outfitters, galleries, theaters, breweries and attractions that make each town worth the stop. Pick an activity above to start browsing.
Want to narrow it down by town? Explore our area guides, from Huntsville and Birmingham to Montgomery, Mobile and Gulf Shores. Looking for something on a specific date? Check the events calendar or see what’s happening this weekend.
Planning a longer trip? Start with the best time to visit Alabama, our seven-day Alabama road trip and free things to do in Alabama.
Top things to do in Alabama
These are the experiences most visitors plan a trip around, with links to the local businesses and guides that help you do them well.
1. See the rockets in Huntsville
Huntsville earned the name Rocket City by building the rockets that took Americans to the moon, and the U.S. Space & Rocket Center tells that story up close. Round out the day with our Huntsville guide and an afternoon at Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment.
2. Follow the civil rights trail
Some of the most important places in American history are in Alabama: the 16th Street Baptist Church and Civil Rights Institute in Birmingham, the Rosa Parks Museum and the Legacy Museum in Montgomery, and the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma. Plan your route with our Alabama civil rights trail guide and Montgomery’s civil rights sites, or browse attractions and museums.
3. Hike to waterfalls and mountain views
Northeast Alabama is full of canyons, falls and overlooks, from Little River Canyon and DeSoto Falls to Cheaha, the highest point in the state. Start with our guide to Alabama state parks and Alabama waterfalls, then find gear and guides under outdoors and recreation.
4. Spend a day on the Gulf
Gulf Shores and Orange Beach have the sugar-white sand, and Gulf State Park adds trails, a fishing pier and miles of protected dunes. Read things to do in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, then book a dolphin cruise or fishing charter with a local captain.
5. Eat your way through Alabama barbecue
Alabama barbecue means hickory smoke and, in the north, the tangy white sauce that was born in Decatur. Compare our picks for the best barbecue in Alabama, learn the story of white sauce barbecue, or browse every barbecue restaurant on the guide.
6. Hear the music of Muscle Shoals
The studios of Muscle Shoals recorded some of the most famous soul and rock songs ever made, and live music is still everywhere in Alabama. Take our Muscle Shoals music road trip or find theaters, galleries and venues under arts and entertainment.
7. Celebrate Mardi Gras in Mobile
Mobile calls its Carnival the oldest Mardi Gras celebration in the United States, with weeks of parades and moon pies before Fat Tuesday. Plan ahead with our Mobile Mardi Gras guide and parade routes.
8. Plan a college football weekend
Fall Saturdays in Tuscaloosa and Auburn are a way of life, and the Iron Bowl is one of the biggest rivalries in sports. Our game day guide, Iron Bowl weekend guide and Auburn and Opelika guide cover where to eat, stay and tailgate.
Traveling with kids? See family fun across the state, or book a tour or experience with a local guide.
Browse by town
Things to do by town
Every corner of the state has its own pace. Find the best things to do in Huntsville, Birmingham, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, Mobile and Gulf Shores, or try our list of the best small towns in Alabama.
Mark your calendar
Upcoming events
Saturday October 31
76°Slight Chance Rain Showers23% rainWind 15 mph E
Food & DrinkHoover
The Market at Brock’s Gap
The Market at Brock's Gap in Hoover is open Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon, rain or shine, through November with local produce, baked goods and crafts.
Markets & FairsBirmingham
Native Plant Sale at Ruffner Mountain
Shop native trees, shrubs and perennials at Ruffner Mountain in Birmingham every Saturday in October, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., from Jefferson County Greenways.
Family & KidsBirmingham
Hoots & Howls
Hoots & Howls at the Birmingham Zoo offers daytime trick-or-treating, magic shows and a costume parade on October weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
FestivalsBirmingham
Magic City Classic
The Magic City Classic brings Alabama A&M vs. Alabama State to Legion Field in Birmingham on Oct. 31, 2026, with a parade, tailgating and band battle.
Food & DrinkDowntown Montgomery
Montgomery Curb Market
Montgomery Curb Market is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings on Madison Avenue with local produce, baked goods and plants in Montgomery.