As the cultural and entertainment capital of Alabama, Birmingham will never leave you bored. Home to Alabama's largest museum, the Birmingham Museum Of Art, as well as the state's major ballet, opera and symphony orchestra companies, fine art enthusiasts of any kind will find plenty to see in this city. The historic Alabama Theatre hosts film screenings, concerts and performances, The Alys Stephens Center on the UAB campus is home to Opera Birmingham and the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, and the Wright Center Concert Hall at Samford University hosts the Birmingham ballet. The Sidewalk Moving Pictures Festival brings filmmakers from around the world to have their films viewed and judged, while the Southern Heritage Festival is a music, arts and entertainment event for the city's African-American community. The city's many other entertainment venues also host a variety of concerts and shows for more up-beat and new entertainment.
For the non-art enthusiasts, Birmingham still has a wide variety of entertainment. Alabama Adventure Theme Park has a total of 28 rides, including 3 roller coasters and 6 water rides, with fun for the whole family. The park is divided into two sections: Splash Beach Water Park and Magic Adventure Theme Park. The Birmingham Zoo is a 122-acre home to approximately 750 animals of 250 different species, including many which are endangered. With hands-on scientific exhibits and temporary traveling exhibits, the McWane Science Center offers fun for the whole family. For those desiring a more leisurely afternoon, Birmingham is home to many parks and gardens, including Birmingham Botanical Garden: a 67-acre park with a white-tablecloth restaurant, meeting rooms, an extensive reference library, and a wide variety of plants in interpretive gardens, including formal rose gardens, tropical greenhouses, and a Japanese Garden. The Birmingham Public Library is one of the largest and most respected library systems in the United States, and has 19 branches available for the literature-inclined.
While Birmingham does not currently have any major professional sport teams, there is a very strong fan base for collegiate sports - primarily the University of Alabama and Auburn University football teams. Birmingham sports venues include Regions Park, Fair Park Arena, Legion Field, Rickwood Field, and Pelham Civic Center, hosting many levels of football, baseball, hockey, and more. The US Paralympic Training Facility is located in Birmingham, as well. Spectator sports aside, there are still many recreational opportunities in Birmingham. Recreational fishing is immensely popular in the area, and few regions can offer the quality and quantity of fishing as found throughout this region. Birmingham was recently named "Bass Capital of the World" by ESPN and Bassmaster Magazine. The Pelham Civic Center offers public ice-skating on certain days, as well as skate rental and skating lessons. Mountain and road biking is popular in the area, with the Bump N' Grind mountain bike race being held at nearby Oak Mountain State Park. With all of this and more, you will never be bored in Birmingham.
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