From its humble beginnings as Monkey Island in 1955 to the World renowned and state of the art facility it is today, it is clear that the Birmingham Zoo has come a long way. Beginning with more than a 50 acre plot, a hope, and a dream the Zoo has slowly grown over the years. Its expansion has been continual and the zoo is constantly adding new exhibits and featured animals.

Scores of traveling exhibits visit the Birmingham Zoo each year; add that to the hundreds of permanent exhibits and habitats, it makes for a great learning and entertainment experience. Lions, tigers, and bears, oh my! But the Birmingham Zoo has much more than that, including hundreds of other species from six continents from every kingdom imaginable.

You thought Sea World was cool?

Well, wait till you see the Birmingham Zoo's Sea Lion feeding, every day from 10:30 to 3:00. These majestic beasts of the sea will jump, splash, dance, and swim their way directly to your heart. Sea lions are natural entertainers, and their antics will have you rolling!

If your critters just can't get enough of Alabama's attractions, then you should also check out the Harmony Park Wildlife refuge. The "drive-by" zoo features two miles of road so that you can view thousands of wildlife from the comfort of your car. The range style zoo lets their population of llamas, buffaloes, zebras, and much more roam free. But be careful, you are now in their territory, so you might have a camel stick his head in your car's window!

But whatever you choose to do on your Alabama vacation, be sure to make time to visit the Birmingham Zoo. If you are truly an animal lover you simply must make this a stop on your vacation tour. With thousands of animals, hundreds of species, great shows, shaded pathways, and much more, well it's easy for me to see why this zoo is quickly becoming Alabama's most visited attraction...and one that is definitely worth your time.