U.S. Space and Rocket Center
The rockets that sent men to the moon were developed at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville. Learn all about it, and the space race in general, when you take a tour of the U.S. Space and Rocket Center ($23 adults, $15 kids. 1 Tranquility Base, Huntsville, Ala. 256-837-3400, rocketcenter.com). Experience simulated space flight, Space Camp, rockets galore, Imax — and freeze-dried ice cream just like the astronauts eat.
Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo
In Gulf Shores, not far from the beach, you'll find the "little zoo that could." The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo ($11 adults, $8 kids. 1204 Gulf Shores Parkway, Gulf Shores, Ala. 251-968-5732, alabamagulfcoastzoo.org) gained national attention in 2006 when it was spotlighted in an Animal Planet series that documented the zoo coming back to life after being swamped by Hurricanes Ivan and Katrina and all of its animals having to be rescued and evacuated. The zoo bounced back with vigor and has expansion plans in progress. The popular Animal Encounters program allows visitors to go inside the enclosures for an unforgettable hands-on experience interacting with baby kangaroos, tiger cubs, lemurs and other animals.
Point Clear resort
Listed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of the historic hotels of America, the Grand Hotel (Rates start at $239. 1 Grand Blvd., Point Clear, Ala; 800-678-8946, marriott.com/hotels/travel/ptlal-grand-hotel-marriott-resort-golf-club-and-spa), located in Point Clear on the Eastern shore of Mobile Bay, is a full-service luxury resort steeped in tradition and ideally suited for families with young children. Activities abound at the Grand Hotel, which has its own private beach on the bay and a course on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. Don't miss the daily cannon firing, which honors the military and commemorates the Civil War battle that took place in the bay.
About the Author
