Renaissance Birmingham Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa

RTJ GOLF TRAIL AT ROSS BRIDGE Beautifully carved into the rolling terrain of Shannon Valley, Ross Bridge will challenge even the best golfers. The course meanders through indigenous landscape and around the 259-room Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa. Ross Bridge is one of the longest courses in the world but offers multiple tees for golfers of all levels. The beauty and challenge of each hole leads many to believe there is not one signature hole but possibly eighteen.

From its humble beginning as a 940-acre park atop Double Oak Mountain established by the Alabama State Lands Act of 1927, Oak Mountain State Park has grown to 9,940 acres making it Alabama’s largest state park. With the largest land-area, one of the widest varieties of outdoor activities of any state park, and its proximity to Birmingham, Oak Mountain is a perfect stop while traveling to and from the state’s largest city. Topping it all off is the park’s stunning physical landscape, which alone makes for an unforgettable experience. Activities Mountain biking and hiking are two of the most popular activities at the park. With more than 50 miles of trails visitors have plenty of options to choose from be it a short loop or an overnight trip. The Red Trail has even been included on the International Mountain Biking Association’s(IMBA) list of EPIC rides. The park also features a pump track and BMX course. Flipside Watersports cable skiing, boat rentals, basketball courts, nature programs, Peavine Falls, Oak Mountain Interpretive Center, 18-hole golf course and driving range, beach and swimming area, fishing lakes, boat rentals, picnic areas, demonstration farm and horseback riding facilities. Nature Education and wildlife rehabilitation are major components of the park as well. The Alabama Wildlife Center provides rehabilitation services to injured native birds each year in order to return them to the wild. The resident birds can be viewed from the Tree Top Nature Trail, an elevated boardwalk winding through a secluded woodland valley. Adjacent to the Wildlife Center is the Oak Mountain Interpretive Center, a 2,500 square foot interactive exhibit space, meeting room, and teaching laboratory. Area Attractions Shopping and dining in downtown Birmingham, mountain biking at the Coldwater Mountain Forever Wild tract near Anniston, the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, the Birmingham Barons minor league baseball team, Sloss Furnace National Historic Landmark, Ruffner Mountain Nature Center, Forever Wild Turkey Creek Nature Preserve and many more.

Red Mountain Park encompasses 1,500 acres of land along the Red Mountain Ridge in central Alabama. The Park is central to Birmingham and its surrounding diverse communities. As the land that was once the site of extensive iron ore mining that built Birmingham, Red Mountain was the city’s greatest resource. Today, more than a generation removed from the closing of the last iron ore mine on its property, the 1,500-acre Park is quickly becoming a vital urban green space for a new generation in Birmingham, uniting us all on the path toward a healthier future. Explore the ways RMP can be one of your greatest resources today. Some of our best attractions include: Over 15 miles of trails featuring two city overlooks Three breathtaking tree houses The 6-acre off-leash Remy’s Dog Park Adventures like the Vulcan Materials Zip Trip and Kaul Adventure Tower

On an unassuming stretch of land suited for soybean farming located next to a couple of abandoned airport runways, crews constructed the biggest, fastest and most competitive superspeedway in the world- Talladega Superspeedway. Since Alabama International Motor Speedway (as it was called until 1989) opened its gates in September of 1969, the track has surpassed every initial expectation in terms of sheer size, speed and competition. Talladega, AL emerged as the top choice among several possible sites in the Southest, with the main criteria for selection being availability of land, access to the interstate system and a population base of at least 20 million people within 300 miles. Anniston insurance executive Bill Ward, a racecar driver and fan himself, helped NASCAR and International Speedway Corporation founder William H.G. (Bill) France find the land in Alabama following a casual conversation with France in Daytona in the mid-1960s.

The Alabama Theatre is located in the heart of downtown Birmingham Alabama on 3rd Avenue North. Since 1927 the Alabama Theatre has been the home to shows and performances ranging from movies, concerts, beauty pageants, silent films and even the Mickey Mouse Club! This beautiful theatre is an amazing piece of history that defies the imagination and must be experienced to be truly appreciated.

The Barber Motorsports Park is an 880 acre, multi-purpose racing facility located on the eastern fringes of Birmingham, Alabama. It was built by George Barber and includes the Barber Vintage Motorsport Museum, which has been named “World’s Largest Motorcycle Museum” by the Guinness World Records. The museum is a 501(c)(3) Not-for-Profit Foundation and is considered the largest philanthropic project taken on by an individual in the history of Alabama. The Park, which opened in 2003, has a 17-turn, 2.38-mile (3.83 km) road course, designed by Alan Wilson, viewable from several naturally wooded or grass-covered banks. The track is designed to be run clockwise. The layout is compact, with a number of elevation changes. The pit lane is to the outside of the track, parallel to the front stretch, and the pit wall is on the driver’s left. Two cutoff turns, which are barricaded when not in use, allow the track to be shortened for club events or testing sessions. An entryway between Turns 8 and 9 provides access to the museum garages. A tunnel underneath the track at Turn 12 allows emergency and maintenance vehicles access to the infield area. The track is unusual in having no general-access spectator seating at the start/finish line. The area outside of the front stretch, bounded by the track on three sides, is occupied by the multi-level Paddock building. This building along the front stretch, between start/finish and Turn 1, houses a media center, race control area, track offices, garages, and some VIP viewing areas. The main spectator area is along the back stretch, between Turns 8 and 11. Spectators can watch from embankments or from temporary grandstands erected for race weekends. From this area, most of the course, except for Turns 2/3 and Turn 13, is visible. A food and souvenir vending area is located behind the grandstands in the vicinity of Turns 9/10. Additional spectator areas are outside of Turns 2/3 and Turn 14. There is generally no spectator access to the infield. An RV Park and camping area is located atop a hill behind the Paddock.

Sloss Furnaces was once the largest manufacturer of pig iron in the world. It stands today just as it did in the late 19th century — a monument to the Industrial Revolution. With its web of pipes and towering stoves, this unique National Historic Landmark provides visitors a glimpse into Birmingham’s rich industrial heritage. It stands with pride and is a symbol of where the “Magic” began for Birmingham. Sloss Furnaces operated from 1882-1970 making it the longest continually running blast furnace in Birmingham’s history. We invite you to come visit and learn about the materials, the process, the products, and the people who ran the furnaces and built this city. We offer self-guided tours throughout the week as well as guided tours most Saturdays and Sundays at 1pm. If you would like to schedule a private guided tour, please visit our Education page for more information. Our museum is free to enter during normal business hours. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to make your visit more enjoyable and educational. Visit our Directions page for a detailed explanation on how to get to our site–as well as how to get around a train if it is blocking the road. When you arrive, please come see us in our Visitor Center where you can pick up your self-guided tour brochure, watch a short video, read storyboards, look at exhibits, and visit our gift shop. While you are here, please do not climb on any structures as this is a danger to you and our site. Thank you.