Outdoors
Golf
Birmingham is famous for its beautifully designed golf courses. Greystone Country Club hosts the Bruno's Memorial Classic Senior PGA tournament each April. It has become one of the most popular venues on the Senior Tour featuring the likes of Chi Chi Rodriguez, Lee Trevino, Raymond Floyd and other golfing legends. Shoal Creek has twice hosted the PGA Championship and The Old Overton Club at Liberty Park has also hosted PGA events. Oxmoor Valley Golf Course is Birmingham's location on Alabama's Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, a collection of courses in the state created by the world-famous course designer. The trail has become a major spot on the itineraries of golf tourists. Other exceptionally good public courses such as Bent Brook, built on the rolling acres of a former dairy farm, make Birmingham an attractive golfing destination. Check out the featured golf lodging packages.
Give Advantage Golf a call. Advantage Golf has the resources and innovative products to fulfill virtually every aspect of your event- hole-in-one prize packages, arrival gifts, awards, promotional products, signage and more. From golf tournaments to trade shows, charity events to employee awards, Advantage Golf provides the customized, turn-key services that save you both time and money.
Nature
Ruffner Mountain is a 1,000-acre nature preserve, is just five miles from the city center. In this urban forest, 10 miles of hiking trails traverse the ridgetop and valleys; one trail ends at a spectacular overlook with a view of the city. The forest provides a home for native plants and animals; a small nature center houses educational exhibits and a gift shop. A covered picnic pavilion is available. (205-833-8264).
At Oak Mountain State Park, Alabama's largest state park, visitors enjoy all the outdoor pleasures of a great public facility, including some of the finest mountain biking trails in the country. The park offers vacation cottages, golf, improved camping, picnicking, tennis, swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, backpacking, a demonstration farm and horseback riding facilities. The park is also home to the Alabama Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. (205-663-7930).
Alabama's Sipsey Wilderness Area, at 25,000 acres, is the third largest national wilderness area east of the Mississippi. Located in the Bankhead National Forest, Sipsey offers visitors a primitive recreation experience about 90 miles northwest of Birmingham and within a day's drive of a great portion of the Southeast. Hiking, camping, hunting, fishing and horseback riding are allowed amid numerous streams, lush canyons and bluffs from 50 to 200 feet high. There are trails created by Native Americans who once lived here and an incredible number of waterfalls.
Rickwood Caverns in western Blount County contains some of the most massive and fascinating underground formations in the state. During the summer, visit the swimming pool, miniature train. Year-round camping and hiking. (370 Rickwood Park Road, Warrior, 205-647-9692). Moss Rock Preserve is a beautiful 250 acre nature preserve with trees, plants, rock outcroppings, streams, waterfalls, wildlife and other unique natural features. The preserve also features nearly 10 miles of hiking footpaths. Call 205-739-7141 for more information or visit their website.
Air Alabama (205-567-9800) offers hot air balloon flights, aerial advertising and hot air balloons for special events in the greater Birmingham area.
Professional Sports
In professional sports, the Class AA Birmingham Barons (205-988-3200) have one of the proudest traditions in baseball. The team plays at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, one of the premier stadiums in minor league baseball.
College Sports
College football dominates sports in Birmingham. UAB (The University of Alabama at Birmingham), which fields a major college basketball team, has also begun a Division IA football program. The team plays at Legion Field. College athletics also play an important role on the campuses of Birmingham-Southern College, Samford University, and Miles College.
Fall Sports
Football
NCAA Div IA UAB
NCAA Div IAA Samford
NCAA Div II Miles
Men's Soccer
NCAA Div I UAB, B'ham Southern
Women's Soccer
NCAA Div I Samford, UAB, B'ham Southern
Women's Volleyball
NCAA Div I Samford, UAB, B'ham Southern
NCAA Div II Miles
Men's Cross Country
NCAA Div I Samford, UAB, B'ham Southern
NCAA Div II Miles
Women's Cross Country
NCAA Div I Samford, UAB, B'ham Southern
NCAA Div II Miles
Winter Sports
Men's Basketball
NCAA Div I Samford, UAB, B'ham Southern
NCAA Div II Miles
Women's Basketball
NCAA Div I Samford, UAB, B'ham Southern
NCAA Div II Miles
Men's Indoor Track
NCAA Div I Samford, UAB
Women's Indoor Track
NCAA Div I Samford, UAB
Spring Sports
Men's Baseball
NCAA Div I Samford, UAB, B'ham Southern
NCAA Div II Miles
Women's Softball
NCAA Div I Samford, B'ham Southern
Men's Golf
NCAA Div I Samford, UAB, B'ham Southern
Women's Golf
NCAA Div I Samford, UAB, B'ham Southern
Men's Outdoor Track
NCAA Div I Samford, UAB
NCAA Div II Miles
Women's Outdoor Track
NCAA Div I Samford, UAB
NCAA Div II Miles
Men's Tennis
NCAA Div I Samford, UAB, B'ham Southern
Women's Tennis
NCAA Div I Samford, UAB, B'ham Southern
Automobile Racing
For those who like less serene sports, the Talladega Super Speedway (205-362-2261) features two major NASCAR events each year. Also, drive authentic Nextel Cup race cars at the Talladega Superspeedway with the Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure (1-888-GO-RACE-1). Reach speeds of 165+ mph while experiencing this once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Adjoining the speedway is the impressive International Motorsports Hall of Fame and Motorsports Museum. The new Barber Motorsports Park (205-699-7275) features the annual Barber Motorsports 250, part of the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series. This magnificent course also has a one-of-a-kind museum.
