Considered a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, Homewood is a beautiful city located in the southern part of Jefferson County. It boasts a number of great hotels and Airbnb vacation rentals to suit every traveler’s accommodation needs. It is also a lush green city blessed with an abundance of life and nature. Some of the best places to explore in Homewood include the giant statue overlooking the cityscape at the Vulcan Park and Museum, the Red Mountain features amazing skyline views, and a beautiful park. Birmingham Botanical Gardens has thousands of plants in different themed gardens and the Birmingham Zoo is home to hundreds of endangered animal species and the perfect place to bond with nature. Take a look at these best things to do in Homewood, Alabama.
1. Take a stroll in Homewood Forest Preserve
Homewood Forest Preserve is one of Alabama’s best spots to commune with nature. If you’re around South Lakeshore Drive, get active by walking, jogging, or running around its loop trail (1 mi or 1.8 km in length). For an intense cardio session, take two to three rounds. After all, the forest landscape will fascinate you as it is enriched with different plant species: green ash, dogwood, white and red oak trees, black cherry. You’ll hardly feel the passing of time as you trek, jog, and explore.
Homewood Forest Preserve
Address: 1925 S Lakeshore Dr, Birmingham, AL 35216, United States
Price: Free
2. Watch a live performance at Samford University Wright Center
Are you looking for a nice way to cap the night? Watch any form of performing arts - be it a piano concert, a musical theater play, or an annual ballet show. Fortunately, at Samford University Wright Center, you can witness these spectacular performances at your convenience. Simply go to its official website for the events calendar and book a ticket online. They showcase different genres of music and dance on online platforms as well. If a virtual string quartet show from the comfort of your home or hotel room sounds like your kind of Sunday, then reserve a spot right away.
Samford University Wright Center
Address: 872 Montague Dr, Birmingham, AL 35229, United States
Website: Samford University Wright Center
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 10pm (closed on Sat & Sun)
3. Hike with your dogs at Wildwood Preserve
Locals and visitors in the Birmingham area now have access to a lovely nature preserve, where they are free to take their pets and kids on an easy hike. Wildwood Preserve, covering an area of 51 ac (21 ha), features native wildflowers and animals, including the spotted salamanders. The hiking trails are properly maintained under the expert care of the Freshwater Land Trust. The existing trail runs 0.5 mi (0.8 km) long and features a moderately difficult incline upon return, so you are wise to get your leg muscles warmed up before hitting the road.
Wildwood Preserve
Address: 1298 Forest Brook Circle, Birmingham, AL 35226
Website: Wildwood Preserve
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4. Explore the Milky Way at The Christenberry Planetarium
Stargazing is a therapeutic activity, but sometimes due to bad weather, this becomes impossible. Thankfully, The Christenberry Planetarium features virtual displays of not just the stars but more so, the entire universe, galaxies, constellations, planets, and comets. The shows are fun and engaging, at the same time educational. Kids and adults are welcome to visit and learn more about astronomy. To further satisfy your curiosity after the visit, you can read the planetarium’s blogs and watch its videos on The Christenberry Planetarium’s website.
The Christenberry Planetarium
Address: 800 Lakeshore Dr, Homewood, AL 35229, United States
Website: The Christenberry Planetariumn
5. Watch a sports match at Homewood Athletic Complex
Homewood Athletic Complex is your go-to destination for sports and leisure. Groups can use their tennis courts and baseball fields for practice, recreation, or competition, subject to schedule availability. Overall, the facility has two gymnasiums and three athletic fields that are well-maintained under the management of Homewood Parks and Recreation. You can come to this impressive sports field for not just baseball practice, but even for other sports - tee-ball, lacrosse, softball, cricket, or soccer. If you’re running out of spots for your cheer dance, you may as well come to this multi-purpose state-of-the-art recreation facility.
Homewood Athletic Complex
Address: 121 W Oxmoor Rd, Homewood, AL 35209, United States
Website: Homewood Athletic Complex
Opening hours: 6am - 10pm (daily)
6. Cool down and grab your favorite ice cream flavor at Big Spoon Creamery
Taste the difference between mass-produced and artisanal ice cream. Head on to 3rd Avenue South in Birmingham and grab your favorite flavor at Big Spoon Creamery. This local ice cream shop is frequented by many due to its wide selection of delectable flavors, including the kid’s all-time favorite Banana Split and Cookies n’ Cream. The owners of Big Spoon Creamery are dedicated to innovating new flavors of craft ice cream using locally available produce, so you’ll never run out of flavors to try. Recently, they have the Lemon Elderflower Ice Cream - smooth and creamy with a citrusy taste.
Big Spoon Creamery
Address: 4000 3rd Ave South, Birmingham, AL 35222, United States
Website: Big Spoon Creamery
Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 12pm - 9pm; Fri - Sat: 12pm - 10pm
Price: From 7 USD
7. Try American fare at Real & Rosemary Homewood
Inspired with family recipes and the memories stringed to each dish, Real & Rosemary Homewood is an American cuisine restaurant dedicated to preparing not only the best but also the tastiest dishes in town. Each meal is prepared using fresh ingredients sourced from their own personal garden. The thoughtful combination of fruits, proteins, and vegetables put into the preparation of each dish gives you the best dining experience enjoyed by everyone. Reserve a table at this amazing restaurant and get a taste of some of the best Homewood cuisines.
