By Donna Cornelius
Oh, this pesky economy. It has most families looking for ways to trim their budgets, especially when it comes to non-essentials like vacations. And you never know, when you pull up to the pump, if you’ll need a second mortgage to pay for your gas.
With that in mind, is it any wonder that the term “staycation” has quickly found its way into everyday jargon? Said to have been coined by a Canadian comedian, Americans began using the word widely in 2008. That’s when gas prices reached record levels and folks began looking for ways to have fun without traveling farm from home.
To come up with some staycation destinations that can be reached from Birmingham on a tank of gas, we figured on a 20 miles per gallon average for cars that hold about 17 gallons of gas. (If you’ve got a gas guzzler, these figures will be wildly off base – we’re just saying.) And we’ve also included some ideas that don’t even require leaving the comforts of home.
Children’s Hands-On Museum
2213 University Blvd. Tuscaloosa
www.chomonlineorg
349-4235
Most Over the Mountain folks have experienced the fun of the McWane Science Center. Another option for combining fun and learning is the Children’s Hands-On Museum in downtown Tuscaloosa.
CHOM, geared for babies through fifth graders, encourages its young visitors to use their imaginations. Exhibits include a Choctaw Indian village, planetarium, Main Street gallery and hospital. Kids can feel the seats vibrating as they sit inside a “spaceship” at Space Station CHOM and have fun exiting the beaver lodge at Beaver’s Bend via a slide.
The museum constantly has special programs and events geared to holidays, so check the website’s calendar before you plan a visit.
Old Courthouse Museum
31 North Alabama Ave.
Monroeville
www.tokillamockingbird.com
251-575-7433
We’re pushing that “trip on one tank of gas” theme a bit with this trip, but not much – and this little town is worth the journey if you’re a fan of Southern literature. While Monroeville isn’t the place for those craving glitz and glamour, a visit to the Old Courthouse Museum can bring a pair of Alabama’s most well-known writers to life.
It’s especially fun for older children who’ve read “To Kill a Mockingbird.” The set for the movie’s courtroom scenes replicated the town’s old courthouse, which was used until 1963. The room is so reminiscent of the movie that you almost expect Atticus Finch – well, Gregory Peck playing Atticus Finch – to walk in.
Upstairs in the building are two exhibits which tell stories of reclusive Harper Lee, author of TKAM, and colorful Truman Capote; both have strong Monroeville ties. Docents are well versed and love to share stories about the two writers. There are great finds at the museum’s gift shop, too.
Pepper Place Market
2829 2nd Ave. South
www.pepperplacemarket.com
Opening April 16, downtown Birmingham’s Pepper Place Market offers plenty of home-grown goodies and home-baked treats. And besides farmers and bakers, you can meet beekeepers, hear musicians and get cooking tips from a local chef.
Why not rouse the family and head for the market, where you can have a light breakfast and coffee? Then let the kids help shop for fresh ingredients for a simple picnic lunch.
Next, head for a green space and enjoy lunch al fresco. Take along bikes if you choose Oak Mountain State Park or fishing poles if you’re heading to Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park. Or stay closer to town at Birmingham’s new Railroad Park.
As a bonus, the kids will be so worn out that they’ll go to bed early. One can hope.
Baseball Bonanza
Birmingham Barons
Regions Park
100 Ben Chapman Drive
www.minorleaguebaseball.com
988-3200
If you’re one of those baseball fanatics who have always dreamed of traveling to Major League stadiums around the country, try a mini-version of that adventure. Cheer for our home team, the Birmingham Barons, at Hoover’s Regions Field, and then follow them on the road.
The Barons open their season against Montgomery April 7-11 at the Biscuits’ picturesque Riverwalk Stadium and travel to play the Huntsville Stars April 23-27. (Check the website for other dates, too.) Combine a visit to the capital city with a visit to Old Alabama Town, or leave early for Huntsville and tour the U.S. Space and Rocket Center.
Although it’s not likely that Michael Jordan will have a return engagement with the Barons, you never know which big-name player you’ll see rehabbing with a minor league team – or a future star on his way to the Big Show.
Mentone
www.mentonealabama.org
Alabama’s natural beauty is showcased in charming Mentone and the surrounding countryside. See the Little River Canyon National Preserve, where you can travel along a 23-mile canyon rim with breathtaking views of waterfalls. Also nearby is DeSoto State Park; with hiking and biking trails, it’s open every day of the year.
There’s no charge to visit the 90-feet-long Old Union Crossing covered bridge at the Shady Grove Dude Ranch. And when you’ve had enough of the great outdoors, walk through downtown Mentone, where you’ll find restaurants and shops.
Moundville Archeological Park
13075 Moundville Archaeological Park
www.moundville.ua.edu
371-8732
If you haven’t been to Moundville since your own school days, it’s time to re-visit and take the kids. Although the park dates back to 1939, it’s greatly improved since the University of Alabama got involved in a $5 million transformation, completed in 2010.
Learn about Native Americans at the museum, where technology enhances displays of artifacts. Life-sized figures show off clothing and jewelry, and recorded narratives tell the stories of pottery and other art. In a reconstructed earth lodge, a Native American medicine maker “appears” to take visitors on a journey into the afterlife.
Outside, see the two huge mounds for which the city and park are named, or stroll along the Douglass Nature Trail.
Mom and dad can recuperate with a cup of Native American specialty coffee. The café has pastries, homemade cream sodas and box lunches available for groups if you call ahead.