On the local level, racing takes place each weekend during the summer at the Birmingham International Raceway located at the Alabama State Fairgrounds (205-781-2471). Drag racing can be found at New Bama Dragway in Cordova, a NHRA member track, (205-648-8890) or at Lassiter Mountain Dragway in Mount Olive (205-841-8696).
Greyhound/Thoroughbred Racing
The Birmingham Race Course (800-998-UBET) is proud to present the best in simulcast wagering opportunities from both greyhound and thoroughbred facilities across the nation. Visit their site at www.birminghamracecourse.com for complete programs, schedules and general information.
Fishing
When it comes to quality freshwater fishing, Alabama has no equal. Alabama has 14 separate lakes that have produced a largemouth bass big enough to be a state record in 35 other states. Bass that weigh 13 pounds are too puny to even quality for the list of the 50 largest bass caught in the state. Alabama has produced 4-pound bluegill, 4-pound crappie, 40-pound striped bass and 8-pound rainbow trout. Sitting smack dab in the middle of the best fishing the Heart of Dixie has to offer is Birmingham, the hottest fishing destination in the South. Birmingham is also home to Black America Outdoors. This 1,200 member organization emphasizes conservation and environmental issues in addition to reaching out to black youth, especially those living in inner cities. Whether your love is hard-fighting largemouth and spotted bass, monstrous gear-destroying striped bass or just the solitude of fly-fishing for rainbow trout in gently tumbling waters, it can all be found in the Birmingham area.
Lake Neely Henry � The fertile waters of this 11,200-acre Coosa River lake is a favorite of both pro and weekend fishermen. It has played host to many notable bass fishing events including the 1992 Wrangler/B.A.S.S. National Championship, the 1996 BASS N' GAL Classic and the 1997 BASS Masters Alabama Invitational. It was during the 1992 Wrangler/B.A.S.S. National Championship that the nation's best amateur bass fishermen set an all-time record of 635 bass weighing 1412 lbs. It's been said records are made to be broken, but this one won't be. That total catch was more that 800 pounds heavier than any tournament catch in amateur history. Located 45 minutes north of Birmingham just off I-59, Lake Neely Henry has incredible populations of both largemouth and spotted bass. A combination of standing timber, flooded flats, ledges and hundreds of piers and boat docks guarantee a bass angler can fish the habitats, techniques and lures he prefers.
Lake Logan Martin � Don't ever think the best bass fishermen in the world don't know where to do their fishing. Lake Logan Martin played host to the world championship off bass fishing - The BASS Masters Classic - in 1992, 1993 and 1997. It was here that all-time Classic records were set for heaviest total weight, most bass caught, most limits caught and largest winning weight. In 1992, Robert Hamilton, Jr. won the event with a three-day limit of 7 fish weighing an incredible 59 pounds, 6 ounces. This 15,263-acre, 48-mile-long Coosa River reservoir located just 30 minutes north of Birmingham boasts an exciting combination of fish species to test your talents. Most notable are its famous line-testing largemouth bass and cantankerous spotted bass, made meaner and stronger by years of fighting the strong Coosa River current. Like monster bass? It was here that Allen Bryan caught the then-state record largemouth bass weighing more than 14 pounds. The number of anglers who have caught 7-pound-plus spotted bass are too numerous to mention. Lake Logan Martin offers numbers of fishing guides to assist you in your fishing efforts. If you like to take a lake on your own, the 245 miles of shoreline are dotted with marinas and boat ramps.
