# Things to do with toddlers and little kids in Birmingham: the parent guide

> Birmingham is easy with little kids: a downtown science center with a toddler play area, a big zoo with a train, free botanical gardens next door and a giant iron statue with a view.

- Last checked: 2026-10-18
- 11 places for ages 0–6, with admission and menu prices from each place’s own site
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/birmingham/guide/
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/birmingham/index.md
- Visiting guide (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/birmingham/visiting/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/birmingham/llms.txt

## Kid-friendly restaurants

### Davenport’s Pizza Palace (Birmingham)

- Family-owned since 1964, with dough and sauce made from scratch, old movie pictures on the walls and vintage video games.
- Price level: $$
- Hours: Sat 11am–10pm; Sun 4:30–9pm
- Good for: Scratch pizza with vintage video games to keep kids busy.
- Skip if: you want Sunday lunch; it opens at 4:30pm Sundays.
- Website: https://www.davenportspizza.com/

### Hamburger Heaven (Homewood, Hwy 280, Gardendale and Irondale)

- A local burger counter since 1982, with breakfast, hand-breaded tenders, and kids’ mini hamburgers and cheeseburgers.
- Price level: $
- Good for: Kids’ mini burgers and breakfast at a local counter.
- Skip if: you want a sit-down dinner; it’s a burger counter.
- Website: https://thehamburgerheaven.com/

### SAW’s BBQ (Homewood, Avondale, Hoover and more)

- Carolina-style pulled pork, chicken and ribs, with sides like mac and cheese, beans and baked potatoes.
- Price level: $$
- Good for: Barbecue with kid-pleasing sides like mac and cheese.
- Skip if: your kid won’t eat pulled pork; most of the menu is barbecue.
- Website: https://sawsbbq.com/

## Indoor play and rainy days

### McWane Science Center (Downtown, 200 19th St. N.)

- Hands-on science downtown, with an IMAX Dome and the Itty Bitty Magic City play area for little kids.
- Price level: $$
- Tickets: Kids $16.95; adults $20.95
- Good for: Itty Bitty Magic City for little kids; kids’ tickets are $16.95.
- Skip if: you skip the little-kid area; much of the rest is for older kids.
- Price source: https://www.mcwane.org/ (checked 2026-10-17)
- Website: https://www.mcwane.org/

### Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (Civil Rights District, downtown)

- Self-guided galleries that take about 90 minutes. Better for school-age kids; children below fourth grade get in free.
- Price level: $$
- Tickets: adults $15; Children below grade 4 free. Seniors, military and students $13
- Hours: Tue–Sat 10am–5pm (last entry 4pm); closed Sun–Mon
- Good for: School-age kids; children below fourth grade get in free.
- Skip if: you have only toddlers. It’s about 90 minutes of galleries.
- Price source: https://www.bcri.org/visit/ (checked 2026-10-17)
- Website: https://www.bcri.org/

## Parks and outdoor play

### Railroad Park (Downtown)

- A free downtown park along the railroad tracks, with lawns, ponds and free community programs.
- Price level: Free
- Hours: Daily 7am–11pm
- Good for: Free room to run and trains to watch downtown.
- Skip if: you need a big playground.
- Website: https://www.railroadpark.org/

### Birmingham Botanical Gardens (Lane Park, Mountain Brook)

- Free gardens next to the zoo, with plenty of paths for a stroller.
- Price level: Free
- Good for: A free, calm stroller walk next to the zoo.
- Skip if: your toddler wants animals; the zoo is next door.
- Website: https://bbgardens.org/

### Red Mountain Park (West Birmingham)

- More than 1,500 acres on the Red Mountain ridge, with over 18 miles of trails, treehouses and a sensory trail. No parking or admission fee.
- Price level: Free
- Good for: Treehouses and a short trail, no fees.
- Skip if: you want paved paths everywhere.
- Website: https://www.jeffcogreenways.org/park/red-mountain-park

### Vulcan Park & Museum (Red Mountain)

- Ride up the world’s largest cast-iron statue for a view over the city, then walk the 2-mile Vulcan Trail. Cash isn’t accepted.
- Price level: $
- Tickets: kids $4; adults $8; Under 5 free. + tax (ages 5–12); + tax (13+)
- Hours: Sun–Thu 10am–8pm; Fri–Sat 10am–9pm
- Good for: A short elevator ride to the view; under 5 is free.
- Skip if: you’re paying cash at the door; it isn’t accepted.
- Price source: https://visitvulcan.com/explore/ (checked 2026-10-17)
- Website: https://visitvulcan.com/

## Museums, zoos and big outings

### Birmingham Zoo (Lane Park)

- A big zoo with the Red Diamond Express train and an adventure tower.
- Price level: $$
- Tickets: kids 2–12 $19; adults $24; Under 2 free. Tax included; seniors $20
- Hours: Daily 9am–5pm (last entry 4pm)
- Good for: A full morning with the Red Diamond Express; under 2 is free.
- Skip if: you arrive after 4pm, the last entry.
- Price source: https://www.birminghamzoo.com/plan-your-visit/ (checked 2026-10-17)
- Website: https://www.birminghamzoo.com/

## Staycations and overnight trips

### Oak Mountain State Park (Pelham (about 30 minutes))

- Alabama’s largest state park, at 11,861 acres, with two beaches, six fishing lakes, a playground and the Alabama Wildlife Center.
- Price level: $
- Good for: Beaches, a playground and the wildlife center about 30 minutes out.
- Skip if: you want downtown sights; it’s 30 minutes south.
- Website: https://www.alapark.com/parks/oak-mountain-state-park

## Free things to do

- Railroad Park
- Birmingham Botanical Gardens
- Red Mountain Park

## Best for under 3s

- **McWane Science Center**: Itty Bitty Magic City is a play area just for little kids.

