Summer lends itself to exploration. The days are long, nature is full of color, sounds, and movement, and opportunities for travel and play abound. Your calendar may already be pretty full for this season, or you might have some open weeks or weekends that you’re looking to fill. Perhaps you’re a homeschooling mom that’s planning ahead for the fall and looking forward to field trips when the masses are back in school and work and the temperature drops just a tad (aren’t we the lucky ones?!). I’ve culled a few interesting day trip options that you might not have considered and won’t break the bank. All are within two and half hours of Lee County and I’d suggest visiting TripAdvisor for more recommendations for places to visit in any given city. Birmingham, Columbus, and Montgomery are all rich with historical and cultural sites, museums, and events and are just a short drive away.
Alabama
Chewacla State Park (Auburn) – This has been on my summer bucket list for a while. I can’t believe I’ve lived here for 9 years and still haven’t been to Chewacla! There is a small entrance fee for a day pass (ages 3 and under are free, 4-11 are $2, 12-61 are $4, and 62+ are $2). In the park you can swim, boat, fish, hike, bike, picnic, grill, hammock, play on the playground, geocache, and more! There are also camping options available. I’m most excited about seeing the picturesque Chewacla Falls.
Newtopia FunPark (Montgomery) – If you have toddlers to early middle schoolers, this place will be a hit! If you remember DiscoveryZone from the 90s, this is like the updated version. It’s a sensory wonderland. They keep it nice and cool, which is good since you’ll be doing a lot of climbing and sliding (don’t be shy about playing alongside your kids – the equipment is sturdy and so much fun!). I advise following their Facebook page as they have started posting the field trip schedule to help you gauge when crowds might be particularly heavy. Prices are $8 for ages 2 and under and $11 for kids 3 and up (a dollar more for each on weekends and holidays) but 2 adults are free for every paying child. Concessions are reasonable enough (large Papa John’s pizza for $14), but if you prefer, they allow same day re-entry with a hand stamp so you could leave for lunch and then come back. Everyone must have socks!
Alabama Splash Adventure – Looking to introduce your kids to the wonder of amusement parks without breaking the bank? This is the day trip for you! With wet and dry attractions you will be busy all day riding and sliding to your heart’s content. This park boasts several valuable freebies too – free parking, unlimited soft drinks (including Pepsi products, Gatorade, lemonade, tea, and SoBe water), free sunscreen, free Wi-Fi and free access to inner tubes and life jackets in the water park. Buy your tickets online to save time and money. Last year they ran a special on Groupon, so keep an eye out for a repeat.
Georgia
National Infantry Museum (Columbus) – Museums are great ways to spend a day out of the heat or rain. At the National Infantry Museum you’ll be immersed in incredible exhibits chronicling the history of the United States Army. The museum is free but you can pay extra for films in the giant screen theater. They will be commemorating the 75th anniversary of D-Day on June 6th with a full day of special events that WWII buffs will not want to miss! The museum is closed on Mondays and federal holidays but will be open on July 4th.
The Rock Ranch (The Rock) – Located an hour and a half from Opelika, The Rock Ranch is an agritourism destination founded by Truett Cathy that offers 35 different attractions for all ages to enjoy. They open for special events throughout the year, including the Celebrate America Fireworks Spectacular the last Saturday in June and Fun In The Summer Time events in July featuring water attractions like a giant slip-n-slide, and water balloons. Depending on the size of your family and how many events you want to experience in the next year, you may be interested in the family membership. I think their fall and Christmas events look like so much fun! Some attractions require closed-toe shoes to participate, so plan accordingly.
Museum of Arts and Sciences (Macon) – Not far from The Rock Ranch you’ll find the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Macon, GA. Part art museum, part nature museum, part science museum – it even has a mini zoo inside! Tickets are inexpensive ($10 for adults and $5 for kids 3-17) and there’s so much to see including live animal shows and a planetarium. You can picnic outside and walk the nature trail, or leave for lunch and return, because they offer same day re-entry. It’s a pleasant two-hour drive that avoids the busier traffic of Atlanta and Birmingham, which is always a plus for me!
Half-Day Trips
There are so many fascinating things nearby that you can experience in just a few hours if your schedule doesn’t allow for full day excursions. Here are some highlights:
Kreher Preserve & Nature Center (Auburn) – Shaded picnic area across from the nature playground
Chattahoochee RiverWalk (Columbus) – Park near Whitewater Express for easy access to the playground and free splash pad
Coca-Cola Space Science Center (Columbus) – Apollo 13 astronaut Fred Haise will be visiting this summer
Columbus Museum (Columbus) – Great interactive kids’ area and summer kids’ programming
Oxbow Meadows (Columbus) – Canopy Tours available on Saturdays – save 50% with this Groupon
Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts (Montgomery) – Excellent interactive gallery for all ages
Montgomery Biscuits Baseball (Montgomery) – Ticket prices range from $9-$15 and there are lots of fun theme nights
Municipal Park (Opelika) – Tuesday nights feature free train rides and free Summer Swing Concert Series
Share your favorite day trips in the comments!