Smith Lake � Just a 60-minute drive from Birmingham up I-65 North is Smith Lake, a lake like no other in the South. This 21,200-acre lake mountain impoundment has water depths up to 315 feet and its emerald-green waters make it one of the most beautiful lakes in America. Smith Lake produced eight consecutive world-record spotted bass in the 1970s and 1980s and still boasts a healthy population of feisty spots. The lake has become more famous in recent years however, as a trophy striped bass fishery. The deep, clear, cool water of Smith Lake is perfect habitat for striped bass and there is no better place in Alabama to get that trophy fish to hang on the wall, bearing in mind, your wall can handle it. Striped bass weighing more than 40 pounds have been caught and 30-pounders are commonplace. Striped bass exceeding 20 pounds are caught daily. Anglers can choose to fish for striped bass with live shad, bucktail jigs, topwater lures and even fly-fishing tackle. A number of bass and striped bass fishing guides are available to assist in the Smith Lake fishing experience. The lake has also become a hotspot for fly-fishing at night. Fly-fishing under pier lights produces largemouth bass, spotted bass, striped bass and bream. Smith Lake tailrace-Rated as the No.1 spot in Alabama for fly-fishing for rainbow trout, the icy cold water below Smith Lake Dam are stocked monthly with thousands of rainbows. Fly fisherman can wade, tube or fish from the bank in the tailrace, and catches of rainbows weighing up to 2 pounds are common. The tailrace record is a whopping 5 pounds. A quaint, full-service fly-fishing shop is located in the area and its employees are willing to divulge the hot flies and hottest pools. Guides are available. The Smith Lake tailrace is located less than an hour's drive from downtown Birmingham.
Bankhead Reservoir � If trophy spotted bass for your wall is your fantasy, this 9,945-acre Black Warrior River impoundment located 30 miles west of Birmingham should be in your plans. It has become the hottest spotted bass fishery in the South in recent years. How big are Bankhead Reservoir's spotted bass? A recent tournament on the lake took five spotted bass weighing 26.57 pounds to win. Alabama Game and Fish recently monitored tournament results on more than 30 Alabama lakes and no lake produced a better percentage of 5-pound-or-better bass than Bankhead Reservoir. The lake produced 73 5-pound-or-better bass in just 27 tournaments. The lake also has an excellent population of largemouth bass. The lake also produced the largest bass taken in the more than 200 tournaments on 30 lakes monitored by the state. That bass weighed 9.66 pounds.
Biking
Oak Mountain State Park's red trail, a 17-mile loop, attracts mountain bikers not only from the Birmingham area but from as far away as Florida and Louisiana. Designed and built by the Birmingham Urban Mountain Peddlers (BUMP), the trail opened in 1993 and is a combination of single track and an old two-lane fire road. The loop has several access points to park and start the bike trail. The degree of difficulty on the trail has a wide range with an elevation gain of up to 500 feet. The success of the red trail at Oak Mountain State Park, coupled with public demand, has opened eyes at Alabama's state parks, national forests and wildlife management areas. Cheaha State Park has completed a mountain bike trail. The Kentuck Off-Road Trail in the Talladega National Forest has opened to mountain bikers and a trail in the Choccolocco Wildlife Management area has now opened to bicycles. Currently 30 miles of off-road vehicle trails are under construction at the Bankhead National Forest. For more information, visit the Birmingham Bike Club
The Birmingham Bicycle Club sponsors rides each weekend and several evenings during the week. The rides vary in difficulty and distance. For information call Homewood Cycle 205-879-3244.
The Ridge Riding Club
An off-road riding facility specifically catering to motorcycle and ATV riders of all ages and abilities. Located in Springville, 25 min. N.E. of Birmingham. Trails, tracks, camping, and all kinds of terrain. Check us out at http://www.ridgeriding.com/home_page.htm.
Rugby
The Birmingham Vulcans compete against regional opponents on Saturdays at Ramsay Park on Montclair Road. Call for more information 205-933-MAUL.
Canoeing
Alabama Small Boats offers canoe trips on the state's natural treasure, the Cahaba River. Store hours are 9am until 5pm Tuesday through Saturday. Shelby County Highway 52, Helena. 205-424-3634 or www.alsmallboats.com. Also available for great canoeing is the Five Mile Creek Canoe and Company. Open every Friday-Saturday from 9am-5pm. P.O. Box 214, 100 Park Rd., Brookside. 205-674-5550.
Hoover/ Birmingham Birding Trail
The area of the Upper Cahaba River provides habitat for a great variety of birds. Get your Birds of the Upper Cahaba Brochure!
Quail Preserves
Gold Star Plantation (Jefferson County)
5484 Littleton-Kilgore Road
Dora, AL 35062
205-674-7244
www.goldstarplantation.com
GOLD STAR is located approximately 35 minutes from Birmingham in western Jefferson County.
Check out the Alabama Quail Trail website or contact them at:
Alabama Quail Trail
3050 Lanark Road
Millbrook, Alabama 36054
334-285-4550