Alabama: Montgomery, Family Vacations - Shakespeare, Hank Williams, and Stargazing. 
Visit the “Heart and Soul of the South’’ and explore the birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement. Experience live theatre or talk to the Bard; take an Alabama-style safari or gaze at the stars taste ice cream with pralines. Montgomery has it all. Southern charm, historic places and natural beauty provide the makings of an extraordinary American field trip.
The play’s the thing. Sharing Shakespeare with children (preferably your own but any will do) is always a good thing and The Alabama Shakespeare Festival - the sixth largest Shakespeare festival in the world, makes enjoying a play easy to do as a family. In addition to timely programming, ASF also has a widely acclaimed student matinee series - Children's Theatre, and SchoolFest. Step backstage on of the guided tours given almost every day to see how the talented professionals inside the amazing facility create the magic you see on stage.
Bonus points: Arrive early (about 30 minutes) and enjoy “Bard Talk” in the Octagon lobby efore the production of each Shakespeare play. No need to buy tickets to the talk, the program is free to those who purchase tickets to any Shakespeare play. You also might enjoy Stage Side Chats where you can ask questions of the ASF production staff after each matinee performance (also free with your ticket). (The Alabama Shakespeare Festival, One Festival Dr., Montgomery, Alabama 36117. Toll-free 1-800-841-4ASF (4273) or 1(334) 271-5353 locally or
www.asf.net)
Step back into time. Old Alabama Town offers a beautiful glimpse of historical Montgomery. Featuring more than forty restored buildings along six blocks of downtown Montgomery, this unique area allows visitors to experience what life was like in 19th century Alabama. Tour stately mansions, view an authentic blacksmith shop, and watch as artisans fashion crafts using traditional methods and materials. Find a bonus point for this one. (Old Alabama Town 301 Columbus Street, Montgomery, Alabama 36104. 1 (334) 240-4500, toll-free 1-888-240-1850 or
www.oldalabamatown.com)
Listen to the music. Official Hank Williams Museum is located in Downtown Montgomery where Hank lived from 1937 - 1953. Come and visit the place where the man who left his mark on the Musical world, will inevitably leave his mark on you. Oakwood Cemetery, which is the resting place of Hank and Audrey Williams, is located only five minutes away of the Museum. B
onus points: Enjoy traditional Country, Bluegrass and Gospel music on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of every month performed by “Happy Rovin’ Cowboys” the house band at the museum. The last 15 minutes of every hour is open microphone. (Official Hank Williams Museum 118 Commerce Street, Montgomery, Alabama 36104. 1 (334) 262-3600 or
http://www.xaust.com/hank/homepage.htm)
Go where the wild things are. The Mann Wildlife Learning Museum at the Montgomery Zoo lets you get closer to wildlife than you ever thought possible. With 28,000 square feet of display area, they cover just about everything that's wild in North America. The museum includes one of the nation's finest collections of professionally presented North American wildlife. They have complete families of North American bear, deer, fox, skunk and cat. All are shown in realistically created environments including painted mural backdrops depicting the natural habitat of the animal. Each recreated environment helps explain nature's delicate balance.
Bonus points: Adding to the realism, are the authentic sounds of animals and several 'touch and feel' exhibits to further enhance your experience. There's also a little of the past with fossils and displays relating to saber-tooth tigers, wolves, woolly mammoth and other creatures from prehistoric times. (Mann Wildlife Learning Museum, P.O. Box 3242 Montgomery, Alabama 36110. 1 (334) 240-4900 or
www.montgomeryzoo.com)
Take a look at the wild side. At the Montgomery Zoo see more than 700 animals from five different continents, all housed in natural, "barrier free" habitats. The zoo spans over 40 beautifully landscaped acres, offering visitors views of exotic wildlife and endangered species. Take a ride on the miniature train and enjoy a journey through the zoo. From the train you can see many of the favorite exhibits, as well as the zoos’ lake which is inhabited by a variety of birds and water fowl. Take a stroll through the flight free aviary; the aviary offers the birds the freedom to fly and roam, allowing you a more intimate look. The aviary houses a variety of birds that are native to the South American Tropics. Dine in the Overlook Café and watch zoo residents as they graze, cavort and sleep.
Bonus points: Scavenger hunt questions are available on the website to make your trip fun and educational.
Need to know: The zoo conducts Family Fun Days providing opportunities for children and adults to participate in learning more about a particular topic, and making cool memories together. (Montgomery Zoo 2301 Coliseum Parkway Montgomery, Alabama 36110. 1(334) 240-4900 or
www.montgomeryzoo.com)
Explore the stars. Exploring the universe we live in is a great activity for anyone, especially families. The Gayle Planetarium opened in 1969 in beautiful Oak Park and has recently undergone renovation to bring it to the forefront of imaging technology. It’s currently one of the largest planetariums between Atlanta and New Orleans. Be sure to check out the displays from NASA, and get tickets for the fun and educational shows offered daily. Shows include “Light Years from Andromeda” and “The Voyager Encounters” to the comical “Larry Cat in Space”, paleontology-centered dinosaurs, and several features on the animal kingdom.
Bonus points: In the fall enjoy the planetarium’s Annual Pink Floyd Laser Light Show featuring the Dark Side of the Moon album shown in synchronization with The Wizard of Oz. (W.A. Gayle Planetarium, 1010 Forest Ave., Montgomery, Alabama, 36106. 1(334) 241-4799,
m01planet@troy.edu or
montgomery.troy.edu/planet)
Take a stand. 
One museum is absolutely central to understanding the history of Montgomery on a national level – the Rosa Parks Museum, built on the site of the old Empire Theatre where Mrs. Parks made her courageous and historic stand for civil rights in 1955. With both permanent and special exhibits and a 2200-square-foot multimedia auditorium, the Rosa Parks museum seeks to offer tribute to the bravery and courage of all early civil rights soldiers and educate the next generation on the importance of civil rights and liberties.
Bonus points: Visit the Children’s Wing to take a ride on the Cleveland Avenue Time Machine back through time to as early as the 1800s. This exhibit shows children and adults alike that thing don’t just happen, people make them happen and that any one person can make a difference. (Rosa Parks Museum 252 Montgomery Street, Montgomery, Alabama 36104. 1 (334)241-8661 or
http://montgomery.troy.edu/rosaparks/museum/)
Make it happen. Montgomery CVB 300 Water Street Montgomery, Alabama 36104. Toll-free 1-800-240-9452, (334)240-9452,Visitor Center 1(334) 262 -0013 or
www.visitingmontgomery.com Trip Reads Dear Mrs. Parks: A Dialogue with Today’s Youth. By Rosa Parks with Gregory J. Reed. Through her heartfelt correspondence with children, Rosa Parks, the "Mother of the Modern Day Civil Rights Movement," answers their questions while challenging them to embrace life's possibilities. (Ages 8 and over)
The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. By R. Conrad Stein. Traces the events in the Montgomery, Alabama, bus boycott which began in December, 1955, and changed the course of the civil rights movement. Part of the Cornerstones of Freedom series designed to engage children and help them feel that they are part of history being made. (Age 8-12)