Real & Rosemary Homewood
Address: 1922 29th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35209
Website: Real & Rosemary Homewood
Opening hours: 11am - 9pm (daily)
8. Go shopping at Red Mountain Plaza Shopping Center
If you are a shopaholic and you are looking for somewhere to go and scratch that shopping itch that refuses to go away then take a short trip and visit the Red Mountain Plaza shopping center, unshackle your chains and go wild. With a line of amazing stores selling jewelry, antiquities, grocery, and fashion and shoe stalls you are sure to go back home with your arms full of shopping bags and an excited smile on your face eager to try out what you bought.
Red Mountain Plaza Shopping Center
Address: Homewood, AL 35209
9. Marvel at the collection at Four Seasons Gallery
Four Seasons Gallery is not only a stupendous gallery it is also a heaven for art, crafts, antiques, mission style furniture, and accessories. Come and marvel at the amazing exhibition of art, jewelry, home decor beautiful apparel and pottery. Visit the gift shop and buy yourself or someone you care about a gift of a souvenir to take back home with you. Don’t just sit at home glued to your phone or stuck watching TV, stretch out and see and experience the art, talent, and culture that Homewood has to offer.
Four Seasons Gallery
Address: 2817 18th St S, Homewood, AL 35209
Website: Four Seasons Gallery
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am - 5pm (closed on Sun)
10. Take your family out to Oak Hill Bar & Grill
If you are looking for the perfect place to take your family for lunch or dinner, the Oak Hill bar and grill is the perfect place to be. From the menu filled with terrific lunch specials, amazing dinners and most of all unmatched professional services make this restaurant a must-dine spot. Quench your thirst with a variety of cocktails, wine, and beer offered at Oak Hill as you listen to live music or engaging in trivia sans big games, all the reason to make you reserve a table at this amazing restaurant.
Oak Hill Bar & Grill
Address: 2835 18th St S, Homewood, AL 35209
Website: Oak Hill Bar & Grill
Opening hours: 11am - 1am (closed on Sun)
11. Visit Homewood Central Park
Enjoy some peace and tranquility relaxing and unwinding at the Homewood central park. Situated adjacent to the Homewood community center, the park offers plenty of lush green space to enjoy picnicking, play frisbee, kite flying and if you have kids, there is an amazing large playground where you can easily keep an eye on them while enjoying your peace. The park boasts six large pavilions with picnic tables, an amphitheater, two tennis courts, and a cement walking path.
Homewood Central Park
Address: 1632 Oxmoor Rd, Homewood, AL 35209
Website: Homewood Central Park
Opening hours: 5:30am - 10pm (daily)
12. Stroll inside Patriot Park
Another park to visit is Patriot park. Located on the corner of Raleigh Avenue and Oak Grove Road, the park was renovated adding two pavilions, a concrete walking path, a playground and bathroom facilities. Stretch out or enjoy a nice jog in the woody trains as you take in the fresh air rich in oxygen. Come and enjoy the tranquility of this lush green park in a serene location, making it the perfect spot to enjoy quiet time as you unwind after a long week at work.
Patriot Park
Address: 710 Oak Grove Rd, Homewood, AL 35209
Website: Patriot Park
Opening hours: 6am - 10pm (daily)
13. Have fun at Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park
There is nothing more fascinating, adrenaline-pumping, and thrilling than engaging in the amazing games and activities at Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park. Boasting tube playground, go-karts, warrior course, and battle bean just to mention a few activities that will keep you so busy you easily lose track of time. If you need to fuel up, the Urban air café offers amazing, refreshing sodas, drinks, and meals. With lots of kid-friendly activities to do all in one place, the Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park is the perfect place to take your family for a weekend outing.
Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park
Address: 800 Green Springs Hwy #150, Homewood, AL 35209
Website: Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park
Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 10am - 8pm; Fri - Sat: 10am - 11pm
14. Indulge in sweet treats at Steel City Pops
Come, cool off and enjoy delicious pops at Steel City Pops. Featuring organic cane sugar, fresh fruit and gluten-free pops that come in options and flavors like fruity pops, creamy pops, paleo pops, and cookie pops, a visit to this pops shop will always be a delight. The dipping stations also offer a variety of pops to go that you can pick on your way out. There are kids pops also available if you want to treat your kid to a cold sweet treat.
Steel City Pops
Address: 2821 Central Ave #109, Homewood, AL 35209
Website: Steel City Pops
Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 11am - 9pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 10pm
15. Relish delicious dishes at Saw's BBQ
Unshackle and let lose your carnivorous side as you dig into the tasty dishes while dining at Saw’s BBQ. The restaurant is renowned for its affordable and authentic southern cuisine. Saw’s BBQ takes food preparation up a notch by preparing the juiciest, fall-off-the-bone ribs, barbeque chicken and amazing pork sandwiches. Where it lacks in dining décor, the restaurant has compensated by preparing the best dishes in the city.
Saw's BBQ
Address: 1008 Oxmoor Rd, Homewood, AL 35209
Website: Saw’s BBQ
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 11am - 8pm; Sun: 11am - 3pm
Explore Homewood
With so much to do and places to explore, you do not need any more reason to get out of your house. From the exciting things to do, amazing places to dine and peaceful places to chill out, Homewood is clearly the perfect hood to be.