JUST A SHORT DRIVE…

Noccalula Falls Park

Just a short drive north from Birmingham is Noccalula Falls, which cascades more than 90 feet into the Black Creek ravine. In addition to the ever-popular Falls, the park also features a variety of other must visit amenities, including a petting zoo, Pioneer Village, mini golf course and Black Creek Trail, a 1.7-mile path featuring stunning scenery along Black Creek Gorge. Admission is required. To learn more, visit noccalulafallspark.com.

Cook Museum of Natural Science

OWA Parks & Resort, located just 15 minutes from the beaches of the Alabama Gulf Coast in Foley, has quickly become a must see for families. The original Tropic Falls at OWA, the gated theme park with more than 23 rides/attractions, means everyone in the family has something to enjoy. They even have special ticketing for non-riders. And now OWA has added another “park” – a new water park featuring indoor and outdoor offerings, and the two parks together have become Tropic Falls at OWA, with the water features. Downtown OWA, just next to Tropic Falls, offers a wide array of fantastic restaurants and shops, even if you aren’t going into the theme park. Downtown OWA is free and open to the public daily, and it even includes the OWA Theater with great shows throughout the year, worth the trip alone. The park and downtown area feature numerous special events throughout the year, including the recent Balloon Festival in mid-May. www.visitowa. com.

Tennessee Aquarium

The Cook Museum of Natural Science is a state-of-the-art natural science museum in downtown Decatur, AL. It provides a hands-on, immersive experience where kids can explore, interact with and learn about nature. You'll leave the Cook Museum amazed by the things you saw and learned. Enjoy numerous family-friendly, hands-on exhibits, climb through the cave and other interactive exhibits and there’s even an indoor playground to let off a little energy. All the while, you are learning about nature. The exhibits are divided into nine different galleries. “Discover” offers an introduction to the museum and such wildlife as bees, gators and more. “Looking Up” is all about the sky and earth’s relationship to it. Touch a real meteorite! A great alternative to a larger museum- worth the drive! www.cookmuseum.org.

The Tennessee Aquarium, sitting on the banks of the Tennessee River in Chattanooga, opened in 1992 and has been expanding ever since, offering more and more for its visitors to see, both entertaining and educating. Now two buildings big with an IMAX theater, as well, this museum share the biodiversity of southeast waters through their exhibits, many of which are hands on. Spend a few hours or the entire day! Great for the whole family. www.tnaqua.org

Paige Townley is a Birmingham-based freelance writer.