## With a baby or a 1-year-old

### Baby and lap-sit storytimes

- **Baby Playdate** (Hoover Public Library): Mondays at 9:30am · Hoover Public Library, Youth Program Room (200 Municipal Dr). Birth to 18 months. A short storytime, then open-ended play. Registration is required and opens a few days before each session. https://hoover.libnet.info/event/16559231
- **The Baby Bunch!** (Homewood Public Library): Select Saturdays at 10:30am (next: Nov 7 and Nov 14) · Homewood Public Library, Round Auditorium (1721 Oxmoor Rd). Birth to 18 months. A lap-sit storytime with baby songs, early literacy tips and bubbles. https://homewood.libnet.info/event/17027174

### Babies get in free

- **Birmingham Zoo**: Under 2 free. https://www.birminghamzoo.com/plan-your-visit/

### Changing tables and nursing rooms

- **Birmingham Zoo**: Every restroom has a baby changing area, and there’s a private nursing room at the Primate Building.

### Stroller notes

- **McWane Science Center**: A few strollers are free to borrow at the ticket counter.

## Library storytimes

- **Birmingham Public Library**: Weekly; days and times vary by branch. Free storytimes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers at the Central Library and branches. Homewood, Hoover and Vestavia Hills have their own libraries. https://www.cobpl.org/
- **Homewood Public Library**: Weekly at the Homewood Public Library; Tuesday–Thursday. Free baby, toddler and preschool storytimes. This fall's regular sessions include Music and Movement (Tuesdays 10am) and Storypalooza (Wednesdays 10am). https://homewood.libnet.info/events
- **Hoover Public Library**: Weekly at 2 locations; Wednesday–Friday, mostly mornings, plus an evening session. Free baby, toddler and preschool storytimes. This fall's regular sessions include Story Sprouts (Wednesdays 9:30am, Hoover Public Library) and PJ Storytime (Thursdays 6:30pm, Hoover Public Library), with more at The East 59 Café - Lee Branch. https://hoover.libnet.info/events
- **Trussville Public Library**: Weekly at the Trussville Branch; Thursdays. Free baby, toddler and preschool storytimes. This fall's regular sessions include Children's Storytime (Thursdays 9:30am). https://www.trussvillelibrary.com/events


## Happening this week

- **Hoots & Howls at the Birmingham Zoo** (Sat & Sun 10am–4pm) at Birmingham Zoo. $19 ages 2–12, $24 adults, under 2 free; optional $15 Candy Trail wristband. https://littlesweekly.com/birmingham/#e-hoots_howls_at_the_birmingham_zoo
- **Flicks Among the Flowers: Monsters, Inc.** (Sat 5:30–8:30pm (movie at sunset)) at Birmingham Botanical Gardens (Formal Lawn). Free (donations encouraged). https://littlesweekly.com/birmingham/#e-flicks_among_the_flowers_monsters_inc
- **The Summit Spooktacular** (Fri 5–8pm) at The Summit (Arhaus parking lot). Free. https://littlesweekly.com/birmingham/#e-the_summit_spooktacular
- **Pumpkin Day at Pepper Place Market** (Sat 7am–12pm) at Pepper Place Farmers Market. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/birmingham/#e-pumpkin_day_at_pepper_place_market
- **Karma is a Scientist at McWane** (Sun 12–3pm) at McWane Science Center. $10 add-on to museum admission. https://littlesweekly.com/birmingham/#e-karma_is_a_scientist_at_mcwane

Full list with every outing: https://littlesweekly.com/birmingham/index.md

## Holiday pages

- [Santa in Birmingham: breakfast with Santa, photos and Santa trains (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/birmingham/santa/index.md)
- [Christmas lights in Birmingham for little kids (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/birmingham/christmas-lights/index.md)

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
- How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com).
- Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list.
- How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote.

## FAQ

### Is McWane Science Center good for toddlers?
Yes. Itty Bitty Magic City is a play area built for little kids, and free strollers are available at the ticket counter.

### What’s free to do with little kids in Birmingham?
The Botanical Gardens, Railroad Park and Red Mountain Park are free, and so are library storytimes.

### What can we do in Birmingham with a toddler when it rains?
McWane Science Center is the best indoor bet, with an IMAX Dome and a toddler area.

### What’s good for babies and kids under 3 in Birmingham?
McWane Science Center: Itty Bitty Magic City is a play area just for little kids. Free for the littlest: Vulcan Park & Museum (Under 5 free) and Birmingham Zoo (Under 2 free). See [best for under 3s](https://littlesweekly.com/birmingham/guide/#under3).

### Where are the free storytimes in Birmingham?
Birmingham Public Library: Weekly; days and times vary by branch. Homewood Public Library: Weekly at the Homewood Public Library; Tuesday–Thursday. Hoover Public Library: Weekly at 2 locations; Wednesday–Friday, mostly mornings, plus an evening session. Library storytimes don’t need a ticket, but times change by branch, so check the calendar first. See [library storytimes](https://littlesweekly.com/birmingham/guide/#storytimes), and this week’s dated sessions are on the [Birmingham weekly list](https://littlesweekly.com/birmingham/).

### How do you choose the places in the Birmingham guide?
Every one of the 11 places is somewhere we’d take a baby, toddler or preschooler, with a note on who it suits and when to skip it. Prices, hours and menus come from each place’s own site, and 4 of them have checked admission or menu prices. The guide was last checked Oct 18, 2026. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).

### How much is the Birmingham Zoo for a toddler, and who gets in free?
Under 2 free; kids 2–12: $19; adults: $24 (tax included; seniors $20). We checked this on [its official site](https://www.birminghamzoo.com/plan-your-visit/) on Oct 17, 2026. Prices change, so confirm before you go